Major improvements will soon get underway for a busy, dangerous intersection in Eastern Columbus.
The crossroads of N.C. 11 and N.C. 87 in Sandyfield has been the focus of engineers and first responders for nearly two decades, as increased tourist traffic and commercial trucks move through the area. Highway 11, also known as Gen. Howe Highway, is used by logging trucks and tractor trailers heading for International Paper at Riegelwood as well as toward points east. The N.C. 11 bridge at Black Rock is the only crossing over the Cape Fear between Wilmington and Elizabethtown, and sees thousands of trucks and cars heading to and from Pender County and points north.
As traffic has increased in the area, so have traffic collisions. A series of wrecks between 2015 and 2017 led to a four-way stop being installed at the intersection. Prior to that, state engineers and residents met several times to discuss improvements between U.S. 74 and the IP facility at Riegelwood.
Among the improvements discussed were an overpass for N.C. 11 as well as expanding N.C. 87 to four lanes from above N.C. 11 into Riegelwood.
The DOT announced Friday that Balfour Beatty Infrastructure of Wilmington was awarded the $36 million contract for the widening of N.C. 87 and the N.C. 11 bridge. Work will begin this summer, with a completion date of summer 2026. The improvements are also expected to take some of the traffic away from N.C. 87 and U.S. 74, another deadly interchange.
“This highway is an important corridor in southeastern North Carolina, and a popular route to area beaches,” said Drew Cox, who oversees the department’s Division 6 which will oversee the contract. “This interchange will vastly improve the safety, traffic flow and operation of this intersection.”
Acme Delco Riegelwood Fire-Rescue Chief Steve Camlin said that in his 40-plus years of firefighting, 21 fatalities have occurred at the crossroads, with twice as many dying at N.C. 87/U.S. 74. He said he did not know exactly how many crashes his department has responded to at Sandyfield.
“It’s calmed down some with the four way stop,” Camlin said, “but there are still people who don’t know what to do with a four-way stop sign.”
One concern for ADR was a waterpoint just down from the intersection. Camlin said DOT officials are working with ADR to ensure the department can access the water for firefighting.
“They’ve been good to work with,” he said. “I think this is going to be a big improvement.”
