Are You Used to the 'Michigan U'?

Charlie October 9, 2012 at 10:06 am

No, I hate the U I have been accustom to avoid it. It causes traffic to back up and you cannot make it through the U if you are trying to turn off of Riedel to go to Waugh Chapel in the morning or afternoon because 3 is backed up. It sucks! Why in the world could they not just put in a overpass.

Karts Huseonica October 9, 2012 at 10:35 am

The U's are working great for us. We go through them 2x per day. They have actually cut our commute time. Cheers, Karen & Art (Karts) Huseonica

Marc Riley October 9, 2012 at 10:40 am

All it takes is patience. Patient people don't mind it, impatient people hate it. It's a shame, some people aren't happy, no matter what.

Deb October 9, 2012 at 10:50 am

Please don't refer to it as a "Michigan U" because this mess isn't how they work in Michigan! To go from Waugh Chapel to Riedel should not involve a right turn, a left turn and then a right turn. In Michigan, you go straight across. On good days, I get to stop at the light on Waugh Chapel for the entrance to the shopping center, then get to stop at the light at Route 3 and then stop at the light for cars to exit the shopping center. SHA really messed this one up big time in my opinion.

Bill the Buckeye October 9, 2012 at 11:22 am

I think they should call it a Ohio State U.

Jerry Kline October 9, 2012 at 11:24 am

You know, as soon as Martin O' Malley charges you a dollar to use it, they could call it a "Maryland U."

Raif10 October 9, 2012 at 11:25 am

Love the new interchange, its a phenomenal improvement that saves a tremendous amount of time. I used to wait almost five minutes to get through that intersection during heavy traffic, now its almost always under one minute.

McGibblets October 9, 2012 at 11:40 am

I loved it most when all of the power was out post-derecho. That seemed to be the most efficient use of the "U". People were voluntarily exchanging turns all the while being cautious and cognizant of their surroundings. Now with all the lights and waiting on nobody's turn and stagnation... I'm back to hating it.

Steve K October 9, 2012 at 11:56 am

How many fatalities has there been since the design change? Why can't you turn right on red from Waugh Chapel to Route 3 (at least from the right lane?)

Susan Kim October 9, 2012 at 12:02 pm

I'm not crazy about it but have gotten used to it. There are ways to avoid it but it will probably add a few minutes to your travel time.

Missy October 9, 2012 at 12:18 pm

I'd like to see the stats of traffic accidents in that whole area comparing before & after. That would be the only way to see if it's working. I think the timing of the lights isn't right. But the timing of the light to cross over Crain Highway from Annapolis Road to Millersville Road near Wawa is much worse. And I agree that you should be able to take a right on red if you aren't planning on taking the U-turn and stay in the right lanes.

Kristy October 9, 2012 at 12:23 pm

I don't like it and I avoid it when possible, but when coming off waugh chapel, the light isn't too long, but that causes Rt 3 traffic to back up. It seems to me they just added more lights. Why have two lights to get on waugh chapel, one from reidel and one from 3? I agree that the right lane from waugh chapel to Rt 3 should be allowed to turn on red. I also don't think people still understand the lanes, one for 3 north, one for reidel and one for 3 south, which is now 2 for 3 south and reidel. Confused? Yeah, it is still confusing. Do you know how many near accidents I saw from people making U turns from 3 north to go 3 south and all the waugh chapel traffic is coming through...scary.

Denise October 9, 2012 at 01:14 pm

It is terrible. I have done it every day for the past year and have almost gotten hit over a dozen times with people trying to make illegal u-turns. This occurs very regularly at Johns Hopkins and Route 3. Plus the traffic backs up with the lights so poorly timed that I get stuck on Hopkins and cannot get across. I know it will only get worse once Wegmans opens. Grade F to SHA.

Mark October 9, 2012 at 01:47 pm

Tim, if this was you taking the video, why didn't you remove the "Tick Turd", (a Smokey and the bandit reference), from your windshield? Quite a disgusting sight!

jelly! October 9, 2012 at 03:13 pm

I HATE it!! It is so incredibly inconvenient, confusing, and now DANGEROUS! Add in the fact that people have the "me me me" attitude here and see no problem in zooming to the front of the line in turning lanes/shoulders just to get a car or two ahead and it gets really hairy. I avoid it at all costs and have started shopping elsewhere.

Betsy October 9, 2012 at 03:51 pm

As other readers have stated, the no right turn on red is what irritates me to the point that I usually cut through the Waugh Chapel shopping center instead. If you are coming from Four Seasons the lights are timed just perfectly so you will hit a red light at the Waugh Chapel Shopping Center entrance and then just miss the green light at Rt.3 so you have to sit there for at least 2 more minutes before you are able to turn right. What used to be a 1-2 minute drive to Rt 3 South now takes a minimum of 5, for those who make the drive twice a day that accumulates to 30 minutes of additional commute time a week (or 2 hours a month). I can think of MUCH better things to do with that time!

Shawn Allen October 9, 2012 at 04:29 pm

I find the interruption in the flow of traffic inconvenient to say the least. Why make someone turn right, then left, then right again when before you just went straight? Doesn't make sense.

D Stubler October 9, 2012 at 05:06 pm

Rt 3 traffic needs to stop blocking the drivers using the U during rush hour. Are we all that inconsiderate, or in a hurry, or just plain aggressive drivers. I drive on that stretch of road almost 365 days a year.

Catherine Raymond October 9, 2012 at 06:34 pm

I've gotten used to it, but I just don't see the point. Everything worked fine just the way it was.

Charlie October 9, 2012 at 07:09 pm

To make the U work they need to get rid of the original right turns onto Waugh Chapel and Riedel this would eliminate a light and speed up the flow of traffic. I suggest the SHA put some cones up for a week and try this out, I am sure they would see a great improvement. You should also be allowed to make a right from Waugh Chapel onto 3 when the light is red, but only in the far right lane. I would also like to see what time people use the U and then take a poll based off of what time of day the traffic get worse.

Eric Smith October 9, 2012 at 10:31 pm

They need to put back right turn on red from the right lane for at least off hours times and perhaps full time.

Jo B October 10, 2012 at 02:39 am

The traffic light for Riedel is so long that on occasion, you wonder if it is broken. Last week, some cars turned left onto Riedel, across 3N, because the light had been red so long. I have timed that light and at times have sat there for 5 minutes. Long enough for the Waugh Chapel light to go through it's cycle twice and long enough that I now turn off the car while I wait. It is frustrating waiting at the red light when not a car can be seen on 3N. Definitely support the idea of right on red for at least the right-most lane.

Elizabeth Ann October 11, 2012 at 09:41 am

I love the new intersection and I love the fact we cannot turn right on red from waugh chapel to route 3..that was so dangerous especially during rush hour and there have been times when cars just continue straight and a car turning from waugh chapel thinks they are gonna turn by the 7-11 and don't. I have seen some near misses there well that has been nipped in the butt. I wish they do the same thing at 175 and route 3 (especially the no turn on red)

Erika Wilbur October 11, 2012 at 09:42 pm

I agree with Elizabeth Ann, right turn on red at that intersection would be dangerous! It would be deadly. At 4:20am I go thru that intersection 5 days a week and almost every morning someone turns right on red from Waugh Chapel onto 3 south illegally and at least twice a week with hardly any traffic the person who does it almost gets hit because they feel as if I guess with the way the lanes curve that they don't have to look so they don't yield and pull right out in front of the one and only other car/tractor trailer coming south on rt. 3.

Adam Cruea October 12, 2012 at 11:23 pm

It's an abomination to driving.
Of course, when you have to cater to the lowest common denominator on the complexities of operating a 3,000 to 4,000 pound motor vehicle, I guess you have to start doing things that make it possible for a trained monkey to drive. Sorry, but you're supposed to drive defensively. Instead of sticking your nose in a Blackberry, you're supposed to watch out for the other drivers on the road that are going to act like idiots and pull out in front of you. I have people pull out in front of me every day on my motorcycle. Okay? So? People out here are anything but intelligent and observant. Adjust and drive accordingly, which is defensive. Wait. I'm sorry. That's common sense. Something I've noticed that out here in the mid-Atlantic seems to be lacking from most people. Instead, make the government pat your bottom, tell you everything is okay, and keep you safe instead of actually thinking for yourself and doing it. Only government funded (lack of) brain power could come up with something this stupid. And FYI, these aren't "Michigan U Turns". We, from or in the Midwest, actually understand how to drive and don't need the government keeping us from acting like we got our license from a box of Cracker Jack. Of course, we're also not so oblivious, selfish, and lacking in forethought as to block an intersection while yapping away on one cell phone and texting on another (which I have seen out here).