A sidewalk project in Kill Devil Hills that has caused significant traffic backups trying to head south on U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 is expected to be finished by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the Colington Road improvement project in the vicinity of the Croatan Highway/Ocean Bay Boulevard intersection which compounded the delays, is not scheduled to resume until Wednesday.
The combination of the right lane closure of North Croatan Highway in front of Wright Brothers National Memorial, along with bad weather that kept vacationers over the pre-Memorial Day holiday off the beaches, led to high traffic volumes.
Southbound travelers experienced delays of over 30 minutes trying to get through central Kill Devil Hills in the midday and afternoon last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
In a Facebook post, the Town of Kill Devil Hills said the sidewalk contractor’s tentative completion date is this Friday, June 3.
“We hear you all, and yes, the lane closures for the sidewalk project are frustrating, we agree,” the town said. “We understand the timing of the project is not ideal with the traffic volume beginning to increase, but the project is almost finished!”
The sidewalks being constructed this spring between Landing Drive and Colington Road connect with a small section at the entrance to Wright Brothers National Memorial completed in 2003 prior to the first flight 100th anniversary celebration.
“Having sidewalks completed before the very busy summer months will allow for MUCH safer commutes for our pedestrian traffic,” the town added.
Following paving work last week on Colington Road just west of the U.S. 158 intersection, all lanes have reopened in both directions.
The $20 million project that began last year includes repaving, realignment of substandard curves, seven-foot wide paved shoulders to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians, additional turn lanes and raised grades on flood-prone sections of the 4.3 mile-long road.
A decision is expected Tuesday by the contractor and N.C. Department of Transportation on how work in the U.S. 158 intersection will proceed.