Blog
Recent Rule 60(b) Ruling by NC Court of Appeals
A recent ruling by the NC Court of Appeals in the matter of N.C. Department of Transportation v. Laxmi Hotels of Spring Lake, Inc, et al has a number of important reminders to land owners who are losing property through the condemnation process. First, and foremost, this case is a prime example of what can happen to a land owner…
Federal Appeals Court Stops Work on Atlantic Coast Pipeline
On May 16th, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit—ruling in a suit brought by the Southern Environmental Law Center—invalidated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. They ruled the permit inadequately assessed potential impact on both endangered and sensitive species. A forthcoming order will soon set out the reasoning of the…
Residents Homes Being Condemned for Construction of NC 540 Southeast Extension Project in Wake County
The NC 540 Southeast Extension project is a project intended to meet the growing population and traffic in southeastern Wake County. Recently, a public meeting was held which served as an opportunity for property owners to learn how their property may be affected and for them to express any concerns they had. If you missed the meeting you may view…
Improvements to be Made to Three Sections of Shelby Bypass
The U.S. 74 Shelby Bypass project in Cleveland County is broken up into six sections, some of which are already completed. Of the sections that have already been built and graded, three are going to receive upgrades. Recently, the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) awarded a $16 million contract to improve three sections of the Shelby Bypass in Cleveland. This…
Will Your Business Be Affected by The U.S. 70 Improvements Project in New Bern/James City?
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is planning to make Improvements to U.S. 70 in New Bern/James City. The intended project is a 2.5 mile long stretch between Garner Road to the Neuse Rive Bridge with the overall goal of improving traffic flow in this area. While this may be seen as a positive improvement for some, others are not…
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Set to Move Forward after DEQ Issues Water Quality Certification
This past week, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a 401 water quality certification that was required for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to move forward in North Carolina. According to the DEQ Secretary Michael Regan, the DEQ has granted the permit however their job does not stop there. The department’s job will continue by holding the company…
Disabled Veteran in Clinton Needs Your Help in Rebuilding His Home!
Willard Swinson, a North Carolina native, Deacon, and Air Force Veteran, is seeking the community’s help after his home was destroyed in 2016 by Hurricane Matthew. In 2006, Mr.Swinson suffered a serious and life-altering fall which left him a quadriplegic. After years in-and-out of countless rehabilitation hospitals, Willard was able to return to his home. However, returning to his home…
What is a Superstreet Design?
With the rapid growth and building development going on in North Carolina, figuring out ways to alleviate road congestion has been a top priority for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). A design they are now using is called synchronized streets, often referred to as superstreets. With a superstreet, traffic from a side street is prevented from going straight…
N.C. 540 Southeast Extension Moving Forward After Approval of Final Environmental Impact Statement
In April 2016, NCDOT selected the orange-green-mint-green alternative route as the preferred alternative for construction of the N.C. 540 Southeast Extension project. However, many environmentalists expressed concern because this route crosses Swift Creek which contains protected muscle species. Therefore, the project was put on hold. The two species of concern are the federally endangered Dwarf Wedgemussel, as well as the…
Many Alamance County Property Owners Could be Affected by N.C. 119 Relocation Project
As the amount of people in Mebane continues to increase, so does the amount of cars on the road. This means that congestion, specifically in downtown Mebane, will only increase as well. By 2025, the current route of N.C. 119 will be unable to meet traffic demands and would mean longer delays for motorists. Therefore, NCDOT has been developing plans…