The Gazette usually does not publish traffic alerts, but the alerts sounded by the Town of Wake Forest for Thursday, Oct. 6, could exacerbate the already heavy traffic on South Main and the N.C. 98 Bypass (Dr. Calvin Jones Highway) because of the Rogers Road detour in dire ways.
In short, avoid the area where South Main and the bypass intersect during the morning and after 7 p.m. Thursday because of construction work at the future site for the Lidl supermarket.
Beginning at 4 a.m. Thursday between 38 and 42 concrete mixer trucks will drive along the bypass from Capital Boulevard, turn right into the Lidl site, pour concrete for the store foundation and exit onto South Main going south, Director of Engineering Eric Keravuori told the town board Tuesday night. The town issued a traffic alert early Tuesday. No lane closures are planned, the town alert says, but delays are expected.
Keravuori also said, “I don’t know if the site is going to be ready” for the concrete for the store foundation because crews were still working to clear a mound of mulch and compact the ground at the store site on Tuesday.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, crews are expected to close one lane at the intersection of the two main routes through town to allow other crews to locate an underground water line. “The work is expected to be completed late Thursday evening. In the event the work is not completed Thursday, crews will resume their efforts at 7 p.m. Friday,” the alert said.
That night there will be flaggers to direct traffic, but delays are expected and drivers are urged to stay away from the area and find alternate routes.
Keravuori said the 12-inch water line is under 7 to 9 feet of fill the state Department of Transportation added during the construction of the bypass to allow South Main to cross it at grade level. The water line is in the right (southbound) lane of South Main. The crew has to locate it, valve it and add another 12-inch line. Keravuori estimated the drill rig would be in place about 8:30 p.m. Thursday night. He added that there will be a professional traffic-controlling crew there along with flaggers and lights.
Commissioners wondered about the impact on traffic for football games that night because all high school football games were moved to Thursday night to avoid any potential impact from Hurricane Matthew. Someone said that all the football traffic would already be at the stadiums by 7 p.m.
The town’s notice concluded: “The Town of Wake Forest provides this information as a public service. Motorists are reminded that weather and road conditions can change rapidly and should plan accordingly. When traveling through a construction area, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are asked to be patient, proceed with caution and obey flaggers at all times. Planned road closures and restrictions are necessary to allow for a variety of work. Dates, times and work locations are subject to change due to inclement weather or last-minute changes in work schedules.”
4 Responses
Seems like the mindless planners are at it again.
See it’s not even off the ground yet and there are already traffic problems. Who ever agreed to this project should have to live in Westherstone or Pinevew Estates. That’s our only way home. Thank you soooo much for making commuting in Wake Forest more stressful. And I’m sure those who have to travel that stretch to get home in Heritage really appreciate this project approval as well. I know the building process is temporary but the business is permanent. What is gong to be done about the traffic then??? Avoid heavy traffic times to go to the store??
Thanks for the info. May be time to stop using the word “bypass” to describe Dr. Calvin Jones Highway though. I now have to bypass the “bypass” by going thru town like I did before it was built.
Your actions are a malady: caused by a “double reversal bypass”. This is where a ‘solution’ to an existing problem caused unintended consequences and the FIX was to rely on what came before the ‘solution’. Symptoms are increased blood pressure, aggressive and anti-social behavior , anxiety and uncharacteristic risk taking while performing mundane tasks such as attempting to get to work or picking the kids up from after school activities. A sense of helplessness and defeat are also common. And knowing you are surrounded by scores of other commuters who are experiencing some or all of these symptoms creates a palpable, discerned judgement of those around you who are also trapped in the moment. Knowing those same motorists are thinking the same of you……Is there a Dr. Calvin Jones in the house?!? The parade of cement trucks might be a great time for highway engineers to extrapolate some priceless traffic data. Particularly if the trucks make a U-turn on S. Main to get back on the Bypass like all of the shoppers are going to do when Lidl opens. Seeing what happens at 4 a.m. might prepare us for 4p.m. during the Holidays.