WALK THIS WAY

In Buzz, March 2021 by Lauren KruchtenLeave a Comment

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A new protected intersection on Blue Ridge Road will make transportation easier for both pedestrians and cyclists.

At the intersection of art and life, the City of Raleigh has greenlighted a bicycle and pedestrian improvement project—this one at the popular North Carolina Museum of Art intersection of Reedy Creek and Blue Ridge roads. The new protected intersection will be the first in the state (!) and will allow for safer transportation for those traveling on foot, by bike and by car with designated crosswalks for both pedestrians (white stripes) and cyclists (green stripes), plus corner “islands” that create a setback for bike and ped users to wait for oncoming vehicle traffic to pass. (There is an existing bike lane and sidewalk running alongside the NCMA property as well.) The islands also force vehicles to reduce their speed when turning while providing additional visibility of pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross the street. “This is a highly used pedestrian and cycling intersection,” says Brian Roth-Roffy, senior project manager for the City of Raleigh’s Roadway Design and Construction Division. “We wanted to make it as safe as possible for all users.” As part of the city’s larger Blue Ridge Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project, the protected intersection will also include a 10-foot multiuse path down Blue Ridge Road to Trinity Road and a multiuse bridge over Wade Avenue. Construction on the protected intersection is expected to begin late summer or early fall, with an anticipated opening late next year.

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