Road changes to ease traffic in fast-growing Holly Springs

“We love it. We absolutely love it,” she said. “We don't want to leave the area.”

Holly Springs is a fast-growing town with some fast-growing traffic headaches. Felton doesn't have to use the N.C. Highway 55 Bypass during the evening rush, but her friends tell her stories.

“I've heard it can be a little hairy, especially when you're trying to turn onto Avent Ferry (Road),” she said.

Traffic backs up about a mile heading into Holly Springs from Apex. But help is on the way.

A new intersection design should ease the problems.

Eastbound bypass traffic will have a free-flowing right turn onto Avent Ferry Road, which leads to many neighborhoods.

“It’ll raise the efficiency of the signals from a level of service E to a B, which is kind of like a report card,” said Kendra Parrish, senior engineer with the Town of Holly Springs. “An E is bad. A B is acceptable.”

To keep traffic flowing, drivers won't be able to make left turns from the bypass onto Avent Ferry Road. Crews will install a superstreet intersection, similar to others along the bypass.

Drivers will make a U-turn past the intersection, then turn right onto Avent Ferry.

Felton has mixed feelings about more superstreets.

“I don't love that, but if it alleviates the traffic a little better, then by all means,” she said.

Another road project in the works for early next year will extend Main Street to Piney Grove-Wilbon Road. It should help divert about a third of the traffic from Avent Ferry to ease congestion.

Town officials say having to manage all the growth is a good problem to have.

“Southern Wake County is where it's at - or at least where it's coming,” Parrish said. “So, we're trying to catch up and do the best that we can.”