Two intersections in Sampson County will be converted into all-way stops Thursday, April 16, the NC Department of Transportation announced Monday afternoon.
The new stop signs and pavement markings will be installed at the following locations near Salemburg:
• NC 242 at the intersection of Minnie Hall Road and Zoar Church Road.
• Dunn Road at the intersection of Ernest Williams Road.
Veronica Newsome Scott, NCDOT public information officer for Divisions 2 and 3, shared that the installation of the new all-way stops takes just one day to complete. “Virtual Message Signs (VMS) are posted a week prior to the installation and New Traffic Pattern warning signs with flags are posted prior to the intersection,” she explained in an email response. “Both are removed 30 days after installation.”
Scott further clarified that permanent flashing lights are posted on the right shoulder by the stop signs on all primary routes, like US or NC highways, at any new all-way stop locations. For example, she said that the NC 242 at Zoar Church Road/Minnie Hall Road intersections will include installation of the flashers on the NC 242 approaches.
The all-way stops were requested by previous county commissioners after the communities surrounding the areas expressed concerns about traffic in the area, Sampson County Manager Allen Vann said in a telephone interview.
“NCDOT conducted a thorough evaluation of each intersection following requests by concerned citizens,” Scott noted. “Following evaluation, the department determined that an all-way stop was warranted and supported at both intersections.”
She touted all-way stops, saying that they:
- Improve safety while causing a minimal increase in travel time.
- Reduce the need for drivers to wait until there is a safe gap in opposing traffic.
- Are more cost-effective, and can be implemented more quickly than other types of safety projects.
- Compared to more expensive safety projects, all-way stops can achieve a greater reduction in total crashes.
According to a 2023 DOT study of 348 rural intersections, adding all-way stops resulted in a 55-percent reduction in total crashes, a decrease of 92 percent in fatal and serious-injury crashes, and 72 percent fewer frontal-impact crashes with minor injuries.
The typical cost is $30,000, compared to an average cost of $1 million to $3 million for a roundabout, and $200,000 for a traffic signal. “An all-way stop is a proven, cost-effective measure designed to enhance intersection safety and reduce the risk of serious crashes,” the DOT press release states.
DOT also advises that drivers use extra caution while traveling through the areas while the installations are underway.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.