To keep our neighborhoods and Rail Trail users safe, the City wants drivers to slow down. Motorists should be especially careful when driving on Pine and Sycamore streets, or they may miss a newly installed stop sign.
Downtown drivers need to pay attention to new traffic stop signs unveiled in downtown Lincolnton on Wednesday.
You’ve probably seen them hiding, covered in plastic. As of Wednesday morning May 16, motorists will need to actually STOP at several intersections that have new stop signs installed.
The new stop signs are intended to slow down fast-moving traffic through residential neighborhoods and especially near Marcia Cloninger Rail Trail crossings.
New stops are now required at:
- Sycamore at N Laurel St - travelling west.
- Sycamore at N Poplar St - travelling west.
- Pine at N Laurel St – now a four-way stop.
- Pine at N Poplar St - travelling west.
- Congress at S Academy St – now a four-way stop replacing the traffic light.
The new stop signs will have light beacons installed to call attention to the change and help motorists take proper action. There will also be light beacons installed at the Rail Trail crossings on East Dixon, Pine and Sycamore to help ensure the safety of trail users at these busy crossings.
Some additional traffic safety reminders:
- Stop for pedestrians at all painted crosswalks – in addition to the Rail Trail crossings, this includes the crossings on Main Street and around the Court Square. Pedestrians have the right of way and motorists should stop whenever a pedestrian is entering the crosswalk.
- Yield to motorists when entering the Court Square – motorists already on the square have the right of way and all entering vehicles must yield to existing traffic. This is especially important at the Sycamore entrance to the Court Square which includes both a pedestrian crosswalk and a yield to existing traffic.
- Four Way Stop Signs –
> First to Stop = First to Go. The first vehicle at the intersection goes through the intersection first.
> Farthest Right Goes First. When two vehicles get to the intersection at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first; it has the right-of-way.
> Straight Traffic Goes First. When two vehicles are directly across from each other, and one is turning left, the one that is going straight goes first.
