Pittsboro, NC – The public is invited to a virtual presentation with the N.C. Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Town of Pittsboro and Chatham Park Investors, to discuss the proposed construction of a new north-south roadway east of Pittsboro called North Chatham Park Way.
Currently, U.S. 15-501 is the only major north-south route through Pittsboro, funneling all traffic through the historic downtown area. NCDOT and the Town have identified an opportunity to partner with Chatham Park to accomplish the goal of providing an alternate route for traffic traveling through downtown Pittsboro while continuing to support the economic development of the region. It will increase mobility options for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
The proposed project, State Transportation Improvement Program Project No. R-5930, begins at U.S. 64 Bypass just north of Suttles Road and ends at the intersection of U.S. 15-501 near Russell Chapel Church Road, covering about 2.7 miles. It connects to the existing segment of Chatham Park Way (from U.S. 64 Business to U.S. 64 Bypass) that was recently built, which is now open to traffic.
The virtual meeting is scheduled for:
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021
5:45 p.m.
Join the Meeting via Webex
Password: hkU3eeeTv55
Phone: 1-415-655-0003
Access Code: 171 008 8268
Immediately following the NCDOT presentation, at 6 p.m. at the same website link, the N.C. Division of Water Resources will hold a separate public hearing for both the Chatham Park North Village project and North Chatham Park Way.
Verbal comments will begin following the presentation and will be recorded.
To speak at the hearing, you must register by noon on Jan. 7.
Virtual Presentation
As part of NCDOT’s design process, the project team is reaching out to adjacent property owners and the larger community to provide you an opportunity to share your comments and ask questions. In addition to a newsletter, a virtual presentation for R-5930 will be held Thursday, Jan. 7 at 5:45 p.m. prior to the beginning of the N.C. Division of Water Quality public hearing at 6 p.m. Comments and questions on the project can be submitted by email, mail, or phone until Feb. 7. The presentation materials can be found at this website or you can contact the project team for a hard copy of the meeting materials. The live presentation can be viewed or listened to using the information below and will be available on the project website after Jan. 7:
| Website Password | https://tinyurl.com/R5930JAN2021 hkU3eeeTv55 |
| Phone Access Code | (415) 655-0003 171 008 8268 |
Immediately following the NCDOT presentation, at 6 p.m. at the same link, the N.C. Division of Environmental Quality will hold a separate public hearing for both Chatham Park North Village Project and Project R-5930. Verbal comments will begin following the presentation, and will be recorded.
To speak at the hearing, you must register by noon on Jan. 7 at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/R5930REG.
*Due to Covid-19 restrictions, NCDOT is not holding in-person meetings for projects. Virtual meetings are being held until further notice.
Project Comments
Please answer the 7- question survey found here: North Chatham Park Way Survey or email comments/questions to or phone in comments/questions to 984-205-6615 enter project code 8027
*All Project R-5930 comments received carry equal weight, regardless of submission method, and will be accepted through February 7*
Project Design:
From the U.S. 64 Bypass to the proposed Grant Drive extension:
- Four-lane median-divided roadway with curb and gutter
- 10-foot wide multiuse paths on both sides. Bicycles would also be permitted to share the travel lanes.
The multiuse paths are preliminary and subject to agreement with the Town of Pittsboro.
From the proposed Grant Drive Extension to U.S. 15-501:
- Typical section is proposed to transition to a two-lane median divided roadway
- 7-foot wide shoulders (4-foot paved plus 3-foot grassed)
- 10-foot wide multiuse paths on both sides. Bicycles would also be permitted to ride on the paved shoulders and share the travel lanes.
The multiuse paths are preliminary and subject to municipal agreement with the Town of Pittsboro.
Intersection and Driveway Access:
Access is proposed to be limited along North Chatham Park Way. Driveways and side streets are generally right-in-right-out, except at signalized intersections. Proposed intersections are based on known developments in the project area and are adequately spaced based on NCDOT standards. North Chatham Park Way proposes to construct median breaks and intersection stubs for these proposed connections. The intersections would then be signalized when warranted as road connections are made. The proposed corridor would ultimately provide five full-movement intersections and four right-in right-out intersections.
The intersection with U.S. 15-501 would be converted to a reduced-conflict intersection, a design used to improve safety and traffic flow on a highway. At this intersection left-turns from North Chatham Park Way and Russell Chapel Church Road onto U.S. 15-501 would be prohibited. Drivers wishing to turn left onto U.S. 15- 501 would make a right turn and then utilize U-turn bulbs north and south of the intersection to travel southbound or northbound, respectively. Reduced conflict intersections simplify the way traffic flows, removing potential conflict points when compared to traditional four-way intersections. The benefits of reduced conflict intersections include a reduction in number of crashes, improved safety for motorists and pedestrians, and the ability to accommodate more traffic without increased delays.
Traffic Noise Analysis
During planning and design for highway projects, NCDOT must
- Identify traffic noise impacts
- Examine potential noise abatement
- Incorporate feasible and reasonable noise abatement measures
- Coordinate with local officials to provide helpful information on compatible land use planning and control.
The procedures for doing this are stipulated by Federal regulation (23 CFR 772) and the NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy.
A noise analysis for this project is currently underway. Based on the rural nature of the project area (i.e., low density of residences), noise barriers are not anticipated for this project; the cost would likely be high, which would not be reasonable per the 2016 NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy. If any recommended noise barrier locations are identified during final design, all property owners and tenants who are benefitted by a barrier will be asked to vote on the barrier. At that time, NCDOT will contact property owners and tenants who are eligible to vote and explain the balloting process and what they are being asked to vote on. Only recommended noise barriers that pass this voting process will be constructed.
An important concept in Federal regulation and in the 2016 NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy is the Date of Public Knowledge, which stipulates when NCDOT is and is not responsible for providing noise abatement. The Date of Public Knowledge for this project will be the approval date of the environmental document, which is anticipated to be in early 2021. NCDOT is not responsible for evaluating or implementing any noise barriers to protect developed lands that did not have building permits issued before the Date of Public Knowledge. NCDOT advocates use of local government authority to regulate land development, planning, design, and construction in such a way that noise impacts are minimized. For more information about traffic noise view this brochure NCDOT Answering Your Questions About Highway Traffic Noise.
Project Funding:
| Estimated Amount* | |
|---|---|
| Right-of-Way | $ 2,071,000 |
| Utilities Relocation | $ 100,000 |
| Construction Costs | $ 15,874,000 |
| Total Costs | $ 18,045,000 |
* Estimated costs are subject to change. Based on currently adopted NCDOT State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
Project Timeline:
| Milestone | Date* |
|---|---|
| Virtual Presentation and Comment Period | January 2021 |
| Final Environmental Document | Spring 2021 |
| Final Designs | Spring 2021 – Spring 2022 |
| Right-of-Way | Spring 2022 |
| Construction | Spring 2023 |
* Future dates are preliminary and subject to change
South Chatham Park Way
South Chatham Park Way is on the STIP as Project R-5963. It is scheduled to begin several years after North Chatham Park Way, with right-of-way currently scheduled to begin in Fall 2023 and construction to begin in Spring 2027.
Project R-5963 will extend from U.S. 15-501 on the south to connect with North Chatham Park Way just north of the U.S. 64 Bypass. This project will consider if improvements are needed to the segment of Chatham Park Way recently opened (from U.S. 64 Business to north of U.S. 64 Bypass) based on the long-term design horizon.
More information will be provided to the community about South Chatham Park Way in the future when planning and design for that segment begins.
Download Project Documents:
Virtual Presentation (Will be available after January 7)
Public Hearing Handout
Project Contacts:
Jeffrey Stroder, PE
NCDOT Project Manager
121 DOT Drive
Carthage, NC 28327
Vance Blanton, PE
Consultant Project Manager – Kimley-Horn
421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 600
Raleigh, NC 27601
For more information, or to leave project comments, contact the project team by calling 984-205-6615, code 8027, emailing or mailed to 421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 600, Raleigh, NC 27601.