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01/12/2023 11:49 am

This is the a rendering of the proposed peanut roundabout at Mercury and Good Streets. 

Lake Wheeler Road Improvement Project

Improving mobility and connectivity for pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic

Changes are coming to Lake Wheeler Road.

The City is proposing improvements to Lake Wheeler Road from South Saunders Street to Maywood Avenue.

We plan to convert the current two-lane road with no pedestrian or bike facilities into a Complete Street, accommodating all modes of transportation and allowing bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, vehicles, and emergency vehicles to navigate the street safely.

Improvements we are proposing include:

  • Roundabouts - will help slow traffic and allow a smooth traffic flow along the roadway.  
  • Sidewalks, shared paths, and bike-only facilities - will allow better connectivity for all modes of transportation.
  • Raised intersections along side streets - creating a safer experience for pedestrians at intersections.
  • Transit improvements - to accommodate connectivity to the area.
  • A raised median - will help slow traffic and reduce unsafe left-hand turn movements.
  • Stormwater facilities - to help mitigate runoff.

View the design plans to see all the improvements we are proposing.

Project Details

 
Type:
Transportation Improvements
Project Lead:
Engineering Services
Contractors:
STV

Contact

 

Lee Mai
Project Manager

Sylvester Percival, PE
Division Manager 

Brian Roth-Roffy, PE
Project Manager

 

Lead Department:
Engineering Services
Participating Department:
Transportation
Service Unit:
Roadway Design and Construction

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Planning

The project will be divided into two parts: the pre-design and the full design. This pre-design effort is focused mostly on the types of intersections treatments that will be installed with the project. These treatments will be combined with the work already done on the cross sections through the streetscape recommendations of the Dix Edge study.

The full design stage will focus on developing a detailed design scope and proceed with the preparation of construction documents.

We have entered the design phase of the project. 

Lead Department:
Transportation

Design

The team is working on finalizing the design plans for the project and determining all easements needed to complete the project.

    Lake Wheeler Design Video

    Next Steps

     

    The next step in our project delivery process is the easement and right of way acquisition phase. During this phase staff from the City’s Real Estate Division will work with property owners to purchases the needed right of way and easements for the project.

    Per a process change approved by the City Council in November 2020, the easement acquisition process starts with the City Council authorizing the project for condemnation.

    What does this mean?

    The authorization establishes a “no earlier than” date through which negotiations can occur before the City would exercise the power of Eminent Domain to acquire any property needed. This process is intended to provide a consistent foundation for negotiations for all property owners along the corridor, as well as provide clear expectations and an uninterrupted period of negotiation between City representatives and property owners.

    City Council will consider the condemnation request associated with the lake Wheeler Road Improvement Project at their meeting to be held on January 17, 2023, with a recommended date of no earlier than September 1, 2023.

    Phase Contacts

     

    Lee Mai
    Project Manager

    Sylvester Percival, PE
    Division Manager 

    Lead Department:
    Engineering Services

    Schedule

    Pre-Design Early Fall 2021
    Advertise for Design Consultant Late Fall 2021
    Award Design Contract Winter 2022
    Design Touchpoint Fall 2022
    Start Right of Way and Easement Acquisition Winter 2023
    Complete Right of Way and Easement Acquisition Early Fall 2023
    Advertise for Construction Bids Fall 2023
    Award Construction Contract Late Fall 2023
    Pre-Construction Meeting Winter 2024
    Start Construction Winter 2024

    Design Renderings

    Typical Cross Section rendering of Lake Wheeler Road Proposed improvements

    This is a proposed typical cross sections for Lake Wheeler Road 

    A typical cross section of proposed improvements for Lake Wheeler Road

    This is a proposed typical cross sections for Lake Wheeler Road

    This is a proposed typical cross section for Lake Wheeler Road

    This is a proposed typical cross section for Lake Wheeler Road  

    This is the a rendering of the proposed peanut roundabout at Mercury and Good Streets. 

    This is the a rendering of the proposed peanut roundabout at Mercury and Good Streets. 

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and South Saunders intersection 

    This image shows the first proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and South Saunders intersection. With this option there is both a bike lane and a sidewalk.  

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and South Saunders intersection with the side-path only option 

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and South Saunders intersection with the side-path only option 

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and Fuller Street. 

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and Hammell Street. 

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and Daladams Street. 

    This image shows the proposed rendering for the Lake Wheeler and Daladams Street. 

    Prior Public Outreach and Engagement

    Design Public Virtual Open House

    We had a Virtual Open House Nov. 9-23 and an in-person meeting on Nov. 17.

    Materials from the Nov. 9-23 Open House

    Early Design Project Update 

    Based on feedback from the Pre-Design Touchpoint, private utility coordination, and Dix Park, the design consultant, STV Engineering, recommends some additional design considerations to the original concepts.

    The additional considerations include:

    • A roundabout at the South Saunders Street and Lake Wheeler Road intersection;
    • Making Umstead Drive right-in and right-out only; and,
    • An elongated roundabout that spans both Mercury Street and Goode Street.

    We posted a public survey that ran between May 10 and June 1, asking how the public felt about the design modifications we are looking at. 152 people took the survey and we received 103 comments. 

    Results from public survey on the new element proposals

    • 81 percent in favor of a roundabout at South Saunders Street. 
    • 82 percent in favor of a right-in right-out only at Umstead Street.
    • 81 percent in favor of the elongated roundabout that spans both Mercury Street and Goode Street.
    • 90 percent of people think that the proposed design concepts will make the corridor safer for all modes of transportation. 

    Comment Summary: 
    General sentiment towards the the new design elements was positive. The most common concern is the lack of detail on safety features and pedestrian and bike infrastructure.

    View Survey Results 

    Pre-Design Public Virtual Open House 

    Public engagement is a crucial component of any roadway project. During a project's life cycle, we reach out to the public to get feedback on design concepts and early design plans. In addition, we talk with key stakeholders and property owners along the corridor to understand their needs and how the project may affect them. 

    We are in the early design phase of the Lake Wheeler Improvement Project. At this point, we have held a Pre-Design Public Meeting where we shared basic design concepts we are looking at for along the Lake Wheeler Road and Dix Park corridor. 

    See results from the Pre-Design Public Survey.

    View videos from the different phases of the design process 

    Lake Wheeler Design Video

    Lake Wheeler Improvement Project Update Video

    Our design team is working on design plans for the Lake Wheeler Improvement Project. The team has developed a few new features since the October 2021 Pre-Design Meeting that we would like to get the public’s feedback on. This video explains the new features.

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvements Project

    The City of Raleigh is planning to improve Lake Wheeler Road between South Saunders Street and Maywood Avenue. This video details some of the design concepts that we are considering for the corridor.

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvements Project Update

    The City of Raleigh is planning to improve Lake Wheeler Road between South Saunders Street and Maywood Avenue.

    This video is an update to the intersection treatments being considered for the Lake Wheeler Road Improvement Project as part of the pre-design phase.

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvements Project Live Q&A

    The Lake Wheeler Road Improvement Project Live Q&A held on Thursday, Nov. 4.

    Lake Wheeler Design Video

    Lake Wheeler Improvement Project Update Video

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvements Project

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvements Project Update

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvements Project Live Q&A

    RESOURCES

     

    Lake Wheeler Road Improvement Project Survey

    Engineering Services

    Transportation Planning

    Dix Edge Study

    Project History

    This project was planned through the recent Dix Edge Study, which identified a custom streetscape along this section of Lake Wheeler from South Saunders Street to Maywood Avenue. The proposed streetscape is consistent with the comprehensive plan, which calls for turning Lake Wheeler into two-lane road with a center median and the addition of a separated bike facility.

    Currently, Lake Wheeler is a two-lane street without turn lanes, sidewalks, or bike facilities.  This type of configuration tends to have more crashes because of conflicts with turning vehicles. When drivers must wait to turn left onto a side street or the interstate, they block the travel lane which can lead to rear-end crashes. The lack of both sidewalks and bike facilities makes the corridor challenging to access for people walking or biking.

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