Traffic patterns at the intersection of Laurel Street, Parkview Drive, and Elmhurst Street in Suncrest are scheduled to change the week of Oct. 7.
Reconfiguration of the intersection will provide a two-way traffic stop on Parkview Drive and Elmhurst Street. Signs instructing new traffic patterns will be posted for six months following the change.
Traffic studies show that Laurel Street carries most of the traffic through this intersection. The stop signs currently on Laurel Street were installed to reduce speeding, which does not conform to current standards set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD states that stop signs should not be used for speed control. Studies also revealed that the recent installation of speed humps on Laurel Street has drastically reduced speeding.
Once the reconfiguration is complete, the City of Morgantown Engineering Department will conduct an additional traffic study to assess the safety and effectiveness of the new traffic pattern. Initial findings will be presented to the Morgantown Traffic Commission within two months and a final report within six months of the reconfiguration.
