Politics & Government
Officials Working To Curb Speeders on ‘Death Valley Road’
Traffic speed along Dulaney Valley Road, to and from Interstate 695, has become an issue for area residents who cite numerous cases of property damage from speeders and reckless drivers.
When an elected official refers to a major throughway as “Death Valley Road,” something has to change.
Del. Susan Aumann is working toward removing the ominous nickname from Dulaney Valley Road, after hearing a bevy of complaints from area residents.
There have been six cases of property damage along the winding back road through Timonium in the past year alone, she said. The number does not include other or fatalities, which have occurred since 2005. Most recently, a truck driver died after
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Residents along Dulaney Valley identify two sections of roadway as “Dead Man’s Curve”—one just northbound of Pot Spring Road, the other at the intersection of Jarretsville Pike.
Aumann has reached out to Councilman Todd Huff’s office, and the State Highway Administration, which sent representatives to tour the area with Aumann last Wednesday.
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A speed evaluation and report are expected in the next two weeks, Aumann said.
“In these recent couple of months people have just been ripping down that road too fast,” Aumann said during a meeting Wednesday evening. She estimated that drivers are careening down Dulaney Valley at 50 mph, exceeding the 40 mph posted speed limit.
Improvements to reflective striping and guard rail disks are two immediate initiatives Aumann hopes to get off the ground in the near future. She also said she is in talks with Councilman Todd Huff about installing a red light camera at the intersection of Seminary Avenue and Dulaney Valley Road.
In the immediate future however, there likely will be an increased police presence along the roadway to deter speeders.
“It’s a very well used road but it has some challenges because it’s curvy and it's narrow. … You have the possibility of people getting hurt or killed,” Aumann said, harkening back to a fatal accident from 2005 at the intersection at Timonium Road.
A traffic light was installed at the intersection in 2008.
David Peake, State Highway Administration District 4 engineer, could not be immediately reached for comment.
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