BEL AIR, Md. — Backed up traffic on Emmorton Road in Harford County.
You might expect it during the morning and afternoon rush hours, but this week it’s come from the promise of free drinks from a new drive thru coffee business just across from Box Hill Square.
“I’ve heard nothing, but wonderful things,” said Sam Harvin of the Bright Oaks sub-division, “My children have got coffee in there straight, but traffic on 924 is outrageous. It’s absolutely ridiculous so it’s kind of holding up traffic going both ways.”
A mile and a half away near the proposed site of a 160-thousand-square-foot Costco Wholesale, residents say the traffic surrounding the coffee shop is nothing like that, which the new mega store would attract to roads, which already deal with congestion.
Harford County wants public input on road improvements for proposed Costco
“There’s not enough room on the street,” said Alan Miller, one of Harvin’s neighbors, “There’s way too much traffic and if they widen the road up there, there really isn’t any place to widen it to.”
“What if they offer you a free membership?”
“No. I don’t need a membership to Costco.”
The County launched a website where you can look at proposed improvements, view public responses, and find the email to submit your own.
The improvements include adding traffic lights at certain intersections, adding a roundabout on Plumtree Road, and extending some left-turn lanes.
"To be clear, the road improvements will have to be paid for and completed by the developer, but we are providing this unprecedented opportunity for citizens who travel in the area to review and comment on the requirements before they are finalized," said County Executive Bob Cassilly.
Some residents like Bridget Hafez, look forward to putting a signal light on Bright Oaks Drive.
“It would make it much easier to get out of this sub-division,” said Hafez, “It’s very difficult at the moment and you wait for a while.”
“So if you had the light, you’d know you had some dependable way to get out?”
“You know it would change at some point and the cars would stop.”
While others are convinced there is no viable solution, and with or without their input, the project will move forward.
“I hate to say it like that. I hate to be like that, but that’s the way it works,” said Harvin, “People with power and money have power and money for a reason. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just the way it is.”
The deadline to submit comments is Friday, January 23.
