Our view: The 35 mph zone needs to be enforced
It seems the 35 mph speed limit signs aren’t being seen on Charlotte Highway from River Hills Plantation entrance at the light to the new traffic light at Blucher Circle near Buster Boyd Bridge.
This isn’t a new problem. When Lake Wylie Pilot offices were at Executive Court more than two years ago, turning left onto Charlotte Highway had already grown into a problem. Growing traffic often blocked the only route to cross the lake in that direction; the other options were traveling north through Belmont or south through Rock Hill.
But it seems even the new traffic light can’t slow drivers down, or at least raise awareness drivers need to slow down for about a quarter of a mile where many businesses line the right side of the road coming into Lake Wylie. Two wrecks were reported within 48 hours recently. Eyewitnesses blamed one on speeding.
Coming from North Carolina on N.C. 49, the speed limit drops from 55 to 45 mph before the Buster Boyd Bridge. After the bridge, the speed limit is 35 mph for about a quarter of mile until the switch after the second light when it goes to 45 mph. But some drivers don’t seem to notice, and like a stampeding herd, continue their relentless rush to get wherever they are going as quickly as possible.
Northbound drivers have to cross traffic to get to the businesses, and people leaving those establishments have to turn into the flow of traffic.
It is not surprising that almost weekly there is a wreck on that 300-yard stretch between the bridge and the entrance to River Hills. Residents of that gated community have to pay attention when they pull onto 49, because the 35 mph sign is frequently ignored by the bridge-bound drivers. So are the stoplights.
Beat the Light seems to be the name of the game these days.
It is imperative all of us who use this stretch of road obey the speed limit and show courtesy to other drivers.
With about 3,000 homes expected to pop up in the next year, the traffic is only going to grow worse.
We need a solution. Larger and/or more speed limit signs? A portable speed check sign on both sides of the road? More daytime police presence ticketing violators?
Something needs to be done. All of our lives are at stake.
This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Our view: The 35 mph zone needs to be enforced."