Division 3 gets $1.7 million more per
year for small projects
WILMINGTON — N.C. 133 in Brunswick County,
which has historically experienced major flooding issues, will be among seven
areas of southeastern North Carolina that will benefit from a new fund to pay
for smaller, yet significant highway projects.
The N.C. Department of Transportation worked with the General
Assembly last year to establish the Mobility/Modernization Fund to accelerate
smaller-scale projects outside the Strategic Transportation Investments process, which is how other
projects are prioritized. A portion of this new fund, called the High Impact/Low
Cost Project Program, provides about $1.7 million a year for each of the state’s
14 highway divisions.
Brunswick, Duplin, Pender and Sampson counties will each get a
share of the new funding.
“This new program will make a major difference for communities
across our region,” said NCDOT Division Engineer Karen Collette. “The projects
we’ve identified will improve safety and reduce traffic congestion in four
counties.”
Collette and her staff consulted with local transportation
officials with the area Metropolitan and Rural Planning organizations to develop
criteria and select seven projects to build over the next two years in the
division, which comprises of Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Duplin and
Sampson Counties. These projects are:
Brunswick County: Repairs will be made
to mitigate flooding on N.C. 133 a mile in each direction from the intersection
with Funston Road. This $1 million project is planned for the near future.
A traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection of U.S.
17 and N.C. 87 in Winnabow. This $145,000 project is expected to improve safety
at the intersection.
Duplin County: A traffic signal will be installed at the
intersection of U.S. 117 and Brooks Quinn Road. This $367,000 safety project is
especially important due to the increased student population at nearby
Rosehill-Magnolia Elementary School.
In response to a request by local industry to alleviate turning
difficulties for tractor trailers at the Penny Branch and Blackmore Road
intersection in Warsaw, the department will re-align the intersection. This
$260,000 project will improve the turning radius for the larger trucks that use
the intersection.
Pender County: Hoover Road will be
widened with two-foot paved shoulders to increase safety for South Topsail
Elementary school and for the future proposed Hampstead Bypass interchange. This
$875,000 project will also provide greater mobility along Hoover Road prior to
the construction of the interchange.
Sampson County: A 1,900-foot turn center
lane will be installed on N.C. 24 east of Clinton. This $427,000 project will
improve safety and reduce congestion along this route.