Unionville Council endorses realignment for critical intersection but requires additional stop sign

Unionville — The Town Council on May 18 endorsed Alternate 2 for the Unionville Indian Trail Road, Unionville Brief Road and CJ Thomas Road critical intersection improvement project and added a requirement that the eastbound approach on Unionville Indian Trail Road retain an additional stop sign.

Clerk and Land Use Administrator Melody Braswell presented two design alternatives and said a survey showed 76.9% support for Alternate 2, which proposes a geometric realignment of the intersection. Public comment from resident Galen Williams, who described a roughly 10-foot elevation change at the site and said vehicles crest the hill at “approximately 55 miles per hour,” helped focus safety concerns.

Council members, including Councilman Jaren Simpson and Councilwoman Lana Kirkpatrick, pressed that removing the existing stop sign on the eastbound approach would create a serious hazard given the topography and limited sight lines. “A stop sign on that approach must be retained regardless of whether the hill is graded or the speed limit is reduced,” Kirkpatrick said. Town Attorney Ken Helms advised that requiring the project to cut down the hill would likely be rejected because of the major cost of retaining walls and earthwork, and suggested retaining or adding a stop sign as a more practical alternative.

After discussion, the Council reached consensus to endorse Alternate 2 with the amendment requiring an additional stop sign on the eastbound approach and adopted Resolution RES-26-02 unanimously. Clerk Braswell noted that Union County is scheduled to vote on the project in June, making timely action necessary.

The resolution endorsement directs staff to transmit the Council’s amended preference to the county and project engineers; no construction contract was awarded at the meeting. The Council’s action preserves the town’s expressed safety concern while supporting the realignment favored by survey respondents.