WHITEVILLE – Construction will start soon on a $1.8 million roundabout that will replace a conventional intersection south of downtown Whiteville.
The roundabout will be constructed where Lee and Franklin streets have an angled, or slanted, intersection with U.S. 701 Business (South Madison Street). This project will replace the existing traffic signal where about 16,000 vehicles pass through on an average day.
Roundabouts built in North Carolina have proven to reduce fatal and injury crashes by 79%. The circular design also improves traffic flow by eliminating the need to wait at a red light. Drivers approaching the roundabout simply yield to any traffic already inside it.
NCDOT awarded this contract this week to Fayetteville-based Highland Paving Co., which can begin the work in late March and will have until the end of this year to complete it.
At some point during construction, the contractor will need to temporarily close this intersection and detour traffic onto Lee and Franklin streets and onto Main Street. NCDOT will post those details in advance of the closure at DriveNC.gov; people can search under “Columbus County."