By LEE HINNANT

Whiteville-area residents seemed generally pleased Thursday with the state’s plans for a new connector road and other improvements at the junctions of U.S. 701 Bypass, N.C. 130 and South Madison Street.

The state Department of Transportation held an information workshop for the public Thursday to outline a $2 million plan for easing congestion at a spot that sometimes sees vehicles backed up for more than a mile and into the adjoining Town of Brunswick.

DOT Division Project Manager Drew Cox said no one spoke against the project, although some property owners had important questions. “Basically, after talking to them, everybody has been supportive,” Cox said.

Cox and consultant Calista Hall of the Raleigh firm PBS&J stood before large-scale color maps, fielding questions from residents and town officials for more than two hours. They also handed out rough drawings and forms for written comments.

“I call it ‘Confusion Junction,’” said Don Eggert, a regional planner, referring to the current intersection. “It just doesn’t seem like for a town this size it should take so long to get through that intersection.”

Eggert, who works with Cape Fear Council of Governments, said he personally favored DOT’s plan and believed it would eliminate gridlock and improve safety.

“People tend to avoid congestion,” Eggert said. “If it wasn’t fixed, eventually people would start to avoid that area. I think in the long run, the businesses there will appreciate what’s being done.”

The plan has two key elements. First, the traffic signal at N.C. 130 and South Madison Street will be eliminated and the extreme south end of Madison will become a service road for Eckerd’s, Hill’s and the other businesses there. Drivers on N.C. 130 will be able to turn right only onto the service road and drivers on the service road will be able to turn right only onto N.C. 130. A shorter stretch of Madison across N.C. 130 on the southeast side of the junction will also become a service road with right-in and right-out access only.

Second, Leslie Newsome Avenue will be widened and extended from South Madison Street to U.S. 701 Bypass near Joe’s Barbecue. Signals will be added along Leslie Newsome Avenue at U.S. 701 Bypass, South Madison Street and N.C. 130.

N.C. 130 will also be widened and have extra dedicated turn lanes.

“It’s a problem out there and it needs to be resolved,” said Ron Newsome, son of the avenue’s namesake and a property owner. “I’m real satisfied with it.”

DOT Board member Mac Campbell said the improvements would help greatly if there is a hurricane evacuation at Southeastern North Carolina beaches. He said he had heard only positive comments from storeowners in the area.

About 25 people attended the session. The only written comment asked that DOT consider building a roundabout at Newsome Avenue and South Madison, instead of a signal. Cox said DOT considered that option but models suggested that traffic volume would be too much for a roundabout to handle in 10 years. A roundabout is a traffic circle, like the one at Columbus County Courthouse.

Speaking with the representative of a planned new bank, Cox said there would be inconveniences to landowners during construction, but access would be maintained.

Some property owners had questions about drainage and access to the southeast corner of South Madison and N.C. 130, but no one commented against the plans.

The public still has another 11 days to send written comments to DOT at POB 1150, Fayetteville, 28302.

After the comment period, engineers will consider any changes, then start acquiring right of way. DOT hopes to see construction in 2007.