There are no dates but the priority improvements for N.C. 98 between U.S.70 outside Durham and U.S. 401 in Franklin County are simple – four-laning of the entire 27 miles. Meanwhile there will be simple, easy changes to improve the safety of the entire road.
Priority #1 will widen N.C. 98 from Sherron Road near Durham to Old Falls of the Neuse to the four lanes. Priority #2 is improving the existing four lanes of the N.C. 98 Bypass (Dr. Calvin Jones Highway). Priority #3 is widening N.C. 98 to four lanes from Jones Dairy Road to U.S. 401.
One of the small changes has already been constructed, the roundabout at the N.C. 96 intersection east of Wake Forest. The others that drivers will appreciate are:
*Adding more turn lanes at N.C. 50 (Creedmoor Road)
*Adding right turn lanes eastbound and northbound at Six Forks
*Installing turn lanes at Camp Kanata
*Installing dual left turn lanes at South Main Street (U.S. 1-A)
*Signal improvements at Heritage Lake Road and Traditions Grande Boulevard
*Installing a four-way stop at Moores Pond Road
Rachel Gaylord-Miles with MSP presented the N.C. 98 study and recommendations to the Wake Forest Town Board Tuesday evening with a PowerPoint presentation.
The study for the road improvements focused on safety and mobility for the residents along the busy highway where traffic in several sections is high enough to immediately warrant four lanes. The planners looked at the environmentally sensitive areas, particularly around Falls Lake, at the different types of land use, at the number of cars people own, how many minority people and migrants live along the road and how many are under the poverty level.
They also looked at the number of crashes there were at the intersections although the time frame was not specified. There were two fatal crashes, one at South Main Street and one at mile post 26.9, not an intersection.
The crashes were largely rear-end collisions. Locally the crash data show 25 at Camp Kanata Road; 25 at Old Falls of the Neuse; 18 at Thompson Mill, 26 at U.S. 1 (Capital Boulevard); 27 at Galaxy Drive; 41 at South Main; 25 at Franklin; 27 at Heritage Lake; 21 at Jones Dairy; 46 at N.C. 96; 23 at Moores Pond; and 32 at U.S. 401.
3 Responses
Any updates on the widening and sidewalk install on Durham Road (business 98)?
That plan was proposed awhile ago to residents. (In the least hoping for some shoulders so it’s walkable)??
Michelle, The changes you want to see will be discussed Thursday, Aug. 2. See the article Picture these changes in town for the details about the meeting.
Carol
Sooner the better. I drive to Durham often and 98 is a nightmare. Traffic signals and turn lanes at Camp Kanata are needed since so many new homes are being built .