In recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer shopping habits have shifted significantly. While in-store shopping remains prevalent, more people now prefer the convenience of e-commerce, which has been driven by fast delivery offerings and user-friendly digital platforms.

Companies such as Amazon, FedEx, and Walmart have made it easier for consumers to receive goods, leading more people to opt for home deliveries over traditional in-store pickup. This shift has led to a rapid expansion in distribution infrastructure, including regional fulfillment centers, last-mile delivery hubs, and strategically located warehouses, especially in the southeastern United States.

DRMP specializes in supporting this growth through planning, analyzing, and designing transportation systems that enable efficient access to and from these industrial sites. We design traffic impact analysis (TIA) solutions to improve freight corridors, optimize site access, and enhance roadway connections to promote safe and efficient movement of goods and services throughout the region.

Having spent decades analyzing traffic patterns and infrastructure needs, I’ve observed firsthand how evolving consumer behaviors are changing the movement of freight across our roadways.

Manufacturing Growth in the Southeast

The southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas, has become a hub for manufacturing and industrial investment due to its strategic proximity to ports, highways, and rail systems. This connectivity makes the region ideal for manufacturing and shipping operations.

Industries such as automobile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and technology have established major facilities throughout the area, bringing significant job creation and economic investment to surrounding communities. These developments have required DRMP to coordinate with state and local agencies to deliver solutions that accommodate increased truck traffic through transportation planning and infrastructure improvements.

Recent high-profile projects in North Carolina highlight this growth. Toyota is building a $13.9 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing megasite in Liberty; VinFast has committed $4 billion to an electric vehicle plant in Chatham County; and Boom Supersonic is investing over $500 million in its “Overture Superfactory” in Greensboro where it is constructing what is expected to be the world’s fastest airliner. DRMP provided Construction, Engineering, and Inspection (CEI) services for these projects.

Our TIA experience is reflected in a range of industrial site projects where we have developed transportation solutions that address the specific challenges of economic developments. The following examples highlight how DRMP’s TIA team has successfully supported major industrial clients by implementing effective traffic and infrastructure strategies:

DRMP’s Industrial Site Projects

Amazon Facilities – Pender County, N.C.

DRMP provided traffic analysis and planning for the development along with road design and access permitting for two Amazon facilities located within the Pender Commerce Park along US 421 just north of Wilmington, N.C. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) assisted with funding for some transportation improvements that required coordination between DRMP, NCDOT, and the developer.   

Fed-Ex Facilities – Southeast

DRMP has provided traffic analysis and design for Fed-Ex facilities in the Southeast. Traffic studies evaluated impacts of trips at the facilities on the surrounding roadway network.  Fed-Ex facilities can generate trips from a variety of truck types that have different requirements for turning.  As part of roadway design considerations for these facilities, DRMP evaluated truck routes to determine if trucks could efficiently complete turns at intersections along the route.  Improvements were identified at intersections to accommodate truck movements.   

BMW Plant Woodruff – Woodruff, S.C.

DRMP completed a TIA for BMW Plant Woodruff, a new high-voltage battery assembly plant projected to support more than 1,400 employees. Employee estimates were used in conjunction with access plans, shift change data, and projections for deliveries by heavy vehicles to estimate custom trip generation and average daily traffic numbers for the facility. Site access points were evaluated for capacity and safety, and a signal warrant analysis was performed for the main site access on SC 101. DRMP worked closely with the project team and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to coordinate the TIA, which helped streamline the SCDOT review process and resulted in project approval.

CSL Seqirus – Holly Springs, N.C.

CSL Seqirus’s Holly Springs facility is the world’s largest cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing site and serves as a foundation for pandemic preparedness efforts. DRMP prepared a traffic study for the facility expansion to evaluate potential trip impacts to the surrounding roadway network.  This site considered primarily employee vehicle traffic to and from the facility.  

Triangle Innovation Point Megasite – Moncure, N.C.

DRMP provided TIA and planning services for Triangle Innovation Point, a 2,150-acre megasite, formerly known as the Moncure Megasite. The site is designed to support large-scale industrial and economic development. DRMP assessed potential improvements needed for the surrounding transportation system and developed access plans accommodating the anticipated traffic. Access alternatives considered included constructing a new median-divided roadway with a grade-separated railroad crossing and interchange to facilitate efficient movement of traffic to and from the facility. Transportation planning for this facility encompassed considerations for rail, truck, and employee traffic.

Scout Plant – Blythewood, S.C.

 In collaboration with SCDOT, DRMP completed a TIA for the proposed Scout manufacturing plant, including an operations plan for more than 9,700 plant employees in addition to 4,900 support services employees. These employee estimates were used to estimate unique trip generation and average daily traffic numbers for the proposed project. The TIA was supplemented by an Interchange Justification Report (IJR) and Interchange Modification Report (IMR) for I-77 to provide direct access to the plant. In addition to the interchange improvements, signal warrant analyses and designs were completed for each of the four access locations to the plant. Parking planning services were completed to accommodate the unique employee shifts, ensuring convenient and secure parking for staff. Ongoing team meetings with the project team and SCDOT were held to keep the project aligned with other publicly funded transportation improvements nearby.