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There is only one traffic artery from
the heart of Wake Forest southward,
South Main Street, and it is time to
reconsider how to improve it.
The residents and business
owners along the street from Forbes Road
down to Rogers Road roundly dismissed
the town staff’s idea of a four traffic
lanes divided by a 4-foot concrete
median.
Rightly so because forcing
residents in the homes and subdivisions
on each side as well as those visiting
the businesses to turn left only at
those road intersections would
essentially close down the left-hand
lane in each direction.
It was touted as a much
safer alternative than a middle turn
lane. That may be true for stretches of
roads with less population – and if it
is safer why was it not used from Rogers
Road south to Capital Boulevard?
But imagine a day when at
least half of the residents in Pemberley,
Olwyn Parish and the future Reynolds
Mill are returning from a hard day in
Raleigh or RTP. They drive north and get
in the left-hand lane to get to the turn
lane at Forbes. The turn lane is already
full, so the cars back up almost to
Rogers. A driver headed farther north
does not anticipate the backup and is in
the left-hand lane, ready for the next,
still two-lane, section. He either has
to wait several minutes to get past the
turn lane or switch to the right-hand
lane. How many fender-benders and
serious accidents do you think will
happen in this scenario?
Even when or if Franklin
Street is extended to Rogers Road and
Ligon Mill Road is built from South Main
up to Durham Road, even after the N.C.
98 bypass is complete to Thompson Mill
Road, South Main will be a busy artery.
Town voters approved the
$9.5 million in street and sidewalk
bonds, and we need to use the $1 million
for South Main, even though it will
probably cost more than anticipated.
However, there are ways to
cut the cost and to make the appearance
of that street more in keeping with the
residential area even when it is four
lanes with a turn lane.
First, cut out the curb and
gutter and storm drains. Continue to use
the grassed shoulders and swales the
residents maintain. Curb and gutter
channels stormwater; swales disperse it
more naturally.
Second, have a sidewalk on
one side only. The street construction
will necessarily cut into the lawns and
lots on the east side of the street;
adding a sidewalk would take even more.
There is already a sidewalk on the west
side. Improve that; add pedestrian
crossing signals at Forbes along with
the traffic signals that will be
necessary.
There may be other ways to
cut the costs and rebuild the street. It
is time to explore everything to help
the traffic situation in town. |
