FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                       August 3, 2007

CARY TAKES NEXT STEPS WITH DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PROJECT

Drilling to begin next week as part of preliminary project pavement design

CARY, NC – As part of the Downtown Cary Streetscape Project, contractors will begin conducting preliminary field work to determine the project’s pavement design on Monday, August 6 through September 2007 along the project area, including taking soil samples and using ground-penetrating radar.  Crews will use drill and support trucks to penetrate the ground, and the work will occur Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily during the next two months.

The “geotechnical work” will include the following:

• Contractors will be taking soil core samples along East and West Chatham Street, North and South Academy Street, and North Harrison Avenue to establish the pavement composition and soil properties within the project area. This will determine the structural integrity of the existing roadway, which will help ensure proper pavement design.

• Ground-penetrating radar will also be used along West Chatham Street to determine the limits of underground concrete pavement.  In addition, testing to determine the precise depth of existing underground utilities will be conducted during this timeframe.

Drilling will require the presence of heavy equipment, including a drill rig and support trucks. To ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers, people are asked to maintain a safe distance from all drilling equipment. At the end of each work day, the equipment will be removed and the sample holes will be filled in.

Temporary lane closures are expected; however, workers will make every effort to minimize travel delays. Contractors will be working primarily on public property within the roadway right-of-way, except along South Academy Street near the intersection with Dry Avenue and Kildaire Farm Road.  

“We’ve been progressing well on this important project, and we’re looking forward to the new roadway,” said Senior Engineer Kyle Hubert.   “Contractors will work hard to minimize impacts, and we want affected residents and businesses to know how much we appreciate their support.”

In March 2007, the Town of Cary awarded Arcadis the contract to design the streetscape project that will create a unique identity for downtown Cary by incorporating pedestrian-friendly design elements such as a Town Square, on-street parking, landscaping, and widened sidewalks. The design will embrace the heritage of the area, while creating a desirable destination that meets the needs of Cary’s citizens, businesses and visitors.  The streetscape project will encompass more than two miles of downtown streets in Cary, North Carolina with construction scheduled to begin next year.

For more information, visit www.carystreetscape.org or call (919) 462-3938.  For questions or comments, call our project information hotline at (919) 233-DWTN.

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