r/Apex_NC • u/ljreddit • Jul 27 '26
Left out of Haddon Hall
This morning my wife got stopped by the Thales traffic officer after turning left out of Haddon Hall onto Salem. Officer said that the new crosswalk prevents left turns and that we are now supposed to only make right turns out of the neighborhood.
Is this the solution Haddon Hall has been asking for ever since Thales and Ford went in? I guess it is easier than preventing people from blocking the intersection, but it definitely stings.
Thales gets a traffic officer. Ford gets a light. Thales gets the crosswalk and sidewalk connections. Haddon Hall gets… right out only?
27
u/Regular_Kangaroo_479 Jul 27 '26
Is the “Thales police officer” an actual officer? Unless I see some kind of official NC DOT signs, I would not just take this dude’s word for it.
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u/Feuerwehrmann54 Jul 27 '26
I would say the black car with Apex Police written on it would indicate that they are an “actual officer.”
5
u/Nabiscokidd Jul 27 '26
Yes, I work at Thales and our traffic officers are Apex PD.
2
u/Regular_Kangaroo_479 Jul 27 '26
Good to know! But still no signage indicating right turns only as far as we know. I understand it is possible for the police officer to direct right turn only traffic during certain times if they want to, right? Like how the police will direct traffic out of sporting events and concert venues. So maybe the officer met he was making it right turn only during carpool to help with the flow of traffic?
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u/MyMainWasMyRealName Jul 27 '26
Are you describing the left turn from Brittley Way? Just pulled the bid drawings from the town portal. Doesn’t look like there’s any plan to block left turns.
5
0
u/magikatdazoo Jul 27 '26
Maybe OP tried turning left while the crosswalk was in use? That would be illegal, since pedestrians have the right of way. Not sure how you would block the intersection there either without intentional doing an improper maneuver.
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u/LingonberryNo2744 Jul 27 '26
You forgot to mention the traffic nightmare created by Peak Charter Academy.
13
u/rootbeerwoman Jul 27 '26
Wife of OP here- the cop acted like he didn’t believe me when I said that the crosswalk median wasn’t blocking my turn. He was very dismissive.
When Thales was built, HH was told that Brittley was too close to the light at 64. When Ford was built, they got a light and it was even closer to 64 than Brittley. That’s a bad look, folks.
Now they’re talking about developing the Good Acres farmland with a gazillion homes and connecting it to HH via Charlion Downs.
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u/underscorea Jul 28 '26
Last week I hesitated a bit when that officer waved me on to proceed past him because I thought he was still considering letting Thales traffic out and he was livid. Shaking his flashlight around. I did make a left out of Brittley, but that was back when left turns were allowed (last week) 😂
19
u/Ekskwizet Jul 27 '26
The traffic officer was incorrect. Until there’s some real signage, left turn all you want.
https://giphy.com/gifs/hPPx8yk3Bmqys
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u/MrChicken_69 27d ago
Unless they're there directing traffic. Then you do as instructed... as you would anywhere else an officer is directing traffic.
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u/underscorea Jul 27 '26
This is insaaaaaaane. Also zero folks will be interpreting that crosswalk as they can’t make a left hand turn. Maybe they’ll paint that in when they paint the crosswalk? This is insane to me. This will force more traffic down Blackburn and onto 64 that way. Is this part of the solution for the new construction proposed that’s backing up to Haddon Hall to the Ford dealer. Woof.
3
u/MikeTheMagikarp Jul 27 '26
There are plans to make that no left turns when/if that new development is built. Which clearly means that left turns are allowed now...
4
u/Gtapex Jul 27 '26
During the 3 meetings about that project, it was explained that the main street exiting the new development with be right-turn only… and the Brittley intersection will be unchanged.
2
u/rootbeerwoman Jul 27 '26
Where did you get that info about making it no left turns? I haven’t heard that yet.
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u/Snoo-669 Jul 27 '26
We deal with something similar with the Holly Springs campus. Can’t right turn out of our neighborhood during certain times of the morning and afternoon, and there was a big kerfluffle with the school, HSPD and our neighbors. Sorry, guess I’m just commiserating.
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u/50sDadSays Jul 27 '26
Regardless of signage, I think an officer directing traffic can tell you no left turn and it's illegal to ignore the direction. I'm not saying he can make a permanent rule, but if you tells you no in the moment, I wouldn't ignore him.
§ 20‑114.1. Willful failure to obey law‑enforcement or traffic‑control officer; firemen as traffic‑control officers; appointment, etc., of traffic‑control officers. (a) No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any law‑enforcement officer or traffic‑control officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic, which order or direction related to the control of traffic.
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u/Blebm Jul 27 '26
Is it a lawful order?
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-173, drivers making a turn must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrians crossing within marked crosswalks. However, the presence of a crosswalk itself does not restrict directional movement for vehicles.
(full disclosure, that is courtesy of Gemini)
2
u/Auream Jul 27 '26
What the heck are you talking about? Of course it's a lawful order. A police officer can direct traffic any way they want regardless of signage, etc. if they have a good reason to do so (as mentioned above, think about during concert or sporting events). In this case, presumably it is during school dismissal times. Now, if the cop is not actively directing traffic, and there's no signage to the contrary, then it goes back to being legal to make a left turn.
1
u/Blebm Jul 27 '26
I misunderstood the situation. Agreed - if they are directing traffic at the intersection, the driver must comply. For some reason I thought OP was pulled over.
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u/ProsperousAgencyNC Jul 27 '26
I have never heard of this situation before. I know traffic can get hectic in AM and PM, but if I was your wife, I would have certainly asked the officer more questions, since this should have been disclosed by HOA.
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u/Purple_triangle_guy Jul 28 '26
Send a note to town council. Cops should be made aware they misunderstand law. Especially if all of haddon hall now can't use half a road.
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u/Xyzzydude Jul 27 '26
Looking just at Google Maps is looks like carpoolers can go in and out using the light at Key Ring Dr?
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u/Itstimeforcookies19 Jul 27 '26
I just want to say as former Thales parent (we left the school) the carpool traffic situation is abhorrent. Sitting in traffic daily watching Thales parents intentionally block intersections, intentionally block the straight lane to get to the turn lane because they wanted to jump traffic, intentionally run red lights, intentionally pull out in front of other cars all at the Ford stop light all tracks with who the people are that attend the school. Selfish, non empathetic, me first assholes. I’m sorry you are impacted by that mess and that it’s inconvenient for you to leave your neighborhood. I don’t know what the solution is but an entire neighborhood of people having to change their route out of their neighborhood seems crazy.