Greenroads Certified Silver

Sandy Forks Road Widening

 

Summary

Engineers Estimate: $9.9 million 

Length: 2.56 lane-miles

Funders/Stakholders: City of Raleigh Capital Improvement Program 

Owner: City of Raleigh 

Primary Design: City of Raleigh 

Design Support: RK&K

Contractor: Carolina Sunrock 

Functional Class: Arterial 

Greenroads Version: v2

Description

The Sandy Forks Project consists of a widening and replacement of over a mile of failing two-lane roadway in Raleigh, North Carolina that was filled with cracks and potholes. In addition to replacing the existing pavement, the project added a vegetated median, center turn lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks to promote multi-modal access and improve safety. Three bioretention systems were also constructed to treat stormwater runoff from the new roadway and surrounding areas. A large art installation and educational signage detailing the sustainable features of the roadway round out this comprehensive Project. The improvements transform a simple bypass road to a residential street that welcomes all users.

Learn More About the Project on this Video

Read the Press Release

Watch the Time Lapse Video

Features

The Sandy Forks Road Widening addressed a wide range of sustainability benefits by creating access for active transportation modes and transit, improving safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, incorporating stormwater treatment, and providing aesthetic and educational attractions. Highlights of the Project include:

• Addition of sidewalks to provide safe access for pedestrians
• New bike lanes along length of project corridor 
• Installation of vegetated median to reduce collisions
• Asphalt pavement designed for 40-year life, saving an estimated 20% of maintenance costs over the lifetime
• Warm-mix apshalt paving used during construction 
• Invasive plant species removed from Project, and replaced with native and adapted species
• Bioretention cells expected to remove a wide range of contaminants from runoff and attenuate flows
• Extensive educational signage addressing Project sustainability features
• Dark-sky friendly, energy efficient LED lighting installed

18_01-16 Press Release Sandy Forks Road Earns Silver Certification (299 kb)