A long-standing project to improve traffic and connectivity in Chapel Hill is now finished, according to the town government.

A release from Chapel Hill on Thursday said the extension of Elliott Road was set to officially open on Friday at 8 a.m., and saw vehicles drive down it as soon as traffic cones were moved.

The new street, which connects South Elliott Road to Ephesus Church Road via a roundabout and provides access to the Hartley at Blue Hill Apartments complex, was celebrated with a town employee ribbon-cutting on Thursday afternoon.

The opening puts a bookend on a process which began its planning stages as early as 2016 and suffered delays that led to the need for rebidding with development companies. Construction at the site began in 2021, mirroring with the start of much redevelopment around the extension as well. In addition to providing better connectivity to residents of the new apartments, the town approved the extension in 2017 to reduce traffic at the Ephesus Church Road and Fordham Boulevard intersection, as well as widen Elliott Road on the west side of Fordham Boulevard and add a turning lane onto South Elliott Road. According to traffic models presented to the town council in 2020, the road could service around 7,800 vehicles each day.

“This will relieve the pressure on that Ephesus Church Road intersection at 15-501 and [provide] safer walking [areas] for folks,” Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger told 97.9 The Hill. “Not only will you be able to go down Elliott Road Extension and cross over, there’s also a dedicated bike lane and there will be the Fordham Sidepath coming soon. That project should get started this fall, so people can get safely around without a car, but access all the wonderful things the Blue Hill District has to offer.”

Hemminger added that she’s spoken with town staff about adding more trees and shade opportunities along Elliott Road Extension, which she said could be done this fall.

The roundabout at Ephesus Church Road and the stoplight at Elliott Road’s intersection with Fordham have each been operational to travelers months.

 

Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

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