Sign the letter to the NC DOT objecting to the intersection design plans. The DOT plans propose a “North Quadrant Road” over I-40 that would connect New Hope Commons shopping center and Walmart with Eastowne and that would ruin the 20 acre site that is a North Carolina Natural Heritage property treasured by Chapel Hill and Durham residents. The plans also would realign the I-40 on- and off-ramps to connect to the new road and construct a diverging diamond interchange at I-40 and US 15-501.
If you would like to be on record opposing these DOT plans, send permission for you to be a signer to info@chalt.org.
June 6, 2023
Chair Michael Fox
NC Department of Transportation bot-msfox@ncdot.gov
Dear Mr. Fox,
We send the following comments about NC Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed “improvements” for the I-40 – 15/501 intersection. We urge you to remove this proposed plan design from consideration, meet with our town officials, and extend the deadline for comments.
The DOT plans propose a “North Quadrant Road” over I-40 that would connect New Hope Commons shopping center and Walmart with Eastowne and that would ruin the 20 acre site that is a North Carolina Natural Heritage property treasured by Chapel Hill and Durham residents. The plans also would realign the I-40 on- and off-ramps to connect to the new road and construct a diverging diamond interchange at I-40 and US 15-501.
We recommend the removal of the proposed “North Quadrant Road”. A recent official assessment by a Natural Heritage Program expert rated this tract “worthy of preservation in its natural condition, through whatever means are feasible.” The proposed new road would bisect the forest and destroy the significant biodiversity of this forest. The forest is one of the best examples of an old dry mesic oak-hickory forest east of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina.
Secondly, the proposed road plan with multiple new ramps would destroy conservation plans made by several affected jurisdictions – Orange County, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Ever since the 1980’s the city and county of Durham has put money toward the acquisition of land in the riparian areas of New Hope Creek. In addition, Chapel Hill has acquired several tracts in Dry Creek with Clean Water Trust monies. Dry Creek feeds into New Hope Creek connecting to Durham County lands and a large network of wildlife corridors. Eastowne Associates received a conservation tax credit from the State for the donation of several parcels. The affected jurisdictions have successfully planned a wildlife corridor (funded by Orange County) for the future. The proposed road configuration would decimate this corridor at a critical juncture. The Corridor Study documents the resources and species that measure ecological health. See link: “A Landscape Plan for Wildlife Habitat Connectivity in the Eno River and New Hope Creek Watershed.
Thirdly, in considering priority projects for funding, this proposed project is not sought by Chapel Hill. NC DOT has not made a satisfactory justification for spending an estimated $100+ million for a transportation project with the small benefit of saving seconds at one red light when compared to the financial costs and the loss of wildlife habitat and forests in need of protection.
We encourage the DOT to consider comments taken during and after a major Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro MPO presentation of options held in 2019. The MPO received many negative comments about the three options presented then, including one like this plan. Here is our October 2019 letter. http://www.chalt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/MPO.letter1.10.30.2019.pdf At the same time, Chapel Hill Mayor Hemminger communicated her objection to the MPO for adding new roads in this location.
Finally, please allow the public more time to give input about why these project designs are incompatible with our Town’s goals and current plans.
Thank you!
David Adams
Linda K. Brown
Susan Elmore
Anthony Henage
Virginia Gray
Renuka Soll
Julie McClintock and many more.
We’ve gathered over 30 signatures. If you would like to add your signature to this letter, please send your name (and the way you would like it printed) to info@chalt.org