State transportation officials studying the identified strategic transportation corridor from Greensboro to Wilmington –  and passing through the Fayetteville region – are inviting the public to a series of open houses next week.

The proposed and currently unfunded route, called “Strategic Transportation Corridor K,” was identified by the N.C. Department of Transportation about 10 years ago during a statewide study to extend or establish new strategic transportation corridors.

The department’s vision for this corridor is safe, efficient and resilient transportation route that connects communities, supports economic growth, enhances military mobility, and preserves environmental and cultural resources. The corridor aims to provide reliable access for freight, commuters and multimodal.

Following public engagement, the department studied three alternative routes for Phase 1, which would run between Interstate 40 in Greensboro and Interstate 95 in either Cumberland or Harnett counties.

All three alternatives begin at the N.C. 87 Bypass in Sanford and extend toward either Fayetteville or Dunn before connecting with I-95. The alternatives are:

• Upgrade the existing N.C. 87 south of Sanford and widen the existing highway between Nursery Road and Manchester Road in Harnett County, along with other operational enhancements. This alternative is consistent with another proposed widening project in the State Transportation Improvement Program.
• Extend U.S. 421 on a new alignment in Harnett County that includes new  bypasses around Lillington and Dunn based on recommendations from local plans
• Construct a new, four‑lane route east of Fort Bragg connecting Spout Springs to Interstate 295 (Fayetteville Outer Loop), using a combination of existing and new roadways to minimize environmental impacts.

The public is invited to the following drop-in open houses to review maps, ask questions and submit comments to the department’s study team. There will be no formal presentations.

• Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ernest and Ruby McSwain Extension Education and Agriculture Center at 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford
• Oct. 13 from 3-6 p.m. at the FAST Transit Center’s large conference room at 505 Franklin Street in downtown Fayetteville
• Oct. 14 from 1-4 p.m. at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library, Room 103A, at 455 McKinney Parkway in Lillington

People can find more information about the proposed Strategic Transportation Corridor K at this NCDOT website. People may also submit comments by emailing Pam Cook, an NCDOT Statewide Initiatives engineer, at prcook@ncdot.gov. People with disabilities or limited English abilities but still want to participate may contact Pam Cook at 919-707-0975 for assistance.