• Transportation Improvement Project a mixed bag for Columbus this cycle.

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Funding is tentatively confirmed for two local road projects, but several more will remain in limbo.

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation last week announced proposed construction dates and the status of several area highway projects. DOT will hear comments on the proposals Jan. 30 at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center on Mountain Street in Fayetteville. Sign-up starts at 1 p.m., with the hearing from 2-4 p.m.

Included in the spring TIP are the interstate quality interchanges where U.S. 74 meets N.C. 211 and N.C. 242. Both projects are considered vital to the continued expansion and proposed conversion of U.S. 74 to a new interstate highway. Both projects were defined as “Deliverable” in the TIP program status report for this spring.

At the same time, a total upgrade of U.S. 74 to the long-awaited I-74 is still on hold. The proposed interstate is noted as “Unfunded,” at least through 2015, along with an0 I-74 link from east of Whiteville to the South Carolina line.

Under the TIP program, “Deliverable” projects will begin construction by 2010. “Developmental” projects are set to start between 2011 and 2015, and “Unfunded” status means a project will not start until after 2015 at the earliest.

Construction on both interchanges is scheduled to begin in 2010, depending on funding.

The TIP update also noted as developmental a plan to four lane N.C. 87 from Elizabethtown to U.S. 74.

The project, which is still in the early stages, would bring a four-lane highway through southeastern Bladen into Columbus to ease traffic congestion in the Riegelwood, Armour, Sandyfield and East Arcadia communities. Residents of the areas affected have met with DOT officials several times for informational meetings, and most seem supportive of the project.

Among the other unfunded projects on the TIP update are the proposed improvements to the U.S. 701 and N.C. 410 in northern Columbus and the U.S. 701 upgrade study for Whiteville.