MORGANTON, N.C. — Safety improvements are being made to a Morganton intersection after two separate incidents in which students who ventured off the North Carolina School of Science and Math campus were struck by cars near the school.
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The crosswalk is being rebuilt on West Fleming Drive. They lowered the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph and added more warning signs for drivers.
There is a new, highly visible traffic signal flasher, as well.
“It really terrified me, and I thought if that was my child,” said resident Mary Thomas. “I can just imagine how the mothers the fathers and parents of those children felt.”
Officials said leaders from the School of Science and Math, the city of Morganton and the state have worked closely together on the project.
“When we first opened the campus in the summer of 2022, we immediately started registering concerns about that intersection, and there were some improvements made by (the N.C. Department of Transportation), but it didn’t go far enough,” said Vice Chancellor Kevin Baxter.
In less than two weeks, 300 students will return to campus.
“Hopefully no one else will be hurt,” said resident Deb Craig. “It was so sad to hear about those kids that were injured.”
The state is building an island to help students cross the four-lane roadway.
“They’re installing what they call pedestrian refuge islands in the center of that roadway to allow any pedestrian who is crossing to focus on really on getting across half of the roadway at a time,” Baxter said.
Completed:
- Converted mainline (east and west bound) signal heads to 4-section heads (“T-heads” – dual reds) with backplates.
- Reduced speed limit from 45mph to 35mph.
- Installed pedestrian warning pavement markings in the eastbound and westbound travel lanes.
- Installed an advanced overhead warning flasher for the westbound approach to the intersection.
In the process of:
- Resurfacing, installing pavement markings, constructing a concrete median island for turn lane separation, and constructing a concrete median island (approx. 350ft east of the intersection) for the installation of an advanced warning flasher.
- Updating the existing concrete curb ramps for the pedestrian crossing.
- Installing FYA (Flashing Yellow Arrow) signal heads for westbound and eastbound left turn lanes.
- Installing additional shoulder mounted advanced warning flasher approximately 530ft east of the intersection.