Four-lane project
discussed

By JEFFERSON WEAVER

Residents of lower eastern Columbus and lower Bladen counties got their first good look Tuesday at a plan to make N.C. 87 a four-lane highway.

Around 50 people from Acme, Delco, Riegelwood, Council, East Arcadia, and Kelly attended an informational workshop at the Acme-Delco Elementary School.

Paul Koch, an engineer with Stantec Consulting, said the project is at its most preliminary stage.

“Right now we’re soliciting comments from the public,” he said. “We want to hear citizens’ comments on the highway.”

N.C. 87 is a four-lane road from Sanford to Elizabethtown, and two lanes from Elizabethtown to Riegelwood. The 30-mile stretch of two-lane highway is used by more than 11,000 vehicles per day.

Koch said growth throughout the region, especially at the coast, will likely raise that traffic count to nearly 20,000 by 2030.

“We’re working on a project for the future,” he said. “This won’t happen right now.”

Koch said the state still must conduct environmental and historic impact surveys. A number of wetland areas are along the route, as well as several colonial and antebellum home and church sites.

Koch said the surveys will determine exactly how many residents are affected, as well as how severe the impact will be.

Right-of-way acquisition for the project is tentatively set to begin in 2011.