AGENDA #5b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Report on NC 54 Pedestrian Tunnel at Meadowmont

 

DATE:             October 10, 2001

 

The following information discusses the status and expected completion plans for the pedestrian tunnel and associated walkways and bikeways along NC 54 adjacent to the Meadowmont development.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

At its September 24, 2001 meeting, the Council received a petition from Ms. Dorothy Verkerk in which she expressed concerns about the condition of the pedestrian tunnel under NC 54 near the Meadowmont development, and requested that the Town investigate the possibility of installing pedestrian crossing signals and markings at the intersection of NC 54 and Burning Tree Drive.

 

PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL

 

In accordance with its Special Use Permit stipulations, the Meadowmont development project is required to construct a combination walkway/bikeway facility along the development’s frontage on NC 54, including a pedestrian tunnel under NC 54.  These elements are part of comprehensive improvements to the entire NC 54 corridor between Burning Tree Drive and Barbee Chapel Road.

 

The pedestrian tunnel is structurally complete, but work still remains to be done on the grading and landscaping in the vicinity of the entrances, the drainage system, and the final pathway paving on the south side.  The tunnel is not officially open for public use at this time. 

 

Construction of associated pedestrian and bicycle improvements is presently underway and on schedule, in conjunction with corridor-wide work including grading, drainage system installations, utility installations, paving, traffic signal installations, and landscaping.  Although the corridor improvements are in progress, most have not yet been completed and accepted by the Town or the State.

 

As portions of the combination walkway/bikeway were paved and striped, the contractor allowed limited public use of the facility other than in specific areas where active construction was taking place, such as traffic signal and utility installation locations.

 

We expect the NC 54 walkway/bikeway and tunnel to be completed, inspected and accepted for public use by the Town and State within the next sixty days.  In the interim, we have instructed the contractor to increase efforts to deter public use of the pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including the tunnel, until such time those facilities are approved and accepted by the Town and State.

 

PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AT NC 54/BURNING TREE DRIVE

 

The petitioner also requested that we investigate with the State the possibility of installing pedestrian crossing signals and striping at the intersection of NC 54 and Burning Tree Drive.

 

This intersection is on the State roadway system, and any changes in the traffic signal system, signs, or markings would require State approval.  We will discuss the petitioner’s request with the State, and will report back to the Council before the end of the year with the results of those discussions.