Thursday, September 28, 2023
By Outer Banks Voice on July 21, 2022
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Citing about 150 vehicle crashes in the past five years, NCDOT announced on July 21 that it will drop the speed limit to 45 mph for the heavily travelled stretch of U.S. 158 between the H2OBX Water Park and the Wright Memorial Bridge.
Here is the information.
The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will soon be lowering the speed limit on 3.4 miles of U.S. 158 in Currituck County between the H2OBX Water Park and the Wright Memorial Bridge. The speed limit will be reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph.
The speed limit reduction is another step aimed at improving safety on the stretch of busy highway on the Outer Banks. The section of the highway in southern Currituck County has seen 151 vehicle crashes reported in the last five years, resulting in four fatalities, 13 life-threatening injuries, and 88 minor-to-serious injuries.
Win Bridgers, NCDOT’s engineer for the highway division in northeastern North Carolina, said homeowners and businesses in the area were contacted and agreed that changes should be made to improve safety on the stretch of U.S. 158.
“Rumble strips and six-inch pavement markings have already been installed along this section of the highway,” Bridgers said. “Lowering the posted speed limit is another step. In the long-term, more permanent measures are necessary, such as access management.”
Workers will be replacing signs reflecting the lowered speed limit beginning the week of July 25.
Comments
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David Smith
The speed limit on the bridge should be lowered as well.
John Burkard
The real problem is the entrance to the Dollar General in Harbinger. If they put in an entrance that aligned with the intersetion of Edgewater Drive, most of the issues and accidents I’ve witnessed would be lessened. Whomever approved the site plan for that Dollar General did not take into consideration the flow of traffic on the highway at that location. It is unsafe at any speed and will continue to cause accidents on this stretch of road.
David Smith
Just made my first trip through the area with the reduced speed limit. Very noticeable slow down going to the bridge. Easier to adjust on the trip home. People moving faster headed toward the bridge. Seemed like a lot did not slow down.