Three new traffic lights are needed in northern Brunswick County due to recent growth and safety concerns.
The lights will be installed near Leland in the next one to two years as part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation's 2024-2033 State Transportation Improvement Program.
The lights will be placed in an area just outside of Leland town limits, between Leland, Northwest and Sandy Creek.
The NCDOT has seen a general increase in traffic in the area over the last five years, NCDOT spokeswoman Lauren Haviland said.
Once the new lights are installed, Haviland said the NCDOT expects to see "increased mobility and improved safety."
Where will the traffic lights go?
All three traffic lights will be along U.S. 74-76: One traffic signal at Enterprise Drive, one at Wood Treatment Road and another at the eastbound ramp at Lanvale Road.
Asked if there are concerns about the signals being close together, Haviland replied no.
"These projects were spurred by safety concerns and crash history and the location met the necessary signal warrants for signal installation," Haviland said.
When will the lights be installed?
Traffic signal construction at the Lanvale Road ramp has not yet started, Haviland said. However, she said the NCDOT may have a temporary wood pole installed by the end of 2025.
"The final metal pole signal installation is expected to be installed in 2026," she said.
Both the Enterprise Drive and Wood Treatment Road lights are part of one project. The projected construction schedule in the 2024-2033 plan is 2026 but the project could take longer.
"We do not yet have a construction schedule; currently awaiting the construction funds to be released," Haviland stated in an email response.
Both traffic light projects will minimally affect traffic during construction, Haviland said.
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Are more road improvements coming?
No additional traffic pattern changes or road improvements beyond signalizing the locations are funded, Haviland said.
There is a project that installs additional signal heads at existing traffic lights at the U.S. 74-76 at Interstate 140 ramp, she added. Though, she said, the project's installation date is not known at this time.
"There have been discussions of other signals along U.S. 74-76 in this area, however funding has not yet been acquired for those," Haviland said.
Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at[email protected].