Proposed Dunkin’ Site Stalled as NCDOT Interchange Design Takes Priority
Supply, NC — In the news again, the long-discussed plans for a new Dunkin’ location at the corner of NC-17 and Blanton Road remain in a state of administrative limbo as of March 2026. While initial developer interest sparked local conversation, official Brunswick County planning records and NCDOT project maps indicate that the project never moved from a “proposed” concept to an “approved” construction site.
The primary roadblock is the massive U-5932 state transportation project, which aims to convert the current at-grade intersection of Ocean Highway and Southport-Supply Road into a high-capacity, grade-separated interchange.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has designated the NC-17 and NC-211 junction as a “committed project,” but final engineering designs are still being refined to accommodate shifting traffic patterns.
The proposed Dunkin’ site at Blanton Road sits directly within the potential footprint for new exit ramps and service roads, county officials have been unable to grant final site plan approval.
State law typically prevents permanent commercial structures from being green lit on land that may be subject to a “highway take” or right-of-way acquisition in the near future.
Beyond the physical footprint of the road, the project faces a commercial viability hurdle. Modern NCDOT designs for major interchanges prioritize – Reduced Conflict Intersections – which often eliminate the direct left-hand turns that quick-service restaurants rely on for morning commuter traffic.
If the final interchange design forces customers to navigate a series of U-turns to reach the window, the developer may find the Blanton Road location no longer fits the Dunkin’ business model. For now, the site remains a vacant lot, with no active building permits issued as the community waits for the state to finalize its blueprints.
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