Maryland

[Alex]

After crashes, Md. town to deactivate 2 red light cameras

Westminster police will deactivate two of the remaining three red-light cameras in the city, citing more crashes caused by rear-end collisions than by running red lights.

The Common Council unanimously approved the measure on Monday. The camera at southbound Md. 97 and Nursery Road will remain in operation. Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding says there has been an increase in the number of vehicles running red lights at that intersection.

In March 2010, five red light cameras were installed. After a one-year review, two were deactivated.

According to the Carroll County Times, the three cameras brought in $216,553 in revenue from fines. The program cost the city $137,831.

[Mr_Northside]

So far, I have seen one as far west as Frederick County, in the (long) work zone on I-270 at Md. 80 (Urbana) and south of Urbana down to the Little Bennett Creek bridge.

There is also one on I-70 just east of I-270 in the Frederick area.  (They appear to be rebuilding a substandard interchange and probably widening I-70 to three lanes.)

[cpzilliacus]

There was another wrong-way fatal crash on a Maryland Interstate last week (earlier this year, there was one on "secret" I-595 (commonly known as U.S. 50).

Annapolis Capital: Wrong way fatal: 'There are so many unanswered questions'

Annapolis Capital: Police: Alcohol played role in fatal I-97 crash

Police suspect a drunken motorist drove the wrong way on Interstate 97, getting on the highway via the Exit 10B off ramp at Benfield Boulevard – the second time this year that police think this happened.

Maryland State Police have confirmed that 24-year-old Kelley Whitt was under the influence of alcohol the morning of June 13 when she drove southbound on the northbound side of the expressway, killing an oncoming motorist, Jianguo Pan, two miles down I-97.

"At this point, we have determined (alcohol) ... played a significant role in the crash, but we are still investigating,"  said state police spokesman Lt. Elena Russo.

[cpzilliacus]

So far, I have seen one as far west as Frederick County, in the (long) work zone on I-270 at Md. 80 (Urbana) and south of Urbana down to the Little Bennett Creek bridge.

There is also one on I-70 just east of I-270 in the Frederick area.  (They appear to be rebuilding a substandard interchange and probably widening I-70 to three lanes.)

Been by there several times in the past month, though I did not see the photo radar in operation (though there were plenty of signs warning of it).

The State Highway Administration is indeed finally reconstructing the last part of I-70 that was built years ago (maybe pre-Interstate) as the U.S. 40 Frederick Bypass, and the interchange at South Street was quite substandard (and there is an extra-heavy volume of dump trucks entering and exiting I-70 at South Street because of the Frederick Quarry, owned by Lafarge, located just south of the interchange).  I presume they are widening I-70 to 6 lanes as well, but I have not looked the project up to verify  that.

[MDRoads]

There is a new 45 mph work zone camera on MD 43 at the I-95 ETL interchange, between Honeygo Blvd and MD 7.  Even as Westminster shuts off its MD 140@97 camera, Baltimore County just announced 3 or 4 new ones in school zones this week.

[MDRoads]

The State Highway Administration is indeed finally reconstructing the last part of I-70 that was built years ago (maybe pre-Interstate) as the U.S. 40 Frederick Bypass, .....

That part of I-70 was indeed pre-interstate, as part of the Frederick Bypass proposed as early as 1950, the southern part (south of Patrick St on each side) was completed by 1956.

[MASTERNC]

There is a new 45 mph work zone camera on MD 43 at the I-95 ETL interchange, between Honeygo Blvd and MD 7.  Even as Westminster shuts off its MD 140@97 camera, Baltimore County just announced 3 or 4 new ones in school zones this week.

That must be very new.  The last time I was down there the cameras were only on I-95 after MD 43.  Not sure that qualifies as "limited access" now given the temporary signals.

[Mr_Northside]

On the way back from Chincoteague yesterday, the congestion heading across the Bay Bridge TO Delmarva was the worst I have ever seen.  (Bridge traffic was actually surprisingly fine for us heading back west...)

I've seen it backed up pretty far on occasion over the years, and will get pissed if things get thick before the Severn River bridge when I'm headed in that direction...

But yesterday (Saturday) it was a solid line of traffic from the bridge, not only to I-97, but the line started forming about three-quarters mile south of the MD-32 merge on I-97. (I can only imagine that US-50/301 had a queue a couple miles west of I-97 as well....) Didn't see any kind of accidents or incidents either... Driving past it all in the other direction, all I could think is "You poor bastards".

Maybe backups THAT immense happen more often than I realize, but I pray I never have a trip to the beach where I'm sitting in a ~15 mile long queue just to cross the bay.

[cpzilliacus]

On the way back from Chincoteague yesterday, the congestion heading across the Bay Bridge TO Delmarva was the worst I have ever seen.  (Bridge traffic was actually surprisingly fine for us heading back west...)

I've seen it backed up pretty far on occasion over the years, and will get pissed if things get thick before the Severn River bridge when I'm headed in that direction...

But yesterday (Saturday) it was a solid line of traffic from the bridge, not only to I-97, but the line started forming about three-quarters mile south of the MD-32 merge on I-97. (I can only imagine that US-50/301 had a queue a couple miles west of I-97 as well....) Didn't see any kind of accidents or incidents either... Driving past it all in the other direction, all I could think is "You poor bastards".

Maybe backups THAT immense happen more often than I realize, but I pray I never have a trip to the beach where I'm sitting in a ~15 mile long queue just to cross the bay.

I heard it was terrible from several sources, though I did not have the pleasure of experiencing it myself.

Because of the rain (which persisted most of the day yesterday), MdTA may have limited eastbound traffic to the two lanes on the eastbound (original) span, which would make matters worse than normal.

I am old enough to remember the massive backups at the bridge prior to 1973, when there were only two lanes across the Bay.  In those days, bridge operators would sometimes run both lanes in one-way operation to clear some of the backup, especially westbound on Sundays, but also eastbound on some peak days.

[Mr_Northside]

Because of the rain (which persisted most of the day yesterday), MdTA may have limited eastbound traffic to the two lanes on the eastbound (original) span, which would make matters worse than normal.

Yeah... we had all three lanes headed westbound on Saturday. It was actually the easiest trip westbound that I can remember on a weekend afternoon.
(The last few years it seemed that we always were crossing when we had just 2 lanes in the direction we were headed (coming & going).  In fact, that was even the case a month ago when I went down to Ocean City with my parents.)   I've always wondered what their criteria is for deciding what to with the "third lane" on weekends.

And yes, the weather was horrible on Saturday.  Overcast the whole way from Chincoteague to Pittsburgh, and some level of rain for at least 65-70 percent of the trip.

I am old enough to remember the massive backups at the bridge prior to 1973, when there were only two lanes across the Bay.  In those days, bridge operators would sometimes run both lanes in one-way operation to clear some of the backup, especially westbound on Sundays, but also eastbound on some peak days.

Damn...   Only one span... that's before my time... though I remember when US-50 wasn't limited access leading up to the bridge on the west side of the bay, and on Kent Island;  The old drawbridge on the other side of Kent Island (I remember sitting in some backups there); and also the 2 lane bridges @ Cambridge & Vienna.

Even if they can't get the money or local support for more limited access stretches, the signals between the 50/301 split & MD-404 (including MD-404) need to be converted to interchanges, at least.  But I digress.....

[Beltway]

Even if they can't get the money or local support for more limited access stretches, the signals between the 50/301 split & MD-404 (including MD-404) need to be converted to interchanges, at least.  But I digress.....

That has been planned for over 30 years, but not yet funded.  Widen to 6 lanes (3 each way) and convert to freeway with interchanges at the outlet stores, MD-213, and MD-404.

[cpzilliacus]

Even if they can't get the money or local support for more limited access stretches, the signals between the 50/301 split & MD-404 (including MD-404) need to be converted to interchanges, at least.  But I digress.....

That has been planned for over 30 years, but not yet funded.  Widen to 6 lanes (3 each way) and convert to freeway with interchanges at the outlet stores, MD-213, and MD-404.

I know the SHA manager (now retired) that was in charge of planning and preliminary engineering for the upgrade of U.S. 50/U.S. 301 from the east landing of the William Preston Lane, Jr. [Bay] Bridge to Queenstown somewhat well.

He once remarked that he still had marks on his back from getting beaten-up by citizens and groups in Queen Anne's County that were opposed to the upgrade from a four-lane principal arterial to the 6 lane expressway configuration that is there today.

I don't know if there are similar objections to improving U.S. 50 from Queenstown to Md. 404 or not.  The population close to U.S. 50 is materially lower once past Queenstown.

Clearly an interchange at U.S. 50 and Md. 404 would be good in terms of safety and congestion relief, and not just during the summer beach season either.

[cpzilliacus]

Washington Post (with aerial video): Beer truck spills cargo on I-270

An overturned beer truck wreaked havoc on Interstate 270 after spilling its load on the highway early Thursday.

According to police, the 18-wheel tractor-trailer was carrying cases of beer on I-270 North when it crashed near the Frederick County-Montgomery County border around 4 a.m.

[1995hoo]

I'd like an update on the beer spill this afternoon given the hot weather–how much of a traffic jam will there be when people have to stop their cars to puke after being nauseated by the smell of all that cheap beer evaporating in the hot sun today? (I saw a report saying it was Budweiser.)

[cpzilliacus]

I'd like an update on the beer spill this afternoon given the hot weather–how much of a traffic jam will there be when people have to stop their cars to puke after being nauseated by the smell of all that cheap beer evaporating in the hot sun today? (I saw a report saying it was Budweiser.)

Yeah, Bud is about my least-favorite beer in the universe. 

And that segment of I-270, from Md. 121 (Clarksburg Road) all the way to just north of Md. 85 (Buckeystown Pike, former U.S. 15) was built as pre-Interstate U.S. 240 (and it shows in many ways, including its lack of capacity at four lanes total, and no climbing lanes on some pretty steep grades).  Wonder if its out-of-date design might have contributed to this crash?

If not for the possible environmental impact on the Little Bennett Creek (which flows under 270 at Md. 109 (Old Hundred Road)), it would make sense (to me) to just have a crew of Maryland convicts open all the cans and pour them out in the drainage ditch in the median of the freeway.

[cpzilliacus]

Wonder what they will do to stop westbound traffic, since there is no (apparently) simple way to do that without having police cars at that end of the crossing.

Baltimore Sun: Bay Bridge gets weather alert upgrade after violent storm - System allows authority to close bridge more quickly

[froggie]

Regarding the signals at 213 and 404, I went east a couple of Sundays ago, late morning, and noted that it was a pretty solid 3 mile westbound backup, starting from the signal at 213, and continuing through the 404 signal to about a mile and a half south of 404.  Surprisingly, there was no backup at the outlet mall signal.

[cpzilliacus]

Regarding the signals at 213 and 404, I went east a couple of Sundays ago, late morning, and noted that it was a pretty solid 3 mile westbound backup, starting from the signal at 213, and continuing through the 404 signal to about a mile and a half south of 404.  Surprisingly, there was no backup at the outlet mall signal.

Curious that the backup started at 213, when there is (relatively-speaking) little traffic entering westbound 50 there - and the green phase for the peak-flow direction on 50 is programmed to be extra-long.

I have encountered (at worst) a "rolling" backup from the signal at 404 all the way to the highest point of the Bay Bridge suspension span - after that, I don't think I have seen much of a backup westbound in years (with exceptions for wrecks or other incidents).

[cpzilliacus]

Baltimore Sun: Planned road improvements in southern Arundel bemoaned as development threat - Highway officials propose Route 2 turn lanes for safety reasons

[Beltway]

<<< Curious that the backup started at 213, when there is (relatively-speaking) little traffic entering westbound 50 there - and the green phase for the peak-flow direction on 50 is programmed to be extra-long. >>>

The green phase is very long, but at peak summer times it is common for the intersection to fail, causing long backups on US-50, to where it can take 2 or 3 cycles for queued vehicles to reach the intersection.  Can happen in either direction when peak times in that direction.

[Mr_Northside]

A summer or 2 ago, the queue (eastbound) from 404 backed up into 213.  From a distance @ 213, you'd see a green light, and wonder why traffic isn't moving, then you see it's just as bad on the other side of the light.  Quite frustrating.

Surprisingly, there was no backup at the outlet mall signal.

I don't think I've dealt with a real backup there in years.

On a slightly related note, I noticed a bunch of materials for overhead sign structures (I'm assuming that's what they were) in a lot at the corner of 50/404.  They were there in mid-June when I went to Ocean City, and was hoping to see something new last week when I went to Chincoteague.  Alas, the sections were still just lying on the ground. 

[Beltway]

The US-50 intersections with MD-213 and MD-404, simply will fail during peak hours.  For the last 20 years, they have needed (at least) to be grade-separated interchanges.

[cpzilliacus]

The green phase is very long, but at peak summer times it is common for the intersection to fail, causing long backups on US-50, to where it can take 2 or 3 cycles for queued vehicles to reach the intersection.  Can happen in either direction when peak times in that direction.

Agreed.  The annoying thing about Md. 213 is that the traffic volume on it is low, but because traffic can be so heavy on U.S. 50, 213 traffic needs a signal there just to access the intersection!

The US-50 intersections with MD-213 and MD-404, simply will fail during peak hours.  For the last 20 years, they have needed (at least) to be grade-separated interchanges.

Also would be good for safety reasons.  Probably 404 (which carries much heavier traffic, plenty of it bound for Delaware) more than 213, but it would make little sense to do one and not the other.

[Beltway]

The US-50 intersections with MD-213 and MD-404, simply will fail during peak hours.  For the last 20 years, they have needed (at least) to be grade-separated interchanges.

Also would be good for safety reasons.  Probably 404 (which carries much heavier traffic, plenty of it bound for Delaware) more than 213, but it would make little sense to do one and not the other.

The "at least" would be building the two interchanges on the existing 4-lane nonlimited-access highway.

There would be the option of upgrading the highway to limited access, and the option of adding one lane each way.

MSHA proposed doing all those in a study over 30 years ago, on the segment between US-301 and south of MD-404, upgrading the highway to a 6-lane freeway, with interchanges at the malls, MD-213, and MD-404.  That is how it is currently programmed in the Consolidated Transportation Program, but with funding only for engineering and right-of-way.  Traffic warrants it.

[cpzilliacus]

The US-50 intersections with MD-213 and MD-404, simply will fail during peak hours.  For the last 20 years, they have needed (at least) to be grade-separated interchanges.

Also would be good for safety reasons.  Probably 404 (which carries much heavier traffic, plenty of it bound for Delaware) more than 213, but it would make little sense to do one and not the other.

The "at least" would be building the two interchanges on the existing 4-lane nonlimited-access highway.

Though there is still the problem of access to U.S. 50 from every other intersecting highway because of the heavy volumes of traffic on 50 (sometimes both ways).

There would be the option of upgrading the highway to limited access, and the option of adding one lane each way.

MSHA proposed doing all those in a study over 30 years ago, on the segment between US-301 and south of MD-404, upgrading the highway to a 6-lane freeway, with interchanges at the malls, MD-213, and MD-404.  That is how it is currently programmed in the Consolidated Transportation Program, but with funding only for engineering and right-of-way.  Traffic warrants it.

There are a few homes and businesses that depend on direct access to U.S. 50 (and do not face any other roads), but I suppose that could be dealt with.  Though I don't know what would be done with access to St. Peter's Catholic Church (Google Maps here), which stands hard by the westbound lanes of the highway (and has no other access to the highway network).

Published U.S. 50 2011 AADT is between 43,000 and 44,000 at Md. 213.  But that is no measure of the wild fluctuations in traffic that happen on this "seasonal" highway. 

And I personally know people that commute along this part of U.S. 50 every day to employment on the west side of the Bay Bridge.