Local News

Raleigh Women Hope New Guardrail Will Fix Accident-Prone Road

Posted Updated

RALEIGH, N.C. — Pauline Evans and Mary Grace McCoy hope a new guardrail will keep cars on New Hope Road and out of their back yards.

In July, Evans' back yard was a mess after a car traveling down New Hope Road in Raleigh rammed through her fence. It marked the seventh time in eight years someone crashed on the curve. Four of the cars plowed into the women's back yards, where their children play.

"I'm just terrified that it's going to come right down the hill and go through the fence and get them," McCoy said.

Officials believed the problem was a combination of how the road curves, speed and the height of the road compared to the yards below. The women wanted a guardrail installed. Repeated calls to different transportation offices got them nowhere.

Part of the reason was confusion over who is responsible for the road. Five On Your Side found out the road is maintained by the city of Raleigh and asked what it would take to get a guardrail.

"It's a concern to us for the motorists and for the adjacent residents," city transportation director Jimmie Beckom said.

After assessing the road and plotting the accidents, Beckom said a guardrail will be installed.

"That's great. Fantastic," McCoy said.

McCoy and Evans said they could not be happier, especially since this past weekend another car ran off the road and crashed through the fence.

"We're so happy our kids are going to be safe now. It's just wonderful. It's a great feeling," Evans said.

Beckom said if everything goes as planned, the guardrail should be installed within 60 days. Since several of the accidents involved excessive speed, the city also wants police to step up patrols in the area.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.