After years of complaints, students get safer walk to River Dell Elementary

Parents at River Dell Elementary School have been saying since 2015 that their commute to the school on Buffalo Road, near N.C. Highway 42, was dangerous. Now, the Department of Transportation and developers are installing the first signs of a safer commute.

Parents said traffic in the area is too busy, and they couldn’t walk their students from Flowers Plantation to River Dell Elementary because there were no crosswalks or traffic lights on the road.

“Unfortunately, it took this long, but we’re thrilled that this is happening,” said parent Hillary Moore.

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The end to the story for River Dell Elementary families is near.

“Parents are thrilled. They’re very excited and there’s been a lot of buzz,” Moore said.

Sings of a traffic light have finally arrived at the intersection of Buffalo Road and River Dell Townes Avenue.

According to developers of Flowers Plantation who worked with school officials and the DOT, the traffic signal with include pedestrian crosswalks with push button access and sidewalks to lead right into school.

The changes come just in time for students to head back to class.

“NC DOT, they came out and finalized the plans on their end. They started construction about two or three weeks ago to have the crosswalks and sidewalks fully operational by school opening Aug. 27,” Reid Stephenson, CEO of Flowers Plantation.

The project was funded by the DOT, Flowers Plantation and the Johnston County School Board. There will be no cost to Flowers Plantation residents.