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Council weighs Old Bluff Highway resurfacing and a 6-foot lane for pedestrians and cyclists
Summary
Engineers presented a resurfacing plan for Old Bluff Highway that would widen part of the roadway by roughly 6 feet to create a designated shared pedestrian/bike lane; the estimated cost is about $1.04 million and the council agreed to bring a funding vote to the next meeting.
Council members reviewed engineering options for the Old Bluff Highway resurfacing project and discussed whether to proceed with a plan that would widen the roadway by about 6 feet on one side to create space for a shared pedestrian and cyclist lane.
Michael, representing the town roads department, summarized the engineers’ design and cost estimate, saying the plan “is where it stands right now. $1,041,000 plus probably a little more.” He and other council members discussed alternatives for delineating the shared lane — painted striping, flexible delineators, or low plastic curbing — and noted ADA and slope requirements make separate, properly graded pedestrian paths more complex and costly.
Council members asked the active transportation committee to weigh in on design choices and accessibility requirements during the engineering design phase. Several members said the town should complete a pavement-management and long-range plan before committing to construction locations, and the engineers (Jones & DeMille) were identified as the firm preparing the designs.
Funding has not been secured; the council discussed using accumulated roads fund balances, pursuing grants and seeking state or federal support. Michael said the current engineer-ready package positions the town to pursue funding, but asked the council to decide whether to advance the project into the funding phase. The council agreed to place a vote on the next agenda so members could make a clear decision after any committee input.
Ending
Councilors asked staff to coordinate with the active transportation committee and with Jones & DeMille to refine design options and to prepare the project for funding applications; a formal council vote on whether to proceed will be scheduled at the next meeting.
