Highway 211 widening is set to BEGIN!!

The long awaited widening of highway 211 that carries traffic from the Holden Beach/ Supply area to the Southport/ Oak Island area should be beginning shortly! NC DOT and local officials have promised ground breaking on this project by early 2022 and that time has come. Recently a $217.3 million dollar contract was awarded to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This total project is not expected to be completed until fall of 2026. The improvements to this 7 mile stretch of highway should increase traffic safety as well as allow for a smoother flow of traffic from the quickly increasing population growth to the area.

Project improvements include:

• 7 mile stretch of road widening

• 7 miles of four lane highway

• Construct a raised median

• Construct an interchange

• Two bridges will carry NC 906 over highway 211

• Traffic loops to access either highway

• Traffic signals to access either highway

• Construct an interchange of highway 211 and Long Beach Road (NC 133)

• Highway 211 and Long Beach road improvement will include a bridge and on/ off ramps

This project may take nearly 5 years to complete, however it will make commuting in the area much easier. By lessening traffic congestion in and around highway 211, highway 87 and Long beach road; it will make for an easier, safer and of course faster commute. The roadway design is known as reduced conflict intersections. This design will use traffic islands and medians to direct traffic from side streets and driveways to turn right onto the highway. This in turn will reduce the number of T-bone accidents and is much easier for drivers that would have attempted to turn left during traffic congestion.

Will construction stop current traffic flow?

The answer to this is NO!!!! The contracting company will begin by widening one side of the road at a time to allow for a two-lane traffic flow throughout the projects construction. Once the new widened sides of the road are completed traffic will shift to the new 2 lanes in order to allow for construction to begin on the existing roadway. Therefore where you may need to allow for a bit more travel time in the beginning traffic should improve through this process.