Roundabout to open soon, driver concerned

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A roundabout at a busy intersection in New Hanover County is just weeks away from opening, but one driver has some concerns.

A DOT spokesman said, when this project that began in November is complete, the roundabout will connect North College Road and Castle Hayne Road.

Wilmington commuter LeeAnn Blalock said this intersection has been a safety hazard for years. DOT spokesman Brian Rick said the roundabout should alleviate traffic and speed issues.

Blalock said she is optimistic about the outcome, but she does not think drivers know enough about how it is going to work.

“I just think that we have needed information about how it is going to function and how it’s going to move the traffic through that area,” Blalock said. “It’s not a typical roundabout. I think it has more exits in it and, if you don’t know where you are driving, people are going to go around and around and around the roundabout to get out of there.”

We reached out to the DOT with Blalock’s concerns. Rick sent us pictures and said it should operate like a standard roundabout.

Rick said traffic will be shifted into the roundabout on August 18th, but he said the project is not expected to be fully complete until September 30th weather permitting.