GRANITE FALLS – The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting for a proposed project to improve two intersections on U.S. 321 in Caldwell County from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 in the Council Chambers at Granite Falls Town Hall, 30 Park Square.
The project would improve mobility and safety by converting the U.S. 321 intersections with Pinewood Road and Lower Cedar Valley Road/Highland Avenue to reduced conflict intersections.
Reduced conflict intersections eliminate left turns from side roads onto high-traffic main roads, instead guiding drivers to a dedicated U-turn lane. A 2023 NCDOT study of 31 reduced conflict intersections found an 80% reduction in frontal impact crashes and a 50% reduction in total crashes.
In the proposed design, drivers from the side streets would turn right onto U.S. 321, then use dedicated, signalized lanes to make a U-turn. Project details and maps can be found on the NCDOT project web page at publicinput.com/US321-Pinewood-Highland.
The public may drop into the meeting at any time to learn more about the project and have one-on-one discussions with project staff. There will be no formal presentation.
People may also submit comments before Sept. 4 by phone at 984-205-6615 project code 10489, email us321-pinewood-highland@publicinput.com, or mail to Donald Nance, NCDOT Division 11 Assistant Division Design Engineer, 801 Statesville Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Diane Wilson, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1598, 919-670-7686 or ext-pdwilson1@ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made. Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior by calling 1-800-481-6494.