U-3431: Widening of Miller Boulevard and N.C. 101 from Lake Road to Outer Banks Drive
U-3431: Widening of Miller Boulevard and N.C. 101 from Lake Road to Outer Banks Drive
Preliminary Engineering Activities for this project
have resumed.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The N.C. Department of Transportation is proposing improvements to Miller Boulevard (S.R. 1763) and N.C. 101 (Fontana Boulevard) from Lake Road (S.R. 1756) to Outer Banks Drive in Havelock, Craven County. The project would widen this 3‑mile corridor to a four‑lane, median‑divided roadway to help reduce congestion and improve safety.
The proposed design includes a 10‑foot multi‑use path along the south side of Miller Boulevard / N.C. 101 throughout the project area and a 5‑foot sidewalk on the north side between Lake Road and Roosevelt Boulevard. The project also proposes a roundabout at the Miller Boulevard and Lake Road intersection to improve traffic flow and safety.
In addition, NCDOT plans minor improvements to Lake Road, such as resurfacing and increasing shoulder widths, from south of Miller Boulevard to the Havelock Bypass to support expected traffic increases from the new bypass.
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VICINITY MAP
PROJECT HISTORY
Planning for improvements to Miller Boulevard and Fontana Boulevard began more than a decade ago. In 2009, the City of Havelock identified the corridor as a priority in its 2030 Comprehensive Plan, ranking Fontana Boulevard as the second‑highest priority segment based on crash history. That same year, the New Bern Area Metropolitan Planning Organization included a Miller Boulevard widening in its Metropolitan Transportation Plan, where it was screened for potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
The project was later added to the 2018–2027 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as U‑3431, and environmental planning work formally began in July 2017.
2017 – Initial Design Alternatives
NCDOT evaluated three potential design alternatives for widening Miller Boulevard between Lake Road and Outer Banks Drive:
Alternative 1 (Symmetrical Widening): Widen equally on both sides of the existing centerline.
Alternative 2 (Southern Widening): Widen to the south while holding the northern right‑of‑way line.
Alternative 3 (Northern Widening): Widen primarily to the north, with a smaller amount to the south.
2019 – Public Meeting and Preferred Alternative
NCDOT held a public meeting in Havelock to present the design concepts and gather feedback. Based on the information available at the time, Alternative 3 (Northern Widening) was selected as the Preferred Alternative because it was the most cost‑effective and minimized relocations in areas with vulnerable and economically disadvantaged populations.
2023 – Project Limits Expanded
The project limits were expanded to include minor improvements along Lake Road, such as resurfacing and shoulder widening, from south of Miller Boulevard to the Havelock Bypass. These improvements support expected traffic increases particularly once the bypass opened.
2024 – New Information and Design Re‑Evaluation
In late 2024, NCDOT confirmed that 212 Miller Boulevard houses the Brightspeed Central Office, a critical regional communications facility. Relocating this facility would cost more than $15 million and add approximately two years to the project schedule, making the previously selected northern‑widening alternative impractical.
2025–2026 – Updated Design Approach
To avoid impacts to the Brightspeed property, the current design now applies:
Alternative 2 (Southern Widening) between Patriot Court and U.S. 70, and
Alternative 3 (Northern Widening) between U.S. 70 and Outer Banks Drive.
This approach reduces impacts to some properties but may increase impacts to others. NCDOT continues to evaluate these tradeoffs and refine the design as the project advances.
PROJECT COST AND SCHEDULE
Cost Estimates*
Phase | Cost |
Right of Way | $ 26 million |
Utility Relocation | $ 3.5 million |
Construction | $ 96.6 million |
Total Cost | $126.1 million |
*Estimates are preliminary and subject to change.
Schedule:
Milestone | Date |
Final Environmental Document (complete) | November 2023 |
Begin ROW Acquisition | Summer 2026 |
Begin Construction | Summer 2029 |
*Schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Project Drive Through Video:
Project Roundabout Video:
Public Involvement
Public involvement is an integral part of the planning process.
NCDOT encourages citizen involvement on transportation projects, and considers your suggestions and addresses your concerns.
Maps shown at the 2019 public meeting are available in the document section below
The 2019 public meeting summary is available here
PROJECT CONTACT
Allison Thorburn
NCDOT Division 2 Project Engineer
1037 W.H. Smith Blvd
Greenville, NC 27834
(984)-302-3434
RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions
Right of way Acquisition Process Videos
Documents
U-3431 Public Meeting Summary.pdf
U-3431-All-Alts-Sunrise Ln to Outer Banks Dr.pdf
U-3431-Alt-1-Lake Rd to Cunningham.pdf
U-3431-Alt-2-Lake Rd to Cunningham.pdf
U-3431-Alt-3-Lake Rd to Cunningham.pdf
U-3431-Alternative-Comparison.pdf
U-3431_Updated Study Area Map.pdf
U-3431_Updated Study Area Map.png
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