WILMINGTON — Military Cutoff Road in Wilmington is just one of the major thoroughfares in the city where travelling mere miles can take longer than finding parking at the beach on a Saturday morning –– in fact the City of Wilmington says the road is already over capacity.
Would the addition of 521 apartments, a 237-room hotel, 146,100-square foot office space, 109,100-square foot shopping center, a 35,000-square foot supermarket, and a 27,900-square foot high-turnover sit-down restaurant add any stress to the road? Not according to Davenport Traffic Engineering — in fact, with a few improvements including turn lanes and decreasing the number of phases at a traffic light, the company says it could actually improve it.
The Carroll Companies proposed development, The Avenue, had its public hearing postponed until November Wednesday by the Planning Commission. That meeting left many questions unanswered.
The Carroll Companies hired Davenport to analyze the impact of $200,000,000 development on nearby traffic. It’s report finds that the development would not have a negative effect on traffic around the site.
Wilmington’s planning staff reports do not come to the same conclusion. They state that the development’s location is simply not the right place, and that traffic on Military Cutoff Road is already over capacity.
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The Carroll Companies issued a statement claiming the city’s unfavorable report was inaccurate and that there were several “material omissions.”
According to the company’s statement, it hopes the city revisits the report and finds a positive outcome for the company.
“We are hopeful that the city, with additional time to consider the project and the incredible economic impact it will have on the area, will realize the benefits of our project, and we will have a positive resolution when our case is heard later this year.”
Two reports, same road — not necessarily
While the City of Wilmington’s staff report analyzed traffic on Military Cutoff Road, reports acquired from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and conducted by Davenport, looked at how the development would impact only specific intersections nearby the site. Davenport’s study does not look at feeder streets to Military Cutoff Road, nor the intersections that connect them.
“Zoning and building permits are a city and county function and do not fall within DOT’s purview. That being said, the City’s analysis is a broad study of the corridor as a whole, based on existing traffic volumes and the theoretical capacity. It does not account for proposed roadway improvements,” Communications Officer for the DOT Brian Rick said.
When juxtaposed, the two reports show two very different impacts on traffic – the city’s report shows a 40 percent increase of traffic if construction is allowed, and Davenport’s study reporting little to no impact from the project, provided several modifications are made. The report also factors in already anticipated growth and notes the modifications would actually mitigate what is already expected to be increased traffic.
“Acceptable level of service is anticipated at the study intersections in future build conditions with the recommended improvements in place. The additional northbound through lane will extend approximately one-half mile along Military Cutoff Road and will help to accommodate the heavy northbound through traffic volume …” according to Davenport’s report.
Intersections Davenport analyzed
• Military Cutoff Road at Covil Farm Road
• Military Cutoff Road at Arboretum Drive
• Military Cutoff Road at Station Road / Site Access 1
• Military Cutoff Road at Site Access 2
• Military Cutoff Road at Site Access 3
• Military Cutoff Road at Town Center Drive / Cayman Court
Suggested improvements from Davenport
• Full movement signalized main site access
• Entry only at station road
• Southbound left at Station Road not allowed
• Reduced signal phases at Station Road
• Northbound U-turn at Station Road not allowed
• Right-in and right-out at site access 2 with median island between through and left lanes
• Addition of continuous northbound through-right lane to Covil Farm Road
Traffic Analysis for The Avenue – DAVENPORT by Michael James on Scribd
The Avenue Case Summary – City of Wilmington by Michael James on Scribd
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