Why the changes?
The changes are to improve congestion and safety around the circle, according to NCDOT. The Pinehurst circle was designed in the 1950s. The NCDOT states that traffic patterns have changed, and the circle does not meet the current traffic design standards.
"These changes that we want to make are going to improve how it works, functions, and reduce some crashes," Andrew Barksdale, NCDOT spokesman, tells ABC11 News. Barksdale added, "We are doing as much as possible, preserving the character and aesthetics of the traffic circle. A lot of people, and rightly so in Pinehurst, like the way that the Pinehurst Traffic Circle looks with the trees and the landscaping, and they don't want it just to disappear. And this final design plan that we're presenting is one that really strikes a great balance with preserving as much as possible the trees, adding landscaping, and adding decorative plantings. We think it's a really good win-win. We really think this plan is responsive to the comments we received from last year."
The exact area of improvement is from south of Pinehurst Manor Drive to Page Road. The total length of the project is approximately 1 mile.
Some say the circle isn't broken and doesn't need fixing.
"I really don't think that big city solutions are going to solve small town inconveniences. I think we should keep it how it is because really the problem is people knowing how to properly navigate and get better education for how to travel around the circle," Will Page, who lives in Pinehurst, said.
Safety first
Other changes will include adding traffic signals and widening the road. DOT says it's in an effort to make the circle safer for drivers due to an increase in crashes and congestion. They're also looking towards the future as Moore County continues to grow.
"We're seeing a steady increase in crashes, and safety is one of our top priorities. Improving highway safety is one of our top priorities. Our engineers just want to build, design and upgrade roads the safest way they know how. So, we know we're expecting the crashes to continue if nothing is done to it over time and we're seeing more congestion and kind of clogging certain times of day and during tournaments, like the U.S. Open.
According to NCDOT, over the past five years, there has been an average of one crash every 2 or more days.
Construction is expected to take place between the 2029 and 2035 U.S. Opens and will be coordinated with the widening of U.S. 15-501 north of the circle to minimize disruptions.
People can still go online to NCDOT's website, just type in Pinehurst Traffic Circle and enter their comments that way. Public comments can be made for the next few weeks.
Project history
The Pinehurst Traffic Circle has long been a key intersection in the region, serving thousands of motorists daily. Over the years, traffic volumes and safety concerns have prompted NCDOT to explore ways to improve traffic flow and safety at the circle.
Since 2013, NCDOT has evaluated over 20 different designs to improve traffic mobility and increase capacity at the traffic circle. Early concepts like multi-lane roundabouts and interchanges offered some benefits but didn't meet long-term traffic needs or pose navigation challenges.
In July 2024, NCDOT hosted 3 public meetings to present the previous design and gather feedback from the public and stakeholders. While the previous design produced the best traffic operations and safety benefits when compared to previously proposed designs, feedback from local residents and elected officials did not support this design. Comments received during this period cited aesthetic issues, a strong desire to maintain the "feel" of the existing circle, right-of-way impact concerns, and concerns about how motorists would navigate through the design.
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