Nifong Boulevard improvements on track for construction in 2020

The Nifong Boulevard improvement project is on track to start construction in 2020.

Thursday evening, city engineers and public works had an open meeting for businesses in the area of Providence and Monterey Drive, an area where the city sees the most congestion with traffic. The city presented two design ideas they have to help with safety and congestion in that area.

One design would allow no left turns from either side of the street onto Nifong Boulevard, the second design would allow a combination of left turns but doing so safely.

The Nifong Boulevard project is a more than $12 million project that was funded by a tax passed by voters in 2015.

City engineering supervisor, Allison Anderson, told ABC 17 News during the meeting that peak hours are from 7:15 – 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 – 5:45 p.m.

Some drivers could be seen waiting in line to turn for nearly four minutes which is considered an “F” in traffic safety. The ideal time would be 50 seconds.

The next step is for the city to show a complete design to the public then get the City Council to approve a public hearing date in early 2018.