The extensive repaving and resurfacing along sections of West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and East Main Street in Carrboro will begin next week, according to a release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

While the Town of Chapel Hill has already conducted some work to curbs and removed the bollards for extended sidewalks, state contractors will officially begin their part of the project with utility work on Monday, May 23. The repaving and restriping process will start closer to June, with the project expected to run through mid-August, according to NCDOT.

 

Resurfacing and restriping is a process required on main streets every eight to ten years. It involves scraping the top layers of asphalt off the street, leveling the road and replacing the top layer of asphalt during night-time hours. Then, new lanes can be drawn. A new lane allocation will also be implemented during this project, which will add bike lanes along the road in both towns.

On-street parking spaces will be removed temporarily while contractors strip and repaves a lane and some stretches will be closed along West Franklin Street and East Main Street while the work is being done. But that does not mean the roads will be entirely closed to traffic.

“Most of the work is going to take place at night,” Chapel Hill mayor Pam Hemminger told 97.9 The Hill on May 12. “The road will never be completely closed down, and we’re just trying to balance that all out with getting the job done.”

On the Chapel Hill side, the new bike lanes will be curb-running, as the Town Council discussed in February. The lanes will largely be between parked cars and the curb of the road — except for a stretch in front of the Carolina Square apartments where the lane will run between parked cars and traffic.

The reversion to fine lanes of traffic for the project comes after Franklin Street traffic patterns were shifted during the pandemic, as Chapel Hill created extended sidewalks. Intended to promote social distancing and local small businesses, the sidewalks were along the entire road before being removed from East Franklin Street during the holiday season and now on West Franklin Street in preparation for repaving. Town staff have indicated it’s more likely the extended sidewalks will be reinstalled along West Franklin Street once the restriping is complete.

In its release, the NCDOT urged drivers, cyclists and motorists to use caution while navigating the construction area, “for their own safety and that of the crews that will be working near the open travel lanes.”

 

Featured image via Town of Chapel Hill

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Related Stories
‹
Uproar Festival Launches with Artist Event in Chapel Hill
Sixty outdoor art pieces all made by different artists can now be found throughout downtown Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill, Carrboro Celebrate the Election of Joe Biden
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
One Week: Exploring Our 'Hometowns'
Exploring our ‘hometowns’ is an activity that has been continually present in my life thus far. As a 16-year-old, I have accumulated a sense of the culture of our hometown communities as well as what they have to offer; to enumerate: where to grab a bite to eat, fun activities, places to shop and must-see […]
Road Work Closes Lane on West Franklin Street
A news release was issued on Friday by the Chapel Hill municipal government regarding road work that may impede traffic in the center of town for up to four days. According to the release, motorists heading toward Carrboro on West Franklin Street between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM will encounter a lane closure at Church […]
Friends of Downtown at The Franklin
Big names and big personalities came together for the Friends of Downtown meeting held at The Franklin Hotel early Thursday morning for coffee and cupcakes.
Good Stuff: Eight Foods to Eat Before Climate Change Takes Them Away
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this is the week for my post to get heavy.  While catching up on my blog backlog, I read a great piece from Good* about the Eight Foods You Should Stock Up On Before Climate Change Takes Them Away. And. It. Was. Scary.  Being a food-oriented person in Chapel Hill is […]
Celebration of Independence Day to Alter Local Government Services in Orange County
The celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what typical services will and won’t be happening during the weekend: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday, July 3, as […]
Drone Shows and Parades: Here's What to Know Before Orange County's July 4 Celebrations
A variety of July 4 festivities are set to take place across Orange County. Here's how local governments are celebrating.
Chapel Hill Man Wins $200,000 Lottery Prize on Scratch-Off Ticket
Kevin Valdez of Chapel Hill won the top prize of $200,000 on a $5 scratch-off ticket, the North Carolina Education Lottery said in a release Wednesday. Valdez bought his lucky ticket for the Cash King game from the Short Stop convenience store on West Main Street in Carrboro. He arrived at lottery headquarters in Raleigh […]
Juneteenth Holiday to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange County
Across the country on Friday, Black Americans and communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the national recognition of when the final slaves were freed in the 19th century and of African-American culture. As a holiday, government services around the Orange County community will be affected on June 19 and the surrounding days. Here’s what residents can […]
›