FAQ: Development
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Are additional routes or lanes planned through or around downtown?
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The town has no plans to change street capacity through downtown.
Alternative routes around downtown have been suggested and studied for years, but the community and the N.C. Department of Transportation have not been able to agree on any improvements that involve building additional lanes or new routes. The town remains focused on identifying intersection improvements and smaller projects that can be implemented more quickly or can be reasonably required from development projects.
The state has funded improvements south of the Eno River to ease congestion through the commercial area south of downtown and toward the interstate highways. The town closely considers traffic impact while reviewing development proposals and generally discourages residential development north of U.S. 70, which would add commuters traveling through downtown.
Those living north of town who do not need to conduct business in town during their commutes are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid congestion.
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Does the town coordinate road construction projects with surrounding communities?
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The town participates in regional transportation planning committees but does not have authority over the schedule for state and federal road projects. Scheduling of projects is based on a variety of factors, many of which are moving pieces, like the availability of contractors and subcontractors as well as materials. In the past several years, it has been difficult to find qualified available contracting firms as the market is flooded with work. For the Churton Street Access Improvements Project, the schedule also was set based on the preferences of downtown businesses, which were for the most disruptive work to occur over the summer.
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What restaurants are coming to town?
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As of May 2018, The House at Gatewood, a locally owned steakhouse, was under construction. The town did not have any applications on file for chain restaurants.
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What grocery stores are coming to town?
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As of May 2018, Steve’s Garden Market & Butchery (formerly Bacon’s Meat Market) was expanding it’s square footage in order to offer a wider selection of produce and local products. The town did not have any applications on file for chain grocery stores.