After two years of study, the state announced a timeline to begin a $3.2 million overhaul of a congested, hazardous strip of Route 1 in Baltimore County?s Perry Hall, the governor?s office said Thursday.
Beginning summer 2008, the state will begin resurfacing between Corrington and Joppa roads, relocating traffic signals, upgrading sidewalks and planting shrubbery and flowers. Among other improvements, the state also will build a northbound right-turn lane at Joppa Road in front of Perry Hall Elementary and upgrade signalized intersections with countdowns and audible cues for the blind.
State delegates from District 8 said the work has been a long time coming ? more than 30,000 vehicles travel through the corridor, which has a crash rate higher than the Maryland average for similar roads, they said.
And concerned community leaders first contacted them about highway improvements back in 2003, they said.
“There are two red lights back-to-back that have been causing problems for 30 years and it?s gotten worse and worse with traffic,” said Del. John Cluster. “Everyone talked about fixing it, now we?ve finally convinced the Department of Transportation to do it.”
The state appropriated $300,000 for engineering and planning phases of the project in 2004. On Thursday Gov. Robert Ehrlich?s staff announced the remaining funding for the project, which also includes brick paving accents behind curbs, at intersections and the entrance to Perry Hall Elementary, as well as textured crosswalks at intersections.
A 25-member community taskforce determined how to spend the money, he said.
“Belair Road is the backbone of transportation through Perry Hall,” Ehrlich said in a statement. “These improvements will mean safer travel for both pedestrians and motorists and better access to businesses along this popular commercial corridor.”
