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Commissioners back NCDOT study to bring US‑220 to interstate standards, citing safety concerns
Summary
Rockingham County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting an NCDOT preliminary engineering study for US‑220, which staff said may require more than $2 million for engineering and could lead to a multiyear project with substantially larger construction costs.
County staff presented a resolution expressing Rockingham County's support for a North Carolina Department of Transportation preliminary engineering study to bring US‑220 in Rockingham County to interstate standards. The resolution cites North Carolina General Statute 136‑11.1 and states the county's view will be provided to NCDOT before any board action by the NCDOT Board of Transportation.
"The county supports the project because it will enhance the safety of the traveling public on US‑220 and request the department and the board approve the project," the resolution states. Staff said NCDOT has proposed committing in excess of $2,000,000 for a preliminary engineering study; Commissioner Richardson cautioned that engineering is only the first step in a project that could ultimately cost in the hundreds of millions.
Commissioner Richardson—who said he has worked the issue with the regional planning organization and state legislators—moved to approve the resolution and thanked legislative leaders for securing funds. He said engineering work will begin planning and design phases but that construction (and major earthmoving) would likely occur several years out and will require significant federal and state funding.
The board approved the resolution by voice vote and several commissioners asked staff to invite NCDOT Division 7 representatives to brief the board in a future meeting on project timing and next steps.
