WINDSOR – A joint agreement between the Town of Windsor and the Bertie County Board of Elections will hopefully alleviate traffic congestion here on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 2).

Windsor Police Chief Rodney Hoggard reported that Queen Street in his town would be turned into a one-way direction of travel next Tuesday. Queen Street is the home of the Windsor Community Building, where the Windsor I precinct is located. Across the street is the Bertie Board of Elections office.

&uot;It’s a narrow street to begin with and then by placing all those vehicles and pedestrians there on a busy Election Day makes for a very dangerous situation,&uot; stated Chief Hoggard. &uot;Safety is our top concern and it was for that reason we decided to direct traffic one way on Queen Street next Tuesday.&uot;

Hoggard said traffic would transverse the street in a north-to-south direction. He added that motorists using the other streets which connect to Queen would be directed, by signs, on which way they are able to turn.

Queen Street saw heavy congestion during the July Primary election. Bottlenecks were created due to that traffic plus the fact that handicapped and curbside voting areas were used near the Community Building.

&uot;It was a mess,&uot; recalled Hoggard. &uot;People were parking in areas where they shouldn’t, some using the spaces set aside for handicapped parking and curbside voting. We’re very hopeful that turning Queen into a one-way street on Election Day will ease the congestion.&uot;

The Windsor I polling place is open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.