NCDOT seeks public input on proposed Independence Boulevard extension in Wilmington
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — State transportation officials are considering a major expansion of Independence Boulevard and are asking the public to weigh in.
The N.C. Department of Transportation is proposing a 1.7-mile extension of the roadway from Randall Parkway to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in Wilmington.
NCDOT says the project is intended to improve connectivity, increase traffic capacity, and strengthen north–south mobility through central Wilmington. The plan calls for a multilane roadway with two travel lanes in each direction, a variable-width median, and a greenway along the east side that would connect the Cross-City Trail to Maides Park.
An open house and public hearing are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1, at the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington, located at 4100 Sunglow Drive. The open house begins at 5 p.m., followed by the formal public hearing at 6:30 p.m. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and collect comments from residents.
The agency has also released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project and is seeking feedback. Comments submitted by Jan. 16, 2026, will be included in the official project record and considered in the selection of the preferred design alternative.
The total cost of the project is $424,600,000.
Project maps, documents, a way to submit public comments, and the full Draft Environmental Impact Statement are available here.
