If you live in Southport, Oak Island, St. James, Shallotte, Ocean Isle Beach, or anywhere along the U.S. 17 corridor, you already know Brunswick County’s roads have not kept pace with its rooftops. A transportation summit held Oct. 20 at Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation in Supply put numbers to that feeling, and it gave homeowners and buyers a clearer picture of which road projects are actually coming, which ones are still waiting on money, and what that means for daily life and home values in the county.
Here is what was said, according to The Brunswick Beacon’s coverage of the Oct. 20 summit, and how we at Aspyre Collective think about it when helping clients buy and sell in Brunswick County.
The big picture: growth is outrunning road money
The summit, organized by County Commissioner Frank Williams, drew roughly 80 local officials, HOA leaders, and business people. The context is striking. The Beacon reported that Brunswick County had the highest population growth percentage in North Carolina from 2020 to 2025, citing the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management, with Census estimates showing the county growing from 136,695 people in April 2020 to 174,702 in July 2025, nearly 28%. The county’s Residential Development Dashboard shows 61,918 planned housing units approved in county jurisdiction alone.
Road funding has not kept up. Mike Kozlosky, executive director of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, said its long-range plan shows a $7.9 billion gap between transportation needs and expected funding over the next 20 years, and that only $24 million is available for division-level projects across six counties in the current round.
Part of the problem is how North Carolina scores projects. Under the state’s Strategic Transportation Investments law, roads largely compete on existing congestion, safety, and cost-benefit data. As Williams put it at the summit, “for it to score, it has to already be congested.” NCDOT Division 3 Engineer Trevor Carroll agreed the process does not account for planned growth, while noting NCDOT has about $480 million in projects under development in the county.
The projects that are actually under way
N.C. 211 widening near Southport
The biggest active job is the widening of a 7.2-mile stretch of N.C. 211 between Midway Road and N.C. 87 near Southport. Carroll said the $217 million project, the largest construction contract ever awarded by NCDOT Division 3, is about 75% complete, with construction expected to finish in early 2028. An earlier NCDOT estimate had pointed to summer 2027, so expect cones a bit longer than first planned. Widening the rest of N.C. 211 toward U.S. 17 remains unfunded, and NCDOT is splitting that route into three sections so each piece can score better.
U.S. 17 at both ends of the Shallotte bypass
NCDOT is converting the U.S. 17 intersections at Main Street on either side of Shallotte into reduced-conflict intersections, a design that routes side-street traffic into a right turn and a nearby U-turn instead of crossing several lanes at once. Carroll said that work is about 31% complete, with completion expected in March 2028.
What is still on the wish list
Earlier this year, The Brunswick Beacon reported on how southern Brunswick projects scored in NCDOT’s latest prioritization round (see its report on the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study scores). The strongest local contenders included:
- Widening N.C. 211 from U.S. 17 to Sunset Harbor Road, and then from Sunset Harbor Road to Midway Road
- Extending Village Point Road from N.C. 179 north to Main Street in Shallotte
- Slip lanes at the N.C. 179, N.C. 904, and Ocean Isle Beach Road roundabout
- A roundabout at N.C. 179 and Village Point Road
A strong score is not the same as funding. Projects that compete well are considered for the draft 2028-2037 State Transportation Improvement Program, and planners said no new projects were expected to go to construction in that planning area for about two years. The Carolina Bays Parkway extension is also still in the study phase; Carroll said NCDOT expects to show revised alternatives to the public in early 2027.
What this means for homeowners
- Short-term detours, long-term relief. If you commute on N.C. 211 or through Shallotte, construction traffic will likely continue into 2028. When the work wraps up, those corridors should be safer and move better.
- Be ready for questions when you sell. Buyers touring homes near active work zones will ask about the timeline. Knowing the published completion estimates helps you answer with facts instead of guesses.
- Watch the unfunded segments. Homes along the N.C. 211 stretch west toward U.S. 17, or near Village Point Road, could see future right-of-way activity if those projects get funded. Nothing has been scheduled, but it is worth following.
What this means for buyers
- Drive your commute at rush hour. Before you choose between Southport, St. James, Boiling Spring Lakes, Supply, or Shallotte, drive the trip you would take every day, at the hour you would take it.
- Look up nearby projects. NCDOT’s project pages and the county’s development dashboard show what is planned around a property. We are happy to help pull that information during your search.
- Think about timing. A neighborhood that feels congested during construction may feel very different once a widening is done. That can be an opportunity for patient buyers.
FAQ
When will the N.C. 211 widening near Southport be finished?
At the Oct. 20 summit, NCDOT’s Division 3 engineer said the 7.2-mile project between Midway Road and N.C. 87 is about 75% complete and expected to finish in early 2028.
What is happening on U.S. 17 in Shallotte?
NCDOT is converting the U.S. 17 intersections at Main Street on both ends of the Shallotte bypass into reduced-conflict intersections, with completion expected in March 2028.
Is the Carolina Bays Parkway extension coming to Brunswick County?
It is still being studied. NCDOT expects to present revised route alternatives to the public in early 2027, and no construction date has been set.
Will road projects affect my property value?
It depends on the home and how close it sits to the work. Better access often helps over time, while construction can be a short-term hassle. A local agent can help you weigh the specifics for a particular street.
Thinking about buying or selling in Brunswick County?
Roads, schools, flood zones, and new neighborhoods all shape what a home is worth and how it fits your life. If you are weighing a move in Southport, Shallotte, Oak Island, or anywhere in Brunswick County, we would love to help you sort through it. Contact Aspyre Collective and let’s talk about your plans.
