Commuters question 'no shortcut rules' near Bay Bridge

By ERIN COX and E.B. FURGURSON III Staff Writers

Published 09/05/08

Frustrated drivers roll from stop to standstill waiting to cross the Bay Bridge each evening - their favorite shortcuts limited to "local access only."

Now some of them are starting to cry foul.

"I want to know, am I local?" Paul Placek, a 31-year commuter, complained at a community meeting this week. "I live here on Kent Island. I am not going to the beach."

Anne Arundel County Police last week began restricting traffic on the two service roads flanking U.S. 50, a popular route for skirting the eastbound backups and hopping back onto the highway closer to the bridge. Officers in marked and...

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Access mess - 2008-09-09 19:09:23

My wife loved it when she saw officers sending people the other way on College Parkway. She had to take our daughter to dance class from one side of the access road to the other side and was in traffic for 40 minutes. With all this past mess and future mess predicted...why hasnt anyone thought about putting up a barrier wall for the residences along 50 and the bay bridge? Our homes are alot closer to 50 than the million dollar homes located near the Severn River bridge (their barrier walls were more of a priority...)

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w. del rosario - annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

No Doubt! - 2008-09-09 10:39:41

K Overman I do indeed agree that there needs to be another span! And I am not one to take a route other then 50 on the west side so I am blissfuly unaware of your traffic woes, I only know of the woes I face east of the bridge. Lucky for us after Labor day they lighten up :)

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Kristina P. - Easton, MD - Karma: Bad

RE: Kristina P. - Easton, - 2008-09-09 09:15:17

Yes people from the western shore should respect those of the east. No question about that. However the problem is not nearly as prevelent as it is on the western shore. It has alwayse been a nightmare friday nights and saturdays in the college park area as people headed to the beach and took college park as a shortcut to the bridge. But now with the bridge repairs as they are every night its a nightmare. I go to work now at 5am so I can come home before the nightmare begins each day but when I do get home im pretty much stuck there. If we need to go anyware were essentialy up the creek. I live with someone that requires regular doctor visits and instead of doing them in the afternoon not to miss work I have to take them earlier to avoid the traffic. I think its time the state realized a new bridge is needed. I would like to see a super sized bay bridge built between the existing.

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K. Overman - arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

No, Paul - 2008-09-08 08:49:43

...you're not local. I agree with Mr. Jordan on this. I live in the Cape but not on that service road and I accept the restrictions so that these residents can get into and out of their homes with some degree of ease. I also agree that this is just as applicable on the other side of the bridge. Quite frankly, my home is just on the other end of the frontage road so I get clobbered coming home College Parkway by short-cutters. I guess there is a limit.

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John Myers - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

respect - 2008-09-06 17:32:07

Jennifer you say that you don't want eastern shore residents who work on the western shore clogging up your side roads, but don't we deserve the same when western shore folks come over here? People in route to the beach run down traffic cones at the bridge toll plaza trying to get out of traffic, they clog up route 18 on the island, take routes to get around the lights at 213 and 404 and use the Easton Bypass ...... I respect the fact that you don't want your roads jammed up with people who don't live there, but please have a little respect for us and our community roads next time you venture east! I moved here to get away from that mess .... Besides eastern shore residents who work in the Annapolis area atleast bring money into your county by stoping for gas, shoping, ect ..... People in route to the beach typically do not contruibute anything to eastern shore communities except traffic and headaches.

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Kristina P. - Easton, MD - Karma: Bad

Forget Access Roads.... - 2008-09-05 19:36:14

what about the other "short cuts" to get to the bridge?!?!?! Lately it seems as though College Parkway is a literal parking lot from about 4:30 on...surely not all those people are returning to their homes on the Broadneck Penninsula? When it takes 20 minutes to get from the light at Shore Acres to the light at Bay Dale Drive it is more than a little ridiculous. I am essentially trapped in my home and cannot make appointments or activities in a timely fashion because of everyone feeling the need to take a short cut. You chose to live on the Eastern Shore of MD while still working on the Western Shore of MD - your commute should have been a factor in that choice. It is utterly unfair to those of us who live here and just want to get our kids to dance class on time or go to the grocery store or to the library!!!!

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Jennifer Iwancio - Arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

Your Not Local... - 2008-09-05 16:09:51

and I'm not either
I lived in Cape St. Claire for 30 years, and have lived in Chester for 3 years now. Tha access road on the westenr shore are for people and business right off of those roads to get in and out. They are not for thru traffic. The eastern shore does not have quite the same problem, but when west bound traffic does back up the local roads rt18 should be treated the same way. Yes the bridge mess is aweful, but deal with it or move. I was loving it as the MTA officers were giving tickets for people cutting through the cones. The more people who follow the rules the less time wasted by everyone. Line jumpers add to backups!

Dave Jordan,
Chester

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David Jordan - Chester, MD - Karma: Bad

Will Hire Mr. Cochran - 2008-09-05 14:04:53

If MTA officials can't put Mr. Zimmerman's idea of opening all lanes during rush hour (4-8 p.m.) into effect, then at the very least the Eastern Shore commuters, who have put up with "Reach the Beach" tourist traffic backing up our roadways for decades, should be allowed to use the access roads to return home after work.
Elected officials of Maryland, this is no way to treat your taxpayers.
Mr. Cochran, should I receive a ticket for the offense of trying to reach my home after work (and I probably will) I will have you at my side in court!

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Elisabeth W. - Stevensville, MD - Karma: Bad