Pollard illuminates traffic light scuttle

The traffic light in front of Piggly Wiggly on U.S. 258 has always been a stoplight in the spotlight.

"Tommy Pollard's stoplight" made headlines statewide in the mid-1980s as state authorities investigated whether Pollard, a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation and owner of the grocery store where the light was installed, acted illegally. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, but the stoplight stigma stuck with him throughout his political career.

Now the N.C. Department of Transportation says the light has to go because it is no longer warranted. The light's location does not meet federal standards and is causing back-ups at N.C. 24 and 53, said Ben Hughes with the DOT highway division office in Wilmington.

Another possible explanation for the light's removal after more than 20 years goes back to its roots as an Onslow County political lightning rod.

Tensions generated during this year's governor's race between Pollard, a former Republican state senator, and his cousin Louis Sewell, a long-time Democratic Party fundraiser, may have led to the lack of political support Pollard needed to keep the light in place.

Sewell said that Pollard called him this summer to say he would be raising money for Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's Republican bid for governor. Sewell, a long time Beverly Perdue supporter and campaign fundraiser, said he was not happy with Pollard's decision.

Pollard said he was sitting at his desk in the Truck Depot on U.S. 258, about 150 feet from the stoplight, when he noticed the light started blinking on Election Day. He found out Nov. 5 that the light had begun a 30 day phase-out period.

Sewell, a member of the BOT until his resignation earlier this year amid allegations he steered state funds into road improvements adjacent to his property, acknowledged having a discussion around a year ago with Pollard about the stoplight. Up to that point, Sewell said he had received only one complaint against the stoplight being there.

Earlier this year, the state spent about $40,000 making upgrades to the stoplight including adding motion sensors, according to the DOT.

Pollard called Sewell over the summer to say he would be helping McCrory's campaign.

The DOT conducted a study in October and the light was scheduled for removal in December.

"Louis Sewell has the political power and clout even today to keep the stoplight's removal on the backburner if he wanted to," Pollard told The Daily News on Friday.

Sewell said he had nothing to do with the light's removal other than passing along complaints he had received to the DOT.

"I have heard rumors and they don't surprise me," Sewell said in response to questions whether he politically maneuvered the light's removal. "People create problems for people who are just trying to get on with their lives."

Sewell said a DOT study was conducted and the light just didn't qualify.

"I don't believe it qualified when it went in," he said.

Pollard said he made sure every rule was followed and every necessary step taken before the light was installed. He was made aware of the possible perceived political implications of a BOT member getting a stoplight put in right in front of his own business, even if it was completely warranted, but Pollard said he did not realize the backlash would be so strong or last so long.

Pollard said he always thought the multi-million dollar N.C. 24/U.S. 17 bypass would be his legacy from his time on the BOT, but instead he has been haunted by the $25,000 stoplight.

"After all I have done for Onslow County, I am still remembered as the guy who got his own stoplight," Pollard said Friday afternoon, pointing out of his glass office at the blinking light.

To Preston Taylor, the manager of the Piggly Wiggly, which sits across the light on U.S. 258, politics takes a backseat to safety.

Taylor said the light should stay and has circulated a petition to keep the light in place. He hopes the DOT will listen to his plea before the scheduled Dec. 4 removal.

"This is a safety issue," Taylor said.

Since Nov. 4, there have been three wrecks on U.S. 258 at the blinking light, according to the N.C. State Highway Patrol.

Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown agrees that the light's removal is unsafe.

"No one likes stoplights when you are waiting for them to change, but the truth is, the light at Piggly Wiggly helps regulate traffic at (N.C.) 53," he said. "The road will be less safe without it."

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.