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Here is a link to the options for all of the rail-highway at-grade <br />crossings: http://www.cityofmebane.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=230755&pageId=195881 <br />7 <br />Staff was given an opportunity to comment on the preliminary recommendations for the two <br />at-grade crossings in Orange County, Mattress Factory Road and Buckhorn Road. The <br />TSS recommendation for Mattress Factory Road was to do nothing due to the distance to <br />nearest intersections. The TSS provided multiple recommendations for Buckhorn Road: <br />•Option 1 – Grade separation at Buckhorn Road and connection with a new road over <br />the railroad to U.S. 70; <br />•Option 2 – Grade separation with a roundabout at Buckhorn Road and Industrial <br />Drive and connection to S. Frazier Road; and <br />•Option 3 – Grade separation with a roundabout at Buckhorn Road and Industrial <br />Drive and a new road over the railroad to U.S. 70. <br />Staff’s comments expressed a strong preference for the connections with Industrial Drive <br />and S. Frazier Road depicted in Option 2. This alignment coordinates well with the <br />County’s future road alignment concepts through this area, which is the focus of many of <br />our economic development efforts. Option 2 intersects US 70 in locations that will promote <br />future traffic lights which will be necessary in the Buckhorn I-85/I-40 area. Option 2 also <br />will provide a more direct route around the western side of Hillsborough and north into <br />Virginia. Buckhorn Road is one of the main interchanges being used by truckers to avoid <br />the truck scales at the NCDOT weigh station on I-85/I-40. <br />However, Planning <br />staff expressed <br />substantial concern <br />however about Option <br />2’s proposed round- <br />about depicted at <br />Buckhorn Road and <br />Industrial Drive due to <br />a limited distance of <br />approximately 600 <br />feet from the <br />interchange ramps, <br />the high volume of <br />traffic forecasted and <br />the heavy truck traffic. <br />A cross intersection <br />with turn lanes is <br />recommended by Orange County to address these issues. The intersection at Industrial <br />Drive will need to accommodate a high volume of traffic and trucks, and quickly move them <br />away from the interstate interchange. <br />28