Thanks all around for Route 32 project

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005

  By Susan W. Krebs

For too many years, those who live around the MacBeth Way⁄Piney Ridge Parkway intersection at Md. Route 32 have been stressed out trying to navigate the dangerous entrance to their neighborhoods.

Many serious and several fatal accidents have occurred at this point in the last few years.

But now, thanks to the Board of Carroll County Commissioners and the Ehrlich administration, we are turning the corner on our most troubled intersection. And, as a bonus, the boarded-up buildings at Liberty Road and Route 32 finally will meet the wrecking ball.

Just last week, I received written notification from state Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan that the old liquor store and sporting goods shop could be torn down as early as February with cooperation from the property owner.

A new signal at Route 32 and MacBeth Way would not be far behind. Do I hear a collective sigh of relief from the Freedom Area Citizens Council and the rest of my constituents?

The project includes a right-turn lane from eastbound Liberty Road onto southbound 32, which will be separated from the main road by a concrete barrier. Route 32 will be widened south slightly past MacBeth Way to allow for traffic flow through the new traffic signal.

This joint transportation project between the county and the state is another step into the economic and transportation renaissance that is our future. Leaders are in place now to get our cars moving safely and quality jobs inside our county growing.

Early in our term, the new light at Piney Ridge Parkway was a priority for the commissioners and me. After careful evaluation by the State Highway Administration, it was determined that more was involved in putting a light so close to the intersection of routes 26 and 32.

A signal alone would have backed traffic up into the Liberty⁄32 intersection. Thus, the new right-turn lane from Route 26 and a widening of 32 became part of the project, which greatly increased the scope and the cost. The state simply did not have the resources to immediately put this large project on the books.

Acknowledging the backlog of state transportation projects, the commissioners proposed partnering with the state to accelerate the timeline on this project.

In May, the commissioners took the unusual step of putting up $2.5 million — or half the cost — of improving the Route 32⁄26 intersection and widening Route 32 south to Macbeth Way.

Without this brave move by our Carroll County commissioners and without the Ehrlich administration’s willingness to invest in our long-ignored county, this Route 32 project would be lost inside some dusty transportation drawer.

Senator Allan Kittleman and I met with state transportation officials in June to make sure that the county’s investment to accelerate the project had not fallen off the track.

We won a promise from State Highway Administrator Neil Pedersen that planning and land acquisition would be accelerated. Mr. Pedersen gave the clear directive to his staff that this project was to move full speed ahead with tasks being completed concurrently rather than consecutively.

Prior to our annual transportation meeting last week, the commissioners and I met with state transportation officials to discuss again, in detail, the expectations of the county’s investment in this project.

Secretary Flanagan followed up with a written guarantee of the state’s commitment in the acceleration of this project.

I am confident we will see real action in the months to come.

You are probably aware of the earthmoving equipment that is now working on the new intersection on Route 32 at the entrance of Warfield. Our travels on Route 32 are finally going to start improving with these two major projects.

Let’s keep our eyes on the corner of Liberty Road and 32. That wrecking ball will be a visible sign that more progress is indeed on its way.

The writer is a Republican who represents District 9B in the Maryland House of Delegates.