Havelock police urge caution, warn of citations around median

While drivers have expressed frustration about the construction of the East Main Street median, Havelock’s chief of police is warning motorists not to let their frustrations get the better of them.

G. Wayne Cyrus said Havelock officers have written tickets to drivers who are cutting through the construction zones or making illegal U-turns in the area.

"We have and our officers have taken action in some instances regarding violations," said Cyrus.

Nearly two miles of East Main Street is in the construction zone, which runs from Fontana Boulevard all the way to Forest Hill Drive.

"We do not have an officer watching the construction area continuously. We’re not staffed for that," Cyrus said. "However, should an officer observe an action by a vehicle operator which creates a danger to the motoring public or creates a danger to the pedestrian, then the officer will stop that particular operator and take appropriate action."

Cyrus said illegal U-turns or other infractions have to be observed by the officer for a ticket to be written.

"If the turn were to result in a traffic crash, then the officer would be able to utilize witness testimony to determine whether in fact a citation would be issued as a result of the traffic crash," Cyrus said. "To my knowledge, we have not any traffic accidents regarding the construction sites."

Cyrus said Tuesday that he did not have an exact number of tickets issued to drivers for unsafe movements or illegal U-turns in the construction area.

Cyrus said most of the instances of motorists cutting across the construction area have been near restaurants. He also said U-turns and left turns at the railroad crossing near Duncan Donuts have been a problem.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has posted signs prohibiting U-turns and left turns at the area, but those haven’t seemed to deter motorists.

"It says no U-turn out there and people are turning there anyway like all day, every day, right here in front of the place at the railroad tracks. It’s pretty annoying," Amie Gardner, a clerk at nearby First Run Video, said last week.

Cyrus said drivers also need to avoid such frustration that it erupts into road rage that can lead to crashes.

"We know it’s frustrating," Cyrus said. "It becomes frustrating for us at times trying to respond to calls when we have to seek an alternative route or drive farther in order to make a turn, but I would just emphasize to folks to be patient and don’t take unnecessary chances. Plan your trips accordingly to allow for more time. We know there are going to be issues with traffic in those areas."

The biggest portion of the work is expected to be completed in December, with repaving of the road set for May.

"They are telling us that the project will be completed in about three weeks, barring any weather circumstances or other circumstances," Cyrus said.

The N.C. Department of Transportation announced plans to replace the center turning lane with the median four years ago, citing improved safety and traffic flow. The project immediately drew the ire of residents and city officials, who complained the median would divide the city and make driving around town for local residents more difficult.

City leaders fought the project with the backing of local representatives, but eventually, DOT obtained $1.6 million from the federal High Hazard Elimination Fund for the project.

East Main Street formerly had a median, but DOT replaced it with the center turning lane in 1979, saying the center turn lane would improve safety and traffic flow.