Project Need:
The Howell School Road project is needed to improve safety and overall traffic operations along the entire roadway and at the intersections of Howell School Road and SR 896 and Howell School Road and SR 71. Alleviating the poor drainage conditions along the roadway will create a safer roadway and preserve the road surface. Providing bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility to the Lums Pond State Park is also paramount.

Project Desription:
The project includes eliminating the existing "dog-leg" intersection formed by Howell School Road/Denny Road/State Route 896, widening Howell School Road from SR 896 to SR 71, and the evaluation of realigning Howell School Road and SR 71 to a location south of the existing intersection.

Howell School Road will be realigned with Denny Road at SR 896, creating a typical intersection with four approaches. A traffic signal will be designed and installed for the newly constructed intersection and will improve traffic flow along SR 896. The existing traffic signal at SR 896 and Howell School Road will be eliminated. The Meadow Glen Subdivision access at Route 896 will be terminated and Meadow Glen Drive will gain access from the relocated Howell School Road.

Howell School Road will be widened to provide 11-foot lanes with 5-foot shoulders from SR 896 to SR 71. These shoulders will also act as bike lanes since Howell School Road is part of Bike Route 1. The project also includes a sidewalk/bikeway to provide improved bicycle/pedestrian access from Meadow Glen and Caravel Woods Subdivisions to Lums Pond State Park.

Other features of the proposed project include utility relocations, landscaping at the relocated Meadow Glen Subdivision entrance, stormwater management measures, and improvements to the Lums Pond State Park entrance. The existing drainage swales throughout the corridor will be relocated due to the impact from the widening of the roadway.
 

Anticipated/Actual Start Date
Design, right of way acquisitions, and environmental permitting in 2008-2009
Begin construction early 2010

Anticipated/Actual Completion Date
Construction anticipated to be completed late 2011.