I did not take my time to write this up for a comment from staff. This is an issue that needs to be corrected. This situation is forcing drivers to either make illegal turns or to go to the top of the hill and make a u-turn which is even more dangerous.

I suggest that Johninnc might have a point. In any case, since he is so determined about it, and since he wants it, perhaps there's a way for people to 'donate a road improvement'. I think new turn lanes run in the $500,000 range. Perhaps he could fund raise, or just pony up the cash, and voila, get it done.

Why would I bother to write about this if I wasn't determined to get it fixed? Funds should not be the issue when the city has created a hazard that needs to be addressed.

Thanks for all of the constructive opinions on this issue.

New Hope Church Road was extended to Wake Forest Road in the early 90’s. At that time the median island was installed at St. Alban’s Road to make St. Albans Rd a right in/right out. The island was installed for multiple reasons:
1. to prevent trucks from using St. Albans which is mostly residential in this area
2. to prevent cut through traffic to Wake Forest Road
3. to prevent left turn vehicles from backing up onto the railroad tracks which is less than 150’ from this intersection.

Allowing a left turn movement at this time would not resolve these original issues. There are alternative routes to access St. Albans Rd from New Hope Church Road, Atlantic Ave and Wake Forest Rd. City staff would encourage motorist to use these alternate routes that have been in place for almost 25 years. If the motorist feels the need to make a U-turn it should only be done at a location where it is safe to make this maneuver.

The city has a truck route policy which requires trucks to follow approved truck routes. The truck routes in this area are New Hope Church Rd, Atlantic Ave, Wolfpack Ln, Bush St, and Wake Forest Rd. Truck should follow those routes, not St. Albans. If you see truck in violation please let the city know and staff will contact the company regarding the city truck route policy.

In regards to the issue of vehicles using the parking lot as a cut through, it is in the city code that “it shall be unlawful to drive across private property for the exclusive purpose of traveling from one public street to a second public street”. In the event that this movement is being made the police department should be contacted for enforcement.

Please email Jed Niffenegger @ jed.niffenegger@raleighnc.gov if you have further questions.

Thank you for responding Jed. I think the key to this problem is in your first sentence. This configuration was built 25 years ago when there was hardly any industrial activity in this area. Today there is a good deal of industrial activity on Tarheel drive which is just a few hundred feet from this intersection. Further down St Albans on Bush St. there are a number of offices including a number of doctor’s offices that were not there 25 years ago.
You state that St. Albans is mostly residential in this area, but a quick look at the Wake County property website tells a different story. It appears that this area is mostly commercial today.
Your second reason for this situation is to prevent cut through traffic to Wake Forest Road. This reasoning seems totally illogical. Why would you not want traffic to use this road in order to relieve some of the congestion on Wake Forest Road?
Your third reason of traffic backing up onto the railroad tracks has some merit, but you have to weigh allowing people to turn left here versus traveling to the top of the hill and making a dangerous u turn where the city has provided a cut out in the curb. Also, the 150 feet to the tracks from this intersection is enough for 5 or 6 cars to line up for the turn.
Trucks are always present on St. Albans and at any given time of the day you can see numerous people cutting through the parking lot and making illegal u turns to get to St. Albans.
This configuration of this intersection is outdated and needs to be re-examined.

With regards to the above information, this needs to stay open until some changes are made.

I appreciate you opening this back up. We will leave it open for you. I don't know if leaving the issue open on SCF will get you the change. I would encourage you to reach out to staff on this.