4/13/04

Work on Holly Springs Road Improvements to Begin
Projects Include Two Major Intersections, DownTown Sidewalks and More

Later this month and in May, construction will begin on a number of important Holly Springs road improvement projects, including the widening of both the Holly Springs Road/Main Street and Holly Springs Road/Sunset Lake Road intersections. The two intersections have been redesigned to handle projected traffic for another decade. Improvements include new lanes, curbs and gutters, medians, and traffic signals. Construction on other transportation projects – including widening Holly Springs Road near Holly Springs Elementary School, paving sidewalks, and paving connector roads – will also commence this spring.

Work on the Holly Springs Road/Main Street intersection is to begin in mid to late April, and construction should last approximately nine months. In addition to Town revenues, the $1.9 million project is being funded by a $150,000 NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) grant and $162,000 in developer contributions.

At the end of April or in early May, construction will begin on the Holly Springs Road/Sunset Lake Road intersection improvement project. Construction on this project will last a year. The $3.42 million project is funded by Town revenues and $846,342 in developer contributions.

Construction on the Holly Springs Road/Main Street and Holly Springs Road/Sunset Lake Road intersections will cause delays to drivers.

“It’s going to be messy and painful for 9 to 12 months, but the improvements at those critical intersections will tremendously improve traffic flow on those roadways,” said Stephanie Sudano, director of the Holly Springs Engineering Department.

The Engineering Department is planning to run periodic notifications in the Holly Springs Sun and to post monthly staus notifications on the Town website that will inform residents about the project and give updates on the construction process. Also, the Town is looking into the possibility of posting signage at the construction sites that gives information about the projects, including phone numbers to call for additional information.

Other road improvement projects to begin this spring include:

• Widening Holly Springs Road and completing a sidewalk connection near Johnson Street, which is across from Holly Springs Elementary School: This $327,500 project is funded by Town revenues; utility revenues will fund the waterline connections associated with the project. Construction will begin in April and will last about nine months.
• Constructing sidewalk connections from Mims Towne Square along Main Street to Eckerd: A $25,000 grant from NCDOT will help pay for this $150,000 project. Construction will begin in May and finish in September.
• Paving a gravel road at the sharp curve in Avent Ferry Road near Main Street: This road connects Avent Ferry Road to Earp Street. The $150,000 project is funded by Town revenues, and work will begin in May and finish in September.
• Paving two parking lots near the soccer fields at Womble Park and the gravel portion of Stinson Avenue that passes through Womble Park: This $500,000 project is part of the Womble Park master plan and is funded by Town revenues. Construction will begin in May and should finish in August.

As with any construction project, inclement weather can postpone completion of construction.

While construction is underway this spring and summer, Town Engineering Department staff will be designing additional transportation improvement projects for later this year. Projects include:

• The extension of Ballentine Street further into the Holly Springs Business Park, which will be funded with a $400,000 grant awarded to the Town by NCDOT. The extension will improve traffic flow within the park and will attract and support future businesses.
• Paving Estes Lane, the last remaining Town-maintained gravel road, located off Grigsby Avenue.
• Connecting the paved portion of Stinson Avenue that connects with Grigsby Avenue to the paved portion of Stinson Avenue that connects with Bass Lake Road.
• Paving sidewalks along Avent Ferry Road adjacent to Town Hall.

For more information about current and future construction projects, contact Town of Holly Springs Engineering Department Director Stephanie Sudano or Senior Engineer Kendra Stephenson at (919) 557-3938.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us