Have you ever noticed that most busy intersection in larger cities they have turn lanes with these little small lines that guide drivers though the turn as they maneuver their way across the multiple lanes of traffic?

Well, have you ever almost been run over, side swiped, cut off or rammed at the intersection of Catherine Creek Road and Memorial Drive? For some reason our road and street planners did not have a strategy to place those little guide lines at this particular intersection.  I’m not sure if it’s the town’s, county’s or state’s responsibility to place these guiding lines at intersections such as this one.

Almost every time I go through this intersection it is a challenge; sometimes it’s a test of nerves and sometimes it’s a trial by fire. You never know what the driver to your side is going to do.

Too many times I have seen or been involved in near accidents at this dangerous intersection. Last week I, my wife and some friends were on our way to dinner when we were almost slammed from our left side as a driver next to us wasn’t either paying attention, talking on the cell phone, texting, or possibility it was their first time at this intersection as they drove right into our lane. If the driver of the vehicle we were riding in had not been paying close attention we would have never made to dinner that evening.

This is a minor detail with the lines that guide vehicles through this turn; however, the minor detail is a big deal when it may be the proximate cause of an accident and endanger the citizens of our town as well as those who may just be passing through.

Please, whomever is responsible for placing these lines please take note and fix this before someone gets hurt or worse at this intersection.

Now, that brings me to another problem intersection: the one at NC 561 East (Harrellsville Road) and Memorial Drive. Not only do you have traffic merging on to a busy four lane from the Harrellsville Road, you have the traffic exiting from the always busy Wal-Mart parking lot. Turning left out of the Wal-Mart parking lot is extremely challenging; it appears one must go around the median to get into the proper lane, but once you get into your turn onto Memorial Drive you realize that must you immediately turn into the left lane.  It’s especially bewildering at night….there are no lines to guide you through the turn and the curbing on the median has no reflective paint to alert the driver it’s there. I’ve nearly ran over the curb there several times and I have seen near accidents where drivers have run over the median and into the merging traffic from Harrellsville Road.

I know there are other dangerous intersections here in Ahoskie, Hertford County and all across the Roanoke-Chowan area. I would like to hear from our readers about other problem intersections. Please contact me via letter or email with your stories about your problem intersections. Together we can make a difference, and be a voice to the road and street planners in our town, county and state.

Joe Cowart is Publisher of Roanoke-Chowan Publications. He can be contacted at joe.cowart@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7218.