Project Overview:

The N.C. Department of Transportation is proposing improvements to the intersection of U.S. 311/N.C 14 (South Van Buren Road) and Kings Highway (S.R. 2066) in Eden. The proposed project length is 0.85 miles north to south between Stadium Drive and south of Arbor Lane, and 0.5 miles east to west between Pierce and Madison Streets. The project is included in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as Project Number U-5893 and is needed to accommodate future traffic volumes within the intersection.

The purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow and operational deficiencies along Kings Highway and South Van Buren Road to ensure an acceptable level of performance as traffic and development continue to increase in the area.

 

Project Highlights:

At the public meeting held in 2019, several alternatives were presented for consideration:

  • Alternative 1 – Reduced Conflict Intersection: Also referred to as a superstreet design, this intersection would be constructed to redirect drivers on Kings Highway into turning right onto South Van Buren Road. This concept drastically reduces the potential locations where vehicles can collide, and it allows drivers to reach their destinations more quickly and experience less congestion. With this design, drivers from Kings Highway look left, then turn right to easily enter the flow of traffic. If they want to go in another direction, they pull into a nearby lane to make a safe U-turn. Motorists on South Van Buren Road would go straight, right or left at the intersection.

  • Alternative 2 - Continuous Flow Intersection with U-Turn Bulb Out: Also known as a Displaced Left-Turn Intersection, this innovative intersection design will separate northbound left-turning traffic on South Van Buren Road several hundred feet from the intersection with Kings Highway. The left-turning traffic is directed to a separate roadway that runs parallel to South Van Buren Road. This design requires fewer traffic signal phases, which means traffic moving on South Van Buren Road stops less frequently. It is also safer, because left-turning traffic is separated from the main traffic flow. Vehicles traveling southbound on South Van Buren Road, will go through the intersection and make a U-turn, then turn right onto Kings Highway to head east.

  • Alternative 3 - Connector with U-Turn Bulb Out: This type of intersection design will require improvements to the system along connecting roads - specifically along Thompson, Neil, and South Kennedy Streets - to reduce the number of signal phases and improve the traffic moving capacity. Full movement through the intersection of South Van Buren Road and Kings Highway will be provided except for left turns. Vehicles heading north on South Van Buren Road to go west on Kings Highway will need to turn left on Neil Street and then left on Thompson Street or South Kennedy Street. Neil Street will be extended to South Kennedy Street for network connectivity. Vehicles traveling southbound on South Van Buren Road, will go through the intersection and make a U-turn, then turn right onto Kings Highway to head east. Vehicles traveling on Kings Highway can turn left or right at the intersection.

  • Alternative 4- Modified Compressed Diamond Interchange: This type of interchange design will operate as a normal signalized interchange. The grade separation will place South Van Buren Road over Kings Highway with a bridge. Two quadrants of the interchange (northeast and southeast Quadrant) will be compressed with the ramps pulled inward closer to the intersection. For this design to work effectively, a significant amount of retaining wall will be required. The egress/ingress to businesses along South Van Buren Road will be heavily impacted.

 

Project Update:

Alternative 1 (Reduced Conflict Intersection) chosen as the selected alternative. 

Design Revisions based on public and local official input:

  • ​​​Sidewalks will be added on the north side of Kings Highway from S. Kennedy Street to South Van Buren Road.

  • Sidewalks will cross South Van Buren Road diagonally through the intersection median.

  • Sidewalks will be added on the south side of Kings Highway from South Van Buren Road to the end of the project.

  • Two existing service roads will be improved between South Van Buren Road and Fagg Drive to help facilitate ingress and egress for businesses in the area.

  • Medians will be removed from the southern leg of the South Van Buren Road/Arbor Lane intersection.

  • South Van Buren Road/Kings Highway intersection median will be widened to accommodate a sidewalk for crossing pedestrians.

  • Left turn lanes from South Van Buren Road to Kings Highway will be widened to accommodate semi-trucks.

Project History

A Public Meeting was held on March 14, 2019. A project newsletter was mailed to the study area following the meeting announcing the selected alternative in August 2019. The project was put in a on hold status due to the impacts of the coronavirus. Continued development of roadway designs was re-initiated in April 2021.

Public Input:

Due to Covid 19, NCDOT has suspended in-person meetings.  Information will be provided to the public in a virtual format.. The public is encouraged to provide comments or share their thoughts regarding the project. 

The comment period ends on July 2, 2021.

Selected Alternative 1 Project Map:

Map of Selected Alt 1 of U.S. 311/N.C 14 (South Van Buren Road) and Kings Highway

Project update newsletter sent 7/2019

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

 

 

 

Reduce Conflict intersection (RCI)

 

 

 

Project Funding:                                           

This project is listed in the N.C. Department of Transportation State Transportation Improvement Program as Project No.      U-5893 and is funded for $14.8 million.  

 

 Activity

 Estimated Amount*

 Property Acquisition

$ 2,600,000

  Construction

$ 12,200,000 

  Total Cost

$ 14,800,000 

 

 

* Estimated costs are subject to change. 

Project Timeline:

Milestone

    Date*

 Public Meeting

Mar 14, 2019

 Newsletter

Apr 2019

 Right of Way Acquisition

 Jan 2024

 Start of Construction 

Jan 2026

 

*  Future dates are subject to change.

Comments:

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

You may leave a comment or question below

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Email the comment or question to US311-KingsHwy-Eden@PublicInput.com

Or

 Phone Number: (855) 925-2801 Code: 5402

 

Question title

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

Question title

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

Closed for Comments

Project Contact Information:

Brandon Green, PE

NCDOT Structures Management Unit 

 Project Engineer

1581 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1581

 (855) 925-2801   Code 5402

Project Consultant Information:

Teresa Hart, PE

JMT

Project Manager 

1130 Situs Ct., Suite 200

Raleigh, NC 27606

(855) 925-2801   Code 5402

Project Email Address: US311-KingsHwy-Eden@PublicInput.com

 

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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