The Gordon Road Widening project by the N.C. Department of Transportation will widen exactly 2.5 miles of Gordon Road and include a 17.5-foot raised median.
Raised medians direct traffic from the side road into turning right. When there is a safe opening in traffic, drivers enter the flow of traffic on the main route. To go the other direction, or cross the highway, they pull into a dedicated lane – typically less than 1,000 feet away – and make a U-turn. There might be a traffic signal at this location.
The project would also include a Reduced Conflict Intersection (also referred to as a superstreet). The most common type of RCI eliminates left turns from side roads onto busy main roads.
The project’s proposed typical section will include:
- 11-foot travel lanes with curb and gutter
- 10-foot multi-use path, separated from the roadway by a grass area, on the north side5
- 5-foot sidewalk, separated from the roadway by grass area, on the south side
