Maryland

[ixnay]

"LOS E or F"?  Could a road geek please explain the term to us laity?
ixnay

Level of Service. "A"=Traffic will let me go as fast as I want; "F"=I could get there quicker if I were walking.

Actually, there are more technical definitions, but you get the gist.

more detail is available at Wikipedia.

Thanks, people.

ixnay

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun/The Aegis: Proposed I-95 interchange in Cecil draws concerns and praise

Some Cecil County residents are concerned an additional Interstate 95 interchange between Perryville and North East could bring greater traffic headaches to their neighborhood, while other residents and county leaders say it would help economic development and alleviate traffic congestion on area highways.

"This is essential to Cecil County's continued economic growth,"  Chris Moyer, director of the county's office of economic development, said.

Moyer, along with other county government leaders, was among at least 76 people who attended an open house on the project, hosted by the Maryland Transportation Authority, in the Technology Center at Cecil College Tuesday evening.

[Alps]

Baltimore Sun/The Aegis: Proposed I-95 interchange in Cecil draws concerns and praise

Some Cecil County residents are concerned an additional Interstate 95 interchange between Perryville and North East could bring greater traffic headaches to their neighborhood, while other residents and county leaders say it would help economic development and alleviate traffic congestion on area highways.

"This is essential to Cecil County's continued economic growth,"  Chris Moyer, director of the county's office of economic development, said.

Moyer, along with other county government leaders, was among at least 76 people who attended an open house on the project, hosted by the Maryland Transportation Authority, in the Technology Center at Cecil College Tuesday evening.

How about between Joppa and White Marsh? Would spur development closer in to the city, and help provide an alternate route during backups.

[cpzilliacus]

How about between Joppa and White Marsh? Would spur development closer in to the city, and help provide an alternate route during backups.

I agree that this is a good idea.

I suspect that the Baltimore County Council and the Baltimore County planning staff might not agree, especially if it is outside the URDL (urban/rural demarcation line, pronounced urr-dull, map here, a de-facto and de-jure urban growth boundary).

Of course, the URDL becomes meaningless beyond the Little Gunpowder Falls, because that's the border with Harford County.  But there's only one possible place for an interchange there, and that's at the Old Joppa Road overpass, which is I presume is too close to the MD-152 interchange to be viable.

[cpzilliacus]

Went by the interchange construction project at MD-4 (Pennsylvania Avenue Extended) and Suitland Parkway near Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County. 

Does not appear that much has been going on here - and there was a multi-car crash in the intersection as a bonus.

This section of MD-4 (between Dower House Road and Westphalia Road, including Suitland Parkway, might be the section of Maryland's highway network that I dislike the most.  Inexcusably (IMO), MD-4 has been like this since the 1960's (with three at-grade intersections) when the Capital Beltway was completed.  At least this signalized intersection will be gone in 2020 (according to the Web site below). 

I looked on the SHA Web site (project PG618_51), and apparently the contractor has been relocating a water line, hence the apparent lack of visible progress.

[TheOneKEA]

The long, slow widening of MD 32 north of Clarksville continues:

http://apps.roads.maryland.gov/WebProjectLifeCycle/ProjectPhotos.aspx?projectno=HO1415113#

The new southbound carriageway is in partial use for both directions of traffic. Most of the major earthworks are done, with the exception of the road grade at the Linden Church Road interchange.

[Mr_Northside]

Yeah.... that's how it was a day shy of two weeks ago.  (I used MD-32 on the way back from the beach)

[TheOneKEA]

The Brookeville bypass in Montgomery County, MD officially began construction today.

https://apps.roads.maryland.gov/WebProjectLifeCycle/ProjectInformation.aspx?projectno=MO7465115

This is a big deal - the existing route of MD 97 through the town is a small, picturesque city street that is grossly incapable of handling the huge volume of commuter and long-distance traffic between the DC suburbs and the neighborhoods of Howard and Caroll Counties.

[tckma]

The Brookeville bypass in Montgomery County, MD officially began construction today.

https://apps.roads.maryland.gov/WebProjectLifeCycle/ProjectInformation.aspx?projectno=MO7465115

This is a big deal - the existing route of MD 97 through the town is a small, picturesque city street that is grossly incapable of handling the huge volume of commuter and long-distance traffic between the DC suburbs and the neighborhoods of Howard and Caroll Counties.

Wow, no idea they were even considering that.  I've never found that area to be a problem, though you certainly have to slow down.  It also isn't that often I find myself coming home from Montgomery County via MD-97.

[TheOneKEA]

Another link in the US 219 improvement project was announced by Governor Hogan.

http://governor.maryland.gov/2018/10/13/hogan-administration-announces-long-awaited-us-219-realignment-construction-project-in-garrett-county/

While the US 219 expansion into PA is important, I'd argue that bypassing downtown Oakland with a moder, limited-access US 219 is more important. I hope the Oakland bypass eventually gets selected and built.

[Roadsguy]

Another link in the US 219 improvement project was announced by Governor Hogan.

http://governor.maryland.gov/2018/10/13/hogan-administration-announces-long-awaited-us-219-realignment-construction-project-in-garrett-county/

While the US 219 expansion into PA is important, I'd argue that bypassing downtown Oakland with a moder, limited-access US 219 is more important. I hope the Oakland bypass eventually gets selected and built.

I thought construction already started last spring?

Also, for some reason the website for this project is just gone.

[epzik8]

I can't say I support the fourth I-95 interchange in Cecil County.

[Bitmapped]

Another link in the US 219 improvement project was announced by Governor Hogan.

http://governor.maryland.gov/2018/10/13/hogan-administration-announces-long-awaited-us-219-realignment-construction-project-in-garrett-county/

While the US 219 expansion into PA is important, I'd argue that bypassing downtown Oakland with a moder, limited-access US 219 is more important. I hope the Oakland bypass eventually gets selected and built.

I thought construction already started last spring?

Also, for some reason the website for this project is just gone.

They cleared trees and did some building demolition this spring but that's as far as it went. I agree with TheOneKEA that an Oakland bypass would be a lot more useful.

[ipeters61]

I was just looking over a map of Maryland/Delaware and noticed that the interchange for US-50-301/MD-2/MD-450 seems needlessly complicated (like, why does traffic from MD-2 to MD-450, the "straight" movement at this interchange, have to move around so much only to have to turn left at a stop sign onto MD-450?).  Were there plans for a full expressway in the area at one point? 

[Beltway]

I was just looking over a map of Maryland/Delaware and noticed that the interchange for US-50-301/MD-2/MD-450 seems needlessly complicated (like, why does traffic from MD-2 to MD-450, the "straight" movement at this interchange, have to move around so much only to have to turn left at a stop sign onto MD-450?).  Were there plans for a full expressway in the area at one point? 

I believe they largely utilized/retained the original layout dating back to the 1950s

[froggie]

The bulk of MD 2 traffic is also going to/from US 50 which is why the MD 450 movements seem like an afterthought.

[Mapmikey]

The interchange is 100% unchanged since the mid-50s.

The 1944 top shows a giant Y intersection with what is now US 50 WB splitting to northwest and southeast to reach MD 2.  The SE leg is still in use as the ramp from 450 to 50 EB and the weird ramp 2 uses to stay on 450.  The NW leg is partially occupied by the ramp from 50 WB to 2 NB.

It appears this weird setup is because of the railroad bridge that used to be just west of this interchange.  The clover ramp from 50 WB to 450 would not have fit had the original through movement of 2 SB not been shifted to head more easterly as it does today.

[Beltway]

The did a simple widening of US-50 when they 6-laned it about 25 years ago, utilized narrow shoulders at the bridges.

[Beltway]

The new Dover Bridge opens tomorrow.  They don't call it an opening.  I guess that's since they'll have formal opening ceremony later.
http://www.marylandroads.com/pages/release.aspx?newsId=3171
TRAFFIC SHIFT TUESDAY AFTERNOON ON THE DOVER BRIDGE OVER THE CHOPTANK RIVER

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin employing a configuration change on MD 331 (Dover Road) at the Caroline/Talbot County line. The traffic shift will involve changing primary travel from the old Dover Bridge to the new lanes of traffic on the new Dover Bridge. The traffic switch to the new bridge will be in place by tomorrow afternoon, June 12.

Good!  It looked nearly complete when I last saw it on May 2nd.  Seems like the last 2 spans on the east end got delayed for over a year for some reason, the rest of the bridge was complete back then.  Also the filled section of roadway east of there across wetlands had be widened and shifted.

I drove it for my first time today.  Nice!  A good view from the high point, of the Choptank River and wetlands nearby.  The bridge is longer than I envisioned, as it bridges not just across the river but a large area of wetlands as well.  Final course of asphalt pavement still to be applied to the approach roadways.

Forgot to bring my camera ... there are some good views of the bridge, but I will have to wait until next time.

[1995hoo]

This year's installment of WTOP's "Ghost Roads"  is about an abandoned bridge near Frederick:

https://wtop.com/local/2018/10/ghost-roads-v-not-all-who-wander-are-lost-on-outskirts-of-frederick/slide/1/

[TheOneKEA]

This year's installment of WTOP's "Ghost Roads"  is about an abandoned bridge near Frederick:

https://wtop.com/local/2018/10/ghost-roads-v-not-all-who-wander-are-lost-on-outskirts-of-frederick/slide/1/

I've wanted to get a close up look at this bridge for some time, but I could never figure out how to visit it without having to worry about trespassing.

It would be nice if the bridge could be partially rehabilitated and used for pedestrian traffic across the Monocacy River.

[Alps]

This year's installment of WTOP's "Ghost Roads"  is about an abandoned bridge near Frederick:

https://wtop.com/local/2018/10/ghost-roads-v-not-all-who-wander-are-lost-on-outskirts-of-frederick/slide/1/

I've wanted to get a close up look at this bridge for some time, but I could never figure out how to visit it without having to worry about trespassing.

It would be nice if the bridge could be partially rehabilitated and used for pedestrian traffic across the Monocacy River.

I find the best way is to park after the bridge and walk back along 144 WB.

[ixnay]

Traffic on MD 213 through Centreville, both directions of which had been routed along Commerce St. due to construction, now follows Liberty St. (both ways).

https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/qa/spotlight/traffic-flow-shifts-to-liberty-street/article_ff69338f-b5ee-5c5f-8cb5-d3a355586106.html

Before the construction started, Commerce St. was one way northbound (handling NB MD 213) while Liberty St. was one way southbound and handled SB 213.

ixnay

[davewiecking]

This article gives a table of proposals and what was submitted:
http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2017/State-Puts-Forth-Plan-To-Add-Lanes-on-I-270-To-Reduce-Traffic-Congestion/

18 months later, the project identified as NB1 on the list (restriping to add a lane between Democracy Blvd on the I-270 spur and the Falls Road slip ramp) is being put into effect. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that they'd ground off the stripes and painted new ones. After returning from out of town, I noticed yesterday that some of this stretch is being repaved. Because only part of the width has been repaved, it's too soon to tell what kind of effect this will have.
The restriping where I-270 spur dumps onto I-495S (making the RH beltway lane end after the junction, instead of the LH lane of the spur) was done quite some time ago, and seems to be helping traffic from upcounty head towards VA, admittedly to the detriment of traffic already on the beltway. But the jams up I-270 were always far worse than those coming down from Old Georgetown Road, so they've evened out a bit.

[BrianP]

SB2 is under construction.
SB5A is done.  I don't see it during rush hour to know what effect it has had.
I don't know of others making any progress.