Town upgrades West State Street crosswalk

Flashing beacons intended to improve safety

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 26, 2021

With authorization from the NCDOT, the Town of Black Mountain installed flashing beacons to increase the visibility of a crosswalk on West State Street (U.S. 70). Photo by Fred McCormick

Flashing beacons warning drivers of pedestrians in, or entering the road, are intended to improve the safety of a crosswalk in downtown Black Mountain.

The town installed the two rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB) on opposite sides of the designated crossing on West State Street, near the intersection of Church Street, to improve visibility on the highly trafficked thoroughfare. 

The location on State Street, which is alternately known as U.S. 70, is maintained by the N.C. Department of Transportation and has long been a concern locally, according to Town Manager Josh Harrold. The town reiterated their concerns about the crosswalk when a pedestrian was struck by a motorcycle last October. 

The Black Mountain Fire Department responded to the collision and the pedestrian was transported by Buncombe County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries, according to BMPD Chief Scottie Harris.  

Black Mountain Fire and Police Departments and Buncombe County EMS respond to a pedestrian who was struck in the crosswalk on State Street in October of 2020. The town installed flashing beacons to increase the visibility of the crosswalk. Photo courtesy of Mike Legeros

NCDOT authorized the installation of the beacons at the expense of the town, which purchased and installed them for approximately $8,000, according to Harrold. 

The solar powered panels on the north and south sides of State Street flash in each direction — east and west — when the button is pushed, alerting motorists that a pedestrian is crossing or preparing to cross. They are affixed to the posts supporting neon yellow pedestrian crosswalk signs with arrows. 

“These beacons will make that crosswalk safer,” Harrold said. “That was something we felt we absolutely had to do before things get busier downtown again.”