Cates Avenue is shifting to one-way eastbound from Price Hall to the Morrill Drive intersection until fall 2018. The closure is part of two construction projects on campus impacting transportation for students.
The Carmichael Gym Project, as it is called, will result in solely westbound traffic at the Cates Avenue and Morrill Drive intersection throughout the summer. Students will be unable to park in 30 spaces of the Carmichael Gymnasium lot as well as in front of Talley Student Union along Cates Avenue. These closures are in place to provide contractors with a staging area.
The second closure is due to the construction of the Yarbrough Steam Tunnel project. This will have a lesser, but still substantial effect on traffic in thru traffic on Yarbrough Drive at the Mann South and Yarbrough lots. Also, at Stinson Drive there will be a new traffic pattern. Yarbrough will be closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians from Riddick to Broughton Hall. Yolanda Jones, Communications Manager for NC State Transportation said that there will be some transportation impacts caused by these ventures.
“With the Carmichael Gym Project obviously it’s going to be a major impact for transportation based on the location of the project,” said Jones. “Yarbrough Drive will be closed to traffic at the Mann South lot and the Yarbrough lot, so no thru traffic in that area. However, there is adequate signage to help vehicular and pedestrian traffic navigate that area.”
Arthur Candido, a second-year student studying mechanical engineering, said that the project isn’t too bothersome, but he would like to see it completed soon.
“In the grand scheme of things it hasn’t affected me much,” Candido said. “Now in the summer, there’s very little traffic there, so it’s not really a problem to cross the street.”
Mike Kennon, assistant transportation director at NC State, said via email to Technician that there are additional changes to parking availability near the intersection.
“Parking along Morrill Drive,” Kennon said. “Adjacent to the Dail Softball Stadium field will be used for an expanded pedestrian walkway beginning June 18, 2018.”
The Wolfline bus stop at the bottom of Morrill Drive will be moved approximately 200 feet south towards Western Avenue people wishing to drive from Avent Ferry to Hillsborough are advised to take Dan Allen as an alternate route.
Aman Patel, a second-year graduate student studying integrated manufacturing systems engineering, said that the project is a bit of an inconvenience, but necessary for new buildings on campus.
“I think it’s fine, because none of the bus routes are going to change,” Patel said. “I usually just walk through [detours]; it shouldn’t be a big issue for me.”
He added that new buildings are a necessary part of the university, so to Patel, the minor inconvenience will pay off in the future.
“I guess for the new building, it is worth it,” Patel said. “You have something new going up, it’s a little inconvenient. But, I think it’s not such a big deal.”
The Transportation Office maintains that pedestrians and drivers should heed the signs and they will feel minimal effects of these projects. There will be barricades and signs marking areas that are inaccessible to vehicles and pedestrians.
The transportation office would like to reiterate that people should use caution when navigating the new traffic patterns.
“We obviously want pedestrians to be safe as well as riders,” Jones said.
While the Cates Avenue and Morrill Drive intersection is currently a one-way street, Candido said that his daily patterns have not changed due to the shift in traffic patterns.
“I would say it’s okay; it hasn’t affected me much,” Candido said. “The side by the gym is closed for construction, but the side by Talley is still open. I would just like it to be finished as soon as possible.”
The Carmichael Gym Project will conclude in fall 2020, and the Yarbrough Steam Tunnel is slated to be completed by Aug. 1.
