When the Durham Freeway (NC Highway 147) was constructed through the heart of the city in the 1970s, it came at a steep cost: vibrant, predominantly Black neighborhoods were razed, displacing families, shuttering businesses, and severing community ties.
Now, more than 50 years later, Durham is preparing to have a serious conversation about what should come next.
This Thursday, Aug. 21, the Durham City Council might during a work session review the findings of the Reimagine Durham Freeway Study, a federally funded planning initiative that lays out three ambitious possibilities for the corridor’s future. At stake is the potential to radically reshape how NC 147 functions, who it serves, and what kind of city Durham wants to be.
Reckoning with the Past, Planning for the Future
The Reimagine Durham Freeway project, launched in early 2024, focuses on a key stretch of NC 147, from Swift Avenue to the East End Connector. Led by the consulting firm WSP USA and supported by the Triangle West Transportation Planning Organization, the study aims to develop a long-term vision for the corridor that promotes equity, restores lost connections, and reflects the values of today’s Durham.
City transportation officials emphasize that the study is not just about traffic flow or infrastructure upgrades – it’s also about acknowledging past harms and charting a path toward community-centered redevelopment.
A Community-Driven Process
To guide the work, the city convened a technical team, engaged community partners, and hosted two rounds of public engagement. More than 1,500 residents participated, with nearly 800 submitting survey responses. Their input shaped five core focus areas:
- History & Belonging
- Mobility
- Safety
- Sustainability
- Equitable Land Use
These themes now serve as the backbone for evaluating each of the three proposed options.
What Are the Options?
The project team developed three future scenarios for the corridor. Each comes with trade-offs, and each could change how Durham residents experience the freeway.
Boulevard Conversion
- Eliminates the freeway entirely and replaces it with a street-level boulevard.
- Prioritizes walkability, public transit, and neighborhood reconnection.
- Frees up 20–22 acres for affordable housing, parks, and cultural spaces.
- Estimated cost: ~$450 million.
Community response: Strongly positive, especially for its walkability and potential to repair social divides.
Freeway Cap / Land Bridge
- Keeps the freeway but adds “caps”—green spaces or developments built over key sections.
- Identified cap locations include Fayetteville Street, Mangum Street, and Duke-to-Chapel Hill Street.
- Reconnects parts of the historic street grid and improves crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Land reclaimed: 3–25 acres depending on cap design.
- Estimated cost: $450–800+ million.
Community response: Seen as a meaningful compromise between keeping the freeway and healing historic rifts.
Freeway Modernization
- Upgrades the existing infrastructure and narrows the freeway in some places to reduce its footprint.
- Adds safer crossings and potentially reuses some right-of-way for community green space.
- Land reclaimed: 12.5–14.5 acres.
- Estimated cost: ~$350 million.
Community response: Viewed as technically feasible but less transformative. Some feedback suggested it wouldn’t do enough to reconnect communities.
What Happens Next?
At Thursday’s work session, Durham City Council members may hear a formal presentation from Transportation Director Sean Egan and the project team. Their discussion is expected to help shape a final Vision Plan, which will lay the groundwork for future phases of planning, funding, and coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. No decision will be made on implementation during this session, but any conversation could influence Durham’s approach for years to come.
Community Perspectives
As part of the planning process, residents shared hundreds of comments that now inform the draft vision. A few notable themes emerged:
- “Love the boulevard option! It’ll make this city more walkable and accessible.”
- “The land bridge honors the community and the people that were displaced.”
- “Freeway modernization seems like the most likely or feasible.”
Why This Matters for South Durham
For residents in South Durham who use NC 147 to commute or access downtown services, the future design of the corridor could significantly affect travel patterns, land use, and the city’s overall development strategy. While the corridor study area is centered on central Durham, its implications could ripple outward.
The project team has emphasized that regional mobility needs must be balanced with local values – raising questions about how best to serve both.
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