Best areas to move near Wilmington (Greenville, Monroe: how much, houses, new construction)

[scjj]

It is not just dangerous during the beach time, the tourist season compounds the problem but the area is accident prone all year long. The following is a recent article to help you better understand the road situation:

June 10. 2007 8:36AM

New Centre and College tops list of crash-prone intersections

The intersection with the most car crashes in New Hanover County is like the meanest inmate in the clink – the worst of the worst.

That unfortunate distinction for 2006 goes to New Centre Drive and South College Road, the site of at least 38 wrecks last year, according to a recent report on area crashes.

That, combined with the fact that the travel agency AAA Carolinas routinely ranks the county at or near the top in the state for the likelihood of getting into an accident and being injured in one, puts the county’s most dangerous intersections on the “Most Wanted” list for safety improvements.

It’s not surprising that South College Road, a busy commercial thoroughfare and important north-south artery, includes the worst intersection. In fact, seven South College Road intersections are in the top 15 for crashes in 2006. Market Street and Carolina Beach Road, also significant car movers, each have three junctions on the list.

The area’s worst intersections are identified in the “2006 Crash Report” by the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization, a government agency that studies transportation issues and sets priorities for roadwork.

Nearly 6,000 crashes resulted in 12,100 injuries and a total of $28.4 million in property damage in New Hanover County and the Brunswick County towns of Leland, Belville and Navassa last year, according to the report, which analyzes N.C. Department of Transportation data.

Late last year, using 2005 crash data, AAA Carolinas determined New Hanover County roads provided the best chance of being in a collision and the second best chance of being injured of the state’s 100 counties. This year’s AAA report will be released late this year.

Setting priorities

Transportation planners, auto industry experts, law enforcement officers and public officials offer a plethora of explanations for the road reputation, from bad roads to bad drivers.

Besides causing car damage, injuries or deaths and traffic snarls, crashes contribute to higher auto insurance premiums in this part of the state and keep law enforcement and emergency personnel busy.

Although crash reports have been done in the past, this is the first time the MPO compiled, analyzed and released DOT crash data for a calendar year.

It contains a wealth of data on locations and causes of car accidents and the drivers involved in them. But it includes only data from New Hanover County and the towns of Belville, Leland and Navassa in Brunswick County. It also includes only accidents reported by law enforcement agencies to the Department of Transportation. Often, minor fender-benders and crashes without injuries go unreported, so it’s unclear exactly how many crashes really took place in 2006.

Mike Kozlosky, senior transportation planner with the MPO, said this report and subsequent ones would help transportation leaders set priorities for the region.

“We’ve used the crash data in order to identify what intersections need improvements,” he said.

And once improvement projects are identified, the statistics can be used to argue for funding.

Don Bennett, city of Wilmington traffic engineer, said the report would help identify which intersections need to be considered for safety improvements. Eventually, he said, he would pull accident reports for the worst intersections and plot them on a map, trying to determine whether trends in accidents exist that could help identify solutions.

“This report is like looking at it with a magnifying glass,” Bennett said. “But traffic engineers look at it with a microscope.”

If potential fixes are identified, the project, like anything else, gets in line for funding, Bennett said.

Fixes difficult

The volume of local commuters and visitors traveling together on an inadequate road system plays a role in the number of accidents.

“The roads just can’t handle the traffic in this town,” said Jimmy Smith, manager at Jeff Gordon Collision Center on College Road. “They’re not doing enough to the roads, and that’s our problem.”

But government officials say their hands are tied by expensive property, environmental constraints near the coast and inadequate transportation funding at all levels of government. That makes it difficult to build new roads and fix existing ones.

Others blame lax enforcement of traffic laws on the streets and in the courts. And of course, driver error contributes to most crashes.

Of all the crashes in the report, nearly one in three was a rear-end collision, by far the most prevalent type. That number is consistent with the workload at Jeff Gordon Collision Center, where about 65 percent of the damaged cars have front- or rear-end damage, Smith said, adding that inattentive and reckless drivers often find themselves attached to the bumper in front of them.

The writers of the report concurred.

“Rear-end collisions are most often attributed to drivers who are traveling at excessive speed, following too closely or are distracted from the roadway,” according to the report.

Take my advice

Smith advises drivers to pay attention to what other drivers are doing when approaching an intersection or waiting for a light to change. He believes being on guard at intersections has kept him out of accidents.

“There’ve been many times when my light turns green, if I’d just taken off, I would have been hit because cars aren’t stopping,” Smith said.

Steve Register, owner of Register’s Auto Collision Services, which has three locations in the Wilmington area, said the “antiquated” road system, combined with continued development, contributes to the number of accidents.

The problem is exacerbated by today’s “push, push, rush, rush” society, Register said. Planning ahead, allowing more time to get to your destination and avoiding distraction while driving would help reduce crashes, which can change lives in an instant, he said.

Register described a recent crash near his Hampstead shop that seriously injured a mother and child.

“If you’re ever in a bad accident like that, you’ll think twice about how you drive,” he said.

[southernlady5464]

You know, I said in another thread...it's like local's are complaining about how bad Wilmington hoping to keep people away.

38 wrecks in ONE year is bad but not terrible.

Not when you put it up against a place like Atlanta where one intersection had over 477 crashes last year.

Or South Florida Intersection Tops Most Dangerous List - News Story - WPLG Miami

The intersection, which is surrounded by three malls and the popular C.B. Smith Park, was the scene of 357 accidents last year.

So yes, 38 is a lot for us but compared to other places....

Liz

[NCJill]

Thanks for saying that Liz. I came to this site when a friend recommended it to me since I am moving to Wilmington in a couple weeks. And it's like every thread that I read someone that lives there is complaining or stating all the problems, nothing positive. I think you may be on to something that the locals are trying not to get people excited about it and therefore, they won't want to move there.

38 car crashes is nothing folks. Think about it. Wilmington is a beautiful city, with alot of opportunities, so if you want to live there you need to check it out for yourself like I did and see if it is the place for you or not.

[scjj]

It's not a conspiracy of the locals. I'm no longer a local anyway, so I don't really care who moves there. People are inquiring about the comments on the traffic and I'm just passing along the explanation that's all. It's not right or fair to sugarcoat it and pretend it's all good either. I lived in Wilmington long enough to know that the traffic could make you a nervous wreck sometimes and had a few close calls. Yeah, I understand where you are coming from in that you made the decision to move there and you don't like hearing negative things about it, no one does, but these aren't scare tactics, like it or not they are the facts. If anything I would be saying to myself, man I better be a little more cautious when I am driving in Wilmington, thanks for the heads up. No one is saying it is the demolition derby, just be more attentive. I hope you all enjoy it there.

What I don't understand is why you are comparing Wilmington to some place like Atlanta. Of course Atlanta has more crashes, it has a metro population of over 5 million and has a major interstate system running through it. The two really don't compare.

[southernlady5464]

It's not a conspiracy of the locals.

Well, it sure sounds that way...between the traffic and the tourists and cost of living and hurricanes and lack of jobs, etc...it seems NOTHING is going right here in Wilmington. Liz

[roxors]

I lived there too for a number of years, and haven't posted anything on this thread, but there is a lot of truth to what's been said. There are no freeways within the city and no quick ways to get through town. Driving College Road to and from work for years will wear on you, it did on me and I haven't lived there for five years. I do visit often, my parents still live there, and its only gotten worse since I lived there. Jobs are a problem, like it or not. It's why I left and why many others I worked with did too. Once the software company I worked for laid off many people, others like me, who weren't laid off went elsewhere before the next shoe dropped. Those that stayed, in many cases, were forced to take jobs paying much less than they made before. Somebody a few months back posted a link to an article on here from the Wilmington paper stating how "under-employment" was a big problem in Wilmington, I wish I could find it, but I can't this morning.

I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from moving there at all. Heck I'm going through the same thing in Asheville right now, downsizing at my corporation and I'm going to end up moving again in a year or so. I just try to be honest and lay out the facts so people can make an educated decision. Wilmington is a great place. It's just not a great place to make a good white-collar living and it's difficult for young families there to buy a home and truly get ahead.

[southernlady5464]

There are no freeways within the city and no quick ways to get through town.

Many cities have that problem, small and large. I'm discovering that patience is the key. If you allow yourself time to get places, it helps....but that was true of all places.

As far as layoffs, well you did what you needed to do, you moved. I do happen to know that one company is bringing in jobs not laying them off.

But layoffs happen in this world...in every city/state in this country. I bet if you go to any other forum on this board, you will find the same thing happening. The jobs being created are mostly IN the service sector or in health or in IT. Thankfully, Wilmington is NOT like some other areas that are even more depressed. It's unemployment rate is 3.8 according to the Table 1. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area for the month of May. Most of MI (where we moved from) is in the 7's. Btw, Asheville is a 3.7.

It's just not a great place to make a good white-collar living and it's difficult for young families there to buy a home and truly get ahead.

I guess it all depends on how much house people HAVE to spend on a house. Or can they actually live on less than they think they can. Liz

[NCJill]

I do appreciate you all being honest about your experiences in Wilmington. I guess I am just nervous about relocating all together. I am a single woman in my late 20s and am moving from Ohio and know no one so this is nervwracking enough for me. I do appreciate what you have to say about the traffic and jobs. I am still in the process of interviewing.

[shwebs]

If you want great schools and professional job opportunities, you would best off in the Raleigh/Durham or Chalotte area. Read posted info. at http://www.city-data.com/forum/coast...-anyone-2.html for school, job, and crime info. If you need anything else, I'm glad to help.

[ryeager9]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

However, LOTS of the new subdivisions off Market in the Ogden area that *I* saw looked like cookie cutter subdivisions. And were very small houses for the price range (as in 1100 - 1400 sq ft). And no trees to be had.

There are some rally nice houses in the Northchase subdivision. But anywhere in New Hanover you face higher properties taxes than you will in Pender and Brunswick Counties. Leland is growing like gangbusters. Now, there IS the issue of bridge traffic but there are two bridges across to/from Wilmington not one. Pender County doesn't have the issue of the bridge and Castle Hayne, Rocky Point along with Hampstead are all growing as well. Mostly it depends on where your job is located.

As far as roads not being safe...I haven't found them any less safe than any road any where else I have lived...Monroe, MI, Columbia, MO, Pittsburgh, PA, Atlanta, GA, Fullerton, CA, Greenville, SC...so any less safe...???? I don't know where people are getting that notion?

As far as hurricane issues, I was talking yesterday to a lady who picked up some stuff I had listed on freecycle who has lived here all her life...she said that hurricanes just aren't that big an issue here. She's lost a roof or two in the last 40+ years, and some tree damage but that's about it and she lives 6 blocks from the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway). Maybe she's just been lucky? Liz

Was just curious, out of all those other cities you listed, is there one that you enjoyed living in the most? I've been in Wilm a long time & thinking of moving on to somewhere else, maybe even another state and was interested in your opinion about those other places you mentioned.....thanks!