Jonathan Jacobs, the Town of Wake Forest transportation engineer, provided this update Wednesday for the road projects in the town.
“All of our active construction projects are ongoing and the contractors are hard at work. We are reminding them that they should practice social distancing, wash their hands often, and stay home if they don’t feel well. I don’t anticipate work to cease unless we are given further restrictions set forth by the State or Federal Government. This is an ever changing situation and we are constantly monitoring to determine if changes are needed in our operations.”
Stadium Drive Complete Streets
This project has been substantially completed. The Town and NCDOT have completed the final walk-thru of the project and the contractor is actively making corrections to items that were not installed to our standards. Town Staff is working with Wake Forest High School to ensure a smooth transition in the upcoming school year to revert traffic patterns back to a pre-construction state since things were changed to try and limit traffic on Stadium Drive during construction. The traffic signal has been partially installed but we are still awaiting delivery of the metal mast arm. We hope to have the signal installed by May and the entire project should be completed by June.
Priority Pedestrian Corridors
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The culvert extension on Wait Avenue has been completed and the contractor has completed all three (3) retaining walls. We are awaiting the stone veneer to be installed at S. Allen Road and the final curbing and sidewalk along the culvert site will begin. The W. Oak Ave section has been completed for several months and the contractor is working on some of the punch list items. We hoped to see this project completed by the end of next month, but with the unknowns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, I am not as optimistic we will reach that goal.
Ligon Mill Operational Improvements
This project is still scheduled (as of right now…) to begin on May 4, 2020. We should have the project signs installed in the coming weeks. This project was awarded to Fred Smith Company and we are awaiting final concurrence from NCDOT to proceed. More information and details will be released by our Communications Director Bill Crabtree, but motorists should be preparing for potential delays and some mess for about a year and a half. We are widening the corridor from S. Main Street to the Walmart Drive on Ligon Mill Road. This project will really improve this tight and messy corridor and I am looking forward to see it completed. This project will set the gateway of a new North-South connection from S. Main Street to NC 98 Bypass when the Forbes PUD/Wegmans development is completed and extends Ligon Mill Road to the bypass.
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4 Responses
I’m a bit confused about the time frame for the Ligon Mill Operational Improvements project. The section of road identified, S. Main St. to the Walmart Drive, is about 1000 feet. Why would that project take a year and a half?
It’s been more time than that. There were problems with utilities having to be moved, right-of-way having to be obtained from businesses and individuals, no bids when it was first put out to bid. I’ll ask Jonathan Jacobs to explain. He’s the town transportation engineer.
Carol Pelosi
That is a great questions! Road Widening typically takes a considerably longer amount of time to complete than new construction roadway. You are fighting traffic, keeping business access available, and the most challenging, Utilities. The other difference in roadway widening is that you can only build half a time. This particular project has a very tight working area due to adjacent businesses and parking lots. Several retaining walls are required and two-way traffic has to be maintained at all times. We looked at the idea of closing the corridor for a period of time and opted not to do so. Additionally, the contract time is not actually a full year and a half, but I find it very important to ensure the public is aware for the long haul in case something unknown pops up or we encounter unforeseen delays. I would much rather share that we have finished early than the opposite. If you have any other specific questions, I welcome you to give me a call, or send me an email. I can be reached at (919) 435-9441 and at jjacobs@wakeforestnc.gov.
Thank you for that explanation. I can see where maintaining 2-way traffic on that section while work is under way will be a challenge. I expect (hope) people will find alternate routes in an effort to avoid the traffic jam.