The Town of Vinton has announced that there will be a change in the timing of the traffic signal at the intersection of Hardy Road (Route 24) and Vinyard Road near the location of Bojangles’ and McDonald’s in Vinton.
The change is planned to start at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, and is expected to take less than two hours.
During the adjustment, the signals will be in flash mode. There are to be police and temporary traffic control on site.
Signs alerting of the phase timing change will be posted at the time of the change on both Vinyard Road approaches and remain in place for about a week.
The town contracted the services of Hurt & Proffitt to perform a study and find improvements to the intersection of Hardy Road and Vinyard Road. This intersection gets very busy at times and can be frustrating to drivers who commonly traverse this route, as well as those that go through less often.
The study provided ideas for solutions that may alleviate the frustration.
The option chosen is expected to have the greatest benefit, is less costly and quicker to implement. It involves the adjustment of the timing of the signal. There are many signalized four-way intersections (particularly along the US 460 corridor) that have “split phasing” in which the cross streets alternate green. Rather than being green for both approaches at the same time (concurrent), one approach at a time has green (consecutive).
This change will be applied to Vinyard Road in such a way that when one approach of Vinyard is green, the opposite approach is red, and both approaches of Hardy Road are red.
This phasing will have little effect on those traveling on Hardy Road. While there may be some increase in wait times, overall the change is expected to enhance the functionality of the intersection.
The Town of Vinton asks citizens to “please be aware, be safe, and remember to use your turn signals.”
Members of the Vinton Highway Safety Committee and the Vinton Public Works Department had been discussing options for the traffic signals at the intersection even before it was brought to the attention of council by citizen Danny Harrison at the Town Council meeting on April 3, concerned about safety at the location. In fact, the subject was on the agenda at the first meeting of the newly formed Highway Safety Committee on April 10.
Traffic is expected to increase at the intersection once renovations are complete at the Lancerlot Sports Complex in the fall, adding an ice hockey and public skating venue in the town.
If there are any questions, contact Public Works Director Joey Hiner at the Vinton Public Works Department at 983-0646.