Albemarle council addresses traffic concerns at intersection of Anderson Road and Woodhurst Lane

The Albemarle City Council recently discussed traffic concerns near the intersection of Anderson Road and Woodhurst Lane.

Several residents have been voicing complaints recently of increased traffic volume, vehicles avoiding stops at the four-way stop intersection and speeding in the surrounding area.

“I’m experiencing the worst of the neighborhood,” Mandy Smith, who lives at the corner of Anderson Road and Woodhurst Lane, told council.

She noted that cars routinely zip through her neighborhood at 45 to 50 mph, well above the 35 mph speed limit. The only visible speed limit sign, she said, is located near Preformed Line Products.

“If there were a police officer stationed in my driveway, they could pay their entire salary with a month of tickets,” Smith said.

She told council that she and other residents would like the speed limit reduced to 25 mph.

Smith also mentioned that few people stop at the four-way intersection, which she said “has got to be one of the busiest intersections in town.” At one point, she told council, she counted 100 cars pass through the intersection, of which only 15 actually stopped.

“We need some help down there,” she added.

Albemarle officials, including Public Works Director Ross Holshouser, Planning Director Kevin Robinson, Assistant City Manager Nyky Hardy and former police chief David Dulin, visited the intersection in late May to see the issues to determine possible actions that could be taken.

In a report sent to City Manager Michael Ferris, staff noted the increased traffic was primarily due to new residential developments and industrial business sites — including Preformed Line Products and Enforge — in the area.
Staff came up with several possible recommendations to alleviate residents’ concerns, Holshouser told council, including installing additional four-way stop signs, adding “STOP” pavement markings at the intersection, installing a four-way flashing red light and lowering the speed limit to 25 mph. Another option was increasing police presence in the area.
Councilman Bill Aldridge brought up the idea of having an increased police presence in the area to deter regular offenders from continuing to speed.
“They’ll start to pull a couple of cars over and then word spreads fast and it will be known as ‘Hey, don’t run the stop sign on Anderson Road,’ ” he said.
Council tabled the issue until the next meeting to allow city attorney Britt Burch time to draft an ordinance codifying changes including reducing the speed limit.
The next scheduled meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday.

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