Traffic

'Click it or Ticket' campaign celebrates 20 years

Submitted by Caraline Waldrep, Traffic Reporter

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 11:04am

'Click it or Ticket' campaign celebrates 20 years

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Monday, May 20th marks the 20th anniversary of North Carolina DOT “Click or Ticket” campaign.

According to the press release, North Carolina was the first state to launch this safety program in 1993.

The release also states, The Click it or Ticket campaign runs through Memorial Day weekend and ends on June 2nd. During this time officers will cite driver’s state wide who do not buckle up.

To learn more information about this campaign visit this link or visit their website at, http://www.ncdot.gov/.

View Comments | Post a Comment

SPECIAL REPORT: Ticketing towns

Submitted by Ann McAdams, Investigative Reporter

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 9:07pm

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (FOX WILMINGTON) – You may know the feeling – the one where your heart sinks when the blue lights go on in your rearview mirror. Just about everyone who's spent time behind the wheel of a car has been pulled over by the cops.

We crunched the numbers and found out where you are most likely to get a ticket in the area. As you'll learn, in the world of driving, all towns are not created equal.

The Town of Burgaw only has about 3,800 residents, but officers there wrote more than 1,400 traffic tickets in 2012.

Based on population, it's one of the most likely places in the area to get a ticket.

"I see them out and about and stopping people, and writing tickets and all of that," said driver Diane Lee. "I think it's over the top."

Burgaw Police Sgt. Jason Godwin, however, disagrees with Lee. He says, "the more citations your write, the more people slow down and the more lives you save."

View Comments | Post a Comment

Lanes narrow on Hwy 701 from Tabor City to Whiteville

Submitted by Caraline Waldrep, Traffic Reporter

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013, 10:33am

Lanes narrow on Hwy 701 from Tabor City to Whiteville

TABOR CITY AND WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) - North Carolina DOT will narrow lanes on U.S. Highway 701 between Tabor City and Whiteville as crews pave new asphalt along the road.

According to the press release, crews will pave the highway in sections starting from the north side of Tabor City moving towards Whiteville. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic through the work zone.

This project includes paving, shoulder building, new pavement markings and is expected to be completed by May 10.

DOT asks drivers to add extra time to your commute.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Sidney-Cherry Road will be closed until August

Submitted by Caraline Waldrep, Traffic Reporter

Monday, April 15th, 2013, 12:41pm

Sidney-Cherry Road will be closed until August

FAIR BLUFF, NC (WECT) – On Monday, April, 15, DOT crews will close Sidney Cherry Road near NC 904 to drivers so crews can remove and replace a bridge on the road.

According to the press release, drivers are advised to take Cherry Grove Road, to Peanut Worley Road, then Eliza Butler Road.

Drivers are advised to add extra time to their commute.

The road is expected to re-open in August.

View Comments | Post a Comment

A Portion of U.S. 74/76 to close this weekend in Columbus County

Submitted by Caraline Waldrep, Traffic Reporter

Thursday, April 4th, 2013, 12:26pm

A Portion of U.S. 74/76 to close this weekend in Columbus County

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) - The N.C. Department of Transportation will close a portion of U.S. 74/76 heading East at Livingston Creek near Delco on Friday, April 5 at 6pm through Monday, April 8 at 6 a.m.

This closure is necessary so crews can repair the bridge on U.S.74/76 East.

According to N.C. Department of Transportation website, all East bound traffic will follow a six mile detour using N.C. 11 North, then right onto NC 87 South which will take drivers back to U.S. 74/76. Drivers need to add extra time to their commute.

This will closure will not affect drivers traveling from Wilmington to Lumberton.

View Comments | Post a Comment

'Operation Slow Down' yields more than 13,500 citations in NC

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013, 10:51am

'Operation Slow Down' yields more than 13,500 citations in NC

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – More than 13,500 drivers across North Carolina were recently cited for speeding during the Highway Patrol’s Operation Slow Down campaign. The campaign was done in combination with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program No Need to Speed effort.

According to officials, speeding is the leading cause of traffic accidents and fatalities throughout the state and across the country.

Highway Patrol investigated 1,801 fatal accidents in North Carolina in 2012. Of those, 245 deaths were contributed to speed, compared to 244 in 2011, according to the NC Highway Patrol.

Despite the end of the Operation Slow Down campaign, troopers will continue to aggressively enforce the speed limits in North Carolina.

“Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the motoring public,” said Bill Grey, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

View Comments | Post a Comment

16 bridges in Columbus Co. to be replaced

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, 2:41pm

16 bridges in Columbus Co. to be replaced

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Sixteen bridges in Columbus County will be replaced within the next three years.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded E.S. Wagner Co., LLC, a South Carolina-based company, a $11.6 million contract to do the job, according to a news release from an NCDOT spokesperson.

Work can begin as early as April 1 and should be finished by Nov. 2016.

The following bridges and culverts will be replaced:

View Comments | Post a Comment