From the NCDOT News Room:
SHELBY — The N.C. Department of Transportation is collaborating with the city of Asheville to improve pedestrian safety along Merrimon Avenue and throughout the city.
NCDOT will be working with the city and an engineering firm to conduct a study on pedestrian safety. The study will analyze available data and identify trends and patterns to determine primary causes for pedestrian accidents inside the City of Asheville. The results of this study will help focus efforts to improve safety along our roadways for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Earlier this month, a pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing Merrimon Avenue at the Coleman Avenue intersection. At the location of the accident, NCDOT installed a new, high-visibility crosswalk and signs to make the crosswalk more visible to motorists. NCDOT is currently reviewing the area’s accident history, current traffic volumes, and the police report to identify further safety improvements. When that investigation is completed in the coming weeks, NCDOT will be able to pursue funding for any infrastructure improvements through the department’s Raleigh office.
NCDOT and the city are also reviewing the other unsignalized crosswalks along Merrimon Avenue to identify further opportunities for improvement in the community.
For more information about improving bicycle and pedestrian safety statewide, visit NCDOT’s Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation. There, you can find information about project development, safety initiatives and other data.