Town of Cary BEGINS INSTALLING TRAILS to Connect
U.S. 1/64 Bridge to Two Parks

Parks to close intermittently throughout construction

CARY, NC – As part of its long-term commitment to providing exemplary recreational services for Cary citizens, the Town of Cary is moving forward on the project to connect MacDonald Woods Park (north side of U.S. 1/64) to Kids Together Park (south side of U.S. 1/64) via the new U.S. 1/64 pedestrian bridge.  To kick off construction of the trail, the Town will temporarily close MacDonald Woods Park , 1601 Seabrook Avenue , from Monday, January 22 through Friday, January 26. 

The $407,000 project includes paving approximately 3,500 feet of 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 will connect to the existing Hinshaw Greenway and, via sidewalk, to the recently renovated Pirates Cove Greenway.  In Kids Together Park , a 24-foot boardwalk will be installed and landscaping of the earthen berms will be added leading up to the pedestrian bridge. 

During the project, the Town will periodically close MacDonald Woods and the Kids Together parks, and notices will be posted on the Town’s Web site announcing the closings. The project is expected to be complete by July 2007.

“We’re looking forward to beginning work on this vital link between two very popular and beautiful recreational facilities,” said Cary ’s Parks Planner Paul Kuhn.  “Once complete, the new greenway paths will provide a healthier option for pedestrians and a cleaner alternative for the environment since people will now be able to cross U.S. 1/64 without having to jump in the car.”

The greenway project is just one part of the Town’s partnership with the N.C. Department of Transportation.  In December 2006, 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.     

After much citizen input, the Town recently commissioned Michael Stutz to implement his design for artwork for the new U.S. 1/64 pedestrian bridge.  Stutz is expected to begin design on the bridge in the coming months.

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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