Is the new hospital construction causing traffic backups on East Main Street near the new hospital?
A – Because of the volume of vehicles and the overall design of East Main Street, heavy traffic has always been an issue along that section of road. The situation should be eased somewhat when road construction near the new hospital site is completed in the fall of 2009. The County, in cooperation with Orange Regional Medical Center, is widening the road and installing turning lanes to the new hospital and Midway Park Drive. There will be an additional signal light installed at the entrance of the hospital in the future as well. Furthermore, the hospital is installing a computerized traffic light control system that will synchronize the signals at Midway Park Drive, at the entrance to the hospital and at Midway Park Road. This control system along with the road widening and new turning lanes will greatly improve traffic flow. However, it is highly likely that the congestion problem in this area will continue, as it has for years, until the State DOT redesigns the Exit 122 ramp on Route
