SMITHFIELD - Diners could one day find it easier to reach Zaxby's, Ruby Tuesday and other restaurants tucked into the corner of Industrial Park Drive and U.S. 70 Business.

The town is completing plans for a street that will essentially run parallel to often-congested Industrial Park Drive. The new street and other planned improvements are designed to ease traffic flow, end driver confusion and make empty commercial lots more attractive to developers. The work will include sidewalks in some areas.

"The objective is to get the town, [the state Department of Transportation] and private development interests together to see if we can craft some new roadway system," said Town Manager Eric Williams.

Williams said the town has preliminary designs for the work and is getting feedback from property owners before releasing a final design around the end of the year. Once that's done, the town can start buying right-of-way, and Williams said he hopes to include funding for the first round of construction in next year's budget.

"We may very well do things in phases," Williams said, noting the town's tight recession budget.

The proposed road work includes:

A direct lane from the southbound off-ramp of Interstate 95 that would take cars straight onto Industrial Park Drive. Cars would not have to first turn onto U.S. 70 Business.

A new street that would connect Smithfield Crossings Drive -- which runs between Hess and Checkers near U.S. 70 Business -- to Equity Drive, Smithfield Cinemas and Venture Drive.

Additional turn lanes and a traffic circle to ease traffic flow on Industrial Park Drive.

If the project is done in phases, the town will likely start with improvements at U.S. 70 Business and later extend the new street to Venture Drive.

The new street will make it easier for drivers to get to businesses in the area, and the town will add signs to further ease confusion. Williams says he's one of many people who've had trouble finding the right entrance to a business.

"You might see the business, but you're not sure what turn to get in," he said.

It's too early to announce a timeline or to estimate the cost of construction, Williams said. But he noted that the state and property owners will likely help the town cover the price. "It's too fluid at the moment," he said.

The Town Council recently agreed to hire an attorney and a financial advisor to prepare to borrow money for the project.

Officials hope the project will reduce traffic congestion in the area, which gets particularly backed up during the holiday season. Sidewalks will allow guests of hotels near the outlet center to walk to stores and restaurants. And the new street will open up land for new businesses.

"Over the long run, if you can attract some more development there, it'll be money well spent," Williams said.