Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/659038
MARCH 30 - APRIL 5, 2016 UCW 9 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NEWS Pedestrian Safety Drives Construction in Fayetteville by JEFF THOMPSON Each year more t han 2,400 pedest rians are hit by vehicles in Nor t h Carolina, mak ing our st ate among t he least safe st ates in t he United St ates for walk ing. On average, about 160 pedest rians are k illed annually in Nor t h Carolina. In collisions w it h cars, pedest rians have a lot to lose. Those hit at 40 miles per hour have an 85 percent chance of dy ing according to t he Governor 's Highway Safet y Of f ice. This is why t he Nor t h Carolina Depar t ment of Transpor t at ion has under t aken a program designed to reduce walker fat alit ies. "Pedest r ian safet y projec t s are being developed around t he cit y especia lly a long new or resur faced roadways," said Dav id T hipps, Nor t h Carolina Depar t ment of Transpor t at ion's Reg iona l Traf f ic Eng ineer for Fayet tev ille. Glensford Drive bet ween Raeford Road and Morganton Road has high v isibilit y marked crosswalk s and t hree roundabout s all of which are designed to protect pedest rians in t heir conf lict s w it h motor vehicles. In one spot, a unique, fenced corral of sor t s was inst alled on t he center median at Berean Bapt ist Academy to harness children as t hey move across t he busy road. "A ll major t ranspor t at ion improvement projec t s include improved accommodat ions for pedest rians," says Thipps. These project s include t he inst allat ion of a center median along Owen Drive t hat is now under way bet ween U. S. 301 and t he A ll American Expressway. Marked crosswalk s are planned in areas where t here has been a histor y of pedest rian fat alit ies in recent years. Coincident ally, as Up & Coming Weekly has repor ted, a sidewalk is set for const ruct ion along t he ent ire east side of Owen Drive. Raeford Road w ill get similar center medians and w ill also include crosswalk s w it h high v isibilit y mark ings. Bot h are similar to t he project under t aken a couple of years ago along Ramsey St reet . W hen t he median was inst alled along Ramsey St reet, crosswalk s were not included. But now, according to Thipps, t hey 'll be ret rof it ted at some of t he major intersect ions. Thipps point s out t hat smaller pav ing project s like t he one along Eastern Boulevard and Grove St reet dow ntow n included pedest rian crosswalk s at signalized intersect ions. Crosswalk s are also going in along Eastern Boulevard at Russell St reet, Pamalee Drive and Murchison Road as well as in-tow n sect ions of Bragg Boulevard. He says t here are 14 f unded safet y project s earmarked for Fayet tev ille. Thipps says his of f ice and Fayet tev ille Cit y Traf f ic Engineer Lee Jernigan work closely toget her to improve pedest rian safet y. Bot h say t he heav ily t ravelled cluster of hotel and hospit alit y out let s along N.C . 53 (Cedar Creek Road) at Exit 49 of f I-95 has received signif icant safet y upgrades w it h addit ional crosswalk s. The area has become a major problem for t ravelling motorist s, says Thipps. " We're always look ing for addit ional oppor t unit ies to improve pedest rian safet y," he said. Early Pollen Season Equals Sinus Problems for Many by JEFF THOMPSON A combination of mild winter weather and an early March warm-up are resulting in an intense and early season for allerg y sufferers. These conditions allowed trees to pollinate earlier than usual. In eastern North Carolina, pollen levels usually peak in early to mid-spring when most of our native trees such as pines and oaks are f lowering. Some of the biggest spring allerg y offenders also include grasses and weeds. The trees, many of which are widespread in Greater Fayet teville, also include birch, beech and cedar. This year, the pollen was noticeable a week before spring had sprung. Pollen levels are considered high when daily counts exceed 270 grains per cubic meter. Pollen counts at state environmental laboratories in Raleigh have already reached leveled of 428 and 450. They could get much higher, though. The good news? Seasonal peaks like this usually only occur within a one- or t wo-week span. With pollen on the rise, allergies won't be far behind. People who are bothered by allergies may want to limit their time outdoors until pollen levels decline. State environmental experts say the worst times to be outdoors in the pollen are during early morning hours and when it is windy outside. Keeping doors and windows shut with air conditioners running helps to reduce pollen levels indoors. Rainy days, on the other hand, cause a drop in the pollen counts, because the rain washes away the allergens. And of course the rain washes away the residue on the roofs of our homes and cars…at least temporarily. The immune system normally defends the body against harmful invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, to ward off illnesses. According to WebMD the immune system, mistakenly seeing the pollen as foreign invaders, releases antibodies — substances that normally identif y and at tack bacteria, viruses and other illness- causing organisms. The antibodies at tack the allergens, which leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the blood. It's the histamines that trigger the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other symptoms of allergies. Allergic reactions result from specific t ypes of pollen. The reaction leads to numerous irritating symptoms, such as sneezing, stuff y nose and watery eyes. Some people have pollen allergies year-round, while others only have them during certain times of the year. For example, people who are sensitive to birch pollen will usually have increased symptoms during the spring when birch trees are in bloom. Similarly, those with rag weed allergies will be most affected during the late spring and early fall. A pollen allerg y is sometimes referred to as hay fever. If you're one of the millions of Americans dealing with sinus problems, you know how miserable facial pain and clogged nasal passages can be. Allergies affect up to 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the United States. Symptoms can be treated with medications and allerg y shots. Many sinus sufferers have turned to nasal saline irrigation, a therapy that uses a salt and water solution to f lush out the nasal passages. One of the most popular methods is use of the Neti pot — a ceramic or plastic pot that looks like a cross bet ween a small teapot and Aladdin's magic lamp. Although nasal irrigation using the Neti pot has been around for centuries, its use is on the rise in the United States.