SILER CITY – Chatham County drivers should be alert for a new traffic pattern at U.S. 421 and N.C. 902 that has been rescheduled to begin Jan. 19.
A contractor will rebuild the junction into a reduced conflict intersection, a design used by the N.C. Department of Transportation that improves safety and traffic flow and simplifies how drivers navigate busy corridors.
This design will mean drivers on N.C. 902 will be redirected into turning right onto U.S. 421 when it is safe to do so. They will no longer turn left or cross over U.S. 421. If they wish to go in another direction, they will drive a short distance guided by new signs into a dedicated U-turn lane with extra pavement to turn around on U.S. 421.
Concrete islands in the median will be built to reconfigure the intersection, allowing drivers on U.S. 421 to use left-turn lanes to safely enter N.C. 902. This construction will begin on Jan. 19 when the traffic signal will be altered for a flashing caution yellow for U.S. 421 and a flashing red to stop traffic on N.C. 902.
Drivers should be aware of slow-moving or stopped traffic and crews and equipment within the roadway. This project is expected to be completed in the spring, when the traffic signal will be removed.