NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) resurfacing project for E. Main Street and a portion of Rosemary Street in Carrboro and W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill is underway to improve the road condition and safety through the corridor.
Coming soon, portions of the road will have a new traffic pattern where two lanes become one lane with new bike lanes and turn lanes for vehicles. Initially, the contractor is painting temporary markings as they pave the corridor. Permanent markings will be done after the paving is complete. NCDOT has changed the message boards to advertise “New Traffic Pattern” since the two-lane sections will be narrowing to one lane as work progresses.
The Carrboro portion of the project on E. Main Street extends from Jones Ferry Road to the Carrboro-Chapel Hill town limits at Merritt Mill Road and Rosemary Street. Project contractor Carolina Sunrock has begun the paving starting at the project’s western Carrboro end (Jones Ferry intersection). They will pave the outside (right lane) eastbound lane from one end of the project to the other (Columbia Street), then turn around and pave the westbound outside lane back to the Carrboro end. The Rosemary Street portion of the project within Carrboro has been completed. The remaining work will take a few weeks.
To limit disturbance on local businesses and traffic, work is underway at night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday. No work will occur after 6 a.m. Friday or any time on Saturday.
Traffic and signal patterns will change in some areas. Drivers should use caution and stay alert. Sidewalks should remain open. NCDOT Contact: John Howell at 336-570-6830
The restriping plan includes:
- Bicycle Lanes: Currently, many people on bicycles do not feel comfortable riding in traffic on E. Main Street. As a result, they will often switch over to the sidewalk, which increases the number of conflicts with people walking and waiting for transit. Adding bicycle lanes should help reduce the frequency of these conflicts.
- Bicycle Boxes: These create a clear space for people riding bicycles to make a left turn and to wait out in front of vehicles during a red signal before turning.
- Intersection Bike Markings: Create a clear demarcation of the conflict areas between people on bicycles and vehicles within intersections.
- Center Turn Lanes: A center turn lane which will provide storage for vehicles turning left at signals or into driveways to reduce the risk of crashes, improve traffic flow, improve access for left turning vehicles.
Learn more at http://www.townofcarrboro.org/2368/East-Main-Street-Restriping
