Smithfield to Host Joint Public Meeting on Upcoming Downtown Traffic Changes

The Town of Smithfield will host a joint meeting with Town’s DOT Task Force to discuss
upcoming roadway and traffic changes affecting downtown. The meeting will be held on
Monday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Smithfield Town Hall Council Chambers, 350 W. Market
Street. Downtown business owners and interested residents are encouraged to attend.

NCDOT has announced plans to remove on-street parking along East Market Street (U.S. 70
Business) between Second and North Seventh streets as a safety measure. State
transportation officials cite more than 500 crashes along the corridor over a recent five-year
period, many involving parked vehicles being struck or sideswiped.

In response, the Town of Smithfield and the Market Street Task Force have been working with
NCDOT on a path forward for downtown traffic and parking. The Town’s plan includes creating
one-way street pairs on downtown portions of Second and Third Streets, a change intended to
improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and create opportunities for additional downtown parking.
During the meeting, officials will: