The fate of the proposed 15^th Street widening project could be decided during the Washington City Council meeting Monday.

The council, according to its tentative agenda, is scheduled to consider a resolution of support for the project, which has drawn strong opposition from some city residents and business owners, especially those who live along or near the project corridor. That corridor runs from Carolina Avenue to U.S. Highway 264.

The resolution, if adopted, authorizes the city manager to negotiate and execute the engineering and utility preliminary engineering agreement for the relocation of water and sewer utilities in the project area. The agreement would be between the city and N.C. Department of Transportation.

“As the result of the proposed NCDOT improvements to 15^th Street, the City of Washington must remove and relocate all water and sewer utilities located along the approximately 1.5 mile corridor of 15^th Street. … The NCDOT will be responsible for the engineering, design and construction costs per the Utility Preliminary Relocation Agreement. The preliminary project cost for the total project, including associated engineering fees, is estimated to be $4,140,200.00,” reads a memorandum from City Manager Bobby Roberson to the mayor and council members.

A section of the proposed resolution reads “be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Washington that it does support and endorse the latest design concept which includes the construction of a 17’6” raised median with 12’ interior lanes and 14’ outer lanes throughout the project extents.”

The resolution, if approved, allows for the adoption of a capital project ordinance and subsequent purchase orders.

As recently as March 13, several of those opposed to the project continued to voice their opposition to the City Council, citing many of the same concerns they’ve discussed at previous council meetings and at least one Planning Board meeting in the past several months.

Some residents and business owners along the project corridor oppose raised medians, U-turn locations and other elements of the proposed project. Others said they worry the project, if built as proposed by DOT, would hinder response times of emergency personnel, add to drainage problems along the 15^th Street corridor from Carolina Avenue to U.S. Highway 264 and hinder access to businesses.

Over the past several years, since a 15^th Street project has been on the drawing board, DOT officials have maintained the project’s goal was to reduce the number of vehicles crashes on 15^th Street from Carolina Avenue to U.S. Highway 264. Crashes in that corridor occur about 1.5 times more frequently than crashes on similar roads in other areas of the state, according to the latest DOT figures.

Some of those who oppose the project contend there is no hard evidence it would reduce the number of accidents along that corridor. Others describe the project as ill conceived and one that would create more problems than it would solve.