Chatham County residents, businesses express concern about proposed NCDOT road projects

Quiet country roads in Chatham County are changing.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said 36,000 vehicles currently travel each day on U.S. 1. The state said it is projected to increase to more than 77,000 vehicles by 2050.

Also, NCDOT said about 3,600 vehicles travel old U.S. 1 each day. The number is projected to go up to 18,800 by 2050.

Chatham County resident Lorraine McAvoy told WRAL News that she didn’t expect the area to grow so quickly.

"I moved from north Raleigh four years ago specifically to move to a more rural country area because of all the growth in that location,” McAvoy said.

During a public meeting on Tuesday, NCDOT leaders outlined plans for several proposed road projects in Chatham County. Phase one of the project focuses on interchanges with U.S. 1, old U.S. 1 and North Elam Church Road. Phase two upgrades Pea Ridge Road.

Those current plans impact five businesses and 27 homes.

“When I looked at it, I was completely shocked,” McAvoy said.

One of the businesses impacted is Performance Equine Veterinary Services.

“It will close our practice,” said Dr. Lynn Gomes, the owner of Performance Equine Veterinary Services.

Gomes said Performance Equine Veterinary Services they’ve only been at their facility for 10 months. She said they had hopes to expand the facility on their 28 acres.

“Horses are very sound and auditory sensitive,” Gomes said. “They're stimulated very easily.

“As phase two is laid out now, it's directly in the middle of our property."

During Tuesday's public meeting, NCDOT Eastern Regional Team Lead Colin Mellor emphasized the plans are preliminary.

"We want public input on those designs,” Mellor said. “We hope to refine them in the future, and so that's why we have this public meeting."

“The timeline on these economic development projects is compressed,” Mellor said.

NCDOT said the schedule is subject to change, and they have another virtual public meeting where people can provide input on Thursday.

Early next year, the state hopes to begin construction on phase one of the project.