A look at the local crossroads where serious crashes continue to occur, and the nicknames residents still use to describe them.
By BCNews Staff Writer
Columbus County, NC — Roads in Columbus County range from high‑speed highways to rural crossroads, and while most intersections function without issue, several have long histories of serious crashes. Statewide NCDOT crash‑mapping data highlights a handful of locations where collisions cluster year after year — places locals often identify by long‑standing nicknames that have become part of everyday directions.
One of the most active trouble spots is the junction of US‑74 and NC‑242 near Cerro Gordo, known locally as “Cerro Gordo Crossing.” Fast‑moving highway traffic and turning vehicles meet here, creating a pattern of severe crashes over the years.
In Whiteville, the intersection of US‑701 and NC‑130 — better known as “the Walmart Light” — remains one of the county’s busiest and most crash‑prone. Heavy traffic, multiple turning lanes, and constant commercial activity make it a frequent site of rear‑end and angle collisions.
Just up the road, the county has already modernized part of the corridor with roundabouts at the intersection of US‑74/76 and J.K. Powell Boulevard, designed to slow vehicles and reduce conflict points along one of Whiteville’s busiest gateways.
Just outside town, the meeting point of US‑74 Business and the US‑701 Bypass forms another high‑risk area. It has been called “the Bypass Light,” a gateway where high speeds and merging traffic often combine to create dangerous conditions.
Farther south in Tabor City, the intersection of US‑701 and Complex Street — simply “the Complex Light” to most residents — sees steady local traffic and frequent turning movements, contributing to a notable cluster of crashes in the surrounding blocks.
In Chadbourn, the main signal at NC‑410 and NC‑242 is widely known as “Chadbourn Stoplight.” With much of the town’s traffic funneled through a single intersection, even routine congestion can lead to risky situations.
Rural areas aren’t immune. The crossroads of NC‑130 and NC‑904 near Roseland, long referred to as “Roseland Crossroads,” has seen more serious crashes than expected for a rural junction, driven by a mix of local, agricultural, and beach‑bound traffic.
Near Lake Waccamaw, the intersection of US‑74 and Old Lake Road, often called “Old Lake Crossing” remains a spot where high‑speed highway traffic meets local drivers turning toward neighborhoods and the lake. While this location has seen its share of severe crashes, Lake Waccamaw has taken a notably proactive approach to traffic safety. The town has added multiple modern roundabouts, including one on Sam Potts Highway (NC‑214) and two along the US‑74/76 corridor, all aimed at reducing speed and improving flow.
Back in Whiteville, another change is on the horizon: a planned roundabout at South Madison Street and Franklin Street, a busy cut‑through area that has long struggled with congestion and awkward turning lane. The project is expected to streamline traffic and reduce the types of angle crashes common at traditional four‑way intersections.
Though each intersection has its own challenges, the underlying risks are similar: high speeds, heavy turning movements, and the constant mix of local and through‑traffic. As Columbus County continues to grow and it will grow, these locations remain focal points for community awareness and ongoing monitoring by transportation officials.
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