Trinity Road will be undergoing construction after the North Carolina Department of Transportation granted a contract to build a new pedestrian tunnel under the road. The 25-foot-wide tunnel will connect the parking lots of Carter-Finley Stadium and the NC State Fairgrounds.
Steve Abbott, assistant director of communications for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, weighed in on the impact of the tunnel not just on NC State students, but on the local and campus police officers as well.
“[The tunnel] will provide a safe way for students who park and tailgate on the fairgrounds side of Trinity road, to cross over to the stadium,” Abbott said. “The students will not have to wait until allowed to cross by a state trooper handling traffic control.”
The $4.3 million project was awarded to the Crowder Construction Company of Charlotte, which can begin on March 1 and has a completion deadline of Sept. 15.
The contract also outlines a financial incentive for the contractor if it is ready before the first home football game, which is scheduled for Sept. 1.
Currently, the Raleigh Police Department and State Highway Patrol troopers regulate traffic control at crosswalks to ensure safe pedestrian crossings.
“It will greatly increase safety for the students, and improve traffic flow on Trinity Road,” the NC State University Police Department said.
The new tunnel is also expected to ease traffic during big events, especially during football, basketball and hockey games hosted at PNC Arena.
Ashley Andreasen, a first-year majoring in exploratory studies, tailgates on the fairground and frequently crosses Trinity Road to Carter-Finley Stadium when venturing to the football games.
“I go to every home game and have to cross [Trinity Road] to get to the football stadium,” Andreasen said. “The tunnel will make it less dangerous, less of a hassle and faster to get to the game for me and everyone else who has to cross. Cars will also not have to wait for us, making traffic less congested.”
Nathan Chen, a first-year studying mechanical engineering, gave some input on what he thinks the tunnel should look like.
“I think the tunnel is a great addition, but I hope the NCDOT themes it in a way that ties in NC State and the community,” Chen said. “I want the tunnel to be more than just a concrete slab.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s news release, the pedestrian tunnel was one of 16 contracts awarded by the department, which had a total estimated cost of $138.6 million. The department first began the project’s feasibility study back in 2012.
Trinity Road will be closed between March 1 and Aug. 1 while the tunnel is being constructed. A detour route will be provided through Edwards Mill Road, Wade Avenue and Blue Ridge Road for vehicles to avoid construction and delay. Additionally, alternative entrances will be available for access to the stadium and fairgrounds.
Technician reached out to Crowder Construction Company of Charlotte, the company in charge of the construction, but it was not available for comment by publishing time.
