HIGH POINT, N.C. — Growth in High Point is spurring development.
A new project will change the look of High Point and should also help with traffic.
Thousands drive down Wendover Avenue daily, but this spot will look much different come April 2025.
High Point Assistant City Manager Damon Dequenne said the area is growing and is an exciting change.
"The growth itself has spurred the project in and of itself," said Dequenne. "We're always excited to see those things happening. We're excited that it's happening here, and we're excited to have partners in the development community and elsewhere who are willing to participate in it with us."
The construction is underway after the city spent a year designing the 4.2 million dollar project and getting funding and approvals from the city council.
"One of the great aspects of this is that the majority of the construction of the project is taking place off of Wendover and Penny, so outside of where the current traffic is traveling," said Denquenne.
The area is filled with trees right now.
The plan is to connect Samet Drive, which runs into West Wendover Avenue and Penny Road.
This should help relieve some traffic on Wendover. The good news for drivers is that it shouldn't impact the daily commute until the final stages of the road connection.
"There will be some disruption towards the end where the tie-in at Penny and Wendover takes place, but I'm sure that'll be a welcome disruption because of the relief it will bring," said Denquenne.
it's not just helping alleviate traffic congestion, but it's also opening the door for future developments.
"The development plans are in their preliminary stages for the sites that are on either side of Samet Drive," said Denquenne. "What's been proposed is a residential piece and then, of course, a commercial piece. All of this is important to the city, not only from job creation and job growth to tax revenues but also because of the desperate need for housing nationally. So to be able to combine all those things into one project that also benefits from a traffic perspective, it's like everything just came together in one spot."
The road project is expected to be completed by April 2025.
Soon after, the city expects new businesses and residential properties to be built in that area.