FAYETTEVILLE – A project that will make driving and walking safer along a congested stretch of Raeford Road in western Fayetteville will start in February after the N.C. Department Transportation awarded a $35.8 million contract this week.
The 2.1-mile section between Old Raeford and Bunce roads will get raised medians, additional turning lanes and a new storm drainage system, while concrete curb and gutters and sidewalks on both sides will be constructed along a majority of that same section.
Additionally, intersections that do not have traffic signals will be redesigned by redirecting side-street traffic into turning right. This design is known as a reduced conflict intersection, because it dramatically reduces the risk of serious crashes.
“This will be a big safety enhancement and a major investment in one of the city's busiest corridors," said Drew Cox, the department's Division 6 engineer responsible for the Fayetteville region.
An NCDOT study done during the project's development revealed that 78% of crashes on Raeford Road occurred between intersections where there is an open center turn lane. The road's crash rate is 1.8 times higher than normal compared to similar highways.
The winning bidder, Highland Paving Co. of Fayetteville, will be required to keep a minimum of four lanes (two in each direction) open during the peak travel times when traffic volumes are higher.
The contractor is scheduled to complete the improvements by the fall of 2024.
For more details about how NCDOT intends to improve Raeford Road, visit this NCDOT webpage.