Motorists traveling east on East Dogwood Trail this weekend will be physically barred from turning left (going north) on Hillcrest Drive, Sea Oats Trail, and Wax Myrtle Trail, the Town of Southern Shores announced today.
There will be post-and-chain barricades “placed in the middle of [East Dogwood Trail] or [its] median,” according to a special announcement released by the Town this morning.
A closure of Hickory Trail at its intersection with East Dogwood Trail is also being considered for “a later date,” the release said.
The Town Council discussed the cut-thru traffic problems at length at its meeting Tuesday and gave the Town Manager discretion to implement closures among East Dogwood Trail in order to mitigate traffic.
According to the announcement, “Our goal is to take away any advantage for those using South Dogwood Trail and East Dogwood Trail as shortcuts to points north.”
The announcement also indicated that the barricades will be removed if Town staff determine that “negative impacts warrant their removal.”
While The Beacon congratulates the Town Council and Town Manager for continuing to pursue additional cut-thru traffic mitigation measures, we consider it readily apparent that these closures will adversely affect the traffic flow, both north and south, on Hickory Trail, which is the favored road for northbound vacationers.
Not only will motorists cutting through on the Dogwoods overwhelm Hickory Trail, residents in the dunes trying to return to their homes by taking South Dogwood Trail will be forced to use it as well.
Local-traffic-only barriers will be placed at Hillcrest Drive, Sea Oats Trail, and Wax Myrtle Trail, off of Hickory Trail, but experience thus far indicates that many northbound motorists ignore these prohibitions.
The left-turn ban at the U.S. Hwy 158-South Dogwood Trail intersection will be in effect Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 7/9/21
The Southern Shores Beacon 
Now they are turning by Food Lion onto Trinite/Juniper to Chicahauk Road and then to the light. I’m surprised they hadn’t done this before
LikeLike
step in the right direction. The should barricade Hickory at Dogwood as well.
LikeLike
Thanks for your comments, Steve.
LikeLike
Using police officers to pull over and issue citations to every single person who ignores the NO LEFT TURN from Route 158…. that alone might pay for the weekly barricades. If nothing else, it’ll block so much traffic that they cannot easily get through…. but then watch out for the street by Food Lion… the new cut through…
LikeLike
Are they doing anything at the Ocean Blvd. / Duck road split?
LikeLike
Nothing that has been announced.
LikeLike