Murphy – Cherokee County residents, visitors and business owners are invited to learn about the benefits of roundabouts and reduced conflict intersections – transportation designs the N.C. Department of Transportation says increase safety and reduce congestion.
The informational session will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, 517 Hiwassee St. at the intersection of U.S. 64 West A short presentation will be delivered at 5 p.m., repeated at 6 p.m., then followed by a short question-and-answer session.
Engineers will explain why and how these two type of designs improve a community’s transportation network. The DOT is constructing more roundabouts and reduced conflict intersections around the state where they are warranted and needed.
The DOT says both designs dramatically reduce the risk of serious crashes, and also aid in helping drivers reach their destinations quicker. Roundabouts also help reduce the congestion and backups more typical of traditional intersections, with stop signs and traffic signals.
A reduced conflict intersection, sometimes called a super-street or a median U-turn, simplifies how traffic is moved through the area, reducing travel delays and improving safety, according to the DOT. In the most common design, drivers on the side street turn right to enter the flow of traffic. To go in another direction, the drivers, after turning right, enter a nearby dedicated lane to make a U-turn.
Two roundabouts have been proposed for Murphy – one in the middle of the four-way stop downtown, and another on U.S. 64 West near the Local Market and Monte Alban plaza. Another unique intersection has been built where Hiwassee Street and Ranger Road meet next to McDonald’s.
Everyone is invited to attend the free event. For details, visit ncdot.gov.