N.C. 540 Highway Project Faces Growing Legal Challenge

The push to complete the N.C. 540 highway project—a six-lane toll road planned to stretch across southern Wake County—is now under heightened pressure from environmental groups. Henson Fuerst currently represents several North Carolina landowners who find themselves negatively impacted by this project. A detailed article on challenges facing construction is available here. Last June, the…

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Durham City Council Approves Light Rail Project

After several hours of public comments from concerned citizens, the Durham City Council recently voted unanimously to rezone parts of suburban southwest Durham for the construction of a Rail Operations and Maintenance Facility. The facility supports the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project. An article on the discussion regarding this North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)…

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Mountain Valley Applies for New Gas Pipeline

Developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline have applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a 73-mile extension of their natural gas pipeline—MVP Southgate—into North Carolina. A detailed article on the project is available here. About MVP Southgate MVP Southgate is a proposed underground pipeline that would provide natural gas to more than 563,000 customers…

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NCDOT’s I-440 Makeover to Impact Landowners

Recently, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) awarded a contract to repair and upgrade a stretch of I-440 that has seen little improvement since it was first built around 1960. A detailed article on the project—and its potential impact on landowners—is available here. NCDOT expects construction to begin in late spring or early summer…

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Stoneville, North Carolina Passes Measure to Oppose the Mountain Valley Pipeline

In the small North Carolina town of Stoneville, the local government has passed a resolution expressing their opposition to a proposed extension of a natural gas pipeline—becoming the second local government to do so. A detailed article on their opposition appears here. The Proposed Project MVP Southgate—an extension of the Mountain Valley Pipeline—intends to add…

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Hampstead Bypass Funded, Construction to Begin

The Commissioner of Pender County recently announced the Hampstead Bypass project has now received full funding—and has approval to begin construction in 2020. A detailed article on the approval appears here. The project affects landowners in Pender and New Hanover counties. The Announcement The office of the Pender County Commissioner announced $113 million has been…

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Alamance County Commissioners Oppose Expansion of Mountain Valley Pipeline

A resolution passed by the government of Alamance County, North Carolina to oppose the expansion of the Mountain Valley Gas Pipeline into the north-central portion of the state marks the first time a county has formally opposed an interstate gas pipeline in North Carolina. A detailed article on the story appears here. The four Republicans…

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More Than $7 Million Dollars Spent So Far Defending NCDOT in Current Map Act Litigation

A recently released NCDOT Legislative report breaks the news that more than $7 million dollars has been spent so far defending the NCDOT in the current Map Act litigation.  To date, the DOT outside counsel has lost two trials and multiple appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. In nearly all…

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Temporary Construction Easements: What They Mean For Business Owners

In the recent North Carolina Court of Appeals opinion of NC Department of Transportation v. Butmataji LLC, the court upheld the trial judge in a case where the court restricted an appraiser from testifying about lost income as a result of a temporary construction easement. Instead, the court directed that for temporary construction easements the…

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Work Underway to Extend Military Cutoff Road to I-140

Construction crews are working on the extension slated to connect Military Cutoff Road to Interstate 140 despite a history of challenges. A detailed article on the project is available here. The future six-lane road project—an expansion designed to ease traffic on Market Street—was first envisioned over 20 years ago. The goal is to provide better…

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