Staff Writer
CARRBORO — Get ready for one of the biggest things to happen downtown since the Baptists moved.
Unlike the transformation of Carrboro Baptist Church to the Century Center, though, most of this project will be unseen.
A round of meetings and information sessions are planned for this month to help merchants and residents better understand the timing and impact of an extensive rebuilding of Weaver Street. The street is perhaps the most emblematic thoroughfare in Carrboro, thanks to the Century Center, Carr Mill, the well-populated lawn of Weaver Street Market and it’s use as the route down which residents parade en masse each year on the nation’s birthday.
Beneath its well-traveled surface, Weaver Street, one of the town’s oldest thoroughfares, is crumbling. The Orange Water and Sewer Authority’s recent work replacing part of the 80-year-old 6-inch main running underneath the street confirmed that. The project’s early phase will focus on replacing the old water main with a 12-inch line along with improvements to storm drains and sewers. OWASA has budgeted $470,000 for the work.
Also planned beneath the grade is extensive rebuilding of the road base. Above ground, the road will be resurfaced, access for those with disabilities on the sidewalks improved and bike lanes widened in the stretch west of Greensboro Street.
The town’s share of the cost is $1.8 million and will be paid for out of its capital-reserves fund.
This week, representatives from the Carrboro’s Public Works Department start making the rounds to talk with Carrboro businesses about how the project’s various phases will affect access to storefronts and offices.
Ted Barker, who is helping coordinate the discussions, said the project is scheduled to begin in December. Work on the water and sewer systems will start at the lowest point of the project near Carr Mill and work toward the Town Hall end of the street.
That work, he said, would not necessarily require closing off the street entirely. Most of the closings, Barker said, are likely to happen in the second phase of the project, when work on the road itself and resurfacing will require closing. The town has designed the project in sections to reduce access problems during the closings.
The information meetings will be held in Century Hall at the Century Center on Aug. 23 from 3 to 4:40 p.m. and Aug. 25 from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m.
For information about the project, contact the public works department at 918-7425 or pworks@ carrboro.org