As part of an extensive water main replacement by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, part of West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill is set to close to all traffic in the coming weeks.
The utility agency and Town of Chapel Hill shared updates on Thursday to alert community members that, weather permitting, Monday, Feb. 16 will mark when West Rosemary Street will be fully closed from East Main Street to Church Street. The closure is projected to last two or three months, according to OWASA. To prepare for the road work, crews will close single lanes on North Graham Street and North Roberson Street starting Monday, Feb. 9 to install insertion valves on the existing water line. Additionally, crews will close one lane on West Rosemary Street from Mitchell Lane to Andrews Lane on Thursday, Feb. 12 for preparation.
The shift in traffic patterns is part of OWASA’s work to replace an 80-year-old water main under West Rosemary Street, which runs from the edge of Carrboro to Chapel Hill’s Columbia Street. The replacement with 3,500 feet of new, ductile iron pipe under the road aims to cut down on the amount of breaks and leaks suffered in the downtown corridor in recent years and limit OWASA’s risk of failure to the key piece of infrastructure. The project timeline is estimated to be 18 months, putting its finish around the spring of 2027.
Contracted crews have prepared West Rosemary Street for months to shift customers to a temporary above-ground main and shut down the old water main to begin replacement work. That included lane closures along North Graham Street and North Roberson Street in January, initial road work in November and December to install the temporary main, a bike lane closure and the set-up of detour signage throughout downtown.
“We’re pleased to share that this project is moving along well,” OWASA Project Manager Darren Berger said in Thursday’s release. “We know this next phase is a bigger disruption, and we’re grateful for the community’s patience. These closures are a critical step toward building the most reliable water infrastructure that serves everyone who enjoys downtown.”
For detouring the three-block closure, Chapel Hill recommends drivers and bicyclists to use West Franklin Street as the easiest east-west corridor, although people will able to turn down Church Street and East Main Street from West Rosemary. The town also warned that while sidewalks could remain open along West Rosemary, temporary closures and detours will occasionally be necessary and posted along the road. Meanwhile, the Chapel Hill Transit system will continue using temporary stops on Lindsay Street and Church Street during the construction.
“There are many businesses and community spaces along W. Rosemary Street, and we’re asking our community to remember that they’re still open despite the street closure,” Chapel Hill Business Vitality Manager Sarah Potter. “You’ll still be able to reach them from W. Franklin Street, and we know they’ll appreciate your support.”
The water main is being replaced in sections, with OWASA’s project webpage saying Phase 1 will range from North Merritt Mill Road to North Roberson Street; Phase 2 will go from North Roberson Street to Mitchell Lane; Phase 3 will run from Mitchell Lane to Andrews Lane; and Phase 4 will close from Andrews Lane to Church Street.
After that, another stretch of West Rosemary will fully close. Phase 5 of replacement will range from Church Street to Pritchard Avenue; Phase 6 will go from Pritchard to North Columbia Street; and Phases 7 and 8 will complete the water main construction within the North Columbia Street-Rosemary Street intersection.
Since the water main replacement project began in November, OWASA has provided weekly updates on its project webpage and to those subscribed to email alerts. It has also communicated with any customers impacted by the switch to the temporary water main. Because of the temporary line, no service impacts are expected to West Rosemary Street customers when the main replacement begins on Feb. 16.
Featured photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.
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