Hillsborough Street renovations two months ahead of schedule

Despite inclimate weather, construction progresses

Joanna Banegas

Staff Writer

According to a Hillsborough Street project newsletter, the project will be completed before the September 2010 deadline.

Jayne Kirkpatrick, director of public affairs for the City of Raleigh, said the construction on Hillsborough Street is well on schedule.

“We’re not experiencing any problems and it’s looking good,” she said. “It is a step forward towards the completion of the project.”

Kirkpatrick said it has been somewhat frustrating for the businesses and pedestrians.

“We try as much as possible to make sure the convenience for people is there,” she said.

Kirkpatrick also said she’s sure businesses have been impacted but said she appreciated their patience.

“They’ve been very understanding of the whole process,” she said.

Bo Jones, manager of Hannah Grilled Subs on Hillsborough Street, said he thinks people are tired of having to pay for tickets and they don’t want to go through the hassle of finding a parking spot.

“Our customers are affected because they don’t know where to park,” Jones said. “Some people want to eat but they simply can’t find anywhere to park or it’s too dangerous to use the crossway due to the heavy traffic during the day.”

Jones said this problem has been hurting business.

 ”This is affecting students when they want to get to the businesses across the street,” Jones said. “Sometimes the crosswalks are too far apart if you want to get to a specific business on Hillsborough Street. But I believe the construction company is doing a wonderful job.”

The Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road intersection will operate as a large single-lane roundabout while construction is in process. After the construction is completed, it will become the only two-lane roundabout in Raleigh.

Kirkpatrick said the transportation engineers found they had to address the traffic patterns on Hillsborough Street practically.

“Hillsborough Street really fits the need for roundabouts in Raleigh,” Kirkpatrick said.

 Zainab Baloch, a freshman in biological sciences, said she likes the roundabout that has been built and it’s better than having to wait for the light at a normal street.

“When I saw the roundabout I was surprised that it was already completed,” she said. “I didn’t see it coming so soon but hopefully after all the waiting and frustration about the construction it will be worth it in the end.”

Kirkpatrick also said the engineering and construction division planned the process very well.

“We’re fortunate to have good weather and a very good contractor,” she said.

Baloch said she didn’t like to wait for traffic every day because the bus is late and she commutes for school.

“It’s not hard to find an alternative route like Western Boulevard,” she said. “Instead of using downtown, I just use the highway.”

The project newsletter said as the construction moves to the north side of the street, two lanes of traffic will be open and on-street parking will be available on the south side. The roundabouts at Hillsborough Street, Pullen Road and Oberlin Road opened to traffic in December 2009.