DURHAM, NC — In an ongoing effort to enhance mobility and connectivity, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the City of Durham are gearing up for a significant resurfacing project set to begin in November 2023. The project, aimed at improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers, will cover Liberty Street and Dillard Street, among other state-managed roads.
Project Overview
The resurfacing initiative focuses on updating asphalt and modifying road markings to boost safety and accessibility. However, due to limitations, the project will not involve structural changes like building new sidewalks. Improvements will be restricted to within the existing road widths, with enhancements such as additional bike lanes and clearly marked crosswalks.
Design and Collaboration
The City of Durham has enlisted design teams from Stantec Engineering, Brick & Story, and Just Cities Collective to oversee site analysis, develop detailed design plans, and facilitate community engagement sessions. As the roads fall under state jurisdiction, the design plans must align with NCDOT standards, potentially constraining the scope of updates.
Project Timeline
•Project Start: November 2023
•Community Engagement Period: January 2023 – February 18, 2024
•Anticipated Design Completion: March 2024
•Construction Start: May 2024
•Construction Completion: November 2024
Community Engagement and Feedback
City officials have made extensive efforts to involve the community, hosting open houses and panel events to discuss marking changes and gather public input. Over the course of the engagement period, the project team connected with 339+ people through in-person meetings, collected 118 comments on an interactive map, and received 167 survey responses.
Residents are encouraged to review the finalized design plans for Liberty Street and Dillard Street, available for download. The City of Durham’s Transport Department will continue to update the public as the project progresses.
Stay with Bull City Citizen for continued coverage and detailed updates on how these developments will shape transportation in our community.
