Pender County commissioners want rumble strips

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– Pender County commissioners want rumble strips on Highway 17.

This comes after continued efforts to prevent accidents on that highway through Hampstead. The noise rumble strips make may be loud and alarming, but that’s the point.

Pender County Commission Chair David Williams says he wants those rumble strips.

“Folks ride for a good period of time and you just get comfortable,” Williams said.

Williams does not want anymore fatal collisions like this past weekend. Two young brothers were killed after troopers say a truck driver did not slow down for a red light at Sloop Point Road.

“Those of us that live on Sloop Point Loop Road know that you don’t go,” Williams said. “When the light is green, that doesn’t mean you just go.”

Neighbors also know, because Wyatt Cunningham says he couldn’t just go at a green light two days ago.

“All I could see was a blue Otterbox and he’s staring at his phone as he’s missing the stop light and I’m waiting to pull out,” Cunningham said.

Williams is now asking the DOT to consider putting rumble strips or flashing lights at Sloop Point Road, Washington Acres and 210 in Surf City.

“DOT has responded that they are willing to listen,” Williams said.

The DOT says there are some restrictions on how close rumble sections can be placed near residential neighborhoods, because of the noise. That is something Cunningham says he isn’t concerned about even though he lives right by the Sloop Point Road intersection.

“A life is more important than a little bit of noise from rumble strips,” Cunningham said.

After years of fighting for the Hampstead Bypass, Williams says this too won’t be easy.

“Folks have to remember that things like this come down to the all mighty dollar and the dollars for this come from that beltway in Raleigh and that’s where the change is going to have to take place,” Williams said.

Williams says the commissioners will talk about hiring a lobbyist to advocate for Pender County in Raleigh at their next meeting. That will be on June 8 at 4:00.