CPRPO News

NCDOT Installing All-Way Stop in Orange County

All-way stop to be installed Aug. 26 near Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH – N.C. Department of Transportation crews will install an all-way stop at the intersection of N.C. 157 and New Sharon Church Road, northeast of Hillsborough on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

NCDOT has determined an all-way stop is the most cost-effective way to improve safety at this location. Traffic engineers examined data including traffic volumes, crash data and crash patterns and concluded that the intersection no longer meets criteria for a traffic signal.

Drivers should be alert to crews working in the area on Aug. 26 and the new changes at the intersection which includes new advance warning signs.

To learn more about an all-way stop, visit the webpage. 

NCDOT crash data shows all-way stops reduce total crashes by 55%, fatal and serious injury crashes by 92% and frontal-impact crashes with minor injuries by 72%.  

Drivers approaching an all-way stop should follow these rules:
  • The first vehicle to the intersection has the right of way ahead of any vehicle that has not yet arrived;
  • When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way; 
  • The vehicle with the right of way may move straight ahead or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right; 
  • When two facing vehicles approach an intersection at the same time, both drivers can move straight ahead and turn right. If one driver is going straight while the other wants to turn left, the driver who wants to turn left must yield. The driver who is traveling straight ahead has the right of way;
  • Even with the right of way, remember to use the appropriate turn signals and be careful to avoid hitting other vehicles and/or pedestrians.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

CPRPO News

Education Wednesdays – Pedestrian Safety Between Intersections

What Does the Data Say? 

On average, about 1,300 pedestrian-related crashes occur per year between intersections, about 60% of all pedestrian-related crashes. An average of 155 pedestrian fatalities occurs per year between intersections, about 75% of all pedestrian fatalities.

Pedestrian-related crashes between intersections: 

  • Occur most commonly when crossing the road (48 percent of the time) but also occur frequently when the pedestrian is walking along the roadway (25 percent)
  • Typically occur in urban commercial and residential areas
  • Are spread across a variety of speed limits with 26 percent occurring on 40-45 mph roads and 18 percent occurring on 50-55 mph roads
    ​
  • Are more likely to occur at night compared to intersection crashes.

Marked Crosswalks

Crosswalks and between intersection crosswalks are used to help pedestrians cross busy streets by providing one or more marked crosswalks. For example, a busy city street may include four intersections, complete with streetlights and crosswalks. By adding marked crosswalks between each of the four intersections, the marked crosswalks provide pedestrians with additional options for safer crossing. 

The N.C. Department of Transportation selects locations for marked crosswalks at between intersections based on the following: 

  • Number of pedestrians crossing in that location
  • Speed of vehicles
     
  • Proximity to other crosswalks or intersections
  • History of pedestrian safety at that location

Marking a pedestrian crosswalk between intersections with parallel white lines or wide white bars increases the visibility of the crosswalk to oncoming drivers. It also provides the pedestrian with the right of way since drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons ​​

A rectangular rapid flashing beacon is a warning device that uses rapidly flashing amber LED lights to supplement pedestrian warning signs.  It is not a traffic control device, but rather serves to alert drivers of the presence of any pedestrians in the crosswalk. This warning device is activated by a pedestrian pushing a button on the beacon pole.

Median Refuge Islands

​

A median refuge island (or crossing area) refers to a raised area in the center of the road that is intended to help protect pedestrians who are crossing the road. Median refuge islands can help improve safety by allowing pedestrians to cross one direction of traffic at a time. It also provides better visibility of the crossing for approaching drivers.​

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons​

A pedestrian hybrid beacon is a device used to assist pedestrians in marked crosswalks and control traffic at locations without signal lights. 

It is activated by a pedestrian pushing a button on the beacon pole. Pedestrian hybrid beacons are used when it is difficult for pedestrians to cross a roadway (gaps in traffic or the speed limit is over 35 mph).

Source: NCDOT

CPRPO News

Work Continues on Midland Road Project in Moore County

Lane closures upcoming for milling and resurfacing work

SOUTHERN PINES – N.C. Department of Transportation crews have completed preliminary construction on the ongoing Midland Road improvements project in Moore County and will continue maintenance along the roadway this month. 

NCDOT crews finished installing planned U-turn bulbs and selectively removed trees at multiple locations to enhance sight distance. Crews have also taken out each of the crossovers designated for removal and installed temporary wooden bollards to clearly mark the updated traffic pattern and prevent further use. 

Weather permitting, the paving contractor, S.T. Wooten plans to begin milling and resurfacing Midland Road between Airport Road and Clark Street later this month.Transportation officials anticipate periodic lane closures during non-peak daytime travel hours while crews are working in the area. The work is expected to take about three months.  

Once complete, the segment of Midland Road from U.S. 1 to Clark Street will transition to a single lane in each direction with a designated bike lane, while the segment from U.S. 1 to Airport Road will remain a four‑lane divided roadway. 

In addition to new pavement and updated markings, crews will install landscape plantings this fall in the areas where crossovers were removed, adjacent to the bollards. As the vegetation matures, the bollards will be selectively removed. 

For updates on this project, visit NCDOT.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.