Base entrance plan gets input

A cluster of Onslow County residents milled around a meeting room at Jacksonville City Hall, peering at maps, asking questions and filling out comment cards.

In compliance with state regulations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation held a public informational workshop Thursday afternoon about a proposed entry road from N.C. 24, west of Bell Fork Road, into Camp Lejeune. Base environmental officials, representatives from the companies jointly contracted for the project — Rummel, Klepper & Kahl LLP and MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. — and NC DOT personnel were available to field questions and lend an ear.

Charts and maps in the room showed two alternatives for a new access road: one that would create an interchange with a westbound loop between Bell Fork Road and U.S. 17 on N.C. 24, and one that would create an interchange with a westbound ramp between the same boundaries. There is also a “no build” option that would use and improve an existing access road at Bell Fork Road. All contruction plans include a service road that will connect Bell Fork Road with Ellis Boulevard, via either White Street or Brynn Marr Road.

The project is a part of the Department of Defense’s Grow the Force Initiative and has received military funding and direction. But as a new access point to base will enter the highway system and cut across some civilian property, those living outside the gates of Lejeune were eager to share their perspectives.

Russell Tucker, who lives in Jay Circle off of Ellis Boulevard, said the owner of the property he leases had received notice of the workshop as an individual potentially affected by construction.

“Now what we’re interested in finding out is if there’s an impact,” he said.

Aside from concerns about relocation, Tucker wanted to be sure that the Bell Fork/Ellis connector would not make it more difficult for people to leave their neighborhoods or for emergency vehicles to have quick access.

David Williams, a Jacksonville resident, saw the project as an opportunity to correct some existing issues in the area and reconnect parts of town.

“I think this is great,” he said.

He filled out comment cards to suggest that the pipes under N.C. 24 at Bell Fork Road be enlarged during the construction to reduce the flooding that is now a problem for local residents. He also emphasized that the contractors should create the service road connecting Ellis and Bell Fork first, before beginning work on the interchange and access road. If not, he said, the region will be effectively cut off while construction progresses.

“They will kill all the businesses within there,” he said.

Of the two service road alternatives, Williams said he prefers the White Street option, which will give area residents better access to Onslow Memorial Hospital.

J.T. Peacock, a representative of RK&K, said that an estimated 10 parcels of land would be affected by construction. The DOT will be negotiating the purchase of right-of-way with each of the property owners, though military funds will purchase the property. One structure, however, is sacred: “We will not be touching the (Rails-to-Trails) pedestrian bridge,” he said.

There are a few businesses owners who already know they will be relocated when construction begins. Chico’s Used Tires and American Barbershop, neighbors along Lejeune Boulevard, are right in the way of proposed construction.

Ray Tookes, the owner of American Barbershop, was at Thursday’s meeting.

“The project looks good,” he said, “but it’s still going to kill me.” The blow was harder, he said, because Rails-to-Trails construction a few years ago had also hurt his business, temporarily cutting it off from through traffic. Tookes said he would be at every meeting as the project moves forward so he can plan for the move.

Officials said they would take all the comments they had received at the workshop and consider them as they complete the Environmental Assessment, which will be released in April 2010. Right-of-way acquisition will begin in Fall 2010, and construction is slated to begin in Spring 2012.

The Grow the Force Initiative will bring 7,700 new Marines to Camp Lejeune through 2012. A three-phase, $200 million construction project will also include a number of projects to improve and enlarge facilities and thoroughfares on base.

Contact Hope Hodge at 910-219-8453 or hhodge@freedomenc.com.