Hillsborough Street renovations could take another eight months due to the condition of sewer and water lines underneath the street. The extra construction could cost an additional $1.7 million.
The council will be addressing the Public Utilities Department’s report on the condition of sewer and water lines under Hillsborough Street at the public hearing on Oct. 2, according to Tim Sedano, a city engineer.
“It’s looking like we are going to have to replace about 3,000 feet [of] old sewer and water lines, which will not be fun for us and will be a huge inconvenience to students,” Sedano said.
According to Sedano, if the council deems this additional job necessary, the excess cost of the project will add an extra $1.7 million onto the current $4 million bill.
“Replacing the utility lines will also double the length of our job from eight months to somewhere around 16 months,” Sedano said. “Three thousand feet of trenching on Hillsborough Street will not be an easy job for my construction team, but it would be foolish not to do all this work at the same time.”
Corey Payne, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, said he’s glad the city council is addressing the problems on Hillsborough Street even if it is going to take 16 months to fix.
“But if they can make it look like Fayetteville Street downtown, then it will be well worth the inconvenience,” Payne said.
“Hillsborough Street is an embarrassment to such a populous institution as N.C. State. It’s a l-or-death gamble just trying to cross the street,” Phillip Williams, a sophomore in agricultural science, said. “It’s just a shame that the icon street of NCSU is in such poor condition.”
Carter Pettibone, a city planner for the Raleigh planning department, said to address the poor condition of Hillsborough Street, the Raleigh City Council upped its commercial property grants from $5,000 to $10,000 for renovation projects Feb. 20, 2007.
“The Facade Renovation Program has been open to Hillsborough Street businesses for the past 20 years, but the City Council is really trying to promote an inviting environment for new investment and business,” Pettibone said. “The city council is trying to revitalize Hillsborough Street, much like was done downtown.”
To compliment the Facade Renovation Program, the city council voted Feb. 20, 2007 to construct roundabouts at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road and at the intersection of Oberlin Road and Groveland Avenue, according to Pettibone.
“But we’re not stopping there,” Sedano said. “There will be streetscape improvements and more street parking on both sides of Hillsborough to help local businesses with the parking problem.”
Sedano also said the main objective is improving the physical appearance as well as overall pedestrian safety.
He said his team is 70 percent finished with the renovation designs.
“[But the] City Council decides if we are going to finish and implement these designs on October 4th at a public hearing.” Sedano said.
Sedano said if the city council votes in favor of the renovations on Oct. 2, then construction will begin in the spring of 2008.
“But we are still a good ways away from having everything approved. If you’re interested in the matter, then come to the City Council public hearing on October 2nd at 1p.m,” Pettibone said. “It will be held at the Council Chambers, room 201, which is located at 222 West Hargett Street.”
