If you drive College Road between Market Street and Shipyard Boulevard, you already know why it keeps coming up in transportation planning. The StarNews reported on Nov. 10, 2026 that planners consider College Road improvements Wilmington’s top-priority roadway project. Official documents from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) and NCDOT show why, and what is actually on the table.
For homeowners, buyers and sellers in neighborhoods along the corridor, from the Market Street and MLK Parkway area to Midtown and the UNCW side, these projects are worth understanding now. Road work this size shapes commutes, property access and, over time, how neighborhoods feel.
Three College Road Projects to Know
1. College Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway interchange (U-5792)
According to NCDOT’s January 2026 public meeting handout, this project would convert the at-grade College Road and MLK Parkway intersection into a grade-separated interchange, including a flyover bridge carrying eastbound MLK Parkway traffic onto northbound College Road. College Road would widen from two to three lanes in each direction between Market Street and south of Gordon Road, with additional interchange improvements at Ringo Drive and Kings Drive.
- Traffic: NCDOT lists 2024 average daily traffic on College Road between MLK Parkway and Spring View Drive at 54,400 vehicles, projected to grow to 88,900 by 2045.
- Cost: a preliminary estimate of $288.5 million, including $37.9 million for right-of-way and $241.9 million for construction.
- Timeline: NCDOT’s handout listed right-of-way acquisition beginning in summer 2026 and construction in summer 2029, with dates subject to change.
2. College Road at Oleander Drive (U-5704)
WMPO’s Prioritization 8.0 draft Division Needs local point assignments, posted in October 2026, rank first an at-grade “quadrant” redesign of the College Road and Oleander Drive intersection that would use Parkway Drive along with roadway widening and turn lanes. The listed cost to NCDOT is $57.7 million. A separate, more expensive grade-separated version listed at $184.6 million did not receive WMPO points; the document notes the at-grade alternative was recommended under the adopted methodology.
3. College Road from New Centre Drive to Ringo Drive (U-5881)
The same WMPO list, along with its August 2026 Regional Impact tier final point assignments, includes an upgrade of College Road from south of New Centre Drive to Ringo Drive toward freeway or expressway standards, at a listed cost of $55.7 million.
What Prioritization Means (and Doesn’t)
NCDOT’s prioritization process scores projects on data, then adds local input points from groups like WMPO and the NCDOT division office. High local points improve a project’s chance of being funded in the next State Transportation Improvement Program. They do not guarantee funding, final design or construction dates. Think of these rankings as a strong signal of where the region wants money to go.
What Neighbors Raised
NCDOT’s public comment summary for U-5792 says 91 people attended the Jan. 29, 2026 meeting at UNCW. Property impacts were the most common comment theme, including land acquisition, driveway access and the right-of-way process, followed by bike and pedestrian accommodations, general opposition, noise and access concerns.
What It Means for Owners, Buyers and Sellers
Homeowners near the corridor
If your property touches College Road, Ringo Drive, Kings Drive or the MLK Parkway area, keep an eye on NCDOT project maps. NCDOT says that once final right-of-way limits are set, a right-of-way agent contacts affected owners and explains the process and their rights.
Buyers
Ask how planned projects might affect access, noise and traffic during construction. Long-term, fewer bottlenecks can make commutes across town easier. Our guides to living in Midtown Wilmington and living in Ogden cover nearby neighborhoods.
Sellers
Buyers will ask. North Carolina sellers must answer the disclosure form honestly, and knowing the public facts about nearby road plans helps you speak with confidence during showings.
Traffic safety
For more on how the city is approaching road safety, see our look at Wilmington’s Vision Zero program.
FAQ: College Road Improvements
When could construction start on the MLK Parkway interchange?
NCDOT’s January 2026 handout listed summer 2029, subject to change.
Is the College Road and Oleander project funded?
Not yet. It ranks first on WMPO’s draft Division Needs local point list, which improves its chances in the next funding cycle but is not a funding decision.
Will my property be affected?
Check NCDOT’s project maps. Owners whose land is needed will be contacted by a right-of-way agent after final design limits are set.
How much will these projects cost?
Listed estimates are $288.5 million for U-5792, $57.7 million for the Oleander at-grade design and $55.7 million for the New Centre to Ringo segment. All are preliminary.
Buying or Selling Near College Road?
Big road projects can feel abstract until they reach your street. Talk with Aspyre Collective and we will help you understand how planned work could affect a home you own or are considering, and how to plan around it.
