PENDER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – The speed limit has been reduced near a Pender County intersection that has seen a high number of serious crashes in recent years.
According to Pender County Emergency Management, the speed limit is now 45 mph in all directions for a half-mile near the intersection of U.S. 421 and Malpass Corner Road. The speed limit was 55 mph in the area previously and remains so outside of the half-mile around the intersection.
The N.C. Department of Transportation said that the reduction is a result of an investigation by NCDOT Division 3.
“The crash pattern tends to be motorists on Malpass stop, then proceed onto the highway, causing a crash with traffic on US 421, which does not have to stop. This reduction in speed should help reduce that kind of risk,” an NCDOT spokesperson said.
The state also plans to get funding to add a traffic signal at the location.
“These kind of projects take time to develop, and sometimes require new right of way, and we have to compete for funding amongst other highway improvement projects. That’s why we feel good that we can get this new traffic signal installed at this location by sometime next year,” the spokesperson continued.
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