Disabled man asks for crosswalk to Magnolia Greens

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — As the town of Leland continues to grow bigger, more people want easier ways to get around and want more accessibility.

“I risk my life sometimes crossing that highway,” Sergio Quijano said.

Three times a week, Quijano goes to Davita Dialysis in Leland to get some life saving treatment to deal with his diabetes. But to get there, he can’t always rely on his family or on Wave Transit to get him over. So, he crosses Highway 17 on his scooter to get his treatments.

“The trip isn’t that bad. It only takes me 10 minutes from my door to Davita’s door. But it’s just a safety factor,” Quijano said.

He says it would make a huge difference if there was a crosswalk on 17.

“It’s crazy how this town is just expanding and the need for sidewalks and a crosswalk is very much needed. We need it. I need it,” Quijano said.

Quijano says he knows others people in the community dealing with the same situation and they share the same concern.

“I’m sure they would love to be able to cross the highway without worrying about getting killed and getting hit by a vehicle,” Quijano said.

Leland town hall has been actively adding sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the area.
They understand the concerns of many people like Quijano and they say they have an idea to bring forward.

“We’re going to put a plan together obviously, to present to the NCDOT, which would be to install an overhead pedestrian crossing, probably multi-use path, crossing over Route 17,” Leland Mayor Pro Tem Pat Batleman said.

Those plans are still a far way off. So for now, Quijano will continue crossing slowly for his treatments. Batleman says they’re hoping the NCDOT will hear them out on this proposal.
Quijano says as long as the overhead is handicap accessible, he will be ecstatic.