3.1. National Projects

Smith Creek Parkway, North Carolina

The Project: The Smith Creek Parkway project of seven-plus miles was divided into four sections and the two eastern most sections were designed, constructed, and opened to traffic. However, the two western most sections required further alternative investigation in final design to minimize impacts.

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina.

Context Setting: Urban

Road Classification: Urban Arterial

Stakeholders:  NCDOT, Numerous resource agencies, local government officials, local specialist groups and area’s businesses and citizens. Other stakeholders include U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, North Carolina Department of Environmental Health and Natural Resources, NCDOT Rail Division, and FAA.

The Process:  The primary purpose of the project is to relieve traffic congestion and reduce accident rate on Market Street (US 17) in Wilmington. Significant issues were noise that could adversely impact film and TV studios and vibration that could impact sensitive measuring instruments at a manufacturing facility.

 

The potential impacts to the developing historic downtown area immediately adjacent to the project’s western terminus were considered and were reduced by adjusting the final design alignment. Numerous forms of communication were used including workshops, small group

meetings, hearings, and newsletters along with various forms of visualization including maps, photographs, renderings, and computer animation. 

 

Lessons Learned: The project development spanned three decades that saw new environmental concerns arise. This resulted in the need to develop a new northern alignment and cross-section for the unfinished segments. In addition, new land use opportunities had to be accommodated including the future use of an abandoned railroad right-of-way and the proposed expansion of the downtown historic district.

For the NCDOT the Smith Creek Parkway was a unique learning experience that required an extra measure of internal teamwork for planning, design and construction as well as significant outreach and cooperation with various stakeholder agencies, special interest groups, businesses, and citizens.