BERLIN – Local officials and community members celebrated the completion of a countdown crosswalk at the intersection of Route 113 and Bay Street with a ribbon cutting last week.
The crosswalk, long advocated for by area residents, is near the place where Berlin teenager Tymeir Dennis died after being struck by a vehicle while trying to cross the highway. His father, Quintin Dennis, said he was pleased to see the much-needed crosswalk in place.
“Maybe it’ll save a life and someone else won’t have to go through the same thing my family went through,” he said.
Citizens rallied together to make the crosswalk a reality after Tymeir Dennis’ death in November 2013. They formed the Berlin Pedestrian Safety Committee and began working with officials from Maryland’s State Highway Administration to make the area more pedestrian friendly. There is a now a countdown crosswalk —which provides pedestrians with audible and visible notification of how much time they have to cross — and the speed limit on Route 113 through Berlin has been lowered to 45 mph.
Mayor Gee Williams credited the community effort with bringing about a positive change.
“We want to thank all of you,” he said. “We really are grateful we’ve been able to turn a tragedy into a permanent transportation benefit.”
Senator Jim Mathias also thanked the community members for their work following Tymeir Dennis’ death.
“When we have things like this happen we make a pledge this is not in vain,” he said. “You talk about government but government is us. Immediately you were on the phone. You see the difference that we made.”
He said it was the commitment and dedication of town residents that led to the pedestrian safety improvements.
“Here’s to safer days in the greater Berlin area,” Mathias said.
Patricia Dufendach, chairperson of the Berlin Pedestrian Safety Committee, said she’d seen firsthand how dangerous it was to cross Route 113 on foot.
“This intersection has been the site of several terrible accidents,” she said.
Dufendach expressed appreciation for the volunteers who joined her in the effort to bring safety improvements to the area by circulating petitions and talking with local leaders. She added that not only had their work resulted in a countdown crosswalk and lower speed limit, but that hazard identification beacons would be installed soon at each end of the town to warn motorists to slow down.
“It’s obvious to me this is something the community cares about deeply,” she said. “A safer highway means better access to all of our neighborhoods. It will lead to a happier, healthier whole Berlin.”
