Annunciation hopes for changes at intersection

Havelock officials have submitted a proposal to the N.C. Department of Transportation to redesign the intersection of Cunningham Boulevard and Main Street.

The changes would go a long way toward creating a solution to traffic issues for Annunciation Catholic Church and its school, said Jim Strange, a church representative involved in the planning process for the intersection.

He said those picking up and dropping off children for school as well as those attending the church's Saturday evening and Sunday morning services often have trouble accessing Main Street.

He said proposed changes, which include turning lanes to the rear of the church as well as an additional light for exiting church traffic added to the current signal at the intersection, would help increase safety.

"This is by far the most equitable and best solution," Strange said.

Strange said changes need to be approved now before recommendations of the U.S. 70 Corridor Commission are put into place.

"In a nutshell, the Super 70 corridor is coming whether we like it or not," he said. "Once it's in place, we will have no left turn exiting the church. If we don't find a solution, we're left out in the cold."

Strange said for years that parents, teachers and parishioners have had trouble safely accessing Main Street from church property. The church is located across Main Street from Cunningham Boulevard, yet there is no traffic signal facing the church.

Every school day, a Havelock police officer arrives to stop Main Street traffic to allow those picking up students from the school to safely access the road.

Strange said with about 120 students, about 50 to 60 cars leave the school each afternoon.

The proposals the church and city have agreed to include:

• an additional traffic signal at the Cunningham-Main Street stoplight that would point toward the rear church exit that would allow vehicles to make left turns on to Main Street.

• a left turn lane with a green light arrow on westbound Main Street at the intersection to allow left turns to the rear of the church.

• a deceleration right turn lane on eastbound Main Street to the rear of the church. The lane would be constructed along church property in front of the bell tower. This lane would continue onto the parish property across where 12 parking spaces are currently located to the south and east of the parish.

• a crosswalk from church property across Main Street to Havelock City Park. Strange said the sidewalk would help when students go to the park for activities and when they take field trips to the fire station and Havelock City Hall.

The N.C. Department of Transportation must approve of the plan.

"I think it's wonderful if DOT agrees with it," Strange said.

No timetable has been set on when the changes could be implemented.