The town of Cary's efforts to maintain safety on local roads has received regional accolades.

On Oct. 16, the AAA Carolinas' Foundation for Traffic Safety awarded Cary the designation of a Traffic Safe Community.

The award honors cities and police departments for ensuring safe roads for citizens and visitors.

Cary won the honor for its focus on school safety and a related "School's In, Speed's Out" program targeting unsafe drivers in school zones.

The Cary police department's road watch hotline also factored into the decision to bestow the designation on the town.

Sign task force schedules meeting

CARY A 15-member task force charged with reviewing Cary's sign ordinances will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 in Town Hall.

The Town Council approved the formation of the Sign Ordinance Evaluation Task Force during a regular meeting on Oct. 22.

The decision set in motion a process that could lead to sweeping revisions of the town's current sign rules.

Cary's sign laws are considered some of the strictest in the region.

The proposed review comes in part because of concerns raised by business owners and citizens about the flexibility and visibility of signs allowed under current rules.

Citizens will be able to provide feedback during the next two months, according to a timeline provided by the town.

A completed set of recommendations could be presented to the Town Council in the spring.

Holly Springs Bridge Closed

HOLLY SPRINGS One of the most direct connections between Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina is out of commission until Nov. 13. Bass Lake Road is closed so that state transportation workers can perform maintenance on the bridge beside Bass Lake Park and Retreat Center.

The retreat center parking lot will remain open on the Holly Springs side of the bridge. Traffic on Bass Lake Road heading away from town still will be able to turn right into the retreat center or left into the Sunset Ridge development.

For more information, contact the bridge maintenance staff of the N.C. Department of Transportation at 919-733-4699.

Apex gets new post office

APEX The U.S. Postal Service has opened a contract postal center at Ace Hardware on East Williams Street in Apex. The facility, an alternative to a traditional post office, is the 15th of its kind in the Triangle.

"This office will help to increase convenience and access to postal services for customers unable to travel to the Apex post office," Claudia James, who will oversee the postal center, said in a news release. "We are very excited for the residents of Apex."

Patrons of the new postal center will have access to a full line of products and services, including stamps and Express Mail and Priority Mail services. It will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

By staff writers Jordan Cooke and Vickie Jean DeHamer.