LILLINGTON – Three Harnett County crossroads will become all-way stops next week to improve safety.
The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to make the improvements at the following locations and dates:
The department's Traffic Safety Unit determined these changes would help reduce the risk and severity of collisions.
The crews will start around 8 a.m. and complete the work later that day. Drivers should use caution around these intersections while the work is performed. The work will be postponed if it rains.
All three of these locations are currently two-way stops. Temporary message boards are announcing the new traffic pattern.
The conversion requires additional stop signs and new pavement markings. Additionally, solar-paneled flashers will be mounted on the stop sign on the righthand shoulder for each approach for the two Sheriff Johnson Road intersections. The existing overhead yellow flasher at the third intersection will be changed to a red flashing light.
As a reminder, drivers approaching an all-way stop should follow these rules:
- The first vehicle at the intersection has the right of way;
- When two or more vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way and may go straight or, if legal and after signaling, turn left or right;
- When two facing vehicles approach an intersection simultaneously, both drivers can move straight ahead or turn right. If one driver is going straight while the other wants to turn left, the driver who wants to turn left must yield; and
Even with the right of way, drivers should remember to use appropriate turn signals and watch for pedestrians and other vehicles.