What's Up with Lusby?

I was at a meeting not long ago. I saw the presentation put on by the State Roads people about the roads in Lusby.

1. The presentation was a whole lot better than the last one at SCC. Mr. O'Donnell asked the community leaders, that is the Board members of Drum Point and CRE to give them positive feedback.

2. Mr. O'Donnell really put his reputation on the line and he made sure the presentation is up to speed.

3. There are, however, some basic design flaws [even tho it is much improved over the original] and the intersection into the Giant off of Rousby Hall is going to be a killer... The northern exit from Giant on HG Truman is the next bad intersection. It's just not safe enough

4. I asked them to consider the fact that mothers with children in the car will be traveling these roads... and I asked them to consider the danger of the normal distractions they would be dealing with.... they told me they could not make a road that safe...

5. In my opinion it's just not smart to design an uncontrolled intersection between two large grocery stores, a dump site, a school, and three liquor stores....

6. I bet cement fiasco at the entrance to Giant off of Rousby Hall is going to back traffic out on to 2/4

7. Oh... and let's not even begin to discuss the cement dividers on HG Truman that will be blocking the bank entrance.

With all that... it's still better than it was... good work... I'd love to know when the general public will see the new [and much better] presentation.

I'd also like to know when we'll get work on the deed Johnny Gott was supposed to hand over.... is that done yet?

[itsbob]

Actually I think the biggest concern in Calvert county is to have more then ONE road to get out of the county in case of emergency.. I could care less about the entrances to a grocery store.. if it's not good enough, consumers won't shop there, and the grocery store will do something to fix it.



BUT right now, something happens at the nuke plant we have ONE road to get out of the county going South.. all other roads either dead end, or take you back out onto 4.. then there is the HUGE bottle neck that is the bridge.. AND if in the haste of getting out of te area there happens to be an accident on the bridge (which happened in many places during Katrina) everyone is pretty much screwed.. whats the plan to clear the bridge and keep it clear, what if the bridge CAN'T be cleared, then what? One road, leading to one bridge, and how many cars, busses and trucks will be trying to jockey into position to get across first while applying the Bigger Bumper Rule? I hope YOUR life never depends on getting out of Calvert County!

[forever jewel]

Originally Posted by itsbob

I hope YOUR life never depends on getting out of Calvert County!

At the moment, mine doesn't.... but I have too many friends that live in Calvert. That's a scary thought.

Originally Posted by itsbob

Actually I think the biggest concern in Calvert county is to have more then ONE road to get out of the county in case of emergency.. I could care less about the entrances to a grocery store.. if it's not good enough, consumers won't shop there, and the grocery store will do something to fix it.



BUT right now, something happens at the nuke plant we have ONE road to get out of the county going South.. all other roads either dead end, or take you back out onto 4.. then there is the HUGE bottle neck that is the bridge.. AND if in the haste of getting out of te area there happens to be an accident on the bridge (which happened in many places during Katrina) everyone is pretty much screwed.. whats the plan to clear the bridge and keep it clear, what if the bridge CAN'T be cleared, then what? One road, leading to one bridge, and how many cars, busses and trucks will be trying to jockey into position to get across first while applying the Bigger Bumper Rule? I hope YOUR life never depends on getting out of Calvert County!

That's true... I was wondering... why does everyone think there has to be a second strand at the Thomas Johnson? Wouldn't it make more sense to go a little further up the river and put in another bridge...

Now remember... when JPC steals my idea.... you read it here first....

[BadGirl (Premo)]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

3. There are, however, some basic design flaws [even tho it is much improved over the original] and the intersection into the Giant off of Rousby Hall is going to be a killer... The northern exit from Giant on HG Truman is the next bad intersection. It's just not safe enough.

4. I asked them to consider the fact that mothers with children in the car will be traveling these roads... and I asked them to consider the danger of the normal distractions they would be dealing with.... they told me they could not make a road that safe...

5. In my opinion it's just not smart to design an uncontrolled intersection between two large grocery stores, a dump site, a school, and three liquor stores....

6. I bet cement fiasco at the entrance to Giant off of Rousby Hall is going to back traffic out on to 2/4

7. Oh... and let's not even begin to discuss the cement dividers on HG Truman that will be blocking the bank entrance.

With all that... it's still better than it was... good work... I'd love to know when the general public will see the new [and much better] presentation.

I'd also like to know when we'll get work on the deed Johnny Gott was supposed to hand over.... is that done yet?

3. I'm thinking that whatever design is introduced you'll critize as "not being safe enough".

4. It seems that mothers with distractions should get their distractions under control before heading out on the highways. Drivers who are preoccupied with activities in their car are more of a hazard than cement truck drivers, in my opinion. I'm much more afraid of the inexperienced young driver with excess numbers of school kids in the cars, with the music turned up, and who is sending text messages than I am of a cement truck driver.

5. If an intersection is so tricky that it makes entry and exit from those businesses too difficult, consumers will simply go to those business that have an easier point of entry. People definitely have choices as to where they can shop.

6. So what? There are traffic incidents all the time. People sit in traffic until the accident clears, and then they go on about their business. Traffic and accidents occur whatever road you're talking about; it's an expected hazard of being a driver on the roadway system. And if traffic backs up to route 2/4, it's no big deal. Be surprised that there aren't any more accidents than there are on the roads, considering some of the assinine way that drivers drive on the roads.

7. Oh. My. God. A cement barrier that blocks the entrance to a bank. I see this as a non-issue. I don't see why you should consider this to be a deal-breaker to a proposed road plan.

Naturally, my opinion shouldn't mean jack squat since I am not a resident of Calvert.

[willie]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I was at a meeting not long ago. I saw the presentation put on by the State Roads people about the roads in Lusby.

1. The presentation was a whole lot better than the last one at SCC. Mr. O'Donnell asked the community leaders, that is the Board members of Drum Point and CRE to give them positive feedback.

2. Mr. O'Donnell really put his reputation on the line and he made sure the presentation is up to speed.

3. There are, however, some basic design flaws [even tho it is much improved over the original] and the intersection into the Giant off of Rousby Hall is going to be a killer... The northern exit from Giant on HG Truman is the next bad intersection. It's just not safe enough

4. I asked them to consider the fact that mothers with children in the car will be traveling these roads... and I asked them to consider the danger of the normal distractions they would be dealing with.... they told me they could not make a road that safe...

5. In my opinion it's just not smart to design an uncontrolled intersection between two large grocery stores, a dump site, a school, and three liquor stores....

6. I bet cement fiasco at the entrance to Giant off of Rousby Hall is going to back traffic out on to 2/4

7. Oh... and let's not even begin to discuss the cement dividers on HG Truman that will be blocking the bank entrance.

With all that... it's still better than it was... good work... I'd love to know when the general public will see the new [and much better] presentation.

I'd also like to know when we'll get work on the deed Johnny Gott was supposed to hand over.... is that done yet?

Before they resort to another stop light, they should move the waste transfer station down the road next to the new funeral home.

The cement divider in front of the bank will be a very good thing if the left turning bank customers can exit to Gott's Parkway instead.

What is a "cement fiasco" as in #6?

Mothers with mis-behaving children should be at least 3 points against their license. They should not figure into this problem.

The Southern connector to Dowell Road will cut this whole problem in half.

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

That's true... I was wondering... why does everyone think there has to be a second strand at the Thomas Johnson? Wouldn't it make more sense to go a little further up the river and put in another bridge...

Now remember... when JPC steals my idea.... you read it here first....

Because it would probably be cheaper to build a second two lane span next to the one that is there, instead of building a four lane span upriver somewhere.. and when you suggest upriver, where exactly.. I thought they picked the spot that it is due to water depth, and the length of the span is much shorter there then it would be anywhere else.

Although, if they do build a second span OR a new four lane, I hope they think to build in break down lanes.

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Because it would probably be cheaper to build a second two lane span next to the one that is there, instead of building a four lane span upriver somewhere.. and when you suggest upriver, where exactly.. I thought they picked the spot that it is due to water depth, and the length of the span is much shorter there then it would be anywhere else.

Although, if they do build a second span OR a new four lane, I hope they think to build in break down lanes.

The current location is the deepest river in the U.S., so depth isn't the issue.

If you look at where the traffic is coming from and going to, the current location makes the most sense. I guess you could put a bridge in from Broome's Island to Sotterly, but you'd also have to build up the approach roads to handle the traffic.

If we just had two more lanes, a breakdown lane wouldn't be necessary as long as you have lane control like the Bay bridge does.

Originally Posted by MMDad

The current location is the deepest river in the U.S., so depth isn't the issue.

If you look at where the traffic is coming from and going to, the current location makes the most sense. I guess you could put a bridge in from Broome's Island to Sotterly, but you'd also have to build up the approach roads to handle the traffic.

If we just had two more lanes, a breakdown lane wouldn't be necessary as long as you have lane control like the Bay bridge does.

That's so true... Where would you plop that other lane tho? There are those homes on the ST Mary's side... [although I couldn't live there with the thump thump all the time...]

Originally Posted by BadGirl

3. I'm thinking that whatever design is introduced you'll critize as "not being safe enough".

4. It seems that mothers with distractions should get their distractions under control before heading out on the highways. Drivers who are preoccupied with activities in their car are more of a hazard than cement truck drivers, in my opinion. I'm much more afraid of the inexperienced young driver with excess numbers of school kids in the cars, with the music turned up, and who is sending text messages than I am of a cement truck driver.

5. If an intersection is so tricky that it makes entry and exit from those businesses too difficult, consumers will simply go to those business that have an easier point of entry. People definitely have choices as to where they can shop.

6. So what? There are traffic incidents all the time. People sit in traffic until the accident clears, and then they go on about their business. Traffic and accidents occur whatever road you're talking about; it's an expected hazard of being a driver on the roadway system. And if traffic backs up to route 2/4, it's no big deal. Be surprised that there aren't any more accidents than there are on the roads, considering some of the assinine way that drivers drive on the roads.

7. Oh. My. God. A cement barrier that blocks the entrance to a bank. I see this as a non-issue. I don't see why you should consider this to be a deal-breaker to a proposed road plan.

Naturally, my opinion shouldn't mean jack squat since I am not a resident of Calvert.

Sorry it took me so long to answer this posting.... I didn't see it...

I do think that extra care should be taken in the design of the area between Appeal Lane and Rousby Hall Road on HG Truman. This is going to be a very busy strip... It is the main access for a major community....

I want to set the safety bar really high. That's why I use the distracted mother and the liquor store drunk as the scenario. The ones you listed would be equally as tragic.

When this particular strip of road was designed, it seems as tho the developers designed the road and the State reviewed their plan. During the design of this strip, however, we had two developers in conflict. With that in mind...I do think we need to look at the design closer. It is safer than the first draft I saw a few months ago.

Another reason I keep harping on this intersection is the lack of information. The County and the State botched this project... then they stopped talking with us... So, I am trying to keep an eye on it...

By the way... You may not live in Calvert... but your input is important because (1) you may come visit us and we want you to be safe... and (2) you're willing to take the time to give an insightful response.