College and Oleander intersection proposal changes

A change of plans is in order for Wilmington’s busiest intersection.

The State Department of Transportation had planned a traffic solution for Oleander and College roads. It was supposed to ease the traffic congestion by eliminating left turns.

Many residents signed a petition urging officials to find a different solution. Wednesday night, Transportation Advisory Committee decided the $38 million that would have been spent at College and Oleander roads, will instead be used for the I-140 bypass.

Commissioner Bill Kopp said the DOT’s proposal became too expensive. “We started this project at $8 million, now it’s up to $38 million and once it’s built, if it were to be built it would be certainly more than $38 million.”

Kopp said resident complaints also played a roll in the decision to move forward with the bypass.

The TAC has asked the Department of Transportation to come up with another proposal for the intersection at Oleander and College.