In 2003, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) built a wide, four-lane connector road on Norbeck Road (MD-28) between Layhill and New Hampshire. For the geographically-challenged, this connector road now passes by the large mansions in the Llewellyn Manor Way neighborhood and James Blake High School and allows motorists to skip Norwood Road to reach New Hampshire Avenue.
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| Bike Path at Llewellyn Manor Way on Norbeck Road between New Hampshire & Layhill |
Anyway, the MD-28 connector road significantly shortened travel times on Norbeck Road and attracted many motorists heading to Baltimore, especially to BWI Airport. As a result, traffic congestion worsened considerably on Norbeck Road between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road.
With this in mind, SHA needs to widen the narrow two-lane stretch of Norbeck Road between Georgia Avenue and Layhill Road to four lanes with ample shoulders and dedicated bike lanes. In addition, SHA needs to build a pedestrian-bike path, preferably on both sides of Norbeck Road to ensure that residents and children don't have to dash across a busy Norbeck Road to reach the path if they live on the other side.
The time has come to widen Norbeck Road as it already exceeded its carrying capacity decades ago and the safety issues can no longer be ignored.
Continuing reading after the jump:
I suggest that SHA convert the existing two lanes of southbound and northbound (oncoming traffic) to face one direction. Then build a 25-foot wide grassy median and two brand-new lanes to face the opposite direction.
I suggested a 25-foot wide grassy median between southbound and northbound lanes because most, if not all, residents here have had a terrible time trying to enter Norbeck Road from their neighborhoods, especially when making left turns.
Providing a median between both directions of traffic would prevent collisions by allowing drivers to cross one direction of traffic and pull into a safe zone and wait patiently for openings in traffic before safely entering the road. Many of the traffic collisions on Norbeck Road were the result of frustrated drivers who tired of waiting and waiting for openings in traffic and took risky maneuvers to finally enter the road.
Besides, a dual bike path is more popular with recreational enthusiasts who love to walk, jog, roller-blade, and bike in loops instead of having to return via the same path they just used. Yes, that would mean crossing Norbeck Road from one side to the other, but that can be accomplished safely by placing crosswalks at every traffic intersection such as Wintergate Crossing, Leisure World, Georgia Avenue, and Layhill Road.
Widening Norbeck Road to four-lanes could be difficult as the current route is so narrow that it doesn't even have shoulders in most places. That's very dangerous, not only for motorists who have no room to swerve or pull over in an emergency, but also for pedestrians, and bicyclists. Unfortunately, the only way to widen Norbeck Road would require the seizure of private properties through eminent domain. If the ICC was able to do this with hundreds of private properties along the 18.8-mile stretch of the new highway, then SHA should be able to do the same on Norbeck Road between Georgia and Layhill Road. The time has come to widen Norbeck Road as it already exceeded its carrying capacity decades ago and the safety issues can no longer be ignored.
Continuing reading after the jump:
I suggest that SHA convert the existing two lanes of southbound and northbound (oncoming traffic) to face one direction. Then build a 25-foot wide grassy median and two brand-new lanes to face the opposite direction.
I suggested a 25-foot wide grassy median between southbound and northbound lanes because most, if not all, residents here have had a terrible time trying to enter Norbeck Road from their neighborhoods, especially when making left turns.
Providing a median between both directions of traffic would prevent collisions by allowing drivers to cross one direction of traffic and pull into a safe zone and wait patiently for openings in traffic before safely entering the road. Many of the traffic collisions on Norbeck Road were the result of frustrated drivers who tired of waiting and waiting for openings in traffic and took risky maneuvers to finally enter the road.
Got your own ideas for widening Norbeck Road and adding bike lanes and pedestrian paths? Please share in the comment section and feel free to e-mail me at norbeckroad@gmail.com
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I've been reading over all of your posts and sympathize greatly with your cause. I wish there would be enough space to create sidewalks on Norbeck, particularly in the wooded areas, but I fear there would be too much outcry over the loss of trees and property. My neighbor lodged a complaint when my house was being built because she feared I was causing "too much destruction," which I think is utterly ridiculous; I should be able to do whatever I want with my backyard.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, keep up the great work. I think you may live VERY close to me because most of your pictures occur where I live.
I also agree merging onto Norbeck is a major pain. Finding that gap can take forever.
- M
I live in Leisure World (corner Georgia and Norbeck)and fully support your proposal. I understand there is development planned for the north side of Norback, just East of Georgia, so it would seem that the time for the county to purchase the land there is now. If the development is on the north side of Norbeck, I would think you would have the support of the 8,000+ residents (voters) of Leisure World. Perhaps you could provide presentations to the Democratic and Republican clubs at Leisure World.
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