Changes proposed for Miller Boulevard

Havelock and the N.C. Department of Transportation are considering changes that may lead to a new left turn for motorists exiting Miller Boulevard to West Main Street.

Currently, left turns at Havelock’s main intersection from Miller Boulevard are prohibited. Drivers seeking to go west must travel along a side street and go to the next light at South Jackson Drive or go the opposite direction on Miller Boulevard and access U.S. 70 from Greenfield Heights Boulevard or Church Road.

A concept drawing, presented to the Havelock Board of Commissioners at its Nov. 9 meeting, was produced by the state in response to concerns about safety at the nearby intersection of Woodhaven Drive and East Main Street.

On business days, about half the fleet of delivery trucks from the United Parcel Service Distribution Center on Belltown Road have to head west. The truck drivers have a choice to make, attempt to make a left turn across East Main Street from Woodhaven Drive or take Miller Boulevard to Greenfield Heights Boulevard to the stoplight at the intersection of U.S. 70 and Catawba Road.

The proposed intersection redesign would create a "stacking lane" on Miller Boulevard for vehicles making left turns onto West Main Street.

To make room for the stacking lane, one of the two westbound lanes on Miller would be closed.

In addition, a short righthand turning lane would be added to Belltown Road for traffic turning right onto Miller Boulevard.

The city’s traffic committee will review the proposal. Construction would take place when the proposed median work is completed along East Main Street, but no date has been set for that construction.