EASTOVER – Construction will begin this spring on converting a Cumberland County intersection into a roundabout east of Fayetteville.
An N.C. Department of Transportation contractor will reconstruct the all-way intersection of Baywood and Murphy roads into a roundabout, which will improve safety and traffic flow.
Roundabouts are safer than traditional intersections because motorists slow down going through them, and the design eliminates the stop-and-go nature of stop signs. According to a report last year by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, these kind of intersection improvements reduce overall fatalities and serious-injury collisions by almost 30 percent.
The department last month awarded a $1.6 million contract to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Rocky Mount for the project. Work can begin after April 22, and the new roundabout is expected to be completed by April 2020.
The intersection will primarily remain open throughout construction with occasional flagging operations, so motorists may encounter delays traveling through the area. There will be times when the contractor needs to close one quadrant – or one roadway section at the intersection – at a time for up to five days to complete the project. During those limited closures, traffic will detour onto Murphy and Sanderosa roads.
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