In response to “Changes coming to Trade/John intersection” in the June 8 to 14 issue.
I am surprised to read that the North Carolina Department of Transportation believes that the motor vehicle operators in Matthews and Mint Hill have a complete lack of common sense. One of the articles from last week’s Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly indicates that NCDOT will be installing a flashing yellow arrow to remind vehicle operators that they must use caution when making a left-hand turn at a signalized intersection when the through lanes have a green light.
Don’t drivers know that they always must use caution when making turns? Don’t they know that they must use caution anytime they get behind the wheel of a vehicle?
(This is being done) rather than using funds to improve roadway lighting, adding sidewalks or fixing congested intersections such as:
• N.C. 51 and Fullwood Lane
• N.C. 51 and Sam Newell Road
• N.C. 51 and Elizabeth Lane for times when carpools take/remove students from the school
• N.C. 51 and Sardis Road
(Taxpayer) funds are going to purchase, install and maintain (ie. replace bulbs and pay for electricity) the new flashing yellow arrows.
The choice of using a flashing yellow arrow is unconventional. While it was many years ago when I took drivers’ education, a flashing yellow light at an intersection means that the signal is malfunctioning, drivers seeing the flashing yellow light should proceed with caution and the drivers on the perpendicular street are seeing a flashing red light that they must treat as a stop sign.
David Ross
Matthews
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In response to Letter “No roundabout is the right way” in the June 8 to 14 issue.
Roundabouts work well
I could not disagree more with Lisa Jillani or the Matthews town board on the decision regarding roundabouts.
I believe the town’s decision to not build one was based more on their aversion to doing anything with roads, rather than any specific problem with the design of a roundabout. It has been statistically established that roundabouts move traffic faster, smoother and more safely than any other type of intersection. I have driven these roundabouts in Europe and many U.S. cities and no one seems to have a problem, except those who don’t merge well.
If the town board had any foresight, they would have built a roundabout at the Weddington/ Pleasant Plains/South Trade intersection and traffic would be moving much more smoothly there than it does now.
Ken Randall
Matthews
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