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Listed below is my explanation of how each of the three sheets/sections of the NCDOT proposal for the 15th Street Widening will affect business and homes if they keep the 17ft Center Concrete Islands instead of Center Left/Right Turn Lanes on the entire length of the project. I have studied the NCDOT proposal in detail and feel we need the Center Left/Right turn lanes. This will allow all businesses and homes to be accessed easily without having to go a block or two past a home or business and do a u-turn. The Center Left/Right Turn Lane works very well in other areas of Washington and other nearby cities. The most recent NCDOT traffic counts for 15th Street are: The AADT (Annual Average Daily Traffic) on 15th Street, according to the NCDOT 2023 traffic count, between Summit Ave & N Respess St is 19,500. The AADT between N Market St & Bonner St is 17,000. These are some of the highest AADT counts in Washington. 15th Street needs improvement.

Sheet 1: Carolina Avenue East to Washington Street (Midtown Crossing): Heading East from Carolina Avenue the concrete island prohibits any left turn into any business until Minuteman Lane or Washington Street where you have to turn around in a parking lot or do a U-turn. Businesses affected are Slammin Sammy’s Oyster Bar, Verizon, Arby’s, Bragaw Insurance, Nation Wide Insurance, Auto Zone, Diversion and Allstate Insurance.   Heading West from Minuteman Lane the concrete island prohibits a left turn in to any businesses until the large intersection at Carolina Avenue.  Businesses affected are Wells-Fargo, Wendy’s and Burger King.

Sheet 2: Washington Street (Midtown Crossing) to East of Nicholson Street): There are problems again with a concrete island prohibiting Left/Right turning in to businesses and homes. Many of the homes on the North side will not have room to park a car. Are they going to be moved back off the road or purchased and torn down?  Businesses affected are Inner Banks Dental, Fast Pace Urgent Care, State Farm Insurance, Jackson Dentist, Steel Orthodontics, ECU Health Family Medicine, Pamlico Podiatry, a Small Shopping Center, Walker & Assoc Insurance, Roberson HVAC, New Image Hair Styles, Beaufort Monument and Edward Jones.

Sheet 3: East of Nicholson Street to US 264 East (John Small Ave): The concrete island creates problems with center Left/Right turning in to businesses and homes. Home residents and 15th Street Church of God Members traveling East will have to go to Holloman Street or Brown Street and do a u-turn or go to a parking lot to turn around to head back west to turn into their homes or the Church on the North side of the street. Home residents traveling West will have to travel from Brown Street to left on Market Street then left on 14th Street, left on Bonner Street then right on 15th Street. There are three houses on 15th Street South side between Bonner and Market Street that I haven’t figured out how they are going to get to their houses. The only business affected here are ECU General Surgery and Walgreens with no left turn.

My conclusion is to eliminate Concrete Islands and have a Center Left/Right turn lane the entire length of the project! Sidewalks are needed. The 10-foot multi-use path is not needed and will save 14 feet of required right of way (10ft multi-use path and 4 ft setback from the curb). The priority should be easy access to businesses, homes and Traffic Flow.

If you agree with this analysis it is very important to let the City Council know your opinion and go to this website and let the NCDOT know your opinion: https://publicinput.com/15th-street-improvements.

Fred O. Watkins III is a lifetime resident of Washington, North Carolina.