Improvements to make a section of West 15^th Street in Washington safer are expected to begin next year, according to a N.C. Department of Transportation official.

The project’s roots go back to 2000, according to Dwayne Alligood, a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Transportation. Alligood provided a project update to the Washington City Council during its meeting Monday.

The plan calls for improvements in the section of 15^th Street from Carolina Avenue (U.S. Highway 17 Business) to the Pierce Street area. The proposed improvements call for a divided road with a median separating the travel lanes.

The DOT spokesman said the project’s goal is to reduce the number of vehicles crashes on that section of 15^th Street. Those crashes on that section of road occur about three times more frequently than crashes on similar roads in other areas of the state, according to DOT figures.

“What that would do, we would put a center median in there and provide turn lanes at signalized intersections. If there are places in between where we can provide a crossover, then we would do that. That would be a channelized crossover. It wouldn’t be a full opening. It would be where you could make a left turn off the main line,” Dwayne Alligood told the council in January.

“They key things that we’re working on now is utility relocation. As you’re well aware, there are a lot of utilities along this corridor, and we are working … with the city on electrical, water and sewer. Then there’s also natural gas and communication signs out there. We are working hard on getting that done,” Alligood said Monday. “We are working toward a construction-letting date of June of next year. That is are schedule. Now, we have not tied down when we think utilities will all be relocated.”

Construction could begin later next year if relocation of utilities occurs later than expected, he said.