Project Overview:

 

The N.C. Department of Transportation and the City of Wilmington propose to construct a new two-lane road to connect North 23rd Street to North 26th Street in Wilmington and close the existing access to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway from Kornegay Avenue. The purpose of the project is to provide improved and safer access to North 23rd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway for residents and businesses and to aid in the conversion of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to a fully controlled access facility. 

Fully controlled access means no driveways or side roads will directly access Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.  All access will be via ramps at interchanges.

 

Project Highlights:

The project will involve closing an existing access to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway from Kornegay Avenue and constructing a new road that will provide a connection to North 23rd Street via existing Federal Express Road

The proposed new roadway will provide access for residents and businesses to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway at the nearby interchange with North 23rd Street in place of the removed access at Kornegay Avenue. The new roadway will be a two-lane facility with curb and gutter, wide lanes for shared bicycle usage, and sidewalk from North 23rd Street to North 26th Street.  The project will improve access and enhance safety for the residential neighborhoods and businesses located or planned in the area south of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and east of North 23rd Street.

 

Project History:

The planning phase for this project began in 2017, and a public meeting was held in March 2018 to present information about the proposed improvements to the community. Comments provided by the public, local leaders, and resource agencies were used to refine the designs to minimize impacts. In 2019, planning for the project was temporarily put on hold due to budget constraints; however, work resumed in early 2021.

 

A video overview of the proposed improvements can be viewed below.

Project Maps:

Please click here to view or download the current project map.

 

A video explaining how to read a public hearing or meeting map can be viewed below. The video contains information on colors and symbols used.

 

Visualization of Proposed Roadway

Below is an artistic rendering of how the project might look.  

      

U-5926 Visualization

Project Funding:                                           

 Activity

 Estimated Amount* 

  Property Acquisition

  $ 1,410,000  

  Utilities Relocation

$    344,000  

  Total Cost

$ 1,754,000  

Construction costs will be included with STIP No. U-4434 (Independence Blvd Extension). Most current verified cost estimates - Subject to change

Project Timeline:

 Milestone

    Date     

 Environmental Document 

Winter 2023     

 Right of Way 

 Spring 2023     

 Construction Begins

 2028     

Comments

NCDOT accepts comments throughout all planning, design and construction 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 submitted by January 6, 2023.

Question title

Would you like to be added to the project email list for updates or other information?

Question title

Do you have any comments or questions regarding the proposed project?

Closed for Comments

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

 

Project Contact Information:

Krista Kimmel, PE

NCDOT Highway Division 3

 Project Manager

5501 Barbados Boulevard

Castle Hayne, NC 28429

 

Project Consultant Information:

Johnny Banks, PE

NV5

Transportation Senior Project Manager 

3300 Regency Parkway, Suite 100, Suite 300

Cary, NC 27518

 

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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