ILM, NCDOT put forth $3.4M to widen 23rd Street

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Money has been procured to widen 23rd Street, the road leading to the primary entry onto ILM’s campus. (Port City Daily/Shea Carver)

WILMINGTON — The Wilmington International Airport (ILM) now has $3.4 million for an expansion project to the road that serves as its primary entryway. 

READ MORE: More terminal space, parking deck part of ILM’s $165M five-year plan

At the July 10 New Hanover County Airport Authority meeting, board members unanimously approved a $1-million contribution to the expansion of 23rd Street, the direct route to enter ILM’s campus. The widening project would only be for a portion of 23rd Street, from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Castle Hayne Road.

The project will initially widen the road from two lanes to four, extending the existing northbound outside turn lane and converting it into a dedicated right turn lane that leads directly into the airport. Eventually, bike lanes and sidewalks will be added as well. 

It’s aimed to reduce traffic delays and support the airport’s future anticipated growth. ILM is the fastest-growing airport statewide — fourth fastest in the nation — and generates a $2.5 billion economic impact, while supporting almost 14,000 jobs.

While the board approved a chunk of the cost, the remaining $2.4 million for the project will be funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, following Airport Director Jeffrey Bourk’s formal request for economic development program funding in a March letter. Bourk addressed NCDOT Division Three Engineer Chad Kimes, emphasizing the widening project is a “vital connection” essential for enhancing the roadway that connects the airport to the community.

“Improving the roadway network connected southeast NC to its largest airport is important but the 23rd Street Widening Project is its most critical link,” Bourk wrote. 

The NCDOT accepted the $1 million contribution from the airport funds at their July meeting on Wednesday night. They have already allocated $1,116,324.80 from the 2024 fiscal year budget to the project. 

The road widening plan was also unanimously approved by the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) during its May 1 meeting. 

WMPO Executive Director Mike Kozlosky explained to the board the NCDOT did not have allocated funds in their 2024 or 2025 budgets to cover the costs. However, funding is expected to be available in the fiscal year 2026 budget. 

According to the WMPO’s agenda, the funds fall under economic development and would come from the NCDOT’s Division Needs Tier, a prioritization system used by the NCDOT to allocate funding for transportation projects across the state. WMPO deemed the project a level 7 on its prioritization scale. 

The 23rd Street Widening Project was one of 67 items added to NCDOT’s June list of funds requests, which totals $45,536,651.64. 

According to NCDOT spokesperson Lauren Haviland, the widening project is set to be discussed at the NCDOT’s August meeting. 


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