​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*

*Estimates are preliminary and subject to change.

Schedule:

*Schedule is preliminary and subject to change.