D E PA R T M E N T S T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
CAUTION: Road Work Ahead! Despite challenges, engineers work to make infrastructure improvements throughout Wake County BY MANDY HOWARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL MASCIA/DRONE A.I.R.
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midst the fear and uncertainty the lockdown brought, many agree there was one tiny positive blip: a marked decrease in traffic. The return to a normal way of life is very welcome, but also reminds those who live in the Triangle that, in many places, most of our roads were not created for the current population. State and local officials have been planning updates and upgrades for years, but no one predicted how a pandemic could affect the labor market, nor could they have planned for the meteoric rise in property values. For example, when a 2017 transportation bond was passed in Raleigh, the budget included accommodations for steady growth in property values and inflation. However, as City of Raleigh Senior Engineer in Roadway Design and Construction Chad Cantrell says, “Inflation is through the roof and this is a hot place to live. As we got to the end of these bond projects, there just wasn’t sufficient money to cover all [the projects on the bond] through construction.”
INTERSTATE 440 BELTLINE Where: I-440 Beltline between Walnut Street and Wade Avenue. Why: Built in the 1960s, this was the first section of the beltline to be built, and is the last to be widened. According to the NCDOT, it claims nearly triple the statewide crash rate for similar facilities. This project will improve safety and provide much-needed updates to this segment of the highly used loop. What: The road will be widened to six lanes, interchanges will be upgraded and all bridges will be replaced. When: The original finish date was 2023, but due to supply and labor issues the completion date has been pushed back to October 2024. At this time, you can see the beginning of a massive flyover, or high-level overpass, that will carry Wade Avenue over the beltline.
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That is a common refrain for projects that are being funded on a local level. When it comes to statewide projects, for which funding is a little more predictable, there are also challenges. “Like every other industry, our contractors are being challenged by the labor market and there are supply chain issues,” says Marty Homan, communications manager for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles. So while there may be headlines about expanding budgets and delayed timelines, and we’ll likely all start telling jokes about the state bird being the crane and the state flower being the blossoming orange cone, it’s important to look to the future. “I can’t stress enough how important having good transportation infrastructure is,” Homan says. “The region is growing tremendously, and we need the infrastructure in place to get people where they need to go.” Here’s a quick look at some major projects happening now.
HILLSBOROUGH STREET AND BLUE RIDGE ROAD Where: Intersection of Hillsborough Street, Beryl Road and Blue Ridge Road at the State Fairgrounds. Why: To improve traffic flow and reduce train-related conflicts with vehicles and pedestrians. What: A bridge will be built for Hillsborough Street and the nearby railroad tracks so that Blue Ridge Road will travel, unimpeded, underneath Hillsborough Street and Beryl Road. No longer an intersection, a “jug handle” interchange will be built for travelers on Blue Ridge Road to access Hillsborough Street. The intersection will be closed for the entirety of the construction phase. When: Construction will begin when the annual North Carolina State Fair ends in 2022, and the interchange will open in just under two years, prior to the state fair in October 2024.
