Gloucester County and Virginia Department of Transportation staff have worked over the past few months to improve safety at the intersection of Ark and Hickory Fork roads in Sassafras. Last week, new stop signs as well as rumble strips were placed just prior to the intersection on the northbound lane of Hickory Fork Road.

Local resident Ronald Deal, who has witnessed a number of “near miss” accidents, and was involved in an accident there himself, brought the matter to the attention of J.J. Orth, Abingdon district representative on the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors, last fall.

Orth alerted the proper county staff as well as Joyce McGowan, residency administrator for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Saluda office.

Deal and other residents thought a four-way stop or even a traffic signal would be appropriate to alleviate the number of drivers who fail to stop at the intersection on Hickory Fork, which leads to and from Peasley Middle and Bethel El...