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State Highway officials have decided that a traffic signal at the intersection of Md. Route 80 and Carriage Hill Drive isn't needed, but residents are not convinced.

The State Highway Administration studied the intersection following a fatal car crash near it in July. A Villages of Urbana resident requested the study.

Chuck Gischlar, a spokesman for the administration, sent an e-mail to The Gazette that was originally sent in response to the resident's questions. The e-mail said the study concluded that the intersection is not dangerous or congested enough to warrant a traffic signal.

"The results of the investigation did not reveal unusual operating conditions, or a collision pattern that would support the installation of a traffic signal at this time," the administration's response reads.

The study was conducted over a 13-hour period on a weekday and on-site observations at other times to measure delays and accident patterns.

The administration's study did conclude that a sign in advance of the intersection would benefit motorists, and plans to have signs installed on both eastbound and westbound Route 80 by January.

Still, some residents of the Villages of Urbana are not satisfied.

Joseph Kelley, a resident of the Villages of Urbana, wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette that he travels the intersection every day, and does not understand why the administration would not choose to install a traffic signal, especially since there are several other intersections on Route 80 that have traffic signals.

He wrote that visibility is poor, endangering both motorists entering and leaving the Villages of Urbana.

He said this is dangerous during his return trip from work, when he has to turn into the development, and often narrowly avoids oncoming traffic.

"If there are cars coming toward you on [Route] 80, you only have seconds to decide if you have enough time to turn onto Carriage Hill," he wrote.

He added that he can't recall the number of times he had to accelerate or brake quickly to avoid a crash.

"Given the situation, I think you will see more accidents in the future," he said.

He said left turns out of the development take a long time, because there is frequently no break in oncoming traffic, with cars turning from Route 80 onto Carriage Hill Drive blocking the line of sight, and making it difficult to see traffic.

"As you can guess I am very disappointed in the SHA decision," Kelly wrote.

Janie Rousculp, who lives off of Carriage Hill Drive, said the intersection is especially busy when children are going to and from Centerville Elementary School, which is located at the intersection, and in the evening rush hour as motorists travel on Route 80.

"I definitely consider it a dangerous intersection," Rousculp said.