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Saturday, May 10, 2008 1:06 AM
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By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
CHINA GROVE — After two years of trying to get the state to put a traffic light on N.C. 152 near Carson High School, town officials may be ready to try a new plan — buy a traffic light.
Town officials have adopted a resolution, talked to N.C. Department of Transportation officials, lobbied state legislators and asked the county for help.
Lacking a light at N.C. 152 and Kress Ventures Drive, the county and school system pay a deputy sheriff to direct traffic during peak periods morning and evening.
Barbara Welter, wife of alderman Allen Welter, appealed to the board Tuesday night to take action to avoid serious or fatal accidents. Welter said the 1,033 students along with staff and parents are at risk.
Welter said if a traffic light costs $70,000, the town should make it the No. 1 priority in the new budget.
"Have we done all we can to get a light at Carson?" asked Alderman Lee Withers.
Mayor Don Bringle recounted the town's efforts, adding that the state said the town could buy a traffic light. But Bringle noted that intersection at Kress Ventures Drive and N.C. 152 is not in the town limits.
Mayor Pro Tem Blair Lyseski suggested the town find out what a traffic light costs and ask the county and school officials to help pay for the light.
Money isn't the issue, according to County Commissioner Jim Sides.
"The state won't allow a traffic light," said Sides on Thursday. "The Department of Transportation has determined that no traffic light is warranted. If it was a matter of money, the county would have already done it."
Sides said the county has no authority over the road, adding that the town of China Grove might have more leeway if the intersection was in the town limits.
Although the school is inside the town, the intersection leading to it is outside.
During the board meeting Tuesday night, aldermen indicated support for Lyseski's idea to seek joint funding, but the conversation quickly moved to another traffic light.
Withers said a developer has approached the town to get a traffic light on U.S. 29 at Bostian Street near the Stag N'Doe, where residential and commercial development is planned.
"You'll need a bulletproof vest to save you if we put a traffic light there and not at Carson," said Alderman Welter.
Bringle said the residential development is in Landis and suggested town officials talk with Landis about the light.
Lyseski said the town also needs specifics on the development that is planned, not broad statements that development will occur if a traffic light is installed.
As with N.C. 152, the state controls placement of lights on U.S. 29.
Comments (5)
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Comments (5)
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Helen
: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 2:43 PM
Yeah China Grove spend more tax dollars or should I say waste tax dollars. Why dont you try spending that tax money on something worth while, for one give the town employees more than 2.8 cost of living (which is a joke) I guess the new manager (pless) made that choice ohh but I forgot he's making 70k or more a year so what does he have to worry about? maybe he needs to bring home a check less than 30k a year and he will see how hard it is to live, like most of the town employees do. So again why not spend the tax dollars where they need to be and not on a stop light thats not even going to be in the town limits. Myself as a tax payer of the town thinks Mr.Pless need to step back and put the money where it should be and thats on the men and women I see keeping the town up and to the men and women who protect us all day and night. Not on some stop light for a school the County put here.
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Pressure Sensitive Light or second entrance : Wednesday, June 18, 2008 12:49 PM
One possibility would be a light that stays green most of the time for passing traffic along 152. The only time it would turn red on 152 is when a car needed to get out of Kress Venture -- quickly turning back to green when no other cars need to get out and staying red a little longer for more lengthly lines of cars (ie: during school hours) An even better solution is finding access to Lentz Road or possibly another location on 152. One entrance and exit into a major destination is never a safe alternative -- too many vehicles being funneled into one spot. Either one of these alternatives would help make the impact of through traffic movement along 152 much less.
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Concerned parent of JCHS student
Traffic Light : Monday, May 12, 2008 10:00 AM
Evidently the people that have responded to this article so far do not have to deal with the traffic at Carson High on an everyday basis. It's horrible & very unsafe, no matter what speed you're "SUPPOSED" to be going. The safety of these children & their parents getting them to & from school should be the concern. Not the money issues. I've seen money spent on more trivial things in my lifetime. There shouldn't even be an argument about this. Just get the light put up.
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I am McLovin
No need to buy light : Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:05 PM
There is no need to raise money to buy a light for Carson on NC152. The Dept. of Transportation has made thir ruling concerning the light and it would be a waste of time to raise funds for a light that isn't allowed or approved to be installed. There are school zone waring signs and a flashing light showing a speed limit of 45 mph during the opening and closing hours of school. If everyone follows these signs and pays attention to the officer directing traffic out, there will be no accidents. Again, the school board was advised not to build in this area due to the amount of traffic on NC152. I don't think we should blame NCDOT or hold them accountable to any incedents that may arise in this area. Everyone should slow down, obey the traffic laws, hang up thier cell phones, and just pay attention to the road.
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Thomas Talbert
Traffic light: : Saturday, May 10, 2008 5:44 AM
I have heard that the state tried to tell the planners NOT to build Carson HS where it is. The report was that the highway in that area could not support the taffic. If true then the board that made this decision should buy the light, since they are amarter than the state board. .
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