Project Study Area Map

Project Overview

Project U-5734 proposes improvements to South Front Street (U.S. 421 Truck Route), located in Wilmington, New Hanover County.

• The project widens South Front Street from a 2-lane roadway to a 4-lane median divided roadway
• A 10-foot-wide multi-use path will be located on the east side of South Front Street
• The existing South Front Street, Burnett Boulevard (U.S. 421) and Carolina Beach Road intersection will be converted to a double quadrant intersection.

The project is considering a design alternative that will shift a portion of the Wilmington Terminal Railroad out of the middle of South Front Street to the west side of South Front Street. This will reduce the existing number of railroad crossings along the project corridor from two to one. Because the project is close to the Wilmington Historic District, a National Register of Historic Places District, the proposed improvements are being designed to minimize potential impacts by shifting the roadway away from historic resources as much as possible. 

This project will improve congestion along this portion of South Front Street by adding through lanes and turn lanes as well as removing one railroad crossing. The project will also improve pedestrian safety and multi-modal access by adding the multi-use path.

Public Meeting Maps 

Click here or on the map image to open the map in a new window for downloading or viewing.

Project Flyover Visualization

Clicking on the link or photos below will open the video or photos in a larger window for viewing. 

View the video showing the project visualization.   Project Flyover Visualization

The pictures below depict visualizations of various areas along the project corridor. 

S. Front Street - Dawson Street to Marstellar Street 

Looking East and Looking West

Marstellar Street  Looking Southeast

S. Front Street/Carolina Beach Road at Burnett Blvd and S. 3rd Street

Intersection and Double Quadrant  (Kentucky Ave and Connector Road)

Quadrant Intersections:

This unique intersection design reduces congestion and travel time through busy intersections by prohibiting all left turns at the main intersection. Left-turning drivers are rerouted to a connector road that allows them to go left by making a series of right turns. 

Click on the link to view the video showing traffic movements using the proposed double quadrant intersection.   

Double Quadrant Video

Proposed Typical Sections

Clicking on the photos will open them in a larger format for viewing.

South 3^rd Street

looking north

from the intersection of

U.S. 421/U.S. 421 Truck/Burnett Boulevard to Willard Street

U.S. 421 Truck Route/South Front Street

Looking North

from Connector Road (Y5) to Wright Street

U.S. 421 Truck Route/South Front Street

Looking North

From where the Rail line crosses S. Front Street to Wright Street

Kentucky Avenue

Looking from

Burnett Boulevard to Carolina Beach Road

Burnett Boulevard

Looking from Kentucky Avenue

toward Carolina Beach Road / S. Front Street / S. 3rd Street

Project Funding

* Estimated costs 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.

To submit comments for consideration during the current phase of project development,

please submit before October 25, 2024.

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

Email: Front-Street-Improvements@publicinput.com

Phone Number:  984-205-6615   enter project code 10422

NCDOT Project Manager

Brian Harding, PE

NCDOT Highway Division 3

5501 Barbados Boulevard

Castle Hayne, NC  28429

Consultant Project Manager

Al Edgerton

TranSystems

101 Autumn Hall Drive, Suite 210

Wilmington, NC  28403 

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

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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