Walking Through History: Wendover Avenue in Greensboro and the Long Awaited Sidewalk Improvements from Grecade Street to Church Street
Neighborhood & History · Greensboro, NC
By Joy Watson · Joy Watson Real Estate · Published July 15, 2026
I live at 909 W Wendover Ave. I walk this stretch of road often, in front of the homes we manage, picking up trash, pulling weeds, and handing out sunflowers to neighbors along the way, and more times than I could count I have done it in every kind of weather without a proper place to put my feet. So when I tell you I have been waiting on this sidewalk project, I mean that literally, not as a figure of speech. There is genuinely good news ahead for West Wendover from Grecade Street, near Battleground Court, to Church Street, and I wanted to lay out the whole story: where this road came from, why it looks the way it does, and exactly what the sidewalk project actually is, in plain English, sourced from the real documents.
A quick summary: EB-5883 Wendover Avenue Sidewalk Improvement
The project will build new sidewalks and repair existing ones on both sides of West Wendover Avenue, from Grecade Street and Battleground Court to Church Street. The total budget is about 3.1 million dollars, funded roughly 80 percent by NCDOT federal funds and 20 percent by City of Greensboro local bonds. Planning and design funding of about 300,000 dollars is shown for fiscal year 2026 to 2027, with construction funding of about 2.8 million dollars in fiscal year 2027 to 2028. Construction is projected to start in summer 2027 and finish in summer 2028. Right now the project sits in the design and right of way phase.
From Early Trails to a Major City Corridor
Wendover's roots go back further than most people walking it today realize. Historical accounts trace parts of its path to early Guilford County routes, including what was locally known as the Dun Settlement Road, roads that connected farms and communities long before Greensboro looked anything like it does now. See NCpedia's history of Greensboro if you want to go down that rabbit hole with me.
The road we actually drive and walk today came later. As Greensboro grew through the middle of the 20th century, the city needed a real corridor running from east to west, something that could tie neighborhoods to downtown, to the hospital, and to the highway system. The modern alignment of Wendover Avenue was completed around 1971 and 1972, and at the time it was one of the largest and most expensive road projects in North Carolina history, reportedly around 12.5 million dollars. It rerouted portions of US 70 and created a partial loop around downtown that still shapes how this side of the city functions, including access to Cone Health.
That history is why Wendover feels like two different roads depending on where you are standing. Parts of it behave like a freeway, with interchanges connecting to I-40, Battleground Avenue and US 220, and O'Henry Boulevard, which carries US 29, US 220, and US 70 together. Other parts are a straightforward urban boulevard with driveways and storefronts and, soon, real sidewalks. It runs past Idlewood and Midtown, past local businesses, past the hospital. It is a working street, and it has been carrying Greensboro's growth on its back for more than fifty years. For the fuller route history, the Wikipedia entry on Wendover Avenue is a good rabbit hole too.
The Sidewalk Project: Filling the Gaps
For years, the stretch of West Wendover from Grecade Street and Battleground Court to Church Street has had incomplete or aging sidewalks, some sections with none at all. This project, officially EB-5883, Wendover Avenue Sidewalk Improvement, will build new sidewalks and repair existing ones on both sides of the road through that section. The larger project also touches East Wendover from Summit Avenue to US 29, but the Grecade to Church stretch is the one I walk, and the one most of my neighbors use daily, so that is where I am focusing.
Here is why it actually matters, beyond just sidewalks being nice. It brings the corridor up to ADA standards, which means real accessibility for people using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers, not just a paved path that happens to exist. It connects people to Latham Park, to transit, to retail, and most importantly to Cone Health, where a huge number of people are walking to appointments, to visit family, or to get to work every single day. It makes this a genuinely walkable stretch for families, seniors, students, and hospital staff who currently have to choose between walking in the grass or walking in traffic. And plainly, it is good for property values and daily life for everyone along this corridor, homeowners, renters, and short term guests alike.
I care about sidewalks more than the average person, probably because I own property here and because I have hosted enough guests to know that walkable is not a marketing word, it is a real thing people feel with their feet. This project is a meaningful step forward for a road that has waited a long time for it.
Timeline, From the Actual City and NCDOT Documents
This is a long planned, NCDOT directed Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) project, funded with a mix of federal and local money. Here is what the timeline looks like based on the City of Greensboro's Capital Improvements Program (CIP) documents, budget ordinances, and NCDOT references. I will say what I always say about infrastructure timelines: they move. Right of way acquisition, utility coordination, design refinements, and bidding all have a way of shifting dates.
| Phase | Detail |
|---|---|
| Earlier years | Design and planning funding established. City Council approved initial budget ordinances, including design agreements with NCDOT providing about 80 percent federal reimbursement and 20 percent local match via bonds. |
| Ongoing | The project has seen revisions in the CIP as right of way processes and other coordination continued. Earlier construction targets from the middle of the 2020s shifted. |
| FY 2026 to 2027 | Planning and design funding, approximately 300,000 dollars, per the City of Greensboro 2026 to 2035 CIP. |
| FY 2027 to 2028 | Construction funding, approximately 2.8 million dollars. |
| Summer 2027 | Projected construction start. |
| Summer 2028 | Projected completion. |
As of the latest public CIP and project references, the project is in the design and right of way phase, with ongoing coordination. For the most current updates, check the City's Transportation Department, the latest CIP on greensboro-nc.gov, or NCDOT's project listings.
The Honest Section: Why I Am Not Popping Champagne Yet
I want to be straight with you about this, the way I would with a buyer asking me about a project like this. Construction funding does not show up until fiscal year 2027 to 2028, and the projected start is summer 2027. That is more than a year out from today. Infrastructure timelines in this city have a track record of moving, and this one has already shifted once from earlier targets set in the middle of the 2020s. I am genuinely glad this is funded and in design, and I think it is worth writing about now so neighbors know it is real and coming. But I am not going to tell you to expect concrete by next spring. Watch the City's CIP updates, not just this post, for the real time picture.
What This Means for Wendover
Better sidewalks along this stretch will make daily life easier and safer for a lot of people I actually know by name: neighbors, hospital staff, guests staying in our rentals, and everyone I pass while I am out picking up trash and pulling weeds in front of the homes we manage. For property owners and hosts in the Idlewood and Midtown area, this is another real investment in the kind of walkable, connected community that keeps people here instead of just passing through.
Wendover Avenue has always told the story of how Greensboro grows. The 1971 to 1972 project was one chapter. This one, quieter and smaller in scale but not in importance, is the next.
Right on Wendover: 909, 907, 905 & 903
These new sidewalks will run right past four properties I know better than anywhere else in Greensboro, because I live at one of them. See photos, floor plans, and availability at JoyWatsonRealEstate.com.
If you have favorite spots along Wendover, or thoughts on this project, drop them in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EB-5883 Wendover Avenue Sidewalk Improvement project?
EB-5883 is an NCDOT Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) program project that will construct new sidewalks and repair existing ones on both sides of West Wendover Avenue from Grecade Street and Battleground Court to Church Street, plus a separate segment of East Wendover Avenue from Summit Avenue to US 29.
When will construction start on the Wendover Avenue sidewalks?
Per the City of Greensboro's 2026 to 2035 Capital Improvements Program, planning and design funding is shown in fiscal year 2026 to 2027, with major construction funding in fiscal year 2027 to 2028. Projected construction start is summer 2027, with completion targeted for summer 2028.
How much does the project cost and who pays for it?
The total estimated budget is approximately 3.1 million dollars, funded roughly 80 percent by NCDOT federal funds through the STI program and 20 percent by City of Greensboro local bond funds.
Why is Wendover Avenue important to Greensboro's history?
Wendover Avenue's path traces back to early Guilford County routes including the Dun Settlement Road. Its modern alignment, completed around 1971 and 1972 at roughly 12.5 million dollars, was one of the largest road projects in North Carolina history and created a partial loop connecting downtown Greensboro to major highways and Cone Health.
Who benefits from the new sidewalks?
Pedestrians, hospital visitors and staff at Cone Health, residents of Idlewood and Midtown, students, seniors, and anyone walking to nearby parks like Latham Park benefit from improved, ADA compliant sidewalks on both sides of the road.
Where can I find official updates on the project?
The most current information is available through the City of Greensboro's Transportation Department, the latest Capital Improvements Program at greensboro-nc.gov, and NCDOT's STIP project listings.
Jargon, Defined
STI, or Strategic Transportation Investments: North Carolina's formula for prioritizing and funding transportation projects. NCDOT STI overview.
NCDOT: the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the state agency overseeing roads and the STIP. ncdot.gov.
CIP, or Capital Improvements Program: a local government's multi year plan and budget for infrastructure projects. City of Greensboro CIP.
ADA, or Americans with Disabilities Act: the federal civil rights law requiring accessible public infrastructure, including curb ramps and sidewalk widths. ada.gov.
Right of way: the legal right to use land for a road, sidewalk, or utility, often requiring acquisition or easements before construction. Definition.
US 70 and US 29, 220, 70: federal highway route designations that pass through or near Greensboro. US 70 route info.
Sources and Further Reading
Everything above is drawn from the City of Greensboro's 2026 to 2035 Capital Improvements Program and its EB-5883 excerpt, earlier CIP versions and ordinances available through the Legistar project documentation, NCpedia's overview of Greensboro history and the Wendover completion at ncpedia.org, the Wikipedia route and development summary at Wendover Avenue (Greensboro), NCDOT's explanation of the STI program at ncdot.gov, and ADA standards at ada.gov.
This post is for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available city and state records as of the update date above. It is not legal or financial advice. Joy Watson Real Estate represents buyers and sellers under North Carolina agency law, and Working With Real Estate Agents disclosures are provided in writing per NCREC Rule 21 NCAC 58A .0104 as applicable. Short term rental properties mentioned here are governed separately by each booking platform's terms and house rules.
With love and sidewalk energy,
Joy Watson, Realtor®
Joy Watson Real Estate | Serving Greensboro, NC and the Piedmont Triad
(928) 699-8883 | joy@joywatsonrealestate.com
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