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Starting winter of 2024, residents can expect delays at the intersection of U.S. Highway 264 and N.C.Highway 32. The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to build a roundabout at the Douglas Crossroads intersection to improve safety and traffic flow. 

The project is anticipated to take seven months to complete, according to NCDOT Communication Officer, Lauren Haviland. 

Whether there will be a detour has yet to be determined. Right now, traffic will be maintained through the intersection as construction continues. Drivers should expect multiple traffic shifts while new concrete islands are built and pavement is completed. 

The roundabout is expected to reduce speed through the intersection where left turns are deemed “especially dangerous” as well as reduce the number of crashes that occur.  

“Left turns onto US 264 are especially dangerous at this location given the high-speed vehicles are traveling. The roundabout will reduce both the speed vehicles are traveling through the intersection and the number of points of conflict,” Haviland shared. 

This is not the first time NCDOT has planned to build a roundabout at that intersection. 

In 2018, NCDOT engineer Jeff Cabaniss presented two versions of the project to the Board of County Commissioners. A fatal wreck the previous year had the department review the intersection’s design, per an earlier article from the Daily News. 

The project was delayed, because of budget restraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Haviland said. “The project was postponed until funds were available,” she explained.