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Winterville council signs off on Old Toll Road betterments: black poles, reflective signs, plantings and lighting
Summary
The council approved a set of aesthetic and maintenance choices for the NCDOT Old Toll Road widening project — black-coated mast poles, non‑illuminated reflective suspended signs, native plant median design, and street lighting on both sides to GUC standards — with the town responsible for betterment costs and maintenance.
The Winterville Town Council approved a package of betterments and design choices for the NCDOT Old Toll Road widening project, including black-coated mast poles, reflective non-illuminated suspended signs, native plantings for medians and street lighting on both sides of the roadway.
Anthony (staff) told the council that Greenville had chosen the black mast-and-pole aesthetic and that opting for the black coating would cost about $5,000 per pole. With an estimated 12 poles inside Winterville’s jurisdiction, Anthony said the town’s upfront cost would be roughly $60,000 and that the town would be billed later as a betterment. Council members discussed continuity with Greenville and potential maintenance obligations; the council moved and approved adopting the black pole and mast option.
On signage, staff presented two options: illuminated suspended signs (about $1,600 each) and non-illuminated reflective suspended signs. Members raised concerns about long-term maintenance and electricity/meters for illuminated signs and favored the lower-maintenance reflective option. The council approved standard non-illuminated reflective suspended signs at selected locations rather than lighting every mast.
For median treatment, staff presented three choices: grass, a concrete cap, or native plantings. The council approved native plantings, which staff said would be small shrubs or flowering plants consistent with recent NCDOT rules that prioritize native species and limit taller planting choices.
On street lighting, staff explained GUC’s alternating 120-foot spacing standard. The council voted to request lighting on both sides of Old Toll Road, which will result in alternating lights spaced per GUC standard. Staff noted final spacing and installation will follow GUC policy and that the town will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of any lights the town chooses to own.
Funding and next steps: staff said the town would not pay the betterment upfront but instead be billed during project construction; the council asked staff to include the expected charges in future budgets and to follow up with project timeline details for each item.
Representative motions were made and carried for each element: the black pole/mast, reflective signage, plantings for medians, and street lighting on both sides to GUC standards.
