The Right‑of-Way Acquisition start date has been shifted from February 2026 to June 2026 following a request from new City of Washington leadership for additional time to review the project.

Interactive Study Area Map

Project Overview

The N.C. Department of Transportation proposes to improve 15th Street between U.S. 17 Business (Carolina Avenue) and U.S. 264 (Pactolus Highway) in Washington. The project is needed to reduce congestion during peak service hours and improve safety along 15th Street from U.S. 17 Business to U.S. 264 for all users. The project will enhance 15th Street, reduce congestion, improve safety, and provide a complete street for all users. 

The proposed typical section along the corridor includes:

• four 11-foot-wide travel lanes 

• a 17.5 foot wide median

• curb and gutter

• a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side of 15th Street

• a 10-foot multi-use path on the south side of 15th Street from U.S. 17 Business until Brown Street

• a 5-foot sidewalk on the south side of 15th Street from Brown Street until U.S. 264

Traffic will be maintained throughout construction using the phased construction approach.  This approach will minimize disruptions and ensure continuous access for residents and businesses.

To view or download a copy of the traffic crash analysis, click here.

Project Video

Project History

2015: Planning and design for the U-5860 project began and progressed to preliminary plans in 2016.

• A Public Meeting was held on August 11, 2016, providing the community with information, and inviting public input. During a 30-day comment period ending on August 24, 2016, feedback primarily focused on considerations related to the median, access, drainage, right-of-way, and safety for both vehicles and bicyclists/pedestrians was received.

• In December 2016, the Washington City Council unanimously voted not to proceed with the initial design proposal shared by NCDOT, pausing the project to address local concerns and ensure stronger community alignment.

2023: Since the project restarted in 2023, NCDOT has been collaborating closely with the City of Washington to address project needs and incorporate design refinements that address previous feedback received.

2025: A public meeting was held on February 6, 2025 to present updated project information, revised designs, and gather additional input from the community. The project design was updated from the 2016 design to address community feedback, with several improvements included.

• Lane widths have been adjusted to 11 feet to minimize the roadway footprint and reduce impacts
• The proposed median has been reduced from 23 feet to a maximum width of 17.5 feet
• Left turns and U-turns will be incorporated based on traffic needs
• Landscape enhancements in the median will be provided by NCDOT and maintained by the City of Washington

• A multi-use path, sidewalks, and crosswalks are being added to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety. The locations for crosswalks, ADA-compliant median cut-throughs, and pedestrian signals will be determined as the design progresses and incorporates ongoing public input.

The project is intended to enhance safety and improve traffic flow, and the proposed median plays an important role in meeting these goals.

To view or download a copy of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and NCDOT responses to public comments, click here or see below:

Project Updates

As of March 2026:

The City of Washington met with NCDOT on March 20, 2026, for a Project Workshop Meeting. City Council was able to ask project questions and review latest mapping. The Department will continue to proceed with the project. Right-of-way acquisition is anticipated to begin in June 2026 when affected property owners will start to be contacted directly.

As of January 2026:

The City of Washington requested a meeting with NCDOT to discuss the project. At that meeting a City Workshop was requested to present the proposed project to new City leadership. As a result, the start of right-of-way acquisition is now anticipated in June 2026.

As of August 2025:

The NCDOT has approved a 5-foot reduction in right-of-way along the north side of the corridor. In parallel, the City has agreed to reduce the required permanent utility easements for overhead utilities in the same area. These adjustments reflect a collaborative effort to minimize property impacts and have resulted in avoiding nine previously anticipated relocations along the corridor.

While these refinements required additional time for investigation and review, they represent a meaningful step toward more efficient project delivery. As a result, the start of right-of-way acquisition is now anticipated in February 2026. Property owners may request to review updated draft maps reflecting these changes. Finalized maps and an updated fly-through video will be posted to the project webpage in advance of right-of-way acquisition.

Feedback received during the February 6^th, 2025 Public Meeting has been reviewed and design updates incorporated to further enhance safety, mobility, and access along the corridor.

Design updates and other changes to the Public Meeting Maps since February include:

• Incorporation of Latest Aerial Imagery: Updated aerial imagery has been added to the project maps shared at the public meeting to provide a more accurate depiction of existing conditions.
• Permanent Utility Easements (PUEs): PUEs have been included in the design based on utility relocation needs for both dry and wet utilities to support long-term maintenance and operations. Infrastructure improvements to City of Washington utilities will be constructed as part of the project at no cost to the City.
• Intersection Modifications at Van Norden Street: The previously proposed traffic signal at Van Norden Street and 15^th Street shown on the February 2025 Public Meeting Maps has been removed, based on updated traffic signal recommendations. Left turn lanes are proposed on both eastbound and westbound 15^th Street onto Van Norden Street. Turns onto 15^th Street from Van Norden Street will be right turn only.
• Intersection Modifications at Washington Street: As part of the updated traffic signal recommendations, the traffic signal currently located at Washington Street will be relocated to Pierce Street to improve operational efficiency and optimize turning movements. A left turn lane is proposed from eastbound 15^th Street into Midtown Crossing.
• Intersection Modifications at Pierce Street: A new traffic signal is proposed at Pierce Street and 15^th Street. At the intersection of Pierce Street and 15th Street, a through-movement/right-turn lane and a dedicated left-turn lane have been added to improve operational efficiency and reduce congestion during peak travel times. The proposed Pierce Street traffic signal also provides a safe crossing for pedestrians.

These refinements reflect the continued collaboration between NCDOT, the City of Washington, and the local community to ensure the final design meets transportation goals while addressing local concerns.

Project Fly-Through Video

This video was created in February 2025 as a supplement to the preliminary design plans. It does not include all elements of the design.

Every effort has been made to portray the design accurately; however, it may not reflect final design.

Traffic shown does not represent actual traffic conditions.

Project Maps

These maps reflect the layout of the latest design concepts presented at the City Workshop on March 20, 2026. They provide a visual representation of the proposed improvements and illustrate how easement and right‑of‑way needs were identified based on current design information.

Design work is ongoing, including continued refinement of utility layouts. Final right‑of‑way plans will not be completed until June 2026, and all information shown is subject to revision. Once plans are finalized, affected property owners will be contacted directly

Map 1

Beginning of project at U.S. 17 to Washington Street

Map 2

North Pierce Street to Nicholson Street

Map 3

E. 14th Street/Holloman Street to End of Project at U.S. 264/Pactous Hwy/John Small Avenue

Typical Sections

Typical Sections on 15th Street

Between Start of Project at U.S. 17 and E. Brown Street 

At Dedicated Left-Turn Lane Locations

At Mid-Block Crossing Locations:

Typical Section on Existing 12th Street (Future 15th street)

Between E. Brown Street and End of Project at U.S. 264

Project Funding:

*Costs shown are estimates and are subject to change.

Project Timeline:

*Future dates are preliminary and subject to change

Project Comments:

NCDOT accepts comments throughout all phases of project development.  

All comments will be taken into consideration, and carry equal weight, regardless of submittal method.

Comments for consideration during the current phase of project development

were to be submitted by June 12, 2025

The public is encouraged to leave comments using this webpage, email, or phone number:

Email: 15th-street-improvements@publicinput.com

Phone Number: 984-205-6615 and enter project code 10749 to leave a message

Project Contact Information

Cathrine Hossack P.E.

Project Manager

NCDOT Highway Division 2

1037 W.H. Smith Blvd

Greenville, NC 27834

cahossack@ncdot.gov

Project Contact Information

James Byrd P.E.

Consultant Project Manager

HNTB

4000 Center at North Hills Street, Suite 500

Raleigh, NC 27609

jabyrd@hntb.com

    Title VI Feedback

To ensure we’re hearing from a broad set of voices, would you be willing to share (completely anonymously) some information about yourself?

If so, please click here: https://publicinput.com/NCDOT-Title-VI-Form

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS 

Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road

project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right

of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of way Acquisition Process Videos

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Page last updated: April 1, 2026