Route 340, currently shut down for construction, is sending hundreds of vehicles on a detour down Route 9. The detour has caused backups and delays throughout the region, especially with school transportation.

The 155 mile stretch of road starts in Southern Virginia and ends in Frederick, Maryland. The Harpers Ferry section of Route 340 was shut down on September 12, 2023 to remove hazardous rock and install barriers. It is scheduled to be closed until December 11, 2023 barring weather or other delays. Traffic is detoured down Harpers Ferry Road and Route 9, causing backups that can last over an hour. In response, traffic officers put temporary timer lights at the intersection. “I don’t think anything like this has happened before,” says Woodgrove SRO Deputy Christopher Horbatak.

LCPS buses have notably been affected by the detour. When traffic piles up, students are late and miss precious class time. As traffic officers change the temporary traffic light time, driving has been smoother the past few weeks. “There are not as many late buses now, but we do have some once or twice a week,” says Woodgrove’s Vice Principal, Mrs. Ebony Jackson.

Luckily, traffic has become bearable as time goes on, leading to less late buses and easier commutes to work. In the coming months, students expect to be on time for school and have shorter delays overall.