Highland Project

GRIFTON — A project funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation may have citizens taking detours for the next few months. In the end though, Grifton’s Highland Avenue will see wider lanes as well as a sidewalk from McCrae Street to Patrick Street.

The project on N. Highland began work in August and is expected to be finished in one to two months, according to Town Administrator Michael Peoples.

Peoples said phase one of the project, which cost around $175,00  and is completely funded by DOT, is just the first phase of what he hopes to be a multiphase project.

In phase one, Peoples said NCDOT, along with Kinston Contracting, will widen N. Highland from McCrae to Patrick Street, put down curb and gutter as well as a sidewalk for pedestrians. An extended turn lane will also be added just before McCrae Street.

Phase two will provide the same work and will go from Patrick Street to River Road. Phase two work is expected to begin in six months

Peoples said the project was discussed for two years and with the help of local legislators and DOT board members, the project became a reality for the Town of Grifton.

To inform citizens of the potential delays the construction efforts could and probably would cause, Peoples said letters were sent to surrounding property owners before construction began. A newsletter was also included with citizens August water bill to inform them of the project, along with several other projects Grifton has undertaken.

In a potential third phase of the project, the widening and curb and gutter would go from River Road  to Forest Acres and eventually all the phases would tie into together.

Peoples said in the future, decorative welcome signs will be added, welcoming people to the Town of Grifton.

The goal, Peoples said, is to make the town’s entry look more attractive to visitor’s and potential inhabitants of the town. The addition of sidewalks is to make the town more pedestrian friendly.

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