Improve the Pinehurst Traffic Circle, Don't Destroy It
NCDOT has been working on the next iteration of Circle modifications and will present them to us at the Fair Barn on Tuesday, October 28, 3 - 7 PM. You can view a high resolution map here that will also be displayed at the Fair Barn. It clearly shows where new rights of way are proposed.
Here’s what we know:
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The Fair Barn event will be a “Drop-in Session” that will give residents an opportunity to view the plan and speak directly with project engineers from 3:00 to 7:00pm.
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NCDOT has said they intend to meet the 2024 requests of our residents by not taking homes, leaving Midland Rd connected to the Circle, and not destroying all of the Circle’s trees.
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NCDOT will be taking portions of resident’s private land near the Circle.
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NCDOT has been surveying the area around the Circle for the past few weeks.
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NCDOT will accept written comments at the Fair Barn meeting
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NCDOT will accept comments until November 12, 2025 via any of the following means:
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Phone at 984-205-6615, project code 7045
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NCDOT Public Input Portal (scroll to the bottom to leave a comment)
Here's what we don't know:
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Will NCDOT consider any modifications based on input they receive from us by November 12th?
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Will safety and traffic flow indeed be improved by expanding the circle to 6 lanes and inserting new cross-flow intersections with stop lights?
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Will NCDOT provide noise abatement measures for residents who will be losing some of their private land?
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How will any of the Circle trees survive the construction of a 6-lane road going directly through it?
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Will NCDOT implement short-term suggestions offered by the Village of Pinehurst in a letter sent to NCDOT in October 2024?
Please do your best to attend this meeting. We must continue demonstrating interest in this important project. We look forward to seeing you then.
The 2050 traffic forecast for the Circle may be higher than should be expected. Are we really going to grow as much as NCDOT thinks?
Pinehurst Village Council Adopts Resolution to Form a Joint Working Group with NCDOT to Improve the Circle, Not Destroy It
The massive response by Moore County citizens in calling and writing the decision makers and influencers, the massive turnout at the DOT public meetings, and over 3000 signatures on the petition has made all the difference to NCDOT, and the Pinehurst Village Council has responded.
"We, the Village Council, request NC-DOT explore other options that could improve the flow of traffic at PTC – but not destroy it, that they would refrain from taking property from any of our residents, and preserve the historic Midland Road (often referred to as “The Fifth Avenue of Golf”) access to the Circle."
NCDOT was proposing a "Shifted Pillow" continuous flow intersection (CFI) that would replace the iconic and historic Pinehurst Traffic Circle
This proposal would have cut down 6 acres of long leaf pine trees - our State Tree - in the Circle, and other trees nearby. It would have affected or taken several properties by eminent domain. The roadways that would be included in the new intersection are 15/501 North and South, NC 211, and Midland Road East going toward Southern Pines.
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Midland Road West toward Pinehurst would have not been accessible from the area we know as the Circle. Midland Road toward Pinehurst will be accessible from NC211 via a new connector road that will intersect Midland in the area of Dalrymple Road (across from the back entrance to #7).
"I appreciate you sending me the information regarding the proposed replacement of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle. Pinehurst is an amazing treasure for our state. I am grateful for the economic contribution that it makes. I will forward the information you shared with me to Secretary Hopkins."
Here's what Pinehurst officials said at their work session on 6/25/24. Write to them and let them know what you think:
Pat Pizzella, Mayor: "We must work together to improve the Pinehurst traffic circle, not destroy it" (ppizzella@vopnc.org)
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John Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem: "There are numbers in DOT's presentation itself which can be called into question." (jtaylor@vopnc.org)
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Barb Ficklin, Treasurer: "The underlying traffic data and population growth assumptions need to be revisited before considering any drastic conventional, unconventional, or unwarranted designs." (bficklin@vopnc.org)
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Jack Farrell, Council Member: "I look to those items [Village Council Letter to NCDOT] to be addressed before we turn the whole world upside down." (jfarrell@vopnc.org)
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Jeff Morgan, Council Member: "I would encourage folks to make sure their voices are heard." (jmorgan@vopnc.org)​​