The white and bright orange barrels closing a lane on eastbound Sunset Avenue may be a nuisance for awhile.

Jeff Vreugdenhil, Clinton Public Works and Utilities Director, reported that the purpose of the closure is for storm drainage improvements related to the N.C. 24 expansion project. The closure stretches from Sampson Community College to just short of Pierce Street. This road closure is just one of the many projects bringing traffic to a snarl in and around Clinton.

“It’s going to be a substantial period of time,” Vreugdenhil said about completion. “It will not be quick.”

The 40-mile project running through the center of Clinton and Sampson County will serve as a major connector between Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune.

When completed, the $400 million project will consist of a four-lane highway, stretching from Cumberland County to I-40 near Warsaw. Previously, just 34 miles was funded. But that all changed when local municipalities supported resolutions to support the remaining six miles, extending from Moltonville Road to Interstate 40. Some of the backers included Clinton, Garland, Newton Grove, Roseboro and Sampson County commissioners.

Most of the work is being completed at night, with the hopes of lessening the traffic problems, but according to city officials, a timeline for completion of work in the area.

In addition to the work on Sunset Avenue, motorists can expect further delays from detours taking them off the current N.C. 24 bypass path.

An electronic sign placed on the side of the roadway just past the Sunset Avenue overpass indicates a closure of the N.C. 24 East ramp beginning July 21 at 9 a.m.

Work on the entire project began in October 2013 and is slated for completion in March 2018.

“The N.C. 24 widening project will have a positive effect on Clinton,” Clinton City Manager Shawn Purvis stated earlier this year in his budget message. “N.C. DOT projects 30,000 vehicles a day on the road, and it should reduce the travel time to the Fayetteville Metro Area (380,000 population) by half, to 30 minutes. The project has spurred minor commercial growth to date, and the city should experience more growth as road construction nears completion in early 2018.”

Attempts to reach Department of Transportation officials were unsuccessful.

Sunset Avenue lane closed

By Chase Jordan

[email protected]

A portion of Sunset Avenue is closed due to Highway 24 construction.
(Chase Jordan | Sampson Independent)
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_NC24-2-1.jpgA portion of Sunset Avenue is closed due to Highway 24 construction.
(Chase Jordan | Sampson Independent)

Construction workers make improvements on N.C. 24.
(Chase Jordan | Sampson Independent)
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_NC24-1-1.jpgConstruction workers make improvements on N.C. 24.
(Chase Jordan | Sampson Independent)