(Photo Bella the Corner Gourmet)
By Sarah Richardson
At the Tuesday meeting of the Lewisburg City Council, members discussed the recurring issues with large trucks failing to make the right-hand turn from Washington Street onto Rt. 219 and striking Bella the Corner Gourmet. Incidentally, in the early hours of the next morning, Bella’s was struck again by a large truck.
Despite a bollard pole installed on the sidewalk, trucks hit the building or cause traffic jams while maneuvering the turn semi-frequently. The City has replaced the pole twice since its installation. Councilmember John Little reported that they have asked the Department of Highways “multiple times” to review traffic patterns at the intersection. “We’ve asked them multiple times to revisit that situation.”
City Manager Misty Hill said, “We’ve actually had a meeting with the DOH […] when the ‘big hit’ happened, hours after the big hit. And no response.”
Hill said that a variety of city officials have received a packet containing information on the recurring damage to the building and requests to move the bollard to the outside of the sidewalk so large trucks cannot make that turn.
“Unfortunately, we cannot agree to that request for a couple of reasons,” explained Hill. “One is that it would no longer make the sidewalk ADA compliant, and also, in that sidewalk, is a large amount of electrical wires, and we can’t dig there.”
“I believe its common thought that the city is unwilling to do anything, and I don’t think people understand it’s the DOH,” said Little. “That’s my opinion.”
Lewisburg Police Chief Teubert followed in saying Little was “100 percent correct, it’s a state highway.”
Hill explained that the City also has no control over the traffic lights in front of Wal-Mart for this same reason, they are state-maintained. Chief Teubert said that the police and fire departments report traffic problems to the DOH frequently, including when Bella’s is hit and when problems with traffic patterns occur. He said they have the county supervisor “on speed dial, and that’s no exaggeration” as they have been contacting him almost weekly. He reports that the traffic lights are programmed in Charleston, not locally, that they have sent people out six times just this year.
“Locally, the DOH is trying, but it’s just too many cars for one road,” said Teubert. “There is an issue with the lights, but that comes out of Charleston. But we do try.”
