CARY SPENDS MORE THAN $25 MILLION TO IMPROVE STATE-OWNED EVANS, SOUTHWEST MAYNARD AND TRYON ROADS

Virtual ribbon cutting officially ends projects and opens roads

CARY, NC – Once again the Town of Cary has stepped up to proactively addressed citizen concerns, this time by completing major improvements to sections of three state-owned and maintained roadways; using a first of its kind virtual ribbon cutting, the Town of Cary has officially opened the improved Evans Road, Tryon Road, and Southwest Maynard Road.  Each of these projects meets the Town’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan, which incorporates the needs of a multitude of transportation modes – automobiles, cyclists, public transit and pedestrians.  

“ Cary has a history of doing what it takes to keep our citizens’ quality of life high, and sometimes this means spending local tax dollars to improve infrastructure that’s technically the responsibility of another governmental entity,” said Town of Cary Engineering Director Tim Bailey .  “Whether walking, biking, or driving, these corridors are very important for tens of thousands of Cary citizens who use them every day.”

The $8.9 million conversion of Tryon Road between Kildaire Farm Road and Piney Plains Road from a two-lane rural road to a four-lane, median-divided urban street began in the winter of 2006 in response to increased traffic and congestion.  The project included widening outer lanes to ensure the safety of cyclists, installation of curb and gutter, sidewalks, and drainage structure, and inclusion of a median.  With the completion of this particular section of Tryon Road , all sections of the state’s Tryon Road within Cary ’s corporate limits have been widened to at least four lanes.

The $6.3 million widening of Evans Road between Northwest Maynard and Thorpe Drive to five lanes began in the spring of 2007.  The improved segment includes wider outside lanes and sidewalks on both sides.  There are also pedestrian signal heads and raised pedestrian crossing islands at Evans Road and Dynasty Drive .

The Southwest Maynard Road Widening Project was the last leg in creating a four-lane loop of Cary by widening Maynard from Kildaire Farm Road to West Chatham Street .

Begun in the spring of 2007, the $11.6 million road project involved installation of curb and gutter, sidewalks, crossing signals, drainage structures, and a new traffic signal at Kilmayne Drive .  The project also rehabilitated about 2,000 feet of an unnamed protected tributary to Swift Creek.

“These were three very significant projects to have underway at the same time, and we really  appreciate the support of adjacent citizens and the traveling public as we worked hard and fast to get these projects completed,” added Bailey.

For more information about these road projects, visit the Town of Cary Engineering Department at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4061.

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