Fall Newsletter

View as a web page

Banner Image

       Fall Issue, September 2015

Welcome to the Design and Construction Connection a quarterly newsletter that brings our subscribers up to date on projects that the Public Works-Design and Construction Division has underway.  In addition to our website, you can follow our projects and team on Facebook and Twitter.

=============

Under Construction

=============
Kaplan Drive image

Kaplan Drive

Construction on the Kaplan Drive, Traffic Calming Project began this July. The first phase of the project was to build a raised intersection at Kaplan Drive and Lorimer Road, which required the closing of the intersection. The Kaplan Drive, Lorimer Road intersection, is a vital corridor for the AB Combs Elementary School, and so this phase of the project had to be completed prior to school resuming in late August. The intersection reopened to traffic in the afternoon of August 12, two weeks prior to the start of school. 

The contractor is currently working on the installation of a sidewalk along the north side of Kaplan Drive from Lorimer Road to Melbourne Road. After the sidewalk installation is complete construction on more traffic calming devices along the Kaplan Drive corridor will begin. It is important to remember that this project is ongoing, and caution is needed through the work zone, as new traffic patterns will be put into place during the project.

=============
Freedom Drive image

Leesville Road

The intersection of Leesville Road and Renfield Drive has reopened to traffic after lowering the grade of the road improving sight distance along the corridor. The project is in full steam and construction is at different phases throughout the corridor. It is important to use extreme caution through the work zone and follow all traffic control signage as new traffic patterns will be put into place as the project continues.

More Information Button
=============
Brookside Drive

Brookside Drive Traffic Calming Project

The Traffic Calming project along Brookside Drive is almost complete, with the installation of landscaped curb bump-outs, landscaped medians, and some new sidewalk and wheelchair ramps. There were also two new catch basins installed to improve storm drainage, one at Holden Street, and the other at Glascock Street. Contractors are waiting on cooler temperatures to install the plantings along the street. 

=============

Pre-Construction

=============

There are a few projects slated to begin construction this fall including the Lenoir & South Street Two-Way Conversion Project, The Six Forks Road Sidewalk Project, and the I-40 Bridge Pedestrian Retrofits Project.  The Six Forks and I-40 Bridge projects are anticipated to be complete by Summer 2016 while the Lenoir/South Street Two-Way Conversion project is estimated for completion in late 2016.

=============

In Design

=============
Hillsborough Street

Hillsborough Street

On August 22, the Design and Construction team brought Hillsborough Street’s Past, Present, and Future to Packapalooza, an all-day street festive celebrating the start of the 2015-2016 school year.  The event was an opportunity to show how Hillsborough Street has evolved over the years and showcase the Hillsborough Street Revitalization, Phase II plans.

The right of way and easement acquisition phase for the Hillsborough Street Project is still in progress. This stage of the project can take several months and at times it may seem like not much is happening, but be assured that the City’s real estate team is working hard with property owners and surveyors. In the meantime, the team has been working to ensure that construction along the corridor is as painless as possible for businesses and residents along the corridor. The City has plans to have up to date information available to the public during construction and will help to maintain clear access to businesses along Hillsborough Street.

More Information Button
=============
Sandy Forks image

Sandy Forks

The Sandy Forks Road project has had a busy couple of months. The City submitted the Sandy Forks Road Widening design for preliminary evaluation for Raleigh’s first Greenroads Certification this July, the right of way and easement acquisition stage wrapped up, and the bidding process is now underway.  Road construction on this project is scheduled to begin around December; however, utility relocation work is already underway by Duke-Progress Energy.  Construction is anticipated to be complete by early Summer 2017.

An artist was selected to develop and create a striking visualization that is directly tied to the historic development of water in Raleigh while integrating sustainable materials that tie into the Greenroads certification of the road.

More Information Button
=============
Buck Jones Road Plan

Buck Jones Road

The right of way and easement acquisition process is ongoing. The project is scheduled to go to bid late this fall with construction slated to begin Winter 2016 and project completion to be late Fall 2017.

More Information Button
=============
Mitchell Mill Road Plan

Mitchell Mill Road Widening:

The right of way and easement acquisition should be completed late this fall, and construction should start Winter 2016 with project completion scheduled for Summer 2017.

More Information Button
=============
Transylvania Ave image

Transylvania Avenue

The Transylvania Avenue petition project has completed the right of way and easement acquisition stage and is now being advertised for bid. Construction on this project is scheduled to begin this fall with the completion projected for Fall 2016.

=============

Fox Road

The City will be holding the first of two public meeting on this project this fall. Stay tuned to social media and the website for date, time and location information. The road improvement project will install the missing sections of the curb, gutter and sidewalks along the east and west sides of Fox Road between Spring Forest Road and Sumner Blvd. Bicycle lanes will also be installed along this corridor.

=============

Yonkers Road

The Yonkers road project is in the beginning stages of the design phase. City staff is working with RK&K Engineers to reconstruct the existing roadway to a 2-lane curb and gutter road with bike lanes and sidewalk on the south side from Capital Boulevard to New Bern Avenue.  Currently, the roadway pavement and structure is in a degraded condition and needs to be repaired and rehabilitated to provide an overall safer and structurally sound corridor for traveling. 

More Information Button
=============

Pullen Road

The Pullen Road Extension Project is a public/private joint venture project between the City of Raleigh, North Carolina State University, and the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. The project will extend Pullen Road from Western Boulevard to Centennial Parkway. The road will include bike lanes, medians, a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side, a 10-foot multiuse path on the west side, street trees and street lights on both sides.

=============

Sidewalk Projects

=============
Sidewalk Image

Currently, the City has many sidewalk projects for a full list of projects and their status visit our Current Sidewalk Projects page. 

The City of Raleigh is committed to making Raleigh a more walkable city. There are two different types of sidewalk projects, City-initiated projects that typically occur along heavily traveled roadways included in the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan, and neighborhood sidewalk projects handled through the Petition Program.

City-initiated projects focus on fixing gaps along high volume streets. These sidewalks are ranked in the Raleigh Pedestrian Plan from a variety of factors, including road classification and traffic volumes, pedestrian safety, proximity to nearby schools and retail areas, transit facilities, and connectivity to other sidewalk/greenway facilities within the City.

Sidewalk Petition Program

The Sidewalk Petition Program provides citizens an opportunity to initiate sidewalk construction to complete portions of the sidewalk network that have not been identified by the Pedestrian Program. The program requires signatures from a majority of property owners along the street and in most cases there are no costs for residential property owners. Primarily intended for streets in residential neighborhoods, but sidewalks along non-residential streets are considered on a case by case basis.

More Information Button
=============

Major Traffic Calming Projects

=============
Street Calming image

The Design/Construction Division handles final design and implementation of traffic calming projects that require major streetscape measures to promote a safer environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicular traffic within the City’s neighborhoods. At this time, the division has four traffic calming projects underway.  Brookside Drive will be completing construction this fall while Glascock Street should begin work around September.  Construction along Kaplan Drive is underway with completion anticipated in December.  Milburnie Road is in the final design and land acquisition phase, currently scheduled to begin construction in mid-2016.

More Information about Neighborhood Traffic Management 

=============

Staff Highlight

=============
Billy's Award

We are pleased to announce that City of Raleigh, Public Works-Design and Construction, Contract Inspector, Billy Clevenger is this year’s recipient of the American Public Works Association-North Carolina Chapter, H.W. Kueffner Award. 
The H.W. Kueffner Award is presented annually by the Chapter to recognize individuals who are employed in public works for outstanding achievement in local government service. This award specifically excludes Department Heads, Public Works Directors, Managers, Council Members and Mayors. Each nominee must be endorsed by two or more Municipal Officials either elected, appointed or hired. The award is named for Mr. Herbert William Kueffner, Public Works Director for the City of Durham. Mr. Keuffner served as the first North Carolina Chapter president in 1957. The award has been given to a deserving individual each year since 1974. Billy Clevenger is the 42nd recipient of this award.

=============
Eric Haugaard

Design and Construction gained a new Project Engineer this August, Eric Haugaard. Eric grew up on a small farm in Kalamazoo, Michigan, after graduating from high school, he began a “summer” job as a carpenter building houses. That “summer” job lasted for fifteen years at which point he enrolled in the Civil Engineering program at Michigan State University.

Eric still likes to keep up with Michigan State football and basketball. He has said that Michigan State and the University of Michigan seem to have the same kind of rivalry as North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina. He explains that this is why he finds it natural to pull for NC State. He even said, “Saturdays are always a little better when UNC loses.”

After living in a few different climates, Eric decided North Carolina was the place he wanted to settle down. A couple of years ago he bought a “used house” so he could keep himself busy with home improvement jobs. Now that those jobs are complete he spends his time riding his bike or walking along nearby paved trails.

Eric feels fortunate to be working for the City of Raleigh and being part of a group that maintains and improves the City. As he said, “it really is a good place to live.”

=============
Richard Homovec

Richard J. Homovec started his career with the City of Raleigh as an Engineering Technician in 2001.  Prior to Municipal employment, he had worked in both the private sector and public sector in a variety of different fields including photography for local television stations. He has worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). He was a United States Coast Guard (USCG) certified Able Seaman, Any Waters Unlimited employed on US Navy Special Projects and Survey ships for the Military Sealift Command.

Richard was President of the North Carolina Society of Surveyors, Triangle Chapter. He had twice received awards from the North Carolina Society of Surveyors for the statewide Plat Contest. His photographs were used in the Smithsonian Institutions “Ocean Planet” exhibit, and surveying articles have been published in “The Tarheel Surveyor” and POB magazine.

Volunteer activities have included Special Olympics World Summer Games and Special Olympics, North Carolina. Richard was a Steering Committee member for America’s Sail in Beaufort, NC.  Hobbies include Bicycling, Rowing 34’ Crestwood gigs with Friends of the NC Maritime Museum’s The Beaufort Oars, Reading, and Gardening.

=============

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

Email us image