A Safer Route 29

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A Safer Route 29 Petition

To: Maryland State Highway Administration, Howard County Government & Officials, Maryland State Representatives

Sponsors: Members of Daniels Mill Overlook Homeowners Association, Mount Hebron High School PTSA

Given the recent fatality of Andrew Noel, other accidents and incidents that have occurred and the numerous "near misses" we have experienced or witnessed since its opening, we believe that the configuration and actual utilization of the crossover intersection of Rt 29 and I-70 providing additional access to I-70 west is unsafe and that this intersection should be permanently closed.

We, the undersigned:

Agree with and support a thorough and open investigation of the intersection that encompasses not only engineering criteria but actual use patterns and driving behaviors of those who use the crossover;

We request an active dialogue between SHA, the community, the Howard County Government and our elected officials to reach a safe and supported solution; and,

We respectfully request that this intersection be closed during an interim period while the aforementioned investigation and dialogue take place.

1234 Signatures

  • Jim Bothe
  • Cathy Bothe
  • Bryan Dombrowski
  • Janet Tillman
    • Comments
    • This access to I70 from Rt 40 was a poor concept, and an accident waiting to happen. It must be changed before any more lives are lost.
  • Susan Hall
    • Comments
    • В
  • Paul Eyes
    • Comments
    • В
  • Margie Humm
  • Michelle Fox
  • Stella Hoffman
  • Joe Humm
    • Comments
    • It was bad from the start.... My grandfather got in a crash there too....
  • Louise Reiner
    • Comments
    • This strange configuration just doesn't go with the volume and speed of traffic on Rte 29
  • Ariane E. Cerlenko
    • Comments
    • I have had many near accidents at this spot. This is very dangerous.
  • Paul R. Tillman
  • Lori Shifflett
  • Michael K. Walker
    • Comments
    • I totally support permanent closure of this intersection which NEVER should have been opened in the first place. In most states (as well as in MD) a left turn across on-coming traffic traveling at freeway speeds should be ILLEGAL in addition to unsafe. If the Maryland Highway Department truly wants to alleviate traffic congestion for access to Intersate 70, they should widen its stretch from 29 to Marriottsville Road to the 3 lane width to which it obviously should have been built originally. Though I realize that this cost would far exceed the financial expense of the left turn lane, how does it compare to the needless loss of a HUMAN LIFE? When I first saw its construction, I naturally assumed that it was only for emergency vehicles. When I saw that it was actually for traffic flow, I had but 1 thought - a DEATHTRAP waiting to be sprung. I cannot express deeply enough how offended & angry I am that the fatality I anticipated would be a friend & football teammate of my son, Tom! Please close it.
  • Jenny L Brown
    • Comments
    • While the original access to I-70 west may hold up some in a hurry, it is a safe access. The second is not when used by people accessing it across Rt. 29 south.
  • Paul D. Imre
    • Comments
    • It is one of the most dangerous road crossing in the state of MD!
  • Jody Imre
    • Comments
    • I fear for my life when going past that intersection. It should not have been built!
  • Betty Ann Kyser
    • Comments
    • I absolutely hate that dangerous crossover. Frequently vehicles wait until the very last second to select which exit they want to take, or worse swerve across from the east side to the west endangering cars traveling up to the traffic light at the end of Rt. 29. Hate it.
  • Jennifer Zwahlen
    • Comments
    • В
  • Jay Russell
    • Comments
    • I have had near misses as a result of this intersection -- it's too dangerous as designed.
  • Karen Grieff
    • Comments
    • Ever since it has opened I have hated it. It is an invitation for disaster.
  • Anna Ohlhaver
  • Sabrina rahman
    • Comments
    • Please close the 29 crossover
  • Dennis Ohlhaver
  • Michael E. Forry
    • Comments
    • I encourage the MSHA to stop the dangerous cross traffic over the southbound Rt. 29 Highway
  • Christie Zwahlen
    • Comments
    • В
  • Abe Fuji
    • Comments
    • shortly after the west side I70 on ramp was opened, I was almost involved in an accident going northbound because someone changed their mind and swerved from the west side to the east side on ramp. Terrible idea.
  • RICHARD STARK
    • Comments
    • I also, have had a few near accidents at this most dangerous site. Please correct this as soon as possible before more lives are lost!
  • Lisa Cangialosi
  • Lawrence Jinks
  • Natalie Jinks
  • Terri Worrel
  • Steven Worrel
  • Stanley Rajakumar
  • Josh Boltz
  • Virginia Peralta
  • Kelli Dicks
  • Stephanie Reynolds
  • Pam Keys
    • Comments
    • What a tragic loss of a wonderful young man - just to save a few minutes of travel time. I have known Andrew all of his life, and believe me, it is not worth the trade-off ! Andrew can't be replaced, and it is definitely a great loss for this community.
  • Matthew Dicks
    • Comments
    • One of the most dangerous and misleading interchanges around. There is no sign for thru traffic on 29 north where 70 east splits off. There is only a sign for 70 east and 70 west, so which way does 29 north go? I know many drivers who have ended up at 695 because they didn't know which way 29 north went. A few hundred yards later drivers dive back and forth across 3 lanes of traffic trying to figure out which sign for 70 west is correct, not understanding that both are correct. On top of all of this, the crossover for 70 west is in the acceleration zone for those headed south on 29, so those using the crossover often misjudge the speed of the oncoming traffic.
  • Lisa Carrozzi
  • Eric Anderson
    • Comments
    • A terrible design, needs to be closed before another needless tragedy happens.
  • Vicki Tymann
    • Comments
    • Please close this crossover!
  • Amber Beall
    • Comments
    • В
  • Stephen Beall
    • Comments
    • В
  • Robert Melan
    • Comments
    • To the author , thank you for being in the vanguard of this public safety issue
  • Coral French
  • Michael Tillman
  • Evelyn Gamber
    • Comments
    • Since the opening of this ramp on 29 the traffic has been dangerous. People not familar with area get confused and change lanes rapidly. They are unsure which is the correct exit. It doesn't show this exit when you go online to get driving directions, so people from out of town just panic. I've seen truckers switch lanes so fast the possiblitiy of JACK KNIVING will soon be a factor of a major accident here as well. During the eveing i come home on route 29 and I'm always amazed at the 2 lanes of traffic exiting onto route 70. Instead of this lane being put in, the money should have been put to expanding route 70 to carry the heavy load like the beltways does. Certain portions of 70 do require 3 lanes and our area of the 29 drop off is one of them. The question is alway the same... How many have to DIE before you realize this shouldn't have been built?