N.C. DOT proposes ramp metering, portable-signal pilot to ease Surf City roundabout congestion

N.C. Department of Transportation Division 3 planning engineer Adrienne Cox presented a feasibility study of the Allen roundabout to the Surf City Town Council, outlining traffic counts, growth projections and three preferred alternatives the team says could improve safety and flow.

Cox told the council the study began with five alternatives and was pared to three after technical review; the division favors an approach that redirects pedestrians out of the circle and tests a ramp meter at the bridge approach to create gaps for vehicles entering from South Topsail. "We chose 5 alternatives…and we selected B, which I'll show you," Cox said, summarizing the team's process and conceptual deliverables.

Cox said the town’s funding applications will be reviewed in January for federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants, while the State Transportation Improvement Program (STEP/STIP) scores and a final 10‑year listing will not be settled until 2027. Because permanent installation would require design and right‑of‑way work, DOT offered a lower‑cost pilot: a trailer‑mounted portable signal to emulate ramp metering as a proof of concept. "That signal will now be a part of a division's asset…we could place that in the roundabout to test the ramp metering before we install something permanently," Cox said.

Council members and staff pressed DOT on likely effects on backups, particularly the risk that stopping traffic on the bridge could simply shift delays onto the mainland. One council member noted local backups can leave residents unable to leave their homes during peak summer congestion. Michelle Howes, DOT deputy division engineer, said sensors and localized detection would measure immediate backups at the roundabout but would not, by themselves, provide corridor‑wide monitoring; she described the portable signal as a 30‑day test that could be pulled if it worsened conditions.

Council members also raised safety concerns, including the potential for increased rear‑end collisions if a meter stops traffic at the bridge. DOT acknowledged the tradeoffs and emphasized the pilot nature of the suggestion and the need for signage and a public information campaign to reduce confusion.

Next steps outlined at the meeting: DOT will pursue a portable‑signal trial if the currently deployed detour project frees the unit; staff estimated 3–4 months to develop signal plans for the portable trial, with a late‑spring deployment possible. DOT and town staff said they will continue to pursue TAP or other contingency funding for pedestrian improvements and study permanent changes if the pilot shows benefit.

The council did not take a formal vote on specific improvements at the meeting; members asked DOT to return with details on the pilot timing and potential cost packages.