title
Resolution Opposing Independence Boulevard Extension
body
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Department: |
Planning & Development |
Meeting Date: |
1/6/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Linda Painter |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-7806 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Resolution |
PURPOSE:
This proposed resolution would formally oppose the extension of Independence Boulevard to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (“MLK”), as detailed in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”) dated September 30, 2025.
BACKGROUND:
In 1972, extension of Independence Boulevard from Randall Parkway to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (“Project”) was added to the Wilmington thoroughfare plan with the goal of improving regional mobility and congestion by increasing north-south connectivity through the city. This Project has remained in the thoroughfare plan since that time.
Council adopted a resolution in 2014 supporting the Project, as the need for improving mobility and north-south connectivity remains. The 2014 resolution opposed an elevated design and requested an at-grade design that would be aesthetically pleasing and minimize the impact on the surrounding community. However, CSX subsequently indicated that it would not entertain at-grade crossings where the proposed future roadway intersects with the existing rail corridor.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (“NCDOT”) released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”) for the Project this fall. This document identifies two options as the preferred alternatives for construction, both of which are elevated to eliminate conflicts with rail crossings. The sole difference between the two alternatives is the type of interchange used at the intersection of Independence Blvd. and Market Street. Both designs feature an elevated berm and bridge structure for large sections of the extension, creating a physical barrier between existing Old East Wilmington neighborhoods.
The DEIS identifies several adverse impacts, including community cohesion, residential property values, and resident displacement. The DEIS also acknowledges that the benefits and burdens of the Project will not be equitably distributed throughout the community, but are instead anticipated to have disparate impacts on populations identified in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Primary protected classes under Title VI include race, color, and national origin.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
N/A
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of this resolution opposing the extension of Independence Blvd. to MLK, including requests that the Project be removed from adopted plans and that any funding allocated to the Project be repurposed to support other City projects, is recommended. The City will continue seeking alternatives to address congestion and access management on other north-south corridors such as Kerr Avenue and/or College Road.