Route 32

A Laurel woman was killed yesterday afternoon when the Saturn she was driving crossed the double yellow line on Route 32 and struck an oncoming Mercedes, police said. Margaret Mary Soares, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger in the other car -- Lawrence Zanetti, 55, and Joseph Zanetti, 20, both of Glenwood -- were flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where they were listed in serious condition. Police said that Soares' car struck a glancing blow against the right-side guard rail and then crossed the center lane into the path of the northbound Mercedes.

The Sykesville Planning and Zoning Commission will have a second look tonight at an issue members thought had been decided 18 months ago.Proposals to give motorists better access to Route 32 will be reintroduced at 7 p.m. during the monthly meeting at the Town House.The commission will again review two options: looping Obrecht Road around the Fairhaven retirement community or extending Third Avenue to the highway, which the state calls the Sykesville bypass."We are just introducing the proposal again," said Town Manager James L. Schumacher.

The State Highway Administration will patch and resurface the road and shoulders along Route 32 in the Sykesville area late this month.Work will include about 2 miles along Route 32 from the Howard County/Carroll County line to Liberty Road. The project also involves lengthening of acceleration, deceleration and bypass lanes at Raincliffe Road and Route 851 (Springfield Avenue).Single-lane closures will occur weekdays during off-peak traffic hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Flag bearers, signs, traffic cones and barrels will direct motorists through the construction site.

Gov. Parris N. Glendening's recent decision to pull state support from the Intercounty Connector -- a long-debated proposed east-west highway designed to ease suburban Washington traffic -- has rekindled debate over building a new highway connecting Howard and Montgomery counties.Though the idea appeared dead shortly after state Sen. Arthur Dorman suggested it in December, the Prince George's Democrat is now trying to revive widening the study area for the connecter to include connecting Route 32 near Clarksville to Interstate 270 near Rockville with a 13-mile highway.

Western Howard County residents alarmed at the prospect of noise, traffic and environmental damage from an expanded Route 32 have begun a campaign to stop or alter the project.A group of about 25 residents armed with pads, pens and the NTC State Highway Administration's orange brochure detailing the plan gathered Wednesday night at St. James United Methodist Church in West Friendship. Though no specific strategies came from this first meeting, residents shared their concerns."We can see [Route]

The State Highway Administration is preparing plans for improvements to Route 32 at Sykesville and hopes to begin work this summer.Douglas Rose, SHA district engineer, said the project "is not a done deal, but I am optimistic about getting funding. We are fully planning to do the work this year."Mr. Rose is awaiting final budget approval, which probably will not come before July 1, the beginning of fiscal 1995."We have had to re-evaluate the budget since damages to highways last winter play a tremendous role in the roads program," Mr. Rose said.

WHILE COMMUTING on Route 32 is nightmarish, living on it can be even worse. Will Geckle must deal with Route 32 whenever he leaves his home. "I read with interest your article today in the Baltimore Sun concerning Route 32 traffic congestion in Howard County between Interstate 70 and Route 26," he said in an e-mail. "To leave our house, we must enter Route 32. During rush hour it can take 10 minutes to enter 32 and even then it requires a bit of luck. A family was nearly wiped out about a year ago when their van was totaled trying to enter 32 at about 6 p.m."

More than 10,000 motorists who have been inconvenienced for months by the closing of Morgan Run Bridge on Route 32 soon will be able to drive on it over Liberty Reservoir again."

State Sen. Allan H. Kittleman and delegates Gail H. Bates and Warren E. Miller will hold a public hearing on proposed improvements to Route 32 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Glenelg High School auditorium, 14025 Burntwoods Road, Glenelg. Maps and other materials will be on display, and representatives from the State Highway Administration will be available to discuss them from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.The Audubon Society of Central Maryland is holding a winter birdseed sale this month. Audubon Society to hold winter birdseed sale Proceeds will help support the society's two wildlife sanctuaries in eastern Frederick County.

The existing intersection of Route 32 and Pindell School Road in west Columbia will be closed to Route 32 traffic for several months beginning today while work continues on relocating a stretch of Route 32 to north of its present site, the State Highway Administration said.Motorists along westbound Route 32 will be directed to the eastbound travel lanes of the relocated Route 32 for approximately one-half mile, from just west of U.S. 29 to west of Pindell School Road.Motorists along eastbound Route 32 will be directed to the eastbound travel lanes of relocated Route 32 for approximately one-half mile from west of Pindell School Road to west of U.S. 29.Advance signs, variable message signs, cones and drums will guide motorists through the area.