Estes Drive is an important two lane cross connector. The portion of greatest interest and where the most congestion occurs is between MLK Jr. Blvd and where Caswell joins Estes at the stoplight. Estes Elementary, Phillips Junior High, Azalea Residences, and the anticipated Aura development, along with at least three future developments, occupy much of this road frontage. The Estes Drive Connectivity Project is underway with the goal of a safer Estes Drive.
History and future
The impetus for the project came during the Central West Planning process, when members of the Citizen Steering Committee suggested an off-road bike and walking path could be built along the ridge to run among the trees on the north side of Estes Drive. To the Committee, it seemed a great way to create a safe connection with minimal harm to existing trees. They also studied the need for more crosswalks that would be signalized. The Committee concluded that both the off-road “multi-use path” and the signalized crosswalks were important for public safety and these elements were approved into the Central West Plan in 2013.
Next the Town received funding from the MPO, and Chapel Hill hired Stewart Engineering to produce the engineered drawings. Unfortunately, there were then years of delays and escalating costs – what started as an off-road bike-way mushroomed from $1.5 million to over $5 million. The final product was a much larger scale project, involving curb and gutter, two on-road bike lanes, two off-road 10-12 foot wide multi-use paths, and continuous sidewalks on both sides. Signalized cross walks at three intersections were added to the plan.
Pros and cons
Tree buffer recently removed in front of Phillips Middle School
Pine and oak logs harvested from Estes Drive buffer
With the buffer gone and traffic noise louder, Phillips Library and adjacent classrooms, now more exposed, feel closer than ever to busy Estes Drive, and what would’ve been a shaded walk on the path is likely to be blisteringly hot in the sun.
Estes Drive will remain a two lane road, but as a “complete street” will add multiple bike lanes and paved paths. These require massive earth moving and destruction of the wooded tree buffers shielding the two schools before. The addition of curb and gutter will require careful work around a major gas pipeline that runs down the middle of Estes Drive. When the grading is complete, the wooded ridges that formerly buffered Phillips Middle School and Estes Elementary will be flattened and gone. Hundreds of trees have been removed; the caliper of those Oak and Pine trees is impressive, judging from the contents of just one truck parked on Estes.[/su_pullquote]
Pedestrian safety
The surrounding neighborhoods have been traumatized by serious injuries to pedestrians. We greatly appreciate the addition of three new signalized cross walks and hope further crashes may be avoided in the future with their completion and installation. As a result of the life-threatening injuries sustained by two middle school students while in a crosswalk, NCDOT and the Town have stepped up their schedule for the installation of those crosswalks. See story of how parents and neighbors, working with the Town and NCDOT, initiated new safety measures for Estes Drive.
Bike infrastructure
Bike connectivity is still a long way away. We are glad to see that the project will provide safer biking for a short 2/3 mile distance. However, there is no continuation of the route for a bicyclist to proceed the remaining 2/3 mile to points east toward the Library and Franklin Street. This is a step in the right direction but should be followed by efforts to create connected, usable bicycle infrastructure. Please see these details from the Central West Plan that were not executed.
Construction concerns
The planning and length of construction inevitably translate to changes in daily life for the affected neighborhoods – major road closures have consequences, one of which is drivers attempting to reroute using residential streets. Phillips parents reached out to the Town and Town project leads Bergen Watterson and Josh Mayo, along with town inspectors, met with neighbors May 6th. They walked the Caswell loop, which has become busy with drivers unable to proceed in a west direction. Several suggestions were made to alleviate safety concerns including temporary speed bumps and better signage.
The Town has chosen two alternatives to using Estes going west: either driving through Downtown or going round to the north via Weaver Dairy Road. While proscribed alternative routes could have saved carbon dioxide and headache from vehicles, we appreciate the Town’s responsiveness.
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Contacts
- Bergen Waterson, Town project lead
- Bwatterson@townofchapelhill.org
- 919-969-5064
- Josh Mayo, Transportation Planner
- Jmayo@townofchapelhill.org
- 919 969-5061
- Charles Williams, Transportation Technician, Sepi (oversight contractor for DOT)
- chwilliams@sepiinc.com
- 919-599-8891