Neighbor Joan Goldberg attended the recent the meeting about the proposed changes to the intersection at Cedarbrook, Odell and Muirkirk on Thursday. She noted that there were little to be surprised about during the discussion.
An insert of the proposed design is at right. A full map of the changes can be found on the Prince George’s County website at this link.
The proposed changes include changing the conjunction so that Odell Road aligns with Cedarbrook. There will be three lanes on Muirkirk at the new traffic signal. Eastbound Muirkirk traffic, going toward Montpelier Elementary School, will have a left turn lane onto Odell at the new Cedarbrook/Odell intersection. A second lane will provide for thru and right-turning traffic. A third lane will be for vehicles coming in the other direction westbound on Muirkirk. Cedarbrook and Odell will have a slightly different configuration in that the center lane will be a thru and left turn lane.
The new traffic light will be a red, yellow, green light. The specifics, e.g. turn signals, are not yet decided. The light will be camera driven meaning that timing will be changed according to traffic flow. (A roundabout is not an option since it would require taking Montpelier residents’ land and regrading the entire intersection. It would also be more expensive than putting in the light.) There will be crosswalks and pedestrian lights at the intersection. The shoulders will be a consistent six feet to accommodate walkers and bikers.
Opening up Montpelier Drive at Muirkirk is not a part of this project and is unlikely at best. The county plans have changed in this regard. Also, the ICC and the Brickyard project are not part of this project and so were not discussed at the meeting.
Comments can be submitted by Friday, May 24, 2013 to the Office of Project Management, Department of Public Works and Transportation, 9400 Peppercorn Place, Suite 310, Largo, MD 20774. You may also phone the project office at 301-883-5640.
Can’t wait for this project – it can’t come soon enough!