Downtown will not get ‘ped heads'

Although recently upgraded, the junction of Main Street and Whitehead Street (U.S. 21/N.C. 18) will probably not become the corner of "WALK" and "DON'T WALK."

Refurbishments at the intersection were a topic of discussion at last week's Sparta Revitalization Committee meeting. Crosswalks were painted at the intersection last month, and the traffic lights facing U.S. 21 traffic were replaced about two weeks ago.

SRC members had previously commented that the intersection was treacherous for pedestrians. Main Street Coordinator Barbara Lucier had first asked the N.C. Department of Transportation for the crosswalks and other improvements several months ago.

"The new lights on 21 are bigger and brighter," said Lucier. During the Sept. 16 SRC meeting, she said DOT officials indicated that the department is cutting back on its projects and would not install "ped heads" — that is, pedestrian signals — at the intersection. "The crosswalks and lights are about all we're going to get." Initially, Lucier and the SRC had also asked for crosswalks at the U.S. 21/Grandview Drive intersection, but the DOT turned that down.

SRC Office Space

In other discussion, Lucier presented a "wish list" for the SRC's new office space, located at the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce's new headquarters (the former Sparta Town Hall).

Her list included bookshelves, lamps and a computer.

She said the office does not have a phone.

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