The Board of Commissioners last week touched off a spirited debate by leapfrogging a planned Route 140 bypass project in Taneytown over the long-proposed Manchester bypass project on the county's annual wish list to the State Highway Administration.

At a meeting on Nov. 5 between state and county officials, the commissioners received feedback on that shift of priorities -- not all of it positive.

"Manchester needs to be on that list ahead of Taneytown," said State Sen. Larry Haines (R-District 5). "(The) Manchester (bypass) is the No. 1 need in this county regarding state highway construction."

The commissioners' priority shift was relatively subtle, since the Taneytown bypass was only moved up one notch on the list of planning priorities -- from the No. 3 priority to No. 2. The Manchester bypass was demoted from No. 2 to No. 3 on the short, four-item list.

Nonetheless, it provoked pointed comments both favorable and unfavorable from members of the Carroll Delegation representing each area and from elected officials from both towns.

Haines, whose district includes Manchester but not Taneytown, objected to the proposed Manchester bypass's de-prioritization.

Haines expressed concerns that the completion of the Hampstead bypass of Route 30 next year will worsen the current bottleneck on Route 30 in Manchester.

"We're going to probably see a lot more traffic from Pennsylvania using that route" when the Hampstead bypass opens, Haines said.

Haines also cited the increase in traffic that has occurred with this year's opening of Ebb Valley Elementary School in Manchester, and said it will increase again when Manchester Valley High School opens next year.

State Sen. David Brinkley whose District 4A includes Taneytown, defended the priority shift. He noted that the Taneytown project "is smaller and can also get accomplished very quickly."

He also said the Taneytown bypass will boost economic development by creating more industrially zoned properties.

Taneytown Mayor James McCarron agreed. He said parts of Taneytown's Main Street are presently almost impossible for commercial trucks to navigate. A bypass, McCarron added, "will open up the largest tract of industrial land in the county."

But Manchester Mayor Chris D'Amario was vehement in pressing the Manchester bypass.

He said in so many words that his town's economic survival depends on the completion of the bypass, which he said would divert constant truck traffic on Route 30 off Main Street.

D'Amario noted that there are 16 properties currently for sale on Main Street and only two businesses -- "and they're not doing so well," he added.

"Talk about blight: We have it in Manchester," he added. "The trucks are killing us."

Commissioner Julia Gouge noted that she lived on Hampstead's Main Street for years and is acutely aware of the problem. She also recounted a long list of frustrations she has encountered when approaching the state about a Manchester bypass.

Commissioner Dean Minnich cited the numerous environmental, topographical and right-of-way obstacles that would make a Manchester bypass extremely problematic, even if there was funding for it.

Both he and state officials raised the fiscal flag of caution. Much of the SHA presentation, in fact, dealt with potential delay of future projects because of funding issues.

"If we had all the money in the world and all the will to do (the Manchester bypass), the engineering problems are daunting," Minnich said.

"Even if we made Manchester our priority No. 1 right now (it is doubtful) that we'd find a solution to these problems that would allow us to move forward in a timely manner," he added.

user comments (0)