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Apex planning board recommends tunnel for grade‑separated bike/ped crossing at Tingen Road
Summary
After reviewing four alternatives and public feedback, the board unanimously recommended the tunnel (Alternative 4) as the preferred grade‑separated bicycle and pedestrian crossing at Tingen Road and directed staff to move to functional design and cost estimating.
The Apex Planning Board on Aug. 11 unanimously recommended that the Town Council select the tunnel alternative as the preferred grade‑separated bicycle and pedestrian crossing at Tingen Road and proceed with functional design.
Staff presented four design alternatives — two looped overpasses, a shorter bridge and a tunnel under the tracks — and explained tradeoffs in ADA compliance, structure length, tree clearing and visual impact. Presenters said the tunnel has the shortest structure length and therefore the lowest anticipated structure cost and would require less tree clearing and fewer impacts to major water lines.
Russell Dalton, a town staff engineer, summarized the technical comparisons and public input: “The tunnel had the most public support, and was also the least anticipated cost,” he said, noting that the tunnel’s shorter structure length was a decisive factor in cost and impact estimates.
Staff described outreach that included a May design charrette and a public meeting with 46 attendees, plus an online comment form in June. Overall, 81 percent of respondents reported a very or somewhat positive impression of the project; 30 respondents favored the tunnel alternative while fewer supported other bridge alternatives.
Board discussion addressed safety, lighting, crosswalk upgrades at the nearby Justice Heights Street signal and coordination with NCDOT and CSX. Staff said the state Transportation Improvement Program includes design funds for the project and that CSX approval and coordination will be required during preliminary and final design. The town’s consultant recommended open‑cut construction with temporary jump spans for an open cut box culvert as a likely construction approach, but noted CSX may prefer boring depending on their review.
Next steps include functional design and a cost estimate in late 2025, additional public outreach once cost and design details are available, and a planning board and council touchpoint in early 2026 before advancing toward final design and construction funding.
The board’s recommendation does not itself authorize construction; it transmits the preferred alternative and direction to prepare functional design and budget estimates for council consideration.
