U.S. 1/64 pedestrian Bridge and Connecting trails NOW OPEN IN CARY

Town completes the first part of project, artwork design continues

CARY, NC – Pedestrians and bicyclists have a bird’s eye view of U.S. 1 in Cary now that the Town of Cary has completed the U.S. 1/64 pedestrian bridge and connecting trails from MacDonald Woods Park (north side of U.S. 1/64) to Kids Together Park (south side of U.S. 1/64).  The new alternative to crossing over the highway features about 3,500 feet of a 10-feet-wide asphalt trail – a 1,250-foot trail linking MacDonald Woods Park to the pedestrian bridge, a 1,505-foot trail linking Kids Together Park to the bridge, and a 715-foot trail to connect to the existing power line easement to the east. 

On the north side, the trail connects to the existing Hinshaw Greenway and, via sidewalk, to the recently renovated Pirates Cove Greenway. In Kids Together Park , a 24-foot boardwalk was installed and landscaping of the earthen berms are being added leading up to the pedestrian bridge. Users of the trail can expect some temporary closings in the fall as final landscaping of the berms is completed once weather allows.

“The opening of the bridge brings a healthier alternative for traveling between Cary ’s prominent recreational facilities,” said Cary ’s Parks Planner Paul Kuhn.  “And we are continuing to work to further enhance the leisure experience as design work continues on the bridge.” 

After much public input, the Town commissioned Michael Stutz to implement his design for artwork for the new U.S. 1/64 pedestrian bridge in early 2007, and the artwork is currently in the design phase.

The greenway project is just one part of the Town’s partnership with the N.C. Department of Transportation.  In September 2007, the N.C. Department of Transportation turned the U.S. 1/64 pedestrian bridge over to the Town of Cary as part of a joint $58-million U.S. 1/64 widening project to improve U.S. 1/64 from south of the I-40 interchange to the U.S. 64/Tryon Road interchange in Cary .  The two agencies split the estimated total cost for construction of the bridge – nearly $1.4 million.  In the same agreement, the Town of Cary also pledged to construct the aforementioned greenway trails to link with the bridge.  The Town was opened once the connecting trails were established.

For more on the U.S. 1/64 Greenway Pedestrian Bridge or the U.S. 1/64 Bridge Public Art Project, visit www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4360.

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