July 12. By Dave Vieser. While NCDOT has installed a new right-turn signal at the busy Westmoreland Road/Hwy. 21 intersection, it may be a decade before the intersection is completely renovated along with the widening of Hwy. 21.

The Hwy. 21 widening project has been dropped from the NCDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, according to Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron.

“NCDOT has advised that it may get the project back in the program and constructed in the 2031 time frame,” Herron said.

Right turn improvement

Meanwhile, the installation of a right-turn signal from eastbound Westmoreland onto 21 south has made traffic flow more smoothly.

“This signal wasn’t supposed to be put in until the fall, so getting it this quick was lightning speed for DOT and is very much appreciated,” Commissioner Tricia Sisson said at last week’s Town Board meeting. However, the intersection is still prone to congestion due to the lack of a left-turn lane and signal for eastbound traffic on Westmoreland Road.

“We continue to lobby and talk with DOT about interim improvements, such as the recently installed right turn green arrow, but no other interim improvements are approved or planned at this time” Herron said.