1/5/04

Work on Holly Springs Road Improvements to Begin Soon
Projects Include Two Major Intersections, Extension of Ballentine Thanks to $400,000 Grant

The Town is preparing to begin the bidding process for construction of 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. Another major project that is soon to be bid is the extension of Ballentine Street further into the Holly Springs Business Park, thanks to a $400,000 grant awarded to the Town by the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Other road improvement projects to be worked on in the new year include:

• Widening Holly Springs Road and completing a sidewalk connection near Johnson Street, which is across from Holly Springs Elementary School.
• Constructing sidewalk connections from Mims Towne Square along Main Street to Eckerd, and along Avent Ferry Road adjacent to Town Hall.
• Paving a gravel road at the sharp curve in Avent Ferry Road near Main Street. The road connects Avent Ferry Road to Earp Street.
• Paving two parking lots near the soccer fields at Womble Park.
• Paving a parking lot behind the new police station adjacent to Town Hall.

Each project will be bid separately, so it is highly possible that work on various projects will be completed simultaneously. Construction on the projects will begin in the spring or summer, depending on permitting processes and contractors’ workloads.

While most road improvement projects are expected to create only minor inconveniences, work on the Holly Springs Road/Main Street and Holly Springs Road/Sunset Lake Road intersections will cause the greatest disturbances to drivers. Construction on the two intersections may be simultaneous, and work on each intersection is expected to take 9 to 12 months to complete.

“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 two intersections have been redesigned to handle projected traffic for another decade. Improvements include new lanes, curbs and gutters, medians, and traffic signals.

Another major road improvement project is the extension of Ballentine Street further into the Holly Springs Business Park. The extension, expected to be completed in the new year, will improve traffic flow within the park and will attract and support future businesses. Town staff just recently learned that the NC DOT awarded Holly Springs a $400,000 grant to fund the project.

“The news that we have been awarded funds from NCDOT to extend Ballentine Street from its terminus at Irving Parkway westward to meet Premier Drive was a great Christmas present for the Town,” said Jennifer Mizelle, director of the Holly Springs Economic Development Department. “Town leaders have done a great job prioritizing infrastructure projects to keep up with our citizens’ needs, and now we’ve received a bonus that will make the Holly Springs Business Park more attractive and more marketable to entice new businesses to locate here.”

All but two of the road improvement projects were designed by the Town of Holly Springs Engineering Department. Town staff will also be handling construction administration, which will save tax-payer money.

“There is a cost benefit because we can really keep a close watch on the performance of the contractors and the project schedules,” said Sudano.

While construction of these road improvement projects is underway, the engineering staff in the meantime is at work designing even more road improvement projects, including:

• Straightening and widening Ballentine Street into a curb and guttered roadway to serve the future library and cultural arts center.
• Connecting Stinson Avenue to Bass Lake Road and paving the gravel section of Stinson Avenue to Grigsby Avenue.
• Extending Ballentine Street through the business park to connect with New Hill Road.
• Paving Estes Lane.

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