By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
Hundreds of orange barrels appeared last month in greater Seven Lakes, lining the N.C. 211 corridor. They herald the commencement of the construction phase of the road’s widening from two lanes to four between N.C. 73 and Holly Grove Road.
It’s been a long road to get to this point. The Department of Transportation first shared preliminary plans for the then estimated $44.3 million project with the public in August 2017.
Right-of-way, demolition, grubbing and utility work were originally planned to begin late 2018, with construction following in 2020 to be completed in advance of the 2024 U.S. Open.
By August 2019, DOT officials judged that ongoing right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation would require at least 14 months to complete, meaning a June 2020 date for bidding out construction wasn’t attainable.
The decision to push the schedule back was also influenced by financial shortfalls within DOT, as well as the payment of property settlements.
“With the project anticipating a three-year timeframe once under construction, it was determined that it would be best to shift the project to 2024, as 211 is a major route for parking and busing for the U.S. Open,” said N.C. DOT District Engineer Matthew Kitchen at the time.
Acquisitions, clearing, grubbing and the majority of the utility work were completed in the spring of 2024, prior to the U.S. Open.
The considerably altered landscape shuttered several businesses, including Nardo’s Barber Shop which operated in the small business district of West End for 75 years and the popular Log Cabin Country store with its eclectic lawn ornaments. Other businesses relocated, including West End Antiques and More and Pastimes Antiques.
The construction phase of the project was let, or placed to bid, in November. The DOT awarded a $42.7 million contract to S.T. Wooten to construct the widened road. The contract has an interim completion of Oct. 1, 2027 for all work with the exception of final plantings and permanent vegetation. The final landscape is estimated for completion by Mar. 29, 2028, a year before the USGA re-stages back-to-back U.S. Open and Women’s Opens in Pinehurst.
“Over the next few months, the contractor has indicated that they will begin earthwork operations on both ends of the project,” said Jim Dietrich, the Resident Engineer with NCDOT Division 8 overseeing the project.
“I believe they plan to begin working on the Holly Grove School Road end of the project first, and then they plan on bringing more equipment to begin on the N.C. 73 end of the project.”
Dietrich indicated that they may also begin work on storm drains.
The orange barrels will serve as a signal to drivers to keep alert for the foreseeable future. “As work progresses along N.C. 211 motorists may encounter construction equipment and lane closures through the limits of the project,” said Dietrich, who advises drivers to stay aware and follow traffic laws.
‘“Motorists are encouraged to use caution when approaching the work zone and check DriveNC.gov for real-time traffic information,” said Jonahtan Rand, Public Information Officer for Divisions 2 and 8 of the NCDOT.
For information pertaining to this project and others in the area, visit https://ncdot.publicinput.com/q2681.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
