NCDOT Filed Eminent Domain Lawsuits for Wilmington Project

The agency initiated 27 legal filings to secure property rights for a major intersection improvement project.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Construction

Isometric editorial illustration of a complex highway interchange structure situated on a flat green landscape with a lone surveyor tool. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation filed 27 eminent domain lawsuits to acquire property for an $81.4 million intersection improvement project in Wilmington. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The North Carolina Department of Transportation has filed 27 eminent domain lawsuits in New Hanover County Superior Court to acquire property for the Eastwood-Military Cutoff project. The agency deposited $5.83 million with the court to secure the land necessary for the planned overpass.

Why it matters

The legal action allows NCDOT to take immediate possession of property rights after failing to reach purchase agreements with owners. This step is critical to advancing the $81.4 million project designed to alleviate congestion at an intersection currently serving 75,000 vehicles daily.

The project includes a 30-foot-tall overpass and a total budget of $81.4 million. NCDOT deposited a total of $5.83 million in court, with the largest individual payment reaching $1.55 million for the CC Landfall property.

The players

North Carolina Department of Transportation

This state agency is responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure.

New Hanover County Superior Court

This local judicial body oversees legal proceedings and property dispute filings within the county.

CC Landfall

This entity holds property rights at the intersection site and received the largest court deposit from the state.

The details

The project, designated as U-5710, will replace current intersection traffic flow with a 30-foot-tall overpass and secondary connectors to shift left turns. While acquisition is now complete, NCDOT stated that no buildings will be demolished to accommodate the new infrastructure.

NCDOT filed the 27 eminent domain lawsuits on September 23, 2026.
Project construction is scheduled to begin in late 2027.
The overpass construction is expected to be completed by late 2031.
The intersection is projected to handle 100,000 vehicles daily by 2040.

Market Landscape

This move mirrors the standard institutional process for managing large-scale infrastructure development where private land acquisition is required. It ensures the state maintains its project timeline despite the inherent friction of urban land assembly.

Local drivers and residents should prepare for significant long-term construction at the intersection of Eastwood and Military Cutoff roads starting in 2027. While the project is designed to improve throughput, the multi-year construction window will impact daily traffic patterns and commute times.

The takeaway

Large-scale infrastructure projects often reach a stalemate that necessitates legal intervention to keep construction timelines on track. Residents navigating the Wilmington area should anticipate years of traffic adjustments as the state transitions toward its 2040 volume projections.