‘I can’t do anything!’ cry, drivers ‘trapped in their homes’ for a week – city didn’t warn change was coming

ROAD work blocked garage access for several homeowners for a week.

Deane Loines, of Hyattsville, Maryland, 37 miles north of Washington D.C., said he was stuck in his home for a week with no way to drive and had to walk or use Uber to get places.

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Road construction has affected homeowners with Greater Landover Civic Association president in July 2017, local ABC affiliate WJLA reported.

Loines explained his frustration at not being able to drive and not being able to resolve the situation.

“I still feel like I’m stuck in my house all weekend,” Loines told WJLA.

“It feels like false imprisonment because I can’t go anywhere unless I walk.

“I can’t move my car, I can’t do anything.”

Loines added that he paid an Uber and subway bill to get to work.

BLOCKED

The construction was intended to improve the area, but it had unfortunate consequences.

Loines said homeowners were not informed that their sidewalks would also be blocked.

“They are putting in sidewalks and curbs. I welcome you both,” he said.

“But I don’t like not being notified.”

The Prince George’s County Department of Public Works said not informing homeowners about the work was a mistake by the contractor.

Contractors can lay gravel or steel plates so that homeowners have access to the driveway in these situations.

“We truly apologize,” Public Works employee Paulette Jones told WJLA.

“The contractor should have put in some temporary access for residents to get to their homes.”

Homeowners association president Jeff Johnson said they have been pushing for years to get this work done.

And it was supposed to be a positive improvement for everyone.

Johnson said he has been trying to go door to door to explain to residents why construction is taking place.

“I walk up and down the street and knock on doors and try to talk to people and we do the best we can,” Johnson told WJLA.

We have been fighting for these roads for about 15 years, trying to bring streets here for the safety of my residents.

Jeff JohnsonPresident of the Greater Landover Civic Association

“We’ve been fighting for these roads for about 15 years, trying to bring streets here for the safety of my residents.”

Road construction will create a safer neighborhood for residents once completed.

“A lot of people were hit on the side of the road,” Johnson said.

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