The Glensford Road extension just outside Cross Creek Mall will connectCliffdale Road on one end with Morganton Road on the other. Both roads arebusy and, between them, is the very popular Cross Creek Mall. The problemis that the connector also links to a residential neighborhood. Residentsthere fear that could create some serious problems for them.
In coming months, with a busy holiday season for the mall, about 50,000vehicles are expected to use the new road. That's why the North CarolinaDepartment of Transportation decided to build the connector in the firstplace -- to re-route some of the traffic that has caused problems in thepast.
But, as workers lifted the barrier on the Glensford Road Extension,they also opened a flood of debate. Resident Don Garner says the road willbe convenient for some, but a problem for others.
Montclair, the neighborhood that will receive a flood of new traffic,already has some traffic problems. Residents fear the added traffic willprove dangerous around neighborhood schools. Officials have alreadyerected a fence around Montclair Elementary to prevent children fromrunning into the street.
That school's crossing guard, Ed Meeks, says he is concerned.
N.P. Brodie lives in Fayetteville. He says despite the problems for theMontclair area, he thinks the new road will help in other ways.
Even before the new road opened, adjacent land was being cleared fornew businesses. That concerns residents even more. They say they worrythat more business will bring in even more traffic.
For its part, NCDOT says it has several other plans in the works toease that traffic onto main roads and out of the residential area.
Photographer:Mike Joyner
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
