Pender County: Recent accidents reinforce need for Hampstead Bypass

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — As the Cape Fear region continues to grow, Pender County is stressing the importance of the Hampstead Bypass and working to ensure the $230 million project will be funded, according to a news release.

Pender County says several accidents have reinforced the need for the Hampstead Bypass.

“In recent weeks, several major traffic accidents along the US Highway 17 corridor in Hampstead served as a reminder of the risk faced by the traveling public between the urban areas of Wilmington and Jacksonville,” said Pender County Manager Randell Woodruff.

Additionally, Pender County says it has supported the incorporation of other plans and roadway improvements such as the Hampstead Median project and the Collector Street Plan to further alleviate congestion along the existing roadways in the Hampstead area.

Pender County says they are working closely with the NCDOT, the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization, and representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly to assure the schedule for the Hampstead Bypass is adequately funded and receiving the prioritization it deserves.

According to the most recent schedule from NCDOT, Right of Way acquisition is scheduled to begin as early as Spring 2019 and construction to begin in the Winter of 2020.  It’s expected that traffic along existing US Highway 17 will be drastically reduced, in some locations more than half.