News
May 20, 2009
Work Begins On Hillsborough Street Roundabouts Project
Ground was broken today on the Hillsborough Street Roundabouts Project. But work began on the project 10 years ago when the residents and business operators of Hillsborough Street came together for the purpose of revitalizing one of Raleigh’s most historic and vital communities.
The result of a decade of discussions, debates and decisions is the project that will convert Hillsborough to a two-lane, median-divided facility with on-street parking on both sides, seven-foot-wide raised medians, sidewalk bulb-outs at the intersections and mid-block location and several pedestrian signals.
TheHillsborough Street and Pullen Road traffic signal will be replaced with a dual-lane roundabout. The existing concrete and brick sidewalks will be replaced. The project also includes the replacement of both water and sewer utilities throughout the length of the project, as well as LED street and pedestrian lighting.
Mayor Charles Meeker presided over the noon groundbreaking ceremony with participation by North Carolina State University (NCSU) Chancellor James Oblinger and the founder of the Hillsborough Street Partnership, Nina Szlosberg. Mayor Meeker emphasized that the three partners – the City of Raleigh, NCSU and the community – were equally essential to making the project a success.
The City has a $9.22 million contract with Hamlett Associates for the Hillsborough Street Project Phase I, which extends from Gardner Street to Oberlin Road.
Public Information Resources
City staff as well as representatives of the design consultants, construction team and the Hillsborough Street Partnership will be providing alerts and updates throughout the project. To provide the most complete and up-to-the-minute information, the City of Raleigh is marking its initial foray into twittering with this project. The following are information sources for the Hillsborough Street Roundabouts Project:
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Project hotline: 919-677-2004
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Construction Emergencies: 336-337-7323
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Media Inquiries: City of Raleigh Public Affairs Dept: 919-996-3100
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City of Raleigh Public Works Dept: 919-996-3030
Traffic Control
During construction, Hillsborough Street will be reduced to two lanes of traffic, with one lane in each direction. Barrels or barriers will separate traffic and pedestrians from the work zones, but careful consideration has been given to maintain business access and parking. All day, on-street parking will remain open on at least one side of the street throughout the construction period, and will be open on both sides of the street after Phase II, June 2010. Pedestrian walkways will be maintained on the business side of the street during the length of the project, even during Phase II. The sequencing also incorporates solutions to maintain bus stops and the project team continues to coordinate with local, regional, and university transit providers to ensure service is not interrupted.
Phase I: NCSU South Side
Water/Sewer/Utilities/Streetscape
Estimated Project timeline: May 2009 – January 2010
Construction has begun on the south side of Hillsborough Street to replace the water and sewer lines. As these lines are completed, the utilities will be relocated into an underground “duct bank” that will be under the sidewalk or parking lane. Street paving, sidewalk construction and the installation of streetscape elements will follow the utility work and cap off all the Phase I work in January 2010.
The first tasks will be to replace the main water and sewer connection for Hillsborough Street where they come out from the NCSU campus. Early work had to be done to facilitate putting the utilities underground on the west side near the D.H. Hill Library. The work will then take place block by block from east to west, moving down the corridor 125 feet at a time.
As work progresses towards the main business section, crews also will be working near the Bell Tower and constructing the southeast corner of the Hillsborough/Pullen roundabout and the gateway walls. Crews also will be working on the northern section of the Pullen Road Extension where it crosses the current NCSU parking lot behind Red Hot & Blue, Player’s Retreat and Sam & Bill’s.
Phase II: Business North Side Streetscape Improvements
Estimated Project Timeline: January – June 2010
With the utilities upgraded and the south side nearly complete, work will shift to the north side of Hillsborough Street and portions of the side streets. Construction on the sidewalks and streetscape will progress a half-block at a time from east to west. Pedestrians will still be allowed to walk on the north side with five-foot walkways maintained around construction.
The completed portion of the Pullen Extension will be opened to Oberlin Road for access to Ferndell Street while crews work to complete the extension. Work also will be taking place on the north side of the roundabout and the sidewalks from Oberlin Road to Maiden lane.
Crews then will begin to work westward towards Gardner Street. Crews also will begin to improve the sidewalks and entrances near the Oberlin parking lot and Groveland Avenue as they build the eastern half of the Oberlin/Pullen roundabout.
Phase III: Roundabouts/Medians/Oberlin
Phase IV: Finishing Touches – Landscaping/Signage/Watauga Club Drive Closure
Estimated Project Timeline: June – September 2010
The start of Phase III will mark the completion of work on both sides of Hillsborough Street. Efforts will be refocused on work between the curbs.
This phase starts the construction of the roundabout islands, the brick medians along the center of Hillsborough Street, and the conversion of a short segment of Oberlin Road to one-way operation.
The final phase of the project will entail closing the small segment of Watauga Club Drive that intersects with Hillsborough Street across from Sadlack’s.
Other work will include all the landscaping for the corridor as well as sign installation that had not been completed earlier in the project.
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
222 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3100
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