Fayetteville receives flood grant; some residents unsure it will solve longstanding issues
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Residents of Fayetteville's flood-prone Locks Creek Road are responding with a mix of hope and skepticism after the city secured nearly $1 million in state funding to address decades of chronic flooding in their neighborhood.
Neighbors say they have been dealing with flooding for decades, and rising costs, including higher insurance premiums, which have taken a toll on them.
"Put yourself in my position. You wouldn't want to go home to this, and we don't either. Flood insurance is so outrageous. You can't afford it," said resident Mike Harrison.
Morgan Pate, another resident, added: "If it rained more than three days, the thought comes to my mind once I see it coming around that corner, and the flood and all that drainage system. It's time to leave."
For years, Locks Creek Road residents have raised concerns and warned city officials about the dangers of repeated flooding.
"We actually went to the city hall and spoke with them three or four times, and nothing about the whole situation," Harrison said.
Harrison, who has lived in the neighborhood for 18 years, pointed to reminders of past hurricanes.
"You look right here. Right there. That's the first time that the water flooded; it came up to this, our second time, all the way up here. That's where this tape right here represents," he said.
Earlier this month, Fayetteville received the Locks Creek Grant, which provides nearly $1 million from Gov. Josh Stein's statewide initiative to mitigate flooding.
"The grant money will be going toward replacing an existing culvert and elevating that roadway to keep that road open during storm events for emergency personnel. And also residents in that neighborhood," said Fayetteville communications manager David Scott.
A plan to fix the flooding was introduced in 2022, but the project stalled when the original concept fell through because the city determined it would not meaningfully reduce flooding.
City leaders said they are hopeful, but residents, including Pate, remain doubtful. Pate still has his car parked in the driveway, idle since Hurricane Matthew.
"Although this may not resolve all the flooding issues in that neighborhood. What it does, it provides a reliable access in and out," Scott said.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and take about eight months.
