The State Highway Administration has approved a left-turn traffic signal on Route 198 west, at the entrance to the Dutch Country Farmer's Market, to help make the congested intersection safer and easier for customers to enter and exit the popular Amish- and Mennonite-run market.

"SHA's traffic and safety division approved the left-turn signal on Dec. 3," said Chuck Gischlar, an SHA spokesman. "A study was done on that intersection this year and the data suggested that a left-turn signal was appropriate."

The market, commonly called the Amish Market, sells a wide variety of bakery goods, fresh meats and vegetables and other grocery items that come directly from farmers and it has a cafe that serves eat-in or carryout home-cooked meals. The market moved to Laurel from Burtonsville and opened in September. Since its opening, traffic backups have consistently occurred on Route 198 at the entrance to the shopping center where the market is located.

Vehicles traveling west on Route 198 usually have to wait for the traffic light to change two or more times before they can make a left turn into the Amish Market, especially on Saturdays. Left-turners also are delayed by oncoming traffic from vehicles turning right on red from nearby Route 197, onto Route 198 east.

Customers and motorists driving through the intersection have complained to local, county and state officials about the traffic jams and safety concerns.

"The left-turn signal is a public safety necessity," said Prince George's Council chair Thomas Dernoga, who represents Laurel. "I wish they had agreed to it in time for it to be ready when the market opened, but at this point, I am just glad that SHA is on board and getting it done."

So is Robert Sherrod, owner of Sherrod Private Investigation and Security. In addition to providing security personnel for the market, his officers have had to direct traffic in the crowded parking lot and at the entrance of the shopping center, to prevent backups.

"With a left-turn signal there, it will be a lot safer and my company won't be needed to do as much traffic control, but mainly security issues," Sherrod said.

Before the Dutch Country Market opened, county and city officials had predicted there would be problems at the traffic light at the entrance and had contacted state officials about their concerns in July.

Mary Lehman, the point person on the issue for state Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyck, met with local officials and state highway engineers on the issue. She said she is pleased that the decision to add a left-turn signal at the market's entrance was made so quickly, because the approval process can take a year or more.

"We're very pleased because the left-turn signal will greatly help those coming to the market from Anne Arundel and points east of the market," Lehman said.

According to Gischlar, funds still have to be identified for the project and no time has been set for the turn signal to be installed.

"Our crews will check today (Dec. 15) to determine if the current electrical infrastructure, the traffic control cabinet, can accommodate a modified traffic signal with existing wiring or if additional upgrades will be necessary," he said.

Because the turn signal is not a major undertaking, Lehman said she hopes it will be operational within four to six weeks.

"It won't require new lanes but just a recalibration of the light. They also won't have to farm the work out or get bids," she said.

The Dutch Country Market is only open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but on those days, the traffic volume at the market is heavy and the parking lot is usually full. In addition to the problems customers experience entering the market's lot, getting out is also a problem. Vehicles are often lined up at the traffic light, waiting to exit onto Route 198.

Sam Beiler, one of the market's managers, said a left-turn signal is also needed for those leaving the market.

"It can get a little dangerous for those making a left turn to get out of here and our customers have complained," Beiler said. "The left turn (signal) for those coming in will definitely be a big help, but when we met with state officials a few months back, we talked about the need for one at the exit, too."

Those turning left out of the market's lot have to compete with left-turners exiting the shopping center directly across the street, where there's a bit of a blind spot. Sometimes, vehicles heading straight to go to the market from the shopping center across the street are hard to see until a motorist exiting the market has already started to make a left turn.

"Both centers get a green light at the same time and there's often uncertainty of who can go first," Lehman said. "The state's engineer had recommended a split signal there so one side gets a green light at a time."

Additionally, because the market's parking lot fills up quickly and stays that way, some customers park in the shopping center across the street and have a hard time walking across Route 198, which is wide, with no crosswalks for pedestrians. In 2007, a bicyclist was killed while crossing Route 198 near the market's entrance.

"SHA should install a crosswalk and time walk signal there," Dernoga said. "Hopefully, this will be the next phase."

According to Gischlar, "SHA has that (a crosswalk) on its radar for this location, as well as accessible and countdown pedestrian signals. This improvement will need to be designed and funding will need to be identified."

Throughout the state, pedestrian crosswalks are being upgraded with audio and timed signals for pedestrians. For this reason, state officials have not set a time frame to make a decision on a new crosswalk for the intersection at the market's entrance.

"There's a backup in the system to upgrade the old ones. This one would be brand new and would probably go to the bottom of the list, which could take a year or more to get it done," Lehman said.

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