Design/Construction Newsletter, Fall Issue

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Fall Issue, September 2016

Design/Construction is now part of the City of Raleigh’s newly formed Engineering Services Department. The Engineering Services Department is responsible for overseeing the design and construction of roadway, stormwater, and facility improvement projects, ensuring safety and sustainability through diligent review, thorough inspections, and cost effective maintenance of existing system components. 

If you are interested in our projects, make sure to check our website often, as project updates are being made frequently. Also, you can follow our projects and team on Facebook and Twitter.

Current Construction Projects:

This year, fall will bring not only cooler weather and shorter days but more roadway construction projects to join the ranks of projects we have ongoing throughout the City. To follow construction progress and stay informed about our projects you can visit our Street Projects and Sidewalk Projects web pages. We keep the pages updated with the latest news and information. Larger projects have pages with more details including a primary construction schedule. You can find a listing and links to current construction projects below.

Feature Construction Projects

Mitchell Mill Road Construction Image

Mitchell Mill Road Widening Project:

Mitchell Mill Road is in the midst of a massive transformation. The congested two-lane road will soon be replaced with a four-lane median-divided road with bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the street, From Louisburg Road to Forestville Road.

Contractors started work this summer clearing and setting erosion control devices along the corridor. They have installed the majority of silt fencing and erosion control devices. Most of the tree clearing is complete and the contractor is beginning to install underground utilities and make preparations for temporary pavement along the corridor.  

At this time there is a significant amount of activity near the intersection of Forestville Road while contractors prepare for installation of a new double box culvert. Due to the volume of rock in this location contractors will have to conduct blasting operations. Contractors performed the first round of blasting on Tuesday, August 30. They expect to blast in this area daily for about two weeks.

The City of Raleigh requires its contractors to take extensive precautions during the blasting process to protect public and private property from potential damage. Residents and businesses within the blasting zone were contacted, and Mitchell Mill Road and Forestville Road will be closed near the intersection for a short amount of time during each of the blasting events.

Mitchell Mill Road has just begun the transformation process with the project scheduled for completion in Spring 2018. To follow the progress of this project you can sign up for updates to be delivered directly to your inbox by sending an email to Mitchell Mill Road Widening Project or visit the Mitchell Mill Road Widening Project web page, where we make regular updates on the construction progress. 

Sandy Forks Road Image

Sandy Forks Road Widening Project:

This summer there was a substantial amount of construction activity along the Sandy Forks Road corridor, as crews focused on a variety of tasks. Contractors have now widened Sandy Forks Road between Six Forks Road and just north of Lynn Road/Spring Forest Road. The new lane configuration in this area provides slightly more traffic capacity during the remainder of the project as additional turn lanes are now available at these two critical intersections. 

The section from the Lynn Road/Spring Forest Road and the Falls of Neuse Road intersections had a recent traffic shift to the west side of the road to allow installation of storm drainage, waterline, and two retaining walls along the east side of the road. As underground infrastructure is completed crews are preparing for final grading and paving operations of the new eastbound lane. As areas are completed, additional street lighting poles and sidewalk installation will take place along the east side of the corridor.  We anticipate this will enable the project to move into the next phase of construction by December, which will shift traffic to the new pavement on the south/east side while the contractor turns their focus to the north/west side of the corridor. 

Hillsborough Street Construction Image

Hillsborough Street Renewal Project, Phase II:

The Hillsborough Street project is in full swing. Contractors are currently concentrating their efforts on the south side of the street replacing underground utilities and installing an electric duct bank that will allow overhead utility lines to be taken underground. The City maintains a unique project website, HillsboroughSt.RaleighNC.gov, for this high visibility project.  This allows businesses, residents, and visitors to stay up to date on construction activity along the corridor.

Glascock Street Traffic Calming Project:

Contractors installed traffic calming devices and sidewalks to Glascock Street this summer from Raleigh Boulevard to Norris Drive. The project is about 90 percent complete, with new pavement being installed along the corridor in September and new landscaping once temperatures cool down this fall. 

Lenoir and South Street Two-way Conversion Project:

Contractors are replacing a significant amount of underground infrastructure during the project, which requires periodic road closures and some night work. The Lenoir and South Street Project web page is updated on a regular basis and is an excellent source for detour information in this area. The project is about 50 percent complete and on schedule for completion early next year.

Transylvania Avenue Street Petition Project:

Contractors are working to complete this neighborhood initiated project early this fall. Curb and gutter was installed from Hertford/Orange Street to Rutherford Road earlier this summer, and crews are currently installing the remaining curb and gutter from Rutherford Road to Beaufort Street. Crews are scheduled to begin the paving operation in the next few weeks with the completion of the project planned for the end of the month.

1-40 Retrofits and Pedestrian Improvement Project:

This project will improve pedestrian infrastructure on I-40 overpasses at Buck Jones, Avent Ferry, and Rock Quarry roads. Contractors are finishing up at the Avent Ferry and Buck Jones Road locations and have started the drainage and clearing operations at the Rock Quarry Road site. The project is scheduled to be complete late this fall.

Chapanoke Road, Clark Avenue and New Hope Church Road:

These three sidewalk projects are being completed as part of one construction contract with Lanier Construction. Currently, crews are working at the Chapanoke Road location. All three areas are expected to be complete in early 2017.

Fall Construction Scheduled

Buck Jones Road Widening Project:

Raleigh City Council awarded the construction contract to Carolina Sunrock, Inc. this summer. Duke Energy Progress crews are currently working throughout the corridor relocating power poles, before the road contractor begins their operations in October.

Capital Boulevard Pedestrian Improvement Project:

This project will provide new sidewalk along Capital Blvd on both sides for over a mile between Spring Forest Road and Old Wake Forest Road.  This project was funded through a federal grant that provides 80% of construction cost with the remaining 20% funded from the City’s Capital Improvement Program.  This project will be completed by May 2017.  

 

In Design

The City of Raleigh street and sidewalk design process can take several months to a few years depending on the scope of work. The process involves public meetings with citizen input, design review by other departments and divisions within the City, and concludes with the City Council/City Manager’s authorization.

We maintain a listing and up to date information on all our street and sidewalk projects on both the Street Projects and Sidewalk Projects web pages. Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) typically have individual project web pages with more information including a basic project schedule. Our roadway projects are broken into three groups: CIP, Petition, and Traffic Calming. Capital Improvement Projects are Council-initiated and are in line with the City’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan.  These projects typically address higher volume roadways across the City that are over capacity or in need of redevelopment to replace outdated infrastructure.  Petition Projects are community initiated projects, typically along lower volume streets inside existing neighborhoods. Traffic Calming Projects are also community petition projects that modify streetscapes in an effort to reduce speeding through our neighborhoods and provide safer pedestrian accommodations. 

For a full listing of our projects visit our website.

    Staff Highlight

    The Design/Construction Division consists of 38 employees spread over five programs (Roadway, CADD Services, Survey Services, Contract Inspections, and Assessments/Petitions). With each newsletter, we like to spotlight one or two members of the team.

    Mukund Image

    Mukund Moghe

    Mukund Moghe is the Project Engineer overseeing this month’s feature construction project, the Mitchell Mill Road Widening Project.  Mukund was born in India and graduated as a Civil Engineer from Vishveswaraya Regional College of Engineering (VRCE) under Nagpur University. He worked for 14 years on hydroelectric projects for India’s State Department.

    In 1988 Mukund moved to Cleveland Ohio, where he worked temporary jobs until he obtained his PE license from Ohio in 1989.  Mukund went to work with a material testing company for a year before joining the City of Elyria as a Project Engineer. While working for the City of Elyria, Mukund attended Cleveland State University, where in 1996 he received his MS in Civil Engineering. Mukund worked in a variety of positions and in 2007 was promoted to City Engineer. During the 21 years of employment with the City of Elyria, he designed, constructed and managed several utility projects, street improvement projects, sewer and water plant projects, municipal facilities, and other projects. In 2011, Mukund retired from the City of Elyria and moved to Cary North Carolina, where he worked a part time job until coming on board with the City of Raleigh in 2014 as a Project Engineer II.

    Since joining the City, Mukund has worked on several roadway and sidewalk projects including, Kaplan Drive, Six Forks Pedestrian Project, Transylvania Avenue, and most recently the Mitchell Mill Road project.

    In his spare time, Mukund enjoys working in the yard, playing golf and socializing with friends and family.

    Welcome

    Amy image

    Amy Billings

    We are happy to announce the addition of Amy Billings to the Division’s Roadway Program. Amy comes to us from NCDOT where she was a Project Design Engineer with over 20 years of experience in design and management of transportation projects. 

    Congratulations

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    Robert Percell

    Robert Percell: This summer Robert was promoted from a CADD Technician to CADD Specialist with our CADD Services Section.   

    Have a questions or feedback email us we want to hear from you.

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