NCDOT safety study finds rise in crashes at key Leland intersections despite improvements
LELAND, N.C. (WWAY) — A new safety report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation is raising concerns about several busy intersections in Leland after finding a sharp increase in crashes despite recent roadway improvements.
The evaluation examined whether safety upgrades installed in 2021 helped reduce crashes at four intersections along U.S. 17, including Ploof Road and its eastbound U-turn, as well as Old Waterford Way and its westbound U-turn.
The improvements included reflective backplates installed around traffic signals to make lights more visible to drivers.
According to the study, the four intersections experienced nearly a 24% increase in crashes during the study period. Before the improvements were installed, there were 161 crashes recorded at the intersections. Afterward, that number increased to nearly 200 crashes over nine years.
The NCDOT said increasing traffic volumes contributed to the rise in crashes.
In a statement to WWAY, the department said, “This safety project evaluation is related to signal visibility improvements near the intersection of Ploof Road/Olde Waterford Way and U.S. 17. The total crashes increased in this area as traffic volumes increased considerably over the study timeframe, however the types of crashes this project intended to address decreased.”
Lisa Castor, who recently moved to Leland from Tennessee, said the amount of traffic along U.S. 17 surprised her.
“I was surprised by how much traffic there is on 17,” Castor said. “People clearly have trouble navigating it.”
The study focused on intersections that include U-turn movements, where drivers are required to stop at red lights before proceeding. Castor said many motorists fail to follow those rules.
“The U-turns are, in my opinion, the craziest thing they ever thought of. A regular four-way intersection seems to make a lot more sense, and people don’t respect the not turning when they are not supposed to,” Castor said.
The report does not include data from a fatal crash that occurred in 2025 at the Ploof Road intersection.
According to investigators, Cora Cartrette was driving to work at Chick-fil-A and turning from U.S. 17 onto Ploof Road when a Brunswick County sheriff’s deputy allegedly ran a red light and struck her vehicle. Cartrette died at the scene.
With that crash and ongoing concerns about the intersections in mind, Castor said she tries to avoid driving along the corridor whenever possible.
“To me it’s a dangerous proposition, and I try to stay away from 17 as much as I can,” she said.
