Relief for the parade of frustrated drivers who sit in traffic on Howe Street and N.C. 211 could soon be en route, as the City of Southport announced Tuesday that the planned extension of Rob Gandy Boulevard from N.C. 87 to East Leonard Street will now begin.
The city’s board of aldermen met in special session Tuesday afternoon to unveil the private-public partnership endeavor that could be completed within three to four months.
The project is a major collaboration between the city, the N.C. Department of Transportation, local legislators, adjacent property owners and Capital Power, a biomass power generation facility on Powerhouse Drive, off Leonard Street.
Mayor Robert Howard praised each of the entities during the meeting, and announced that Capital Power had agreed to donated between $1-million and $1.1-million towards the effort, fully financing the road portion of the project. Additionally, DOT has awarded the city a grant of $180,000, which will go toward the $196,000 needed for intersection improvements.
“A second entrance into Southport has often been talked about over the years,” Howard said. “As everyone knows, it will deliver the radical improvement needed to get traffic moving. The completion of this additional roadway will provide a much-needed relief for our city, and our friends living on Jabbertown Road.”
During a summit meeting held in May 2012 between the city, legislators and DOT, Howard was notified that it would be 2021 or 2022 before the road would qualify as a project under the state’s transportation improvement plan and operating budget. Howard said at the time he felt that would not be soon enough to solve congestion problems plaguing the area.
“On behalf of the board, we wish to thank Michael Lee, our transportation board member, DOT’s Division 3 engineer Karen Fussell, and Rep. Frank Iler and Sen. Bill Rabon for their support of this venture,” Howard said. “This was truly a group effort to make it happen.”
Howard praised the role of facility plant manager Dave Groves and Capital Power for their contributions.
Once the road extension is constructed, city and company officials are hopeful that truck traffic that currently utilizes Jabbertown Road to transport fuel to the facility will be eliminated.
“Traffic and road safety is a priority for Capital Power and it’s important to us to minimize disruptions to our neighbors,” Groves said. “That is why we are developing this road. A good happy community is a great benefit to us.”
The city also reached out to adjacent property owners Cameron Smith, Howard Lee and Aleyah Muhammad, all of whom Howard said gave easements to the state and city.
Ken Keegan Real Estate Broker
(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com Click here for more information on Brunswick, County Real Estate St. James Plantation
No comments:
Post a Comment