Andrews – The N.C. Department of Transportation is considering whether to remove the traffic signal at Whitaker Lane and Main Street because of declining traffic volume.
“Our office, along with the Andrews district office, is evaluating the intersection for signal warrants to determine if it needs to be removed,” Division 14 traffic engineer Steven Buchanan said. “The amount of traffic at this intersection has decreased, and the latest traffic count shows that the signal may no longer be warranted.”
The flash mode has been in place since March 18 and “is being used as a test phase for Whitaker Lane being under stop control, and we are compiling feedback from citizens and the town. We anticipate the evaluation period to be 6-8 weeks.”
Buchanan said a decision should be made by the middle of May.
Main Street traffic at the intersection is some of the highest in Andrews, but traffic coming off Whitaker Lane is another matter. When the traffic signal fully operated, a sensor on Whitaker Lane detected waiting traffic and triggered red lights on Main Street.
The west end of Andrews was once far busier than it is today. Although there is an Ingles supermarket, Walgreens drugstore, a shopping center, movie theater and other commercial businesses nearby, the intersection was far busier when a hospital, doctor offices and manufacturing plant were in the area.
“Now that Baker furniture and McDonald’s are gone, there isn’t that much traffic there, and it’s just like pulling out at Walgreens or at the corner store,” Andrews Alderman James McLean told the Cherokee Scout. “The flashing lights should suffice that location just fine. The light was faulty, so it was put on flash. I actually went and pulled out there several times with no problem.”
Former town alderman Gary James, who lives just down the street from the intersection, thinks putting a stop sign at Whitaker and Main is a bad idea. He has two issues with the proposed change.
First is safety. James fears that drivers coming from Whitaker Lane may crash into cars on Main Street and described it as a possible death trap. Pedestrians from nearby neighborhoods and Andrews Housing Authority units may be at risk as well.
Second is economic development. True, he said, traffic at the intersection may be less than what it was, but the west side of town may rebound. Restoring the full-service traffic light would be expensive – around $100,000.
James, who ran unsuccessfully for alderman in the 2023 municipal election, said Main Street has its highest traffic volume at Whitaker Lane. He wondered whether the three traffic signals downtown might also be next.
Spring marks the beginning of tourist season and numerous downtown events throughout the spring and summer. He envisions problems at Whitaker Lane during tourist season if it loses its traffic light and gets a stop sign in its place.
“Have we give up on Andrews?” James asked. “Have we thrown in the towel? Why fix something that wasn’t tore up?”