Brunswick beach town to change traffic pattern for busy summer months
Citing public safety concerns, a Brunswick County beach town will annually prohibit left-hand turns at a problem intersection during the summer months.
The Ocean Isle Beach Board of Commissioners voted during its April meeting to prohibit left-hand turns onto Causeway Drive off West Third Street and Gatha Lane from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The change will be in effect not just this summer, but every year.
Drivers looking to turn left onto Causeway Drive from West Third Street will instead need to turn right, proceed to the roundabout some two blocks down and turn around to head north on Causeway Drive. Motorists exiting Gatha Lane must turn right onto Causeway Drive.
The change looks to better protect pedestrians and motorists during the busy tourist season. The town already restricts turns off East Second Street onto Causeway Drive.
Commissioner Mark Holland said traffic in that area was particularly bad over Easter weekend with additional people in town and then-ongoing construction at Town Center Park, which recently opened to the public.
“It needs to be restricted during the heavy traffic times,” Holland said.
The board’s vote was unanimous.
Is a permanent solution needed?
Mayor Debbie Smith said she travels the road daily, adding that she often chooses to take a right turn at that intersection during the busier months to avoid oncoming traffic. In the winter months, she said, making that left turn is not a problem.
Holland said he wanted to move forward with making a change for at least the summer months and if a permanent solution is needed, the town could “cross that bridge when we get there.”
At its April meeting, the board also approved an agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the town for the installation of an upgraded crosswalk at Causeway Drive and Gatha Lane.
The commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with the installation of an infrared crosswalk system that will operate by activating strobe lights when pushed by a pedestrian looking to cross the road. Using infrared technology, the lights will remain on until the pedestrian has fully crossed the street.
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NCDOT quoted a cost of roughly $40,000 for the system. The system is expected to take eight to 10 weeks of lead time and an additional month to be installed.
Town staff said they are working with NCDOT to expedite the process in preparation of the busy summer tourist months.
Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Ocean Isle Beach, NC changes traffic pattern at busy intersection
