Chapel Hill’s Town Council members met with North Carolina Department of transportation officials earlier this month to hear about a new plan on the table for widening Interstate 40 in Orange County.

Previous plans called for construction of roads through the Northwood neighborhood, displacing homes and bringing others into proximity with the interstate. Residents criticized that plan, and Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said town representatives heard that criticism.

“There’s two options still on the table. One still goes through the neighborhood, and I can tell you most council members are not excited about that,” she said.

Hemminger spoke to WCHL’s Aaron Keck about the new plans presented at the council’s meeting with the state transportation officials.

“They came out with much better option for the widening of I-40 at the 86 interchange there,” she said.

The new option limits construction near the Northwood neighborhood, and preserves the nearby intersection of Eubanks road and Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.

A meeting for public input and comment will be hosted at the Passmore Center in Hillsborough today from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. The two plans currently being considered, along with project officials, will be available there for comment and questions. Comments can also be done via phone, email or mail no later then February 8.

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