Description

The US 17 Corridor Study includes North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects U-4751 and R-3300. Project U-4751 is an extension of Military Cutoff Road on new location from Market Street (US 17 Business) to the US 17 Wilmington Bypass (John Jay Burney Jr. Freeway). Project R-3300 is the US 17 bypass of Hampstead. Both projects are part of North Carolina’s Strategic Highway Corridor Initiative, which is an effort to preserve and maximize the long-term interconnectivity of core transportation corridors in North Carolina.

Alternative Selected

Thirteen detailed study alternatives were initially developed for the proposed project. Seven of the alternatives were dropped from further consideration because of anticipated impacts to the human and natural environments. Two new location build alternatives for Military Cutoff Road Extension (M1 and M2) and four new location build alternatives for the US 17 Hampstead Bypass (E-H, O, R, and U) were studied in detail. These detailed study alternatives were shown to the public at two corridor public hearings held for the project in October 2011.

NCDOT has selected Alternative M1 as the corridor for the proposed Military Cutoff Road Extension (U-4751) and Alternative E-H as the corridor for the proposed US 17 Hampstead Bypass (R-3300). In making this selection, NCDOT reviewed all public and agency comments and preferences. Meetings were held on December 15, 2011 and May 17, 2012 with state and federal regulatory and environmental resource agencies to review the evaluation of alternatives. A consensus was reached on the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative on June 8, 2012. NCDOT formally selected the Preferred Alternative on June 20, 2012.

Military Cutoff Road Extension Alternative M1 will extend Military Cutoff Road from Market Street to the US 17 Wilmington Bypass. The proposed roadway will begin at a proposed interchange at Military Cutoff Road and Market Street. The road will then extend to the north and northwest, ending near Plantation Road and Crooked Pine Road at a proposed interchange with the US 17 Wilmington Bypass, approximately midway between I-40 and Market Street. This alternative generally follows the alignment shown on the August 2005 official transportation corridor map adopted by the City of Wilmington for the proposed Military Cutoff Road Extension.

US 17 Hampstead Bypass Alternative E-H begins in New Hanover County at a proposed interchange with the US 17 Wilmington Bypass. The proposed roadway will extend from the US 17 Wilmington Bypass northwest past Sidbury Road into Pender County. The alternative then turns to the northeast and continues to a proposed interchange with NC 210. From this interchange, the proposed bypass extends northeast and crosses Hoover Road north of South Topsail Elementary School. The project continues northeast behind the Topsail Schools complex and then turns east to tie into existing US 17 near Leeward Lane. The proposed road continues north on existing US 17 to Sloop Point Loop Road. Alternative E-H follows the alignment shown on the November 2011 official transportation corridor map adopted by the Wilmington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for the proposed US 17 Hampstead Bypass.

It should also be noted that in response to citizens’ concerns, NCDOT will continue to explore options for providing access to existing US 17 north of Topsail High School from the proposed bypass.

News and Updates

Open House and U-4751 Design Public Meeting

NCDOT held an Open House and Design Public Meeting for the Military Cutoff Road Extension on August 28, 2012 in Wilmington. `Links to the map presented at the public meeting can be found in the “Project Map” section of this website. The Design Public Hearing for Hampstead Bypass will be scheduled at a future date.

For more information click the links below:

• Open House and U-4751 Design Public Meeting Information
• Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 28 MB

Project Overview and Purpose

The purpose of the project is to improve the traffic carrying capacity and safety of the US 17 and Market Street corridors in the project area.

Project Highlights

The US 17 Corridor Study Team, consisting of federal, state and local agency representatives, reviewed the results of analyses for the detailed study alternatives. Potential environmental, social and economic effects were evaluated to identify the alternative that best meet the purpose and need of the project while minimizing negative impacts. The Study Team also considered input provided by the public. This included comments from the Citizens Informational Workshops and public hearings, and the public agencies involved with the project. Refer to the Description section above for the Selected Alternative Map and more details.

The US 17 Corridor Study Team follows the Merger Process to reach concurrence at critical milestones related to project development and permitting.

Public Involvement

Public involvement is an important part of the planning process. NCDOT encourages citizen involvement with transportation projects and considers your suggestions and will address your concerns. Several opportunities for providing input have been provided during the development of the proposed project.

Citizens informational workshops were held on April 23, 2007 in Hampstead and on April 24, 2007 in Wilmington. A total of 174 participants signed in at the workshops. In 2011, a Citizens Open House and Corridor Public Hearing was held on October 17 in Wilmington and on October 18 in Hampstead. Over 380 citizens attended the Public Hearings. A Design Public Meeting was held for the proposed Military Cutoff Road Extension (Project U-4751) on August 28, 2012 in Wilmington. A Design Public Hearing will be held for the proposed Hampstead Bypass (Project R-3300) in the future.

Four newsletters have been mailed to those on the project mailing list to provide updates on the project’s progress. The latest newsletter, dated August 2012, announces the Selected Alternative. See the Newsletters section above for details and to download the August 2012 or earlier newsletters.

To have your name added to the project mailing list, please get in touch with one of the project contacts or submit your information via the project Contact Us form below. A toll free project information telephone number is also listed in the Contact Information section below.

Next Steps

Comments received on the design of the proposed U-4751 project from the August 28, 2012 Design Public Meeting will be reviewed and incorporated, where feasible, into the development of final design plans for the project. Further studies and surveys will be conducted on the preliminary findings collected from the initial corridor studies for both the Military Cutoff Road Extension and US 17 Hampstead Bypass projects, such as hazardous materials, historic and archaeological sites, and access to residences and businesses.

A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be prepared based on the results of the items above. The FEIS will be circulated for public and agency review.

A Design Public Hearing will also be held for the US 17 Hampstead Bypass project at a later date, following the completion of the FEIS. More detailed information will be available on this project at that hearing.

Project Development Process

Any state or federal agency proposing a project that uses public funds and may have a potential detrimental environmental effect must comply with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under SEPA/NEPA, agencies are required to evaluate the environmental impacts of their proposals. The evaluation generally follows a project development process that can be divided into the steps described in the Project Development Process.

Contact Information

Toll Free Project Information Line: 1-866-841-4420

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.