NCDOT buys portions of properties for Eastwood Overpass Project
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is moving forward with plans for an overpass at the intersection of Eastwood Road and Military Cutoff Road, acquiring portions of properties near the proposed project through eminent domain.
NCDOT has confirmed the purchase of portions of several properties near the intersection, including 1331 Military Cutoff Road in the Landfall Shopping Center, the North State Bank Mortgage property at 1411 Commonwealth Drive, and 1712 Eastwood Road, which is occupied by several businesses, including CVS Pharmacy.
The filings came after NCDOT was unable to reach agreements with property owners.
NCDOT says the condemnation filings are part of the standard process when the department and property owners cannot reach a negotiated settlement.
“For all NCDOT projects, NCDOT only acquires land and/or easements necessary for each project. If a negotiated settlement cannot be reached with the property owner, then the next step is to file condemnation and move forward with the eminent domain process. Property owners still receive compensation for land/easements through the eminent domain process,” NCDOT said in a statement.
The U-5710 project is designed to eliminate the existing intersection by creating an overpass intended to alleviate congestion in one of Wilmington’s busiest areas.
Critics, however, worry the four-year construction project could be disruptive to nearby residents and businesses.
Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kyle Hanlin says businesses could feel the impact almost immediately.
“You know, there are all of those businesses, and there’s plenty of offices in there as well; they’re going to have parking disruption now with a parking lot that is already very full. It affects these businesses almost immediately as soon as they start redoing their parking lots so that there’s the footprint for the overpass,” said Hanlin.
NCDOT says all property acquisition for the project is now complete and no buildings are expected to be demolished.
But residents say the project’s impact could extend beyond businesses.
Wilmington resident Peter Loftus says the planned 30-foot overpass could affect nearby homes.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize it’s not just commercial, there’s a lot of residences there, and, you know, when you go through the intersection, you don’t realize a 30-foot overpass in your backyard, you got a lot of issues there for the residents,” said Loftus.
NCDOT says the goal of the project is to keep traffic moving through one of Wilmington’s busiest intersections. But residents in Eastport say they are concerned about how construction could affect their daily lives.
“Being able to move freely throughout my own community and get to places that I normally would go, I’m very concerned about that,” said Eastport resident Eloise Eller.
Eller has lived in the Eastport community for 25 years and says she is concerned the project could affect more than just traffic.
“When they’re starting to build this, do they really know what impact, not just on traffic, not just on traffic, but on basic necessities like water management,” said Eller.
NCDOT says utility relocation for the project has already begun, with construction expected to begin in late 2027.
