Traffic slow-downs continue on South Kerr Avenue in Wilmington in a repaving project that could be mostly complete by next week.
Between Fountain Drive and South College Road during Thursday’s lunchtime commute, the southbound and center turning lanes of South Kerr Avenue were milled and ready for new asphalt. Motorists have encountered lane closures on the stretch since the project began Oct. 31.
“Closures are for milling, replacing signal detectors, resurfacing, and remarking of existing pavement,” information from the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) explained. Kerr Avenue is a state-owned road.
Resident Engineer Kerry Cross said DOT’s contractor would mill the remainder of the northbound lane Thursday night; the southbound section should be resurfaced by this weekend.
He said per the contract the crew can work weekdays 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and any time on weekends.
More than 20,000 cars travel the road daily, according to a 2011 count from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Cross added that DOT would paint striping for a bike path on South Kerr from Randall Parkway to just south of Wilshire Boulevard.
The work is part of a $6.5 million contract to address 31 miles of roads in three counties.
It unofficially ties in with a $5.6 million City of Wilmington project starting this month to widen Randall Parkway from Independence Boulevard to South College Road. The parkway currently consists of one lane in each direction and regular congestion around its intersection with Kerr Avenue.
The 18-month project would four-lane Randall Parkway, a 1.7-mile strip heavily traveled for its access to UNCW and the various commercial spots around each end.
The plan includes a Cross City Trail extension from Brailsford Drive to east of Marlboro Street.
Click here for a map of that project.
Contact Ben Brown at ben.b@hometownwilmington.com or (910) 772-6335. On Twitter: @benbrownmedia
