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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Can't We Simply Get More "J" Turns On Rt. 50 Instead Of Lights?

Recently the Maryland State Hwy Department announced they want to place a traffic light in Pittsville. In my honest opinion, this will be a disaster, traffic wise. 

In the summer the Eastern Shore enjoys millions of vehicles traveling to Ocean City. Adding yet another traffic light will cause not only congestion for these visitors, it will cause massive traffic for locals as well. 

As many of you know, we own a home in Delmar, not far from Rt. 50. When we travel to Rt. 50, we have to make a right turn onto Rt. 50 and go about a quarter of a mile to make a U-Turn to head east bound. 

I'm absolutely amazed that they haven't created a J-Turn at Royal Farms to this date. God Forbid they decide to add a traffic light there as well. 

So my quest in this article is to ask our viewers, do you believe a J-Turn in Pittsville would be a better idea?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joe maybe the person writing this post doesn't know how the govt works... They create problems not solve them... They want you mad and pissed and they want every town and city to be like Milton or Millsboro, not sure which one but it is a town in Delaware on 113 that has lights every intersection and the traffic during the summer gets so backed up you can't even get through 2 lights in 30 minutes... Also this will waste money which the govt is good at and is actively trying to do to the best of their ability...

Steve said...

It's certainly worth a try before installing the expensive traffic lights! And I must agree with 747, we pay taxes by the gallons of gas burned in our cars. Just try going west through Salisbury on Rt. 50, you will hit every light just when it's turning red! What a gas waster that is!

Anonymous said...

A J turn would be much better. How many "rear-enders " will occur with a traffic light. If i were an attorney I'd get a billboard right there for all of the injury claims

Anonymous said...

That would be Millsboro. That town is absolutely horrible for traffic no matter the time and day. It's needs a bypass around that town for people heading to the beach

Anonymous said...

J turns aren't very easy to navigate with a combine.

JoeAlbero said...

8:23, Then take the combine to the next road where most are making the J-Turn. The intersection I'm talking about is the most dangerous. Just go to the Main Street cross over and you'll be fine.

Anonymous said...

more red lights!
anything to deter people from coming down

Anonymous said...

I think the light idea is awful and a J Turn? Imagine this - you turn right off of Gumboro Road only to meet traffic doing 70+ mph, then having to cut across 2 lanes of traffic from the on ramp? In theory it sounds wonderful, but the reality is that cars can not even cross the existing intersection now, and a J turn imo would make it worse.
I do not know the answers, but I believe the speeding on Rt 50 in that area needs to be addressed first.

Anonymous said...

Plenty of ways for you to get to 50 east bound from Delmar without jumping thru hoops.
As to 60 Foot Rd I'd have lowered the speed limit years ago and put up speed cameras with big sign telling the idiots that they are there. A light won't fix stupid, it will just create other issues. It's mostly locals that can't wait 2 minutes for traffic to clear before darting across, and it's always the west bound lanes where the carnage is.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Anonymous 8:42 AM.
With all the dim-wits invading our area trying to get to the beach IN A HURRY, it can be difficult just to make the right turn AND THEN get into the left lane to make the U-turn. They occupy both lanes and won't let you get over in the left lane, they speed up to prevent you from getting in front of them. We need red lights at every intersection.

Anonymous said...

These J turns are a pain in the arse! Stupid waste of the peoples time!this country does enough inconveniencing of many for the few!

Anonymous said...

overpasses with on/off ramps!

Anonymous said...


J turns are cheap for MD DOT but are frequently a poor solution since the driver using the J turn has to make the turn into the fast lane. If they are just using the J to head in the opposite direction they can wait for an opening and floor it to merge.

At this location most drivers actually want to reverse direction and get to the slow lane in order to make a right turn onto a cross road. The physical distance from the J to the crossroad is comparatively short which complicates the situation. Most approaching traffic on Rt 50 will be at the speed limit or more.

A similar arrangement has to be installed some distance on the other side of the former intersection. The net effect is to create an extended zone on both sides of the intersection that will involve many merges and lane changes by vehicles at differing speeds. Not a good recipe.

Residents will become familiar with new traffic patterns, even if they are poorly designed. Travelers will not be familiar and will be focused on getting to vacation or returning home. J traffic merges and lane changes will cause more problems than they solve.

Motorists on the crossroad who formerly were able to cross Rt 50 in two short bursts now have to enter 50, get to the J lane and become part of the dance.

This particular stretch of highway is no more dangerous than others. The accidents there have a common feature of cross traffic entering Rt 50 unsafely and causing the accident. The increased traffic on both Rt 50 and the crossroad is what causes the impatience that causes the accidents.

At this intersection, because of the volume of cross traffic, a traffic signal is warranted and the safest solution short and long term.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure about this particular intersection, but I live in a neighborhood right off Rt 50 and need a J turn to get on 50E every day. During those traffic days, sometimes it takes me 10+ minutes to see enough clearance to make it across 2 lanes of Rt 50.

As much as I hate traffic lights, sometimes it's the best option.