There have been six car crashes at the intersection of Greensboro Street and Estes Drive Extension in Carrboro since 2012. Although the wrecks aren’t all the same, most were due to lag at stop lights.

“We’ve hired a consultant to help us identify what the deficiencies are out there,” said Chris Smitherman, Division Design Engineer. “And it appears to be delay.”

Smitherman said the Department of Transportation is looking to hear residents’ input on turning the three-way stop into a roundabout to solve this problem.

BenJetta Johnson is a traffic manager at SEPI Engineering and Construction. The company is acting as a consultant to determine what changes are viable. She said the roundabout would not only reduce the probability of wrecks, but it would also keep traffic moving.

“With a roundabout, you won’t have that same stop delay that you would have with a traffic signal,” she said. “So if you approach the intersection, and there’s not an opposing vehicle, you can just proceed into the intersection.”

Smitherman said it was also important to consider safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. But design also needed to be taken into consideration. He said the roads will need more room if they are made into a roundabout, and the NCDOT will need to discuss potentially cutting into property lines with homeowners.

“Well, with what we’ve proposed here, there may be some additional property that we may need to utilize in order to construct it and build the project,” he said.

The NCDOT is still waiting for public comments from residents to come in, before making finalized plans and designs. Click here for information on how to submit comments about the project.

Related Stories
‹
Construction on New Carrboro Roundabout To Begin in August
A major road project thought to be delayed is set to begin construction in Carrboro, just weeks before students are moving back to the area for the fall semester. The town announced Tuesday that the construction on the Estes Drive/North Greensboro Street roundabout would begin on August 5. Construction of a roundabout on South Greensboro […]
Traffic Shift Set for Carrboro Pipe Installation
A traffic shift will be implemented next week as a pipe installation continues on South Greensboro Street between N.C. 54 and Rand Road in Carrboro. Crews will close one of two northbound lanes and shift traffic to one lane starting at 9:00 A.M. Tuesday morning, weather permitting. The traffic shift is set to last about 90 […]
Road Closures For Repairs In Hillsborough And Carrboro Begin Monday, Mar. 23
Starting Monday, Mar. 23, sections of Hillsborough’s Governor Burke Road and Carrboro’s E. Popular Avenue and Roberson Street will be closed as crews conduct repairs. 
Funding Cuts Alter Chapel Hill's Designs for Bike Lanes, Sidewalk on Estes Drive Extension
Chapel Hill said the design updates for bicycle lanes and sidewalks along Estes Drive Extension still achieve safety and connectivity goals.
Carrboro's E. Weaver Street to Close to Vehicles Every Weekend in April, Temporary Bike-Ped Plaza
Starting in April, Carrboro’s East Weaver Street will be closed to vehicles every weekend — the town's next step in reimagining East Weaver.
NCDOT Installing Pedestrian Infrastructure at 3 N.C. Highway 54 Intersections
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will partner with the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro to install pedestrian and bicyclist improvements at three intersections along North Carolina Highway 54. NCDOT will begin work Monday, Feb. 2 to install crosswalks with traffic signals at the highway’s intersections with: The Kingswood Apartments complex in Chapel Hill […]
Carrboro Hears Update on Reimagining E. Weaver Street, Redesigning Traffic Patterns
At its last meeting before the summer break, the Carrboro Town Council heard an update on the reimagining of East Weaver Street.
Carrboro: Roads Closed Due To Multiple Down Power Lines Following Crash
The Town of Carrboro released a traffic alert following an accident that brought down multiple power lines.
Overnight Paving on Jones Ferry Road to Begin on July 14, With New Bike Lanes the Result
Road work by the North Carolina Department of Transportation is nearing for Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro, with a start date now announced by the state and local governments. A release through the Town of Carrboro on Monday said Jones Ferry Road from the intersection of West Main Street to the intersection at Old Fayetteville […]
Carrboro: Work Begins on Jones Ferry Road to Eventually Bring Bike Lane
The Town of Carrboro alerted its residents to work beginning on Jones Ferry Road that will lead to minor traffic delays in the coming weeks.
›