Traffic Counts at Porters Neck Road

Traffic Counts at Porters Neck Road

In their presentation to the County Commissioners in July, the developers of the proposed Lowe’s project at Market Street and Porters Neck Road cited North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT) traffic studies conducted in April 2005 and November 2006 that showed a 15% reduction in Market Street traffic, from approximately 42,000 trips per day to 36,000. The developers met with NC DOT and reportedly obtained approval for development of the Lowe’s project plus further shopping center development on their 50 acres behind Lowe’s and behind Porters Neck Shopping Center, using only Porters Neck Road as access.

The developers’ own Traffic Impact Analysis included traffic counts in March of 2006 and March of 2007 that showed no decrease in traffic. This was not mentioned. A further traffic count on June 12, 2007 conducted by the developer showed a 6% increase in traffic. This was also not mentioned in their July presentation to the County Commissioners.

Our citizens’ group has retained a traffic engineering consultant. In an e-mail to NC DOT, he pointed out the 6% increase in the June count and requested a Saturday mid-day peak hour analysis, because home improvement superstores generate their greatest traffic at that time. Based upon accepted traffic statistics for peak-hour traffic generation by a home improvement store, we can expect almost 1,000 cars during Saturday mid-day peak hour from a Lowe’s the size planned for this site. We now understand the developers will be conducting a traffic count on Saturday, August 25th. Results will not be available until oral presentation at the County Commissioners’ meeting on September 4th.

Watch this Internet site for information regarding the agenda for the Commissioners’ September 4th meeting, timing of this item on the agenda, material presented to the Commissioners by the developer and where to go if you would like to attend.