MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — A major intersection in Mount Olive will be transformed with a new roundabout following the award of a $2.9 million contract by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The project will construct a single-lane roundabout at N.C. 55 and Indian Springs Road, replacing the all-way stop that was installed in 2021 as a temporary safety measure while funding, design and right-of-way acquisition were completed.
Legion Asphalt Inc. of Wallace was awarded the contract and is expected to begin construction in January, following the relocation of utilities. The project is scheduled to be completed by early summer 2028.
Detours and Intersection Closure Expected
Motorists should expect periodic detours throughout construction. NCDOT will provide updates through its DriveNC traveler information system, while the contractor will use message boards in the project area to alert drivers to upcoming traffic changes.
At one point during construction, the N.C. 55 and Indian Springs Road intersection will need to close completely for approximately 21 days to allow crews to safely complete critical phases of the project.
The project will also bring changes to another nearby intersection. Indian Springs Road and North Church Street will be converted to an all-way stop as part of the safety improvements.
Roundabout Designed to Improve Safety
The project is primarily supported through the federal Carbon Reduction Program, which funds transportation improvements aimed at reducing engine idling and carbon emissions.
According to NCDOT, roundabouts have also produced significant safety improvements across North Carolina. The department says roundabouts have reduced crashes by 46% and lowered fatalities and injuries by 76%.
Roundabouts are designed to slow traffic, with vehicles typically traveling about 15 mph through the circular intersection. Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to vehicles already traveling inside it.
The slower speeds and continuous traffic flow are intended to reduce severe crashes while allowing motorists to move through an intersection without the prolonged stops associated with traditional traffic signals or stop signs.
Motorists can find construction, closure and detour information through DriveNC.gov as work progresses.
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