This week's column: Reader mailbag
It's time once again to tackle questions that have come my way during the past month. As always, feel free to call or e-mail me your observations.
No "Exit Only?"
Jane Dovan of Greensboro called with two questions about things she and her sons, Andy and Ian, have noticed while driving. Here's one; the other comes next week.
"If you enter (eastbound Bryan Boulevard) from Fleming Road, that right lane, if you stay in it, goes out to New Garden Road and there’s no sign that says 'exit only' or any arrows that show you must turn right," she said. "If you’re in that right lane and aren’t going off that exit, you’re in trouble. We wondered about that, why there's no warning there?"
For that I turned to Vance Barham, a state traffic engineer based out of Greensboro.
"You’re absolutely correct," he said of the road, which he visited after I pitched the question. "It was put in according to our standards, but what we will do is go back and add some arrows to remind motorists the lane turns right at the New Garden Road ramp."
Expect to see the improvements sometime in the next four to six weeks.
"If readers have an issue, we certainly want to know about it," Barham said. "We appreciate drivers' input."
N.C. 68 speed limits
Ned McMillan of Greensboro submitted a question last fall regarding N.C. 68 northwest of the city. He contacted me again with another one.
"Why is the speed limit only 50 mph after (N.C. 68) becomes two lanes north of the intersection with Pleasant Ridge Road?"
Barham helped me with this question, too. The two-lane segment of N.C. 68 headed into Oak Ridge once boasted a 55 mph speed limit. But a 1999 study recommended a speed limit no higher than 50 mph.
Engineers examined area development, traffic volume and accident data before concluding that the speed limit could, indeed, be lowered.
"What we try to do when setting speed limits is setting something reasonable for the average driver," said Barham, who later elaborated, "We set something reasonable and safe for the roadway … that covers everybody."
Don't assume that the speed limit will remain 50 mph forever. Conditions do change.
"It's a possibility it could be reduced (again) as development continues to increase and traffic volumes continue to increase," Barham said.
Fast Forward runs every Saturday. Got questions you want answered or need to vent about transportation issues? Send 'em my way at 373-7008 or etownsend@news-record.com. Be sure to leave your name and a way for me to get in touch.