(A) Turn lanes, tapers and/or deceleration lanes may be required by the City Engineer where it is anticipated that the volume of traffic using the proposed driveway(s) or street(s) may significantly interfere with the flow of traffic on the abutting public street. Requests for turn lanes, deceleration lanes and transition tapers shall be considered as part of the driveway permitting process and must be shown on the submitted site plans, in addition to the other required site plan elements.
(1) Minimum turn lane specifications are:
Type of Street | Minimum Storage | Minimum Taper |
Nonthoroughfare | 50 ft. | 100 ft. |
Minor thoroughfare | 100 ft. | 140 ft. |
Major thoroughfare | 150 ft. | 180 ft. |
(2) The City Engineer may require additional storage based upon anticipated traffic volumes.
(B) The cost of all required turn lanes, deceleration lanes and transition tapers shall be paid for by the owner/applicant. The owner/applicant shall not be entitled to any claims or reimbursement for expenditures involved in construction on public right-of-way. All constructed improvements required herein shall be the property of the city or N.C. Department of Transportation.
(C) Where property frontage is not adequate for construction, or where existing utilities interfere with construction or where sight distance problems prohibit the placement of required turn lanes, tapers and/or deceleration lanes, the owner/applicant shall dedicate additional right-of-way for a future lane and pay to the city an assessment equal to the cost of constructing a deceleration lane at the time the permit is issued.
(D) Turn lanes for either left and/or right turns into a commercial site, industrial site or residential subdivisions shall be required where, in the opinion of the City Engineer, there are high roadway and/or turn volumes of traffic, where the roadway speeds are moderate to high, or where needed due to limited sight distance.
(Ord. No. 2371, § 1, passed 9-23-1991)