Meeting
today on
road work

The public is invited to a workshop on proposed road improvements today (Thursday) from 4:30-7 p.m. at Whiteville City Hall.

Representatives from the state Department of Transportation will be on hand to provide information and field questions about plans for changes in the South Whiteville intersections of U.S. 701 Bypass, South Madison Street and N.C. 130.

DOT will provide forms for written comments, as well as maps and other handouts.

The $2 million plan would eliminate the traffic signal at the south end of Madison Street and create an extension of Leslie Newsome Drive west to U.S. 701 Bypass. Newsome Drive’s existing path would be widened and there would be new signals where Newsome connects with U.S. 701 Bypass, N.C. 130 and South Madison Street.

DOT hopes to acquire property for the work this year and start construction in 2007.

The plan is a response to a snarled intersection that sometimes carries 16,000 vehicles a day. (Lee Hinnant)