The North Carolina Department of Transportation is moving forward with a redesign of the historic Pinehurst traffic circle.
The Moore County Board of Commissioners passed the resolution in support of the design this week.
The circle is heavily trafficked and connects N.C. Highways 211 and 2. NCDOT said the design would help improve traffic flow for Moore County and the Sandhills region.
The latest design was proposed last summer. It would add an extra road within the circle and new traffic signals.
The project has received backlash from community members after a series of crashes at the circle. In late February, The Village of Pinehurst passed a resolution urging NCDOT not to move forward with the changes. Town leaders said the changes are unnecessary and would mess with the fabric of the community.
“We recognize and respect the Village Council’s concerns that were outlined in a recent council resolution,” a NCDOT spokesperson said. “The circle, however, carries a critical regional function in the Sandhills, and the Department takes long-term planning and traffic modeling into account for highway projects.”
Community members said the project would impose on property rights of some Pinehurst homeowners, be disruptive and would not improve safety. They argue it would have a negative impact to the aethetics and character of the area.
The Village of Pinehurst asked NCDOT to scale back their plans and make changes over time, rather than move forward with one giant project.
NCDOT said they received positive feedback about the final design last fall, compared to the proposed design released in 2024.
“The Department plans to move forward on making these critical improvements, which best balance the interests of all users of the transportation network,” a NCDOT spokesperson said.
The project is expected to cost $45 million to $50 million. NCDOT’s plan states construction will not start until 2031. It’s expected to be completed by 2034.
