Traffic patterns to change for July 4 festivities

Careful planning could reduce delays

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The sheriff’s office came up with the plans in hopes of alleviating the long traffic delays they dealt with last year after the end of the fireworks, said 1st Sgt. Todd Ireland, assistant patrol commander.

Last year it took more than two hours to clear traffic off Solomons Island after the festivities, so this year the traffic plan includes making both lanes of Route 2 one way heading off the island for an hour after the fireworks, Ireland said.

Signs will be posted designating new traffic patterns as traffic leaves fireworks display areas, and deputies will ensure compliance of the traffic flow plan.

Solomons on July 4

All southbound traffic gaining access to Solomons Island will be prohibited for one hour after the fireworks display ends, with both lanes of traffic on Route 2 heading off the island designated northbound.

Bridge restrictions:

Access off the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge will be restricted after the fireworks by blocking the northbound exit from obtaining access to Route 2 and the island. The road in front of the visitor center that loops to a southbound access to the bridge will also be blocked.

Glascock Field exiting:

The exit from Glascock Field onto Route 2 will allow traffic to go north in the normally southbound lane. There will be delineation devices separating the northbound and southbound traffic lanes when exiting Glascock Field onto Route 2 following through to the exit on Route 4.

Northbound traffic can exit onto Route 4 at the exit across from Roy Rogers Restaurant. Route 2 will remain only northbound until the Route 4 access just north of Boomerangs Restaurant.

Southbound traffic may proceed to the light at Patuxent Point Parkway (Solomons Towne Centre traffic light) to make the left onto southbound Route 4.

Traffic exiting Glascock Field to proceed north on Route 2 will be stopped momentarily to allow buses to exit from the visitor center, which will be utilized for the buses to drop off people and turn around.

St. Mary’s County traffic:

Those wanting to travel south over the bridge to St. Mary’s County may do so from an exit on the north end of Glascock Field. A sign will be posted indicating the field exit is for St. Mary’s traffic only. Traffic may also exit onto Route 2 and head north until the traffic light at Patuxent Point Parkway where they can make a left heading south onto Route 4.

Dowell Road exiting:

All traffic exiting Dowell Road will be denied access to Route 4 at Dowell Road intersection and will be made to turn right onto Route 765 to Coster Road. Dowell Road traffic that needs to go south will continue to the light at Route 760 to gain access to the southbound lanes of Route 4.

Twin Beaches on July 3

The traffic plan is set up to eliminate all left hand turns on a stretch of Route 261 going through the Twin Beaches, eliminating the need to stop traffic randomly and enabling traffic to flow without stopping. The centerline of Route 261 will be blocked with delineation devices that will prohibit vehicles making U-turns.

If people who live north park on the east side of Route 261 and those going south park on the west side, it would make their exit easier, Ireland said.

Traffic north of Route 260 along Route 261 on the east side of Route 261 must either make right turns or exit left on 5th Street to Boyd’s Turn to Route 260. Traffic on the west side of Route 261 must make a right turn and exit on 27th Street to G Street to Route 261.

Traffic south of Route 260 along Route 261 on the east side of Route 261 must make a right turn and use Route 260. Traffic on the west side of Route 261 must turn right and continue along Route 261 to Ponds Wood Road and proceed to Maryland Route 4.

Some people make think that the traffic plan will cost them extra gas, but it’s actually more efficient because they will not have to idle in traffic, Ireland said.