It seems to be dragging on doesn’t it? Getting Avent Ferry Road resurfaced. I jokingly say the road is better now then when it was covered with potholes. And it’s slowing cars down too. But there is hope. And I’m pretty sure, when the asphalt has cooled and the paint has dried, we’ll have a better road. In fact, parts of Avent Ferry are getting a “road diet” as the engineers like to say. The cyclists are popping wheelies!
Avent Ferry Road
I originally contacted some good folks over at the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to see if someone could attend a South West Citizens Advisory Council (SWCAC) meeting to provide an update and answer questions about the Avent Ferry Road and Lake Wheeler Road projects. In lieu of attending the meeting, I got instant updates over email. And I was cool with that.
Thanks to Dennis Jernigan, PE, Division 5 Construction Engineer and Cadmus Capehart, PE, Resident Engineer – Aviation Parkway, NCDOT Division 5. They’ve graciously responded to my requests promptly and transparently providing project updates. The updates below are slightly modified versions of the email updates from NCDOT with all dates subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen delays. And now, the information you really wanted…
Avent Ferry Road update
There are approximately three more nights of patching left to perform on Avent Ferry Road. Weather permitting, the patching should be completed this week (8/16/2010). Signal loops will have to be re-cut at all of the signalized intersections and then paving of the final 1.5″ of asphalt surface course will begin. NCDOT is requesting the contractor to have Avent Ferry resurfaced as soon as possible, but the patching, signal loops, and utility adjustments have to be completed first. NCDOT hopes to be paving the final surface within a couple of weeks, again, weather permitting.
Lake Wheeler Road update
The patching on Lake Wheeler Road was completed last Thursday, August 12. The signal subcontractor should be on-site this week (8/16/2010) to cut new signal loops. The contractor should be placing the final 1.5″ of asphalt surface course within the next couple of weeks. Once that has been completed, the shoulders will be reconstructed and seeded.
Avent Ferry Road resurfacing
More information
For more information, please visit the Construction Progress Report at https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/traffictravel/progloc/default.aspx#0 which is the contract for these two projects, plus eight other sections of roadway in southern Wake County. To get the general project information, search by contract number C202513 or contact Cadmus Capehart at ccapehart@ncdot.gov or (919) 840-0914.
Tags: avent ferry, bike plan, congestion, district D, lake wheeler road, ncdot, raleigh, transportation_plan
While the resurfacing is welcome, the pinch point created by the 5 to 3 lane “diet” south of Gorman is ridiculous. Unless the south bound right lane of Avent Ferry is designated as right turn only (onto Gorman), the bottleneck of merging traffic will probably cause congestion back into the Gorman/Avent Ferry intersection. This merging happens to occur at the Merrie Road tee intersection (my primary entry and exit with respect to Avent Ferry). The left turn from Merrie onto Avent Ferry is already problematic due to the guesswork involved with anticipating the moves of motorists leaving the Kangaroo as well as the north and southbound traffic. I like the bike lane idea but think the transition point needs to be reconsidered. Your Frogger analogy is right on with respect to the pedestrians crossing over at the point nearest the bus stops. It speaks to the reflexes of both pedestrians and drivers that no one has been squashed.