RIEGELWOOD – People are invited to attend an open house later this month to review a proposal to improve the intersection of N.C. 87 and N.C. 11 in Columbus County.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has proposed rebuilding the intersection into an interchange with an overpass, loops and ramps. The project would improve safety and traffic flow on both highways. The interchange design will accommodate plans to widen N.C. 87 in Columbus County.
Last year, the department made the intersection into an all-way stop as an interim measure to reduce the risk of crashes until the interchange project could be developed. State transportation planners were successful in accelerating the project by two years in the State Transportation Improvement Program. This move, which was supported by the Columbus County Board of Commissioners, is aimed at meeting the need to improve safety. The department now plans to award a construction project in February 2021.
The public meeting will be from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 28 at Sandyfield Town Hall, 1795 Woodyard Road, Riegelwood. People may drop in at any time, as no formal presentation will be provided. At the meeting, people can see preliminary design maps, answer questions and offer comments about the proposed interchange.
Comments collected by Dec. 31 will be reviewed and considered toward the final design.
To submit a comment or get more information about the project, contact John Gauthier, a Division 6 design engineer, at P.O. Box 1150, Fayetteville, N.C. 28302. He may also be reached at 910-364-0603 or jbgauthier@ncdot.gov.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lauren Putnam at lnputnam1@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6072 as early as possible, so that arrangements can be made.
Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.