With more traffic, N.C. 87 corridor through Boiling Spring Lakes could see improvements
Once considered a back road, N.C. 87 will soon see more traffic.
In the past few years, at least three housing projects have been approved along the route, with one slated for land near Southport and two planned for tracts near Leland. Other development includes an RV park in Winnabow and plans for a city center in Boiling Spring Lakes.
With the increased traffic, Boiling Spring Lakes leaders want improvements along the N.C. 87 corridor inside the city. Here are three things to know.
A speed limit reduction is under consideration for Cougar Drive.
South Brunswick Middle and South Brunswick High schools are both located on N.C. 87 in Boiling Spring Lakes, and city leaders are working to tackle traffic issues near the two schools. According to a staff report, the move began when a student at West Brunswick High School was struck by a vehicle after being dropped off across the street and attempting to cross N.C. 130 in Shallotte. Boiling Spring Lakes city leaders want to be proactive and hopefully prevent a similar event from happening at the South Brunswick schools.
In May, the city adopted an ordinance to implement no parking zones along Dix Road, Goldsboro Road, and Catawba Drive. The no parking zones are effective during designated hours.
During its July 5 meeting, the board of commissioners also adopted an ordinance lowering the speed limit on Cougar Drive from 35 mph to 25 mph. Cougar Drive intersects with N.C. 87 and runs by the entrances of both schools. Because this is a state road, the ordinance must be sent to Raleigh for the NCDOT’s consideration before it can become effective.
More on transportation in Brunswick: Connectors, park-and-ride, more lanes: How a Brunswick plan could transform area roads
City to seek additional turn lane.
The Boiling Spring Lakes Board of Commissioners also has requested improvements at the intersection of N.C. 87 and Fifty Lakes Drive. A report included in the July 5 meeting agenda packet stated the issue has been “an ongoing topic of discussion for many years” due to the increased number of vehicles, and it also mentioned a concern for the safety of motorists turning onto N.C. 87 from Fifty Lakes Drive. The city requested NCDOT evaluate the intersection to determine if the installation of a signal could be justified.
In an email to the city, David Allen Hancock, assistant division traffic engineer for NCDOT Division 3, wrote there were “34 crashes over a 10-year period” at the intersection, with 23 of those designated as “property damage only” and “only a few crashes of minor severity.” In the email, Hancock stated that of the 34 crashes, 17 were rear end crashes where a southbound vehicle rear-ended a vehicle stopped in the southbound lane waiting to complete a left turn onto Fifty Lakes Drive. Hancock noted the data supported the construction of a southbound left turn lane on N.C. 87 at the Fifty Lakes Drive intersection.
During the July 5 meeting, Boiling Spring Lakes Police Capt, Brad Shirley told the board a turn lane has been considered for the area in years past, but a lack of funding kept the project from moving forward.
Mayor Jeff Winecoff noted it was needed and asked Shirley to “push” for the improvement.
Currently, no improvements are planned near the city.
In an email, NCDOT spokeswoman Lauren Haviland said currently there are no planned projects along N.C. 87 in the Boiling Spring Lakes area.
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This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Road improvements needed along N.C. 87 in Boiling Spring Lakes
