State Highway Administration Proposes Improvements Along Route 1 in Riverdale Park

It may get easier to travel along Route 1, if a new State High Administration plan for the roadway gets off the ground.

At Monday's Riverdale Park Town Council worksession, Claudine Myers from the Maryland State Highway Administration presented the council and attending residents with SHA's plan to address capacity issues on Route 1 in Riverdale Park.

Meyers admitted that the project would not eliminate congestion, but said that it would increase capacity and hopefully alleviate some of the traffic backups that happen at the intersection of Queensbury and Route 1 during rush hour.

In order to increase Route 1's capacity, SHA has proposed the construction of an additional left-turn lane on northbound Route 1 approaching MD 410. The new left-turn lane would begin at the intersection of Route 1 and Queensbury Road and extend north, ending just north of MD 410. The total proposed distance of the new lane is .14 miles.

The majority of the lane widening is proposed to occur in front of the , using property dedicated by the business for this purpose. However, there would be about two feet of curb loss to Riverdale businesses along Route 1.

This project would also include resurfacing, base widening, replacing roadway curbs, and upgrading existing ramps and sidewalks to bring the sidewalk area between Queensbury and MD 410 into ADA compliance. They would also remove the current planters on Route 1, as well as the trees, as part of bringing the sidewalk into compliance.

SHA would also relocate the traffic signal at the Route 1/MD 410 intersection, install new pavement markings, relocate existing roadway signs, and improve drainage along this stretch of roadway.

This project was initially opposed by the Riverdale Park Business Association, and some members attended the meeting to express their concerns.  The RPBA felt the narrowing of the sidewalk would make it difficult for the  to continue to use its outdoor seating patio.

Myers stated that SHA measured the area, and that the road-widening project would still leave enough room for Calvert House's outdoor patio. After hearing this information, the RPBA was satisfied with the proposal.

The project design is underway, and the construction notice to proceed is scheduled for August 2012.