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Construction has started on a new right-turn lane on southbound U.S. Route 15 at Hayward Road just north of Frederick city to improve safety at the dangerous intersection that has been the scene of hundreds of crashes since 2008.

Once the $500,000 project is complete, motorists who want to turn right onto Hayward Road will use the new right-turn lane to access a service road that will run parallel to Route 15.

In mid-September, the state will lower the speed limit on southbound U.S. Route 15, north of Willow Road to south of Hayward Road, from 55 mph to 50 mph. The speed limit on northbound Route 15 will remain at 55 mph. A precise date has not been set.

Speed detection signs on southbound Route 15 will also be installed. They will trigger flashing warning beacons when speeds are detected five miles over the posted limit.

"I absolutely do think this will go a long way to improving safety," said Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins (R). "I do think the reduction in speed, a new right-turn lane, and the parallel road will go a long way in solving the problem."

According to Jenkins, nearly 250 car crashes have occurred at the intersection since January 2008, and two people have died.

The problem is a small hill on the southbound Route 15, which limits the sight distance of people turning left onto Hayward Road from northbound Route 15.

While a new right-turn lane on southbound Route 15 does not directly fix that problem, it does reduce the number of cars that go through the intersection. It also eliminates problems caused by northbound motorists who are turning left onto Hayward Road but hesitate because of southbound cars turning right onto the same road, Jenkins said.

After a three-car crash on June 8 that sent two people at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, State Highway officials started meeting to discuss options to fix the intersection, which is just north of Frederick city.

Commissioner Blaine R. Young (R) was the first politician to call for the permanent closing of the intersection after that crash. "I appreciate them doing everything they can," Young said. "I appreciate everything they are doing, but I won't stop pushing."

A commissioner candidate in the Sept. 14 primary, Young said Monday he is trying to meet with Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) to push for state and federal money to construct a new interchange at Monocacy Boulevard on Route 15, which would allow Hayward Road to close.

The state has said there is no funding available.

Motorists should expect single-lane and shoulder closures on southbound Route 15 and Hayward Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday.

For information, call the state highway administration's District 7 office at 301-624-8100 or toll free at 800-635-5119.

sgreenfield@gazette.net.