NORTH WILKESBORO — The crash rate on Rockford Street between U.S. 52 and Forrest Drive (U.S. 601) in Mount Airy is nearly twice the state average.
The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to present initial concepts of a proposed project to reduce crashes, increase safety and improve pedestrian access on this half-mile stretch of road. The meeting will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, at Reeves Community Center in Mount Airy.
The proposed concepts would increase safety by adding a median and what are called superstreet intersections as well as sidewalks on both sides of the road.
But the design is far from complete. Transportation officials are seeking thoughts from those who regularly travel the route and will incorporate improvements as the design process continues. Improved designs will be presented at a public meeting in the fall.
A superstreet improves safety by re-directing left turns and reducing the possibility of T-bone and head-on crashes. They do so by re-directing left turns and across-the-highway movements from side streets by way of a right-turn out and then a U-turn at a safe location.
More than 240 crashes occurred on this stretch of U.S. 601 in a four-year period, including three fatalities and three pedestrian crashes.
The Northwest Piedmont Rural Planning Organization — a regional planning organization consisting of local government officials — submitted the project to NCDOT to be considered for funding. Through the process, called Prioritization, potential transportation improvement projects are submitted to NCDOT to be scored and ranked at the statewide, regional and division levels, based on criteria such as safety, congestion, benefit-cost and local priorities. This project scored well enough to be funded at the division level due to strong support from the RPO.
NCDOT officials invite residents to the join the public meeting in the Kids Room at 113 S. Renfro St. at any time during the meeting hours. The same formal presentation will be provided at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m. Transportation officials will be available to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project.
Comments may be submitted at the meeting, over the phone, via mail, or email until April 27. All comments received will be taken into consideration.
Project information and materials can be viewed as they become available online at
NCDOT Public Meetings Site
Contact Dean Ledbetter, NCDOT Division 11 Project Team Lead at 801 Statesville Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659, or (336) 903-9129 or dledbetter@ncdot.gov for more information.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Caitlyn Ridge, Environmental Analysis Unit, Public Involvement Officer at ceridge1@ncdot.gov or (919) 707-6091.
Contact: David Uchiyama
duchiyama@ncdot.gov
(828) 251-6171