Burgaw roundabout plans moving forward

Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 10:56 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 10:56 a.m.

Plans for the roundabout in downtown Burgaw are moving forward, and now efforts to determine how much the new circular intersection will cost are under way.

The roundabout, which is to be constructed at the intersection of Walker and Wilmington Streets, is part of Phase 1 of the N.C. 53 Corridor Improvement Plan. In September, town commissioners rejected a design of the roundabout because some were concerned that large trucks wouldn't be able to navigate it safely. This month, the board endorsed a revised design.

"In the first design the travel radius was small, and I was concerned about the trucks having enough room, and if it would be adequate for the truck traffic," Commissioner Charles Rooks said. "But the engineers went back and did some changes and have assured us that the turning radiuses are satisfactory now."

Town Manager Chad McEwen said the main difference between the current design and the previously rejected one is the size of the interior median of the roundabout. "It's smaller, which allows more leeway on the turn radius so big trucks can go through the roundabout," McEwen said.

Rooks said though he wasn't on the board of commissioners when the idea of developing a roundabout for the intersection came about, he believes "it will work if it's large enough." "We hope that it's going to reduce hazards at that intersection," Rooks said. "The intersection, as it's designed at the present time, is hazardous to traffic, as truck traffic try to turn at the intersection cars have to back up. The present intersection is just a hazard to the general public, to cars and trucks traversing through town."

The roundabout is about 120 feet in diameter.

McEwen said the project will not significantly impact the historic courthouse square, but could make it "slightly larger" by adding a little extra grass onto part of the square as the existing curb line along Wilmington Street will be extended outward into the road.

To accommodate the roundabout and some other accompanying improvements, additional right of way is expected to be needed for the northeast and northwest corners of the intersection. "The engineers are developing the cost estimates and encroachment applications for DOT," McEwen said. "Once we have the encroachment, we'll seek funding with various channels of DOT for the construction of the project."

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