CHAPEL HILL -- Town leaders and NCDOT officials are in talks for one of the town's biggest projects: redesigning U.S. Highway 15-501.

The four lane, highly-traveled road serves as a gateway into town.

"And that traffic that passes through the town really effects traffic pattens within the town," says Town Manager Roger Stancil.

Stancil emphasizes officials are only brainstorming ideas and are years away from breaking any ground. The need comes as the area grows. A Wegman's grocery store, a new UNC Healthcare office park, and the Durham-Orange Light Rail are just some of the projects in the works.

"There'll be a whole lot of new traffic generators in that area and that's going to require a whole re-thinking of that intersection with I-40," said Stancil.

Officials say they're considering everything from adding lights and lanes to overhauling the entire traffic pattern.

It's a state highway meaning the state will handle the funding.