Feb. 28 - March 6, 2019
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Roundabouts less expensive option for road improvements Building three traffic circles in Oak Ridge would cost about $5.4 million versus $7 million for more conventional road improvements, NCDOT says. A public meeting is scheduled for March 5. by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Building roundabouts at N.C. 68 and 150 and two other places in Oak Ridge’s commercial district would cost less than upgrading the three intersections with more conventional changes, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). It would cost an estimated $5.4 million to
replace the stoplight at Highways 68 and 150 with a traffic circle and add two more roundabouts at 68 and Linville Road near Bojangles’ and at 150 and Marketplace Drive near the Sherwin-Williams store, said Brian Ketner, project engineer in NCDOT’s Greensboro office. Upgrading the 68/150 intersection with pedestrian crossing signals and other improvements and installing stoplights at the other two intersections would cost an estimated $7 million, he said in an interview last week. The public will get its first look next Tuesday, March 5, at two proposals for improving the flow of traffic and increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists at these three intersections. NCDOT will hold a meeting at Oak Ridge’s Town Hall from 4 p.m. to
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Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO
Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers speaks to Northwest Middle School students and staff Feb. 26 about growing up in a poor section of High Point as the son of a single mother and overcoming obstacles to get his master’s degree and, last November, become the county’s first black sheriff. Rogers was a speaker at the middle school as part of a Black History Month celebration attended by eighth-grade students, staff, parents and special guests. See related story on p. 10
IN THIS ISSUE
Photo by Patti Stokes/NWO
NCDOT will hold an open house March 5 to present options for improvements to this intersection at N.C. 68 and 150 as well as the intersections at N.C. 68 and Linville Road and at N.C. 150 and Marketplace Drive. DOT representatives say citizen feedback will factor into which road improvements the department pursues.
Second rezoning vote not required ..............3 Your Questions ................................................4 News in brief....................................................6 Calendar Events .............................................8 Obituary ..........................................................9 NWMS celebrates Black History Month......10 NWHS varsity hoops teams on to playoffs ..12 Student profiles ............................................. 14 Letters/Opinions | Grins & Gripes............. 16 Crime/Incident Report .................................18 Classifieds ..................................................... 19 Index of Advertisers .....................................22