Request for turning lane

[Erika Oakley]

Good Morning,

My name is Erika Oakley and I am an owner of Surety Storage located at 2707 NC Hwy 86 S. in Hillsborough.

As the area surrounding our property has developed we have observed a substantial increase in traffic. During my 5 years of ownership we have witnessed 2 traffic fatalities and multiple accidents.

Our office witnesses near accidents multiple times a week. My concern is that with our growing population these incidents will increase. The commercial building beside me operates as a Daycare facility and the adjacent neighborhood is large and connects to businesses on Churton Street in Hillsborough. Many people are using these side roads to bypass the highways which has only increased traffic and related traffic incidents. The slow and easy pace of traffic has rapidly evolved to more aggressive and fast paced. This is the cost of prosperity but certainly not worth the sacrifice of safety.

To alleviate this congestion and I would like to request an additional turn lane or option to widen the road between the two parcels I own Hwy 86.

I was told that I needed to first contact my County’s Commissioners prior to NCDOT for this request.

Can you please direct me as to facilitate this request?

I would hate to defer this issue and another tragic loss incur.

Thank you for your guidance and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Erika Oakley
mobile: 919-732-7292

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Erika,

We have received your email and I am copying our Transportation Director. There is a very long process to getting any street project approved and on the funding list for lanes. Sometimes there are interim safety measures. Our transportation director will follow up. Thank you for calling attention to this safety location!

Sincerely,

Jamezetta Bedford, BOCC Chair

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From: Erika Oakley <suretys...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2025 12:59 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Cc: Incorporated Woods Brothers <suretys...@gmail.com>
Subject: Request for turning lane

 

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Phish Alert Button located on your Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.

[Sarah Williamson-Baker]

Hi Erika.

 

We’ve started conversations with NCDOT about this request. As Comm. Bedford mentioned, these processes can be quite lengthy.

 

Either our team, or NCDOT will be in touch if/as questions come up.

 

Sarah

 

Sarah Williamson

Interim Director

Transportation Department | Orange County Government

[Erika Oakley]

Hi Ms. Williamson Baker, 

Thank you for your follow up email. To be clear there is a turning lane into Becketts Ridge Drive as pictured below. 

This may be the extent as to what can be done to decongest traffic however, I didn't know if this lane could be extended to account for the traffic going in and out of our facility and the residential addresses prior to Fletcher Road. 

Thank you again, 

Erika Oakley

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From: Sarah Williamson-Baker <swilliam...@orangecountync.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 11:16:00 AM
To: Jamezetta Bedford <jbed...@orangecountync.gov>; Erika Oakley <suretys...@gmail.com>; ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: RE: Request for turning lane

 

[Sarah Williamson-Baker]

Thank you for the follow up. We will pass this on to DOT.

 

Sarah Williamson

Interim Director

Transportation Department | Orange County Government

 

From: Erika Oakley <suretys...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 11:56 AM
To: Sarah Williamson-Baker <swilliam...@orangecountync.gov>; Jamezetta Bedford <jbed...@orangecountync.gov>; ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: Re: Request for turning lane

 

CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Phish Alert Button located on your Outlook menu bar on the Home tab.

Hi Ms. Williamson Baker, 

 

Thank you for your follow up email. To be clear there is a turning lane into Becketts Ridge Drive as pictured below. 

This may be the extent as to what can be done to decongest traffic however, I didn't know if this lane could be extended to account for the traffic going in and out of our facility and the residential addresses prior to Fletcher Road.