| By Carol W. Pelosi
I think most drivers try their best to practice safe driving techniques and avoid situations which appear dangerous. I know I do.
That is why I must raise my voice – as a number of my neighbors already have on Nextdoor – about the incredibly poorly planned western part of the superstreet at the intersection of the two parts of South Franklin Street at the N.C. 98 Bypass (Calvin Jones Highway).
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has installed a turn-around where a driver must use the left lane and then execute a U-turn to go in the opposite direction under a hill created to bridge the CSX rail line. The driver has to check his rear-view mirrors for traffic headed east while trying to head east himself.
The line-of-site distance is so short that he may see no one coming toward him before he pulls out into the travel lanes, but he can be overtaken by traffic before he executes the turn and accelerates again.
All the traffic on the bypass in Wake Forest travels at well over the speed limit consistently, and westbound traffic that is not hindered by the traffic signals at the South Main Street intersection is probably going 65 to 70 miles per hour as it comes over that hill.
That part of the superstreet, which has already been built, is sure to be the location for multiple rear-end collisions, injuries, probably deaths and countless wrecked vehicles.
Why did the NCDOT planners not extend that turn another 200 or 300 feet or more to give the turning drivers a clear view of the approaching traffic back to the South Main intersection?
The following is an excerpt of a Washington Post article published on March 29, 2022 about a horrific 50-plus vehicle pile-up during a blinding snow squall Monday on I-81 in Pennsylvania near Minersville, about halfway between Harrisburg and Scranton:
“Studies show that it takes the average driver half to three-quarters of a second to recognize a threat and apply the brakes. A vehicle traveling at 60 mph would have moved 44 to 66 feet during that time. Then comes the actual stopping distance, which can be several hundred feet.”
Right now I and others see that we would be flirting with death to try to use the left turn to reach the southern part of Franklin Street from its northern part or to try to make a left onto the southern part of Franklin Street if we are on the bypass headed west.
I implore the Wake Forest mayor, commissioners and town manager to very strongly urge NCDOT to change that left-turn at Franklin and the bypass immediately.
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18 Responses
DOT is doing some sort of work there currently. Not sure if it’s a traffic light. And yes, that left turn is very dangerous.
The silver lining to all of this patchwork, virtually unregulated, development resulting in constant traffic issues is that it won’t be long before Wake Forest will start save money on holiday decorations. There will be so many red/amber/green lights hanging over our roads, it will be unnecessary to put up more.
An addendum: What happened to the NCDOT proposal to put traffic signal on Route98 and Camp Kanada Road??????? Almost impossible to make left turn during most times during the day. HUGE amount of building off Camp K Road. And we moved here in 2013.
They should have built this as a restricted access road – a “bypass”. All it is now is another busy town street! All about the $$$…
Agree. They were warned by citizens if they put the By-Pass in the middle of town they wouldn’t be meeting the Federal guidelines of limited access. It’s a By-Pass in name only to get Federal funding.
Frazier’s Store (Hwy 96 and 98 intersection) to Retail Dr.(Home Depot/Target)—-6.2 miles
55mph—6min. 46sec.
45mph—8min. 16sec.
90 sec. Difference in travel time.
The lower speed limit will have the effect of slowing traffic through the S. Main St. intersection which is now a criminally negligent 55mph(translated:60 to 65mph+)
This highway concern is not a Wake Forest issue. It is a major thoroughfare(?) for heavy vehicles and tourists heading for the coast.
During the construction phase lane closures were tolerated. Even when they weren’t ACTUALLY closed. Signs were often incorrect or left up when not needed. Those were the early warning signs. Now we have to live with it as is. With a lower speed limit!
Do I hear 35mph?
Now about those school pick up spaces…sometimes referred to as ‘bike lanes’!
My observation on the above question of where they prepared for their careers is that we must remember that somebody had to graduate at the bottom of the class!
I have felt this project would be a disaster waiting to happen. There are a couple of limited vision areas on these new turns. 98 has become a speedway like Capital Blvd. Speed limit signs mean nothing, even with a traffic light at 98 and Traditions Grand Blvd.
Apparently, the city planners were consuming mind-altering drugs when this DANGER to HUMAN LIFE was created. Why they did it is obvious because they could. That is NEVER a good idea!!
To turn On Franklin, you need to perform a U-Turn into ONCOMING traffic, during RUSH HOUR, during SCHOOL DROP OFF… then make a right onto Franklin. Perhaps the city planners are taking bets that the hazard will create accidents, and they placed bets as to how many accidents, or injuries, will occur per month, per week, per day.
To date, there have been some really stupid decisions by the Wake Forest Town Planning “gang”, I guess they tried to prove their stupidest decision yet to be made was this one. SUCCESS!
NCDOT, Wake Forest, and whoever else. Any injuries, accidents, and God Forbid deaths at this trap you designed and implemented are all on you!
I am really amazed you blew part of a budget on this very ignorant design that creates a hazard to human life!
Just to be clear: The Town of Wake Forest had no part in planning or constructing that U-turn. The fault entirely lies on the North Carolina Department of Transportation. I am asking the town commissioners, mayor and town manager to intercede with DOT and repair or replace this poorly designed “superstreet.”
Carol
Thank you, I missed that.
NCDOT….figures!
They did approve, however, the location of the “By-Pass” which we knew would only lead to congestion and dangerous situations.
I distinctly remember reading something a few years back about the plans for the Franklin St intersection, and it said at the time that NCDOT had WANTED to do a super street, but decided it wasn’t feasible precisely because of the limited sight distance coming down the hill from the railroad overpass.
But apparently someone said “Nah, let’s do it anyhow!”
I totally agree it’s a very unsafe turn. I have tried it and will NEVER use that intersection to do anything but turn right on S Franklin St. I go out of my way to avoid it. Very poor planning that cost a ton of money I’m sure
? YES!!! Way to go Mrs. Pelosi!!!! Sticking up for her subscribers!
I wholeheartedly agree with the opinion. It is An unpleasant situation. Hopefully the Commissioners and Mayor have the juice to make the street safer.
I totally agree. I made the same comment to my wife today. We need a bypass for the bypass, I’m afraid. The speed limit will need to be slowed to 45 mph or less to lower the possibility of a crash, and a set of lights like they put on 401 in the Rolesville area at the turnarounds.
This is another example of incompetence as with the Wait Avenue/98 bypass intersection – also the on-ramp at US 1 and the Carolina Ale House before they finally came back and extended into a lane of its own….and then there is the big blimpy bump at S. Main at Capitol Blvd with misaligned lanes after crossing onto 1A. It makes one wonder where on earth these designers prepared for their careers. It certainly had nothing to do with common sense. It feels good to rant out loud instead of silently. Thanks for this item.