By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – The Wilmington-side of the Isabel Holmes Bridge may soon lose a long-standing feature - the orange barrels blocking off one of its turn lanes.
North Carolina's Department of Transportation closed off the innermost left turn lane coming from downtown more than a year and a half ago. DOT assistant engineer Wanda James says a confusing traffic light configuration was leading drivers in that lane to make illegal left turns.
"When we first opened up the Smith Creek Parkway," she says, "we actually observed people running that stop light."
James says she's not aware of any accidents caused by the traffic light.
The DOT has selected a contractor to install new, mast-mounted traffic lights at the southern entrance to the Holmes Bridge. Work is slated to be complete by the end of October.