The Town of Smithfield has agreed to sell Ava Gardner Boulevard off North Brightleaf Boulevard. The buyer is the NC Department of Transportation.
Town leaders have accepted an offer of $620,450 for the roadway and right of way.
According to NC DOT spokesperson Steve Abbott, state transportation officials need all right of way and easements in place before construction can begin on the Booker Dairy Road Extension Project, which will tie in to Ava Gardner Boulevard.
Abbott said the NC DOT Booker Dairy Road Extension right of way is much wider than the town-owned right of way for Ava Gardner Boulevard and the purchase was the only way to make sure there would be no property issues in the future.
After the extension project is completed in 2020, the entire length of Booker Dairy Road will be state maintained.
Bids for the extension are scheduled to be opened in January 2018 with construction starting in March 2018. It will take two years to complete.
