US-29 in Valley in need of organization
Published 12:28 pm Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Roads in the Valley area have been undergoing a bit of revamping, including repaving and the addition of new signage, and there is likely more to be done.
One revamp that should be considered is that of repainting the lines and the possibility of adding new signs and stops to US-29 in Valley.
To be sure, the entire stretch is not bad but there are certain points where several factors lead to some traffic issues.
The first is that there are spots along US-29 with an abundance of businesses in one spot and no clear entrances or exits. For example, less than half a mile into Valley after turning off the interstate.
The second issue is a lack of stops, either signs or lights, in high traffic areas. Walmart, for example, has two entrances/exits along US-29, but only one has a light. Trying to leave the store from the second exit can lead to delayed waits and traffic congestion.
While these are the main issues, they are by no means the only ones. It is well established that Valley is a town in the process of picking itself up, ergo there are some things that need to be fixed.
A simple solution would be to look at traffic data and determine the problem areas. Some spots might benefit more from just repainting lines while others might need to see a new street light added.
In all likelihood, the City of Valley is already planning something along these lines. With industries like John Soules Foods in the process of moving in, the city most likely plans on having any street issues cleared up well in advance of their arrival.
Let’s just make sure we don’t forget to fix small problems alongside big ones. Small issues have the habit of becoming big ones over time.