Meeting Tuesday on roundabout at Briggs and Sherrills Ford

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 21, 2011

The N.C. Department of Transportation wants to improve safety, make travel more efficient and reduce congestion at the intersection of Sherrills Ford Road and Briggs and Barringer roads in Salisbury. To address those needs, NCDOT is considering converting the intersection to a roundabout.
NCDOT will discuss this proposed project with the public at a citizen’s informational workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is located at 5080 Sherrills Ford Road in Salisbury. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. Citizens are invited to drop in at any time during those hours.
NCDOT representatives will be available to discuss the benefits of the project, answer questions and address concerns. The department will use the thoughts and ideas shared by the public to help shape the project as it moves forward.
A roundabout is a circular intersection that channels traffic around a center island without using traffic signals. Because roundabouts allow for continuous flow, they let vehicles pass through the intersection more efficiently than with traditional intersections. This not only reduces congestion but also cuts down on pollution and fuel use.
Roundabouts also increase safety by reducing the number of T-bone, left-turn and head-on collisions. In fact, Federal Highway Administration data show roundabouts have reduced fatalities by 90 percent and injuries by 76 percent nationwide.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop to comply with the American Disabilities Act. To receive these services, please contact Brett Abernathy via phone at (336) 703-6500, email at jbabernathy@ncdot.gov or mail at 375 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 as early as possible, so arrangements can be made.