If you have traveled on Centennial Lane recently, you are well aware that something big is happening at Centennial High and Burleigh Manor Middle schools. For the past three months, construction crews have been working to build a high school dance studio and a remodeled school parking lot complete with a new traffic light on Centennial Lane.
Historically, crossing Centennial Lane for student pedestrians and vehicles has been dangerous — once even deadly. Traffic studies indicate that the congestion on Centennial Lane is directly related to the gridlock on Interstate 70 and Route 29.
Drivers routinely detour to Centennial Lane to avoid these traffic bottlenecks, making the street a treacherous mini-highway when Burleigh Manor and Centennial High students and vehicles cross the road.
On March 1, 1991, Centennial High student Andrea Barlow drove two of her classmates to school. While Andrea attempted to cross busy Centennial Lane from Waterford Drive (a side street across from the middle school) the car was hit broad side by a truck. Andrea bore most of the impact of the accident and was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. She died later that day of injuries suffered in the crash. Andrea was 16 years old.
So, what's new? And how will the new light and parking lot redesign affect traffic on Centennial Lane?
All school parking lot traffic will now exit through the new street light. The goal is not only to provide a safe entrance onto Centennial Lane for cars and buses, but to also support a better traffic flow onto Centennial Lane.
The light will be programmed to move vehicles and pedestrians onto Centennial Lane in a timely manner during high volume times at the start and dismissal of school. A "smart" sensor in the light will detect a vehicle waiting to exit. The light will allow for just the right amount of time for the vehicle(s) to exit in order avoid snarling traffic on Centennial Lane.
There will be three entrances to the schools. The entrance opposite Waterford Drive will be for students, parents and visitor vehicles. The other two entrances are for school staff and buses only. The Centennial High school staff and bus entrance will be located on the south side of the school that winds in front of the building. The Burleigh Manor Middle school staff and bus entrance is on the north side of the building closest to Old Annapolis Road. A road was built in front of Burleigh Manor (complete with a sidewalk) to connect the bus parking lot to the shared parking lot.
A new pedestrian crosswalk, push-buttons and countdown signal will also be added to aid student and community pedestrians.
With the addition of the new traffic light, some students in the neighborhoods directly across from the school will now be walkers not bus riders to school. Due to this, the following streets will experience an increased number of student walkers: Cabachon Court, Carillon Court, Carillon Drive, Century Drive, Cezanne Circle, Chatelaine Circle, Colonial Drive, Cross Country Drive, Hermitage Drive (4276 to 4249 only), Knobs End Court, Labelle Court, Lakeside Court, Maxine St., Middle Meadow Road, Moss Gate Court, Northbrook Court, South Meadow Court, Waterford Drive and Woodbridge Court.
During the first week of school, the Howard County Traffic Engineer's Office and the Howard County Public school system's Pupil Transportation Office will have engineers and representatives at the school and in the community to monitor the new student walkers and vehicle traffic on Centennial Lane and within the parking lot.
In addition, both Centennial High and Burleigh Manor Middle will have an increased staff presence during arrival and dismissal times.
"I will be out there and my staff will be outside helping the entire year," Burleigh Manor Middle Principal Claire Hafets said.
"This has been a long time coming. I'm glad all the neighborhood kids, including mine, will finally have a safe way to cross Centennial Lane to school," parent Patricia Baker said.
Joan Hoye informed me that the Cross Country Garden Club will be hosting a luncheon Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. for prospective new members. Upcoming programs, projects and trips will be discussed. For more details, call Jean Christy at 410-465-4722.