UNION COUNTY -- A popular road to the beach might be getting a facelift, as the state Department of Transportation has a plan it hopes will fix some problems on Highway 218.

For resident Ellis Austin, Hwy. 218 used to be a road less traveled. That was in 1953. Now, the 80-year old is still living on Hwy. 218, watching people use the road as a cut through and a means to avoid U.S. 74 congestion.

“[It used to be] ‘oh, here comes a car.’ Then maybe a half hour later, here comes another one,” said Austin of how the highway was when he moved to the area. “Now you have to wait to get out in the highway … traffic is rough.”

The road itself is also rough in spots, as the decades of wear and tear are growing more and more visible. “We’ve tried to keep up with maintenance over time, but we see … it needs a facelift,: said Jen Thompson of the NCDOT.

The department wants to use $15 million to fix a more-than 30-mile stretch of the road. The highway would be resurfaced between Interstate 485 and U.S. 74 in Anson County. Turn lanes would be added at three intersections – U.S. 601, N.C. 200 and N.C. 205. Crews would also widen the road 1.5 feet on each side.

“It'll take some time, but with all the extra congestion we're seeing on it for folks traveling on it, it'll be a good improvement,” said Thompson.

Mecklenburg Union Metropolitan Planning Organization will be asked to approve the plan at its July 16 meeting. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in 2012.