LELAND — A project more than five years in the making is about to commence in Leland and it is expected to take up to one year to complete. The Northgate Drive Realignment Project begins Monday, according to a town update.
Lane closures on Village Road are expected during construction, but traffic flow into local businesses and residences will be maintained. The current Northgate Drive will remain open until the new road is complete.
Economic and Community Development Director Gary Vidmar said, “This is a $3 million project, funded and managed by the Town of Leland, which will realign Northgate Drive on the south side of Village Road with Lee Drive on the north side.
“The project will include the addition of a westbound turn lane on the north side of Village Road extending roughly from the FastMed Urgent Care Center to Lee Drive,” Vidmar said. “In addition, traffic signals and pedestrian walk signals will be installed to create a full movement intersection. The project will also include sidewalks, curb and gutter, storm drainage, sewer and water lines.”
The realignment will help improve traffic conditions at the current Northgate Drive intersection and help provide access to Harrington Village.
“The project will dramatically improve the traffic conditions at the Northgate Drive intersection and will eliminate the limited turn intersections which exist at the Northgate Drive and Lee Drive intersections with Village Road,” Vidmar said. “It will also provide a dedicated turn lane for traffic entering the Harrington Village development and turning on to Lee Drive from Village Road.”
The project will also add new crosswalks and signals to make the Village Road and Northgate Drive intersection more pedestrians and bicycle friendly.
The Town of Leland’s Town Council approved the funds for the project during the 2016-17 budgeting process, and has been in the works for many years. New growth and major developments in the area helped move the project forward, according to Vidmar.
“This project has been planned by the town for more than five years. The $45M Harrington Village mixed-use project getting built at the northeast corner of Lee Drive and Village Road, together with other development activity occurring along the Village Road corridor, provided the encouragement Council needed to appropriate the funds for the project as a capital improvement project in the town’s fiscal year 2016-2017 budget,” he said.
Send comments and tips to Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
