A busy stretch of Gillis Hill Road in western Fayetteville will be widened and sidewalks and bike lanes will be installed under a $22.6 million contract awarded this month by the state Department of Transportation.
The 1.1-mile stretch between Stoney Point Road and Raeford Road (U.S. 401) near the Walmart will be widened from two lanes to four. The project also includes concrete curbs and gutters, the installation of drainage systems and the construction of a raised median to improve safety, the Transportation Department said in a release.
The project also calls for adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes to the widened stretch of highway.
Contractors will also replace the bridge over Little Rockfish Creek with two bridges to accommodate the new road, the release said.
The project is expected to ease congestion and plan for anticipated growth, the Transportation Department said.
On the average day, 25,000 vehicles travel on Gillis Hill Road. That is expected to increase 24%, to 31,000 vehicles a day in 20 years, the department said.
The state awarded the contract to W.C. English Inc. of Lynchburg, Virginia. Work can begin in July and is expected to be completed and the road opened by fall 2024.
Work will be done in phases to keep the bridge and two lanes of traffic open while half of the new road is being constructed. Once the new lanes are done, traffic will be shifted to the new section while the existing road is rebuilt.
