GREENSBORO, NC — People who live near Bass Chapel Road and Air Harbor Road said the intersection is dangerous for drivers. Now, the N-C-D-O-T has launched a traffic signal investigation.
North Oaks neighbors posted photos to the Next Door app of an accident which occurred there on Sunday. One of the photos seen revealed a car flipped on its side.
"I heard people screaming and I heard all this stuff so I'm like running down the street and you can see where somebody had crashed right into the woods at this intersection and this is where the car had flipped and it was really really ugly," described recent Campbell University grad Lauren Sizemore of the accident scene on Sunday.
Neighbors said this was a frequent occurrence and that something needed to be done before the next crash involved one of them.
"This area right here is a death trap," said Sizemore who has lived in the North Oaks neighborhood for 5 years. Over this period, Sizemore said she had seen a number of car wrecks at the intersection.
"When people are coming off Air Harbor when people are coming off Bass Chapel and it's terrible," Sizemore said the first problem is that cars are ignoring the posted 35 miles per hour speed limit.
The second problem she says is that the roads meet at a curve and often times drivers trying to turn left or right from Bass Chapel Rd. often find themselves in the path of vehicles driving along Air Harbor Rd.
Some neighbors recommended installing traffic lights while others suggested the intersection would work better as a T-junction with 3-way stop signs. One user said rebuilding the entire intersection and turning it into a roundabout, as has been done at nearby intersections, could also help.
"I really really hope something awful doesn't happen," added Sizemore.
Residents said they had complained to the City of Greensboro, but it's actually the N.C.D.O.T who manages Air Harbor Road and some of the intersections along the road.
"If somebody calls in we can investigate it pretty quickly and say, yes it does meet or no it doesn't meet," said Mike Mills a Division Engineer with the N.C.D.O.T.
Mills said there hadn't been any recent complaints or traffic light request filed to them by the neighbors, however, he immediately launched an investigation when WFMY News 2 brought it to his attention.
The investigation will look into traffic volume and the history of accidents at the intersection.
"And say it doesn't meet the traffic signal warrants yet, we have (in similar cases) put in flasher lights, we have put in stop signs, we have made intersections into all-way stop which does help out," added Mills.
As she waits for the desired changes, Sizemore has a message for drivers plying the roads in her neighborhood.
"Please be aware of your speed and please be aware of the people around you because you could save a life and you could save yours too," concluded Sizemore.
The N.C.D.O.T's investigation will take between 6 to 8 weeks for completion.
To report problem intersections residents can contact the NC DOT at 1-877-DOT-4YOU or fill out a contact form for complaints or report Traffic Light Problems on the NC DOT website for state-managed roads.
To report problems with roads managed by the City of Greensboro, you can call 373-CITY or fill out a 'Traffic Concern' form on the City's Website.
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