Holly Springs (NC) Town Council Approves Design Contract for West Holly Springs Road Widening
Final phase of the Holly Springs Road corridor moves into design, setting the stage for future widening from NC 55 to Main Street while construction funding remains to be secured
Holly Springs, NC, Feb. 2, 2026 — The Holly Springs Town Council, at its January 20th meeting, approved a design contract for the western segment of Holly Springs Road, advancing the final phase of a long-planned effort to widen one of the town’s busiest transportation corridors.
The action authorizes engineering design work for the stretch from N.C. 55 Bypass to Main Street, completing the planning framework for a corridor that has been widened in stages from downtown east toward Sunset Lake Road and NC 540.
Town staff presented the item as the final segment of the Holly Springs Road widening program, which has been divided into east, central, and west sections due to the project's scale and cost. (presentation documents)
What was approved
Council unanimously approved a total design budget of $1.89 million, including contingency, and awarded the engineering design contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates. The contract covers surveying, traffic studies, roadway and pedestrian design, environmental documentation, public outreach, and preparation of construction-ready plans.
Design work is expected to take approximately 18 months from issuance of the notice to proceed. The consultant was selected through the state-mandated qualifications-based selection process, which evaluates firms based on experience and technical expertise rather than price alone.
How the project fits into the corridor
The west segment is the third and final phase of the Holly Springs Road widening corridor, which spans roughly 3.2 miles from N.C. 55 to Sunset Lake Road.
The eastern segment, from Flint Point Lane to Sunset Lake Road, is nearing completion.
The central segment, from Main Street to Flint Point Lane, is pending final NCDOT design approval, with right-of-way acquisition underway and construction planned to begin in 2026.
The western segment, from N.C. 55 to Main Street, is now entering the design phase.
Beyond town-led projects, NCDOT has already widened Holly Springs Road from Sunset Lake Road to the NC 540 interchange at Kildaire Farm Road, creating continuity between state and local improvements.
What the west segment will include
Plans for the western section call for converting the existing two-lane roadway into a median-divided, four-lane road with sidewalks and accommodations for bicyclists. The design will be consistent with the central and eastern sections, creating a uniform roadway through the corridor.
The improvements are intended to increase capacity, improve safety, and strengthen pedestrian connectivity along a road that carries heavy daily traffic and serves as a key east-west route through town.
“This is the third and final segment of the Holly Springs Road Widening Corridor,” staff told Council during the presentation.
Funding and timing
Design of the west segment is funded primarily through federal grant funds awarded by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, with an 80-20 cost share with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The funding covers design only. There is currently no identified funding for right-of-way acquisition or construction of the western segment.
Town officials said completing the design positions Holly Springs to pursue future state and federal funding opportunities and to move more quickly once construction dollars become available.
Safety benefits already visible
While the west segment remains in design, residents are already seeing safety improvements tied to the broader corridor project.
Along the eastern section near Holly Ridge Elementary and Middle schools, pedestrian crosswalks are being upgraded with new overhead signals that provide clearer, enforceable stop indications for drivers. The signals remain dark when not in use, allowing traffic to flow normally until a pedestrian activates them.
Town officials have described the upgrades as part of a broader effort to improve pedestrian safety as Holly Springs Road evolves into a higher-capacity, multimodal corridor.
What it means for residents
Tuesday’s vote does not authorize construction, but it marks a key milestone. With the west segment now entering design, the Town has active or completed planning for the entire Holly Springs Road corridor.
For residents, the long-term goal is a safer, more efficient roadway with improved sidewalks, bicycle accommodations, and traffic flow, even as the Town continues to pursue funding for the final phase.