SHA Requires Developer to Improve Harford Road

Maryland State Highway Administration officials released new information regarding the proposed Bender-Vogel residential development near Placid Avenue in Carney this morning.

The developer will have to pay the cost of adding two left turn lanes and slightly widening Harford Road in order to improve access to the homes it plans to build, according to David Buck, a State Highway Administration spokesman.

The proposed development is less than a mile away from the intersection of Harford and Joppa Roads, which the state rates as a failing intersection.

"It's on the county to issue the permits necessary for the development to go forward, [the state's] role in this is making sure that the developer makes improvements to the state highway system," Buck said.

Members of the Carney Improvement Association recently took their concerns to Sen. Kathy Klausmeier who made an inquiry about the project last week.

A short left turn lane would have to be added to southbound Harford Road entering the proposed development and the road would have to be widened going northbound to allow for another left turn lane to be added, Buck said.

"This is a small residential development, and we think it will have a minimal impact on the intersection," Buck said.

Bender-Vogel is still about 90 days away from having the permits and funding in place to begin work on the development, Buck said.