NCDOT Seeks Public Feedback to Widen a Fayetteville Road
Public meeting will be Oct. 24
State transportation leaders are inviting the public to review and comment on a proposal to widen the entire two miles of Fisher Road in western Cumberland County.
The open house will take place on Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the gymnasium of John Griffin Middle School. People may drop in at any time to review preliminary design maps, ask engineers questions and submit comments.
The N.C. Department of Transportation is planning to widen the road between Strickland Bridge Road and Bingham Drive to four lanes with a raised median. In anticipation of traffic growth, the project will ease congestion and lessen the risk of crashes. Most of this congested road, which is home to two schools, currently has two lanes.
Proposed project highlights include:
• Construction of a multilane roundabout at Fisher & McKinnon Farm roads to improve traffic flow and safety.
• New sidewalk and multi-use path to accommodate school children, bicyclists and other pedestrians.
As part of this widening proposal, the department plans to construct reduced conflict intersections at several subdivisions that conjoin with Fisher Road. When built, drivers exiting the subdivisions will be redirected into turning right; if they wish to go in the other direction, they may use a dedicated lane a short distance away to safely turn around.
This design, however, will allow drivers on Fisher Road to turn left at some of the side roads that connect to the subdivisions.
Those who cannot attend the meeting can contact the project team via fisherrdwidening-cumberland@publicinput.com or 984-205-6615; enter project code No. 10723. Alternatively, people may go to this NCDOT public in-put site to submit comments and see other information about the proposed project
Comments received by Nov. 8 will be considered toward the final design.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lauren Putnam at lnputnam1@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6072 to make arrangements.
People who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Courthouse Parking Lot Closing Oct. 23 for Crown Event Center Groundbreaking
County shares parking options for Courthouse patrons
As Cumberland County prepares to break ground on the Crown Event Center project, the County will officially close the parking lot in front of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse effective Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m.
In advance of this closure, County officials encourage the public to take note of alternative parking options available near the Courthouse and in the surrounding area.
The primary parking area for Courthouse visitors will be located behind the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, accessible via the driveway located in the 200 block of Person Street. This lot is available for both County and Courthouse employees and the public conducting business at the Courthouse on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ADA accessible parking will continue to be available directly behind the Courthouse, and the drop-off lane will remain available for use in front of the Courthouse. Visitors using the Person Street lot can access the Courthouse using the front entrance, although the most direct and accessible entry point will be located behind the Courthouse near the ATM.
The County advises visitors that the County parking lots adjacent to the Historic Courthouse at 130 Gillespie Street, and Veterans Services at 301 E. Russell St., are reserved for employees and visitors of those facilities. Using these lots for Courthouse parking will limit access for those needing to use these services.
The County has also designated the County-owned gravel lots at 334 Person Street and 125 S. Kennedy St. for public use at no cost.
For additional parking options in the downtown area, the City of Fayetteville offers a detailed map on their website www.fayettevillenc.gov/our-city/community/getting-around/downtown-parking.
In November 2022, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners selected the parking lot in front of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse as the site for the new Crown Event Center, which is set to open in Spring 2027. On Sept. 16, the Board approved a contract amendment with the project’s Construction Manager-at-Risk, TA Loving/Metcon, to begin sitework and demolition.
The Board has also approved a contract for design of a new parking deck to be constructed directly behind the Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center.
This deck will provide sufficient long-term parking for various County construction projects in the area, making up for any displaced parking and accommodating future growth. The parking deck is expected to be complete in 2026, prior to the Crown Event Center's opening.
For more information on Courthouse parking, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/courthouseparking. For more information on the Crown Event Center project, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/crowneventcenter.

Cumberland County Joins Lights Out for Bird Migration
Each spring and fall, millions of migrating birds pass through North Carolina, primarily during the night. To help ensure their safe journey, Cumberland County is proud to announce its participation in the Lights Out initiative to protect these vital migratory birds.
Beginning Oct. 17, and through Nov. 30, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., all non-essential lighting in County facilities will be turned off nightly. Bright lights can disorient nocturnal migrants, leading to dangerous collisions with buildings.
With migratory bird populations declining, reducing light pollution is a crucial step in mitigating these risks.
In addition to safeguarding wildlife, this initiative will also lower energy costs and align with the County’s sustainability goals, supporting our commitment to environmental stewardship.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to join Cumberland County in this effort by turning off non-essential outdoor lights during the migration period. Here are some simple recommendations:
• Close blinds and curtains and ensure office spaces are darkened before leaving for the day.
• Turn off exterior lights, especially those that are upward-facing, and interior lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
For more information on the Lights Out initiative, bird migration forecasts, and the latest research, please visit the BirdCast website at birdcast.info.