Concerns continue over Eastwood overpass

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Drivers could soon face major changes at one of Wilmington’s busiest intersections as debate continues over the proposed U-5710 Military Cutoff and Eastwood Road overpass project.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says the proposed project would help ease congestion by carrying Eastwood Road over Military Cutoff Road, separating the two major corridors. Traffic counts at the intersection can range from 20,000 to 70,000 vehicles per day, depending on the season, according to community members following the project.

But opposition to the proposal continues to grow, with some residents and business owners questioning whether the project would significantly improve traffic flow and raising concerns about construction impacts.

Susan Bulluck, chair of the Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce, has followed the project since it was first introduced more than a decade ago.

“I’m willing to put up with major growth because I understand what’s coming, but I don’t want it to be so planned as to not take into consideration what it is going to do to the general quality of life,” said Bulluck.

Bulluck said she is particularly concerned about the project overlapping with planned bridge replacement work in Wrightsville Beach, since Eastwood Road serves as a primary route on and off the island.

“These brides will be built earlier and hopefully take less time, but they are scheduled to happen at the same time as the overpass, the hardscape,” said Bulluck.

The estimated $81 million project would remove the current intersection configuration, construct an overpass carrying Eastwood Road above Military Cutoff Road, and add new traffic signals near the Drysdale Drive extension.

NCDOT says the project is intended to improve safety and reduce travel times by eliminating traffic conflicts at the intersection.

However, some residents argue the overpass would not eliminate congestion, but instead shift traffic backups farther down the corridor.

“On just three miles of Military Cutoff, there are 9 traffic lights, so if you take away one, you’re still going to stop at 8, so you’re just going to move where you’re waiting,” said Wilmington resident Doug Pruden.

Resident Diane Krantz said she has spoken with nearby business owners who are worried construction could negatively affect customer access and sales.

“During the construction period, essentially, cars are not going to be able to get to their place of business, so it’s really going to impact the revenues and the sales of all these retail stores that are in this whole community,” said Krantz.