The Village of Pinehurst and Moore County residents from all corners of the Sandhills are actively exploring alternatives to a proposed redesign of the historic Pinehurst traffic circle by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). One current proposal, part of project U-5976, involves replacing the circle with a continuous flow intersection (CFI), a plan that has prompted concerns about the potential to alter the character of the Village, disrupt the local community, and impact the area’s National Historic Landmark status.
CFIs are promoted by urban planners as a way to reimagine how vehicles navigate intersections, particularly focusing on left-turn movements. At a traditional intersection, vehicles turning left must wait for a gap in oncoming traffic or a dedicated left-turn signal.
The CFI addresses these issues by allowing left-turning vehicles to cross over to the left side of the road before they reach the main intersection. This is achieved through a series of strategically placed crossover lanes.
However, Moore County residents have voiced concerns about this $54 million plan.
Pinehurst’s Resolution and Statement from Gov. Roy Cooper
In an interview with Sandhills Sentinel, Pinehurst Mayor Patrick Pizzella highlighted several key concerns, noting that the proposed redesign could result in the removal of almost all six acres of longleaf pines surrounding the circle, the destruction of six homes through eminent domain, and the elimination of Pinehurst’s Midland Road entrance, an iconic approach to Pinehurst often referred to as The Fifth Avenue of Golf.
One of the most significant points of contention is the impact on the community. Over 3,000 signatures opposing the CFI plan have been collected, and roughly 1,500 community members attended public meetings to voice their concerns. The resistance is not limited to the general public – three local garden clubs have also adopted resolutions opposing the plan, and multiple resident-driven committees have been formed.
“The tremendous amount of public input expressing opposition to the NCDOT proposal was significant and impactful,” Pizzella told Sandhills Sentinel. “Sandhills residents concerned about the current proposal from NCDOT should continue to contact state and local elected officials, making their voices heard.”
While NCDOT adopted two of the Village’s nine recommendations in January 2023 – installing barriers to prevent crossover from the slip lane to the primary lane and adding overhead signs to guide traffic – the mayor noted that the remaining seven recommendations were not addressed.
“The NCDOT did not inform us why the remaining seven recommendations we made in January 2023 were not adopted, but we are pleased they adopted the lane dividers and additional signage recommendations. We look forward to discussing the remaining recommendations with them in the future,” Pizzella said.
The Village Council adopted a resolution on Aug. 13 in direct opposition to replacing the traffic circle. Instead, the Village aims to work with NCDOT to find a more constructive solution. They have proposed a joint working group to explore alternatives to preserve the historic traffic circle while improving traffic flow.
“We believe if undertaken as proposed, it would be harmful and disruptive to our residents and it would have a negative impact to the special character of our Village and the integrity of our National Historic Landmark status,” the resolution states concerning NCDOT’s proposal. “We are thankful they adopted two of our suggestions in January 2024 and look forward to working with NC-DOT on their review of the others.”
After the Village of Pinehurst Council copied North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on a letter to the National Park Service regarding the historical aspect of the Pinehurst traffic circle, he said in response, “Pinehurst is an amazing treasure for our state. I am grateful for the economic contribution that it makes.”
Public Input
Speakers who have taken the podium at public meetings over the past several weeks have largely voiced the same concerns: long construction time (2033), the expense ($54M), not in keeping with the “feel” of the area, removal of trees, and the destruction of property and history that would result from the eminent domain process.
“I would like to present some guiding principles as opposed to specific design ideas,” suggested one resident at the Village Council meeting held on Sept. 24. “Do not destroy the Midland Road entrance to the Village; it is iconic, historic, and often referred to as the Fifth Avenue of Golf. Do not use eminent domain to take anyone’s home – do not destroy anyone’s home. The residents of the Village and Moore County as a whole appreciate the opportunity for input into this process.”
Another resident, Joe Jefferis, prepared an entire presentation detailing alternative ideas he’d drafted using AI – namely ChatGPT, which he referred to as his “assistant.”
After working with ChatGPT, Jefferis believes that “AI-based traffic management offers a smart, adaptable, and cost-effective solution to our traffic circle congestion.”
Though Jefferis acknowledged current issues with the traffic circle, such as traffic backups and wait times at peak hours, he proposed that the circle could be enhanced through a series of technological upgrades.
Jefferis’ call to action was to “invest in AI-driven traffic management to enhance efficiency, safety, and driver satisfaction while preserving Pinehurst’s historic character.”
At the following Village Council work session, Pizzella produced a spreadsheet highlighting some of the most popular ideas among Moore County residents in regards to improving the circle: lane dividers, lowering the speed limit/clearly marking the speed limit, authorized use of traffic cameras, installation of rumble strips, an increased police presence, and improved signage were some of the most heavily suggested among these suggestions.
Residents have pointed out that though traffic surrounding the circle was expected to be a “nightmare” during the U.S. Open earlier in the year due to the massive influx in traffic across Moore County as a whole, the circle actually saw very few issues during this time. Much of this is attributed to proper traffic management across the county and the increased police presence at the circle.
Statement from NCDOT
When Sandhills Sentinel reached out to NCDOT, Jonathan Rand, public informations officer for Divisions 8 and 11, issued the following statement: “NC-DOT is still in the process of reviewing and evaluating public comments and future options for the Pinehurst Traffic Circle. The department will provide an update when potential design plans are available.”
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Assitant Editor Abegail Murphy. Feature photo via Village of Pinehurst.
To sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel weekly e-newsletter, please click here.
