City councilman requests caution light at Petty-Rutledge intersection
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney City Councilman Boone Peeler has asked the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to place a caution light at Petty and Rutledge streets.

This intersection has been a trouble spot for motorists for a number of years.

"I do not stay too far from this intersection and it never surprises me to see an ambulance pulling to the scene of an accident at this location," Peeler said. "I have seen cars leave this intersection and hit a house on more than one occasion. It is a real problem."

According to Peeler, the primary cause of accidents is the lack of a stop sign on Rutledge Street, encouraging motorists to either continue or increase their speed.

"Without a stop sign on Rutledge Street until they get to its intersection on Limestone, people get rolling and can't stop," Peeler said.

Peeler has been in talks with SCDOT as well as the City of Gaffney to see whether progress could move at a faster pace.

'We have been in talks for the past couple of months looking for action on this intersection," Peeler said. "I wanted something earlier this past summer, but the state's first priority seems to be traffic."

The intersection at Logan Street and Floyd Baker Boulevard was also a subject of discussion during Peeler's meeting with SCDOT officials. The councilman requested a left turn light at the intersection, hoping it would help ease traffic concerns downtown during the busier hours of the day.

SCDOT installed the signal light a few weeks ago, a welcome sign to Peeler.

"I had a lot of my constituents ask me about this, with many of them complaining that the light sometimes changes twice before many motorists can turn," Peeler said. "But I have used the light, and it seems to be going well."

Even with the installation of a signal at the intersection of Floyd Baker and Logan, Peeler believes the Rutledge and Petty intersection should take priority.

"Something has to get done or else someone could severely pay," Peeler said. "One could look at how many accidents happen at this intersection and realize that it is a problem.

"We have to do something or there could be a real mess at the four corners downtown."