By Brandon Shanesy

Brandon.Shanesy@TryonDailyBulletin.com

 

At the request of Petty Funeral Home, the Landrum City Council will again consult the South Carolina Department of Transportation to conduct a study regarding the right in, right out restriction on Trade Avenue in Landrum.

Currently, those traveling through the intersection of Highways 14 and 176 cannot turn left onto Trade Avenue. Likewise, motorists are unable to turn left onto Highway 14 when leaving Trade Avenue.

John Petty, owner of Petty Funeral Home, brought up the issue in the June city council meeting. Petty wishes to have the median removed, and the right in, right out restriction lifted.

A response was provided in July by the SCDOT, confirming that the current configuration reduces both motorist and pedestrian conflict. In addition, traffic engineer Eric Dillon stated that the SCDOT would not conduct additional surveys.

For Petty, the response was not sufficient.

According to Petty, business throughout Trade Avenue has suffered following the creation of the median.

His daughter, Paula Petty, stated that families found locating the funeral home for visitation confusing, and expects that other Trade Avenue businesses have the same problem.

Landrum Mayor, Bob Briggs, presented the council with pictures that he had previously taken of Trade Avenue in the August city council work session.

“Every day of the week that road is busy,” said Briggs, “I don’t think the argument about the median is a valid one.”

The pictures, depicting a bustling Trade Avenue, were taken over the course of a week and at various times of day.

“The road is full every day,” said Briggs. “The pictures tell the story.”

“Does it not bother you that the state said ‘no, we won’t consider anything else’,” asked councilman Johnny Carruth of Briggs.

“You know there’s a solution for that,” Carruth added. “There’s a solution for everything.”

Briggs believes there is another problem that needs to be investigated, and wishes to survey Trade Avenue businesses as to how he can help them. He suggested a series of signs directing motorists to Trade Avenue.

“The original request from them was to be able to turn left from East Rutherford onto Trade Avenue and that’s not going to happen,” said City Administrator Caitlin Martin.

There are two main objections posed by the SCDOT, the first being storage. A statement to the city council provided by Dillon cites a lack of space to add a traffic light.

Dillon also believes that motorists waiting to turn into Trade Avenue will back up traffic into the intersection of Highways 14 and 176.

The second issue focuses on driver and pedestrian safety.

“Sight distance to the left was a hazard for motorists turning left out of Trade Avenue,” said Dillon.

Immediately to the left is a crosswalk, perpendicular to what the SCDOT is calling a low-visibility turn on to Highway 14.

However, both Petty and Carruth stated that they do not recall any accidents at the intersection in the past.

“I’m willing to try anything,” said Briggs.

Martin, under the direction of Briggs and the council, agreed to contact the SCDOT to press the issue following the August City Council meeting.

The City of Landrum has yet to receive a response from the SCDOT as of Aug. 19.

 

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