The process of making a left turn from Rollins Ford Road onto Linton Hall Road will no longer be harrowing for drivers, as the traffic signal has gone live as mid-day of Jan. 24.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has installed traffic lights at the intersection, which according to Gregg Steverson, Planner III at VDOT has experienced an increase in traffic during the last few years.
The opening of Piney Branch Elementary on Linton Hall was not the impetus for the project. The light was always planned once the Rollins Ford Road became a four-lane road.
“With the increasing volumes on Rollins Ford Road and the opening of the two eastbound lanes of that roadway, signalization helps with allowing sufficient gaps in Linton Hall Road traffic to allow Rollins Ford Road traffic to make turning movements. Creating those gaps reduces side street traffic delays as well as helps with safety,” Steverson said.
In fact the traffic signal had been planned since the end of 2010. Funds from developers became available in February of 2011, and the design of the signal began in 2011. Some of the funds came from the proffers from homes built along the roadway.
While the installation was not a response to citizens concern about safety issues of the intersection, Steverson expects residents will benefit from the added safety measure.
“It’s about time. It was needed. Someone was going to get hurt in that intersection," Emily Hoynacki of Kingsbrooke said.
Hoynacki said in the past she would go out of her way to avoid the intersection, but that on a workday morning her fiance would sometimes sit there for 15 minutes, waiting to make a left turn.
The light has been flashing yellow for several days to alert motorists of the new signage, which is proceed according to Steverson, but on Tuesday the light became fully operational.
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