Newly installed traffic lights will begin flashing yellow tonight just after rush hour at the intersection of Green Level to Durham Road and Cary Glen Boulevard.

This comes about one month after approving plans for a traffic signal there to address safety concerns.

A 16-year-old died at that intersection when someone hit her step mother's SUV on June 22, causing it to roll several times. The teen, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle. The driver of the other car fled the scene in their tan or beige van or SUV, and has still not been found.

Following the crash, neighbors demanded a stoplight.

The signals are expected to begin regular operations on Thursday following morning rush hour. While the signals are on flash, motorists should use caution as they travel through the intersection, stopping and yielding to traffic if they have a flashing red light and proceeding with caution if they have a yellow flashing light.

While this type of project typically takes up to six months to complete, the two agencies, along with other partners such as Progress Energy, expedited the process, beating their original estimate of 60 days and getting the signal installed prior to the start of the traditional calendar school year. NCDOT authorized the intersection's signalization following the results of a recent engineering study and traffic count that met the criteria to warrant a traffic signal.

In addition to the traffic lights, the intersection improvements include pedestrian signal heads with pushbuttons and countdown timers to enhance the safety of pedestrians in the area.

"Nothing is more important to us than the safety of those who live in and travel through Cary, and we appreciate the NCDOT's working with us to address safety concerns," said Town of Cary Engineering Director Tim Bailey. "The signal is a first step, and we will continue to work with the State to research long-term options for maintaining a high level of safety in this area."

The Town has received many suggestions for increasing travel safety in the area as well as several requests for a formal public input process.

Therefore, the Town and NCDOT will work together on a long-term corridor study of Green Level to Durham Road from Morrisville Parkway to McCrimmon Parkway. The corridor study will identify and prioritize safety and operational concerns and generate a range of options based on public input. The study is slated to kick off in late summer/early fall.

Green Level to Durham Road and the Cary Glen intersection are owned and maintained by the State; Cary and NCDOT worked together to fund the installation totaling $60,000, and the Town will pay the estimated $50,000 for the corridor study.

Get More Cary Traffic Information

Related Links

1. Get More Cary Traffic Information
2. NBC17 Real-Time Taffic Alerts