Traffic Congestion

Driver error often is blamed for vehicular crashes, and in the purest sense, it's hard to think of an accident that does not involve some degree of driver error. But when the pileups begin to pile up, as they have at the intersection of Eastern Boulevard and Chartridge Drive, another possibility raises its head -- design error. Of course, it's unlikely that any government board or agency will accept responsibility for bad planning when it's much tidier to blame bad driving.

Early morning traffic outside one school in Hagerstown gets a failing grade from officials and parents. Traffic conditions on Md. 65 from Wilson Boulevard in Hagerstown to Col. Henry K. Douglas Drive south of Interstate 70 during morning and afternoon rush hours earned an E/F grade when it came to traffic congestion, according to Joe Kroboth, director of Washington County's Division of Public Works, and Rodney Tissue, city engineer for Hagerstown....

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- A "bypass" route that has been studied as an option to alleviate traffic congestion at the two intersections of W.Va. 51 and U.S. 11 in Inwood, W.Va., could cost nearly $8 million, West Virginia Department of Transportation officials said Thursday. A 5-lane option about .66 miles in length proposes the re-routing of W.Va. 51 east of Jubal Early Avenue directly to the northern intersection of the two heavily traveled routes in southern Berkeley County to provide a more direct outlet to Interstate 81, state officials said during a transportation summit held in Martinsburg.

Hagerstown Community College will take part in the 18th annual Ride To Work Day Monday. An international event, the annual Ride To Work Day first began as an effort to demonstrate how motorcyclists can be a responsible solution to traffic congestion, parking and fossil fuel challenges. Every year on the third Monday in June, motorcyclists and scooter riders around the world are encouraged to ride their vehicles to their places of employment. HCC's Motorcycle Safety Program will also be sponsoring special motorcycle-oriented activities as part of the annual event.

CLEAR SPRING -- A Frederick County, Md., man died Thursday afternoon on Interstate 70 near St. Paul Road when the pickup truck he was driving went into the median and struck several trees head-on, according to Maryland State Police. Police said Andrew Franklin Maught, 26, of Jefferson, initially drifted on to the right shoulder, then overcorrected before crossing both westbound lanes of travel and going into the median. It is unclear what caused Maught to drift off the interstate, Sgt. Mike Fluharty said.

HAGERSTOWN -- Traffic relief in some parts of Hagerstown could be right around the corner. City Engineer Rodney Tissue discussed with the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday several proposals that would relieve rush-hour traffic congestion, primarily in the section of West Franklin Street between Potomac Street and Burhans Boulevard. Tissue said traffic in the city increases about 2 percent every year. "Over the years, that adds up," he said. "Our goal is to have a steady flow of traffic.

A plan that would allow three Eastern Panhandle highways to become toll roads has riled some local residents, and a pair of Jefferson County government agencies are expressing their concerns to state officials. Charles Town City council members decided Monday night to send a letter to the state Division of Highways expressing opposition to the toll roads, according to council member Geraldine Willingham. The Jefferson County Development Authority's board of directors decided Tuesday to send a letter to state officials expressing the same concerns, said Jane Peters, the authority's executive director.

SCOTLAND, Pa. - Construction for the replacement of a bridge at Exit 20 of Interstate 81 should total at least $8.3 million. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation opened bids Thursday and has them under further review. The apparent low bidder was Kinsley Construction Inc. of York, Pa., according to a PennDOT press release. Construction is expected to begin in early 2008 and last until the summer of 2010, according to the release. The initial focus will be on removing electrical, telephone and cable television utilities, PennDOT said.

SCOTLAND, Pa. ? Construction for the replacement of a bridge at Exit 20 of Interstate 81 should total at least $8.3 million. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation opened bids Thursday and has them under further review. The apparent low bidder was Kinsley Construction Inc. of York, Pa., according to a PennDOT press release. Construction is expected to begin in early 2008 and last until the summer of 2010, according to the release. The initial focus will be on removing electrical, telephone and cable television utilities, PennDOT said.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The Antrim Township Board of Supervisors heard recommendations Tuesday about how to reduce traffic congestion at the intersection of Pa. 16 and exit 5 of Interstate 81. The supervisors initially approved the proposed study by Grove Miller Traffic Engineering Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa., on May 8 at a cost of $21,300. Township Manager Ben Thomas said the problem of traffic stacking at the intersection during morning and evening rush hours is the main reason for the study.