Apex Peakway Southwest Connector

(U-5928) 

The Apex Peakway is planned to serve as a loop around the Town of Apex. The Southwest Connector project would complete a missing gap in the loop at South Salem Street by constructing a bridge over South Salem Street and the CSX railroad tracks. The project would require the permanent closure of the existing at-grade railroad crossing along Tingen Road, east of the project location.

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Project Contact: Russell Dalton, (919) 249-3358
• Status: Design in progress
• Estimated Completion: Late 2021 to early 2022

Project Updates

Status Update (October 2019)

Final design plan comments have been issued by NCDOT and Town staff. Property appraisals are being received and reviewed by Town staff in preparation for NCDOT approval prior to start of acquisition this fall/winter.

Public Open House

A public open house to present final design/right-of-way plans was held on December 11, 2018 at Town Hall. Materials from the open house are available below:

• Open house handout (PDF)
• Visualization board (PDF)
• Project map (PDF)

Updated Visualizations

• Visualization 1 (PDF)
• Visualization 2 (PDF)
• Visualization 3 (PDF)
• Visualization 4 (PDF)
• Visualization 5 (PDF)

Environmental Documentation (January 2018)

The environmental documentation requirements under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have been completed and approved. The full documentation can be found below:

Approved Categorical Exclusion (PDF)

Traffic Noise Report (February 2017)

In February 2017, the North Carolina Department of Transportation approved the Traffic Noise Report completed for the Apex Peakway Southwest Connector project. Traffic noise impacts and temporary construction noise impacts can be a consequence of transportation projects. The Traffic Noise Report utilized computer models created with the latest Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Traffic Noise Model software to predict noise levels and define impacted receptors (locations) along the proposed new roadway project. Five impacted residential receptors were identified. Noise abatement for each impacted receptor was found to be either not reasonable or not feasible. Please review the report for detailed information.

Neighborhood Meetings (February-March 2017) In response to comments received at a public open house in December of 2016, the Town hosted additional meetings for those neighborhoods adjacent to the project, including: Shangri-La Mobile Home Park (February 20, 2017), Whitehall Manor (March 6, 2017), and Salem Village (March 14, 2017). During the meetings the project team reviewed the preliminary design of the Apex Peakway Southwest Connector project, discussed comments and responses received during the open house held in December, and offered an opportunity for attendees to ask any additional questions.

View the presentation delivered at the neighborhood meetings (PDF)

Public Open House (December 2016) A public open house for the preliminary design was held on December 15, 2016. Materials from the open house are available below:

• Open house comment summary and response (PDF)
• Open house handout (PDF)
• Open house handout (Spanish version) (PDF)
• Project map (PDF) (large file 42 MB)
• Visualization 1 (PDF)
• Visualization 2 (PDF)
• Visualization 3 (PDF)
• Visualization 4 (PDF)

East Williams Street Sidewalk (EB-5895)

Construct sidewalk along East Williams Street from Sunset Lake Road to NC 55.

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Project Contact: Adam Stephenson, (919) 249-3417
• Anticipated Completion: 2020

James Street to Downtown Apex Pedestrian Improvements

(U-5530 AC)

The James Street to Downtown Apex Pedestrian Projects will complete a pedestrian route from south of James Street to the heart of downtown Apex and will improve pedestrian infrastructure along the town’s historic main street.

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Project Contact: Adam Stephenson, (919) 249-3417
• Anticipated Completion: 2020
• Project Map (PDF)

The project includes new sidewalk, sidewalk repairs, ramp upgrades, and crossing improvements as follows:

• Sidewalk along Markham Street, James Street, E Moore Street, Wrenn Street, and N Salem Street
• Upgrade ramps at Hunter Street and N Salem St, Culvert Street and N Mason Street, E Chatham Street and N Mason Street, E Chatham Street and N Hughes Street, Olive Street and N Hughes Street, E Moore Street and N Hughes Street, and E Moore Street and S Ellington Street
• Install push-button pedestrian signal across Center Street at N Salem Street
• Install push-button pedestrian signals for all approaches at the intersection of N Salem Street and Chatham Street
• Install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon for existing high-visibility crossing of N Salem Street at Saunders Street

Kelly & Apex Barbecue Sidewalk (C-5604 AA) 

Concrete sidewalk will be constructed on the east side of Kelly Road from Beaver Trail to Apex Barbecue Road. Asphalt multi-use path will be constructed on the south side of Apex Barbecue Road from Kelly Road to Scotts Ridge Elementary School, including modifications to the bridge over NC 540 to add a concrete barrier between the pedestrian path and the roadway.

•  Lead Agency: Town of Apex 
• Project Contact: Adam Stephenson, (919) 249-3417
• Anticipated Completion: 2020
• Project Map (PDF)

Lake Pine Drive Improvements (U-5537)

Planning, design, and right of way acquisition to allow future expansion of Lake Pine Drive to a three-lane roadway with bicycle and pedestrian facilities at Apex Community Park. 

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Project Contact: Russell Dalton, (919) 249-3358
• Estimated Project Cost: $2,100,000 (includes federal & Town of Cary participation)
• Status: Right of way acquisition pending
• Anticipated Completion: 2020
• Project Map (PDF)
• Final Roadway Plan View Sheets (PDF)

Project Updates

A brief presentation was given to the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Commission at Apex Town Hall, 73 Hunter Street, on September 26th at 7:00 p.m. concerning a Section 6(f) land conversion required prior to construction. The meeting was open to the public.

0.403 acres of private land will need to be acquired and incorporated into the park in exchange for 0.403 acres of existing park land being converted to public right of way and permanent drainage easements (see map). At the conclusion of the presentation, the Commission will be asked to make a recommendation regarding the proposed land conversion, but no further changes are proposed for the approved design.

Laura Duncan Road Pedestrian Improvements

The Laura Duncan Road Pedestrian Improvements project will alter the roadway design between Apex Community Park and North Salem Street to improve safety of pedestrians crossing Laura Duncan Road.

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Project Contact: Adam Stephenson, (919) 249-3417
• Anticipated Completion: 2020
• Project Vicinity Map (PDF)

This project is proposed to include the following improvements:

• Resurface and restripe Laura Duncan Road from south of the Apex Community Park driveway to the railroad tracks parallel to North Salem Street.
• Install a buffered bike lane along the east side of Laura Duncan Road from south of the Apex Community Park driveway to the railroad tracks parallel to North Salem Street.
• Install a south-bound left-turn lane to Apex Community Park.
• Install a protected median for pedestrians crossing Laura Duncan Road at Laurel Park Place.
• Install a new high-visibility crosswalk across Laura Duncan Road at Laurel Park Place with revised curb and gutter alignment, new sidewalk, detectable warning surfaces, concrete median island, and rapid flashing beacons.
• Add a standard two-bar crosswalk across Laurel Park Place at Laura Duncan Road.

Jessie Drive Improvements and Extension

 Advance Apex: The 2045 Transportation Plan shows Jessie Drive as a four-lane, median-divided thoroughfare extending from Ten Ten Road to Veridea Parkway. In February 2020, the Town completed a feasibility study for the improvement and extension of Jessie Drive from Ten Ten Road to NC 55. The feasibility study identified the need to divide the Jessie Drive Improvements and Extension project into phases, and prioritized the section of Jessie Drive from Ten Ten Road to future Production Drive as Phase 1.

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Project Contact: Russell Dalton, (919) 249-3358
• Status:
  • Feasibility study complete for Jessie Drive improvements and extension from Ten Ten Road to NC 55
  • Design underway for Phase 1 - Jessie Drive improvements and extension from Ten Ten Road to future Production Drive

Project Updates

Phase 1: Jessie Drive from Ten Ten Road to Production Drive (February 2020) The Town of Apex has started final design of Phase 1 of the Jessie Drive Improvements and Extension Project. Phase 1 of the project extends from Ten Ten Road to Production Drive. It is anticipated that Phase 1 will result in a 2-lane roadway with a side path on the north side. Updates will be posted as available.
 Feasibility Study Final Report (February 2020)

The purpose of the feasibility study is to guide project planning by: evaluating concepts and recommending a preferred alternative, providing a functional design and estimated costs, gathering and responding to initial public input, and identifying potential issues that may require consideration in future planning and design phases. The report can be accessed from the following link: Feasibility Study Report (PDF)

Richardson Road

Richardson Road is planned as a four-lane thoroughfare from US 64 in Apex to south of US 1 in Holly Springs on both local and regional long range transportation plans. The planned Richardson Road corridor between Humie Olive Road and Old US 1 in Apex crosses through a permanent dedicated conservation easement. The Town of Apex has been working with State and Federal resource agencies to determine whether future Richardson Road will be allowed to cross the conservation easement and to investigate potential alternatives. This analysis is a long range planning effort. While the construction of Richardson Road between Humie Olive Road and Old US 1 Highway is not funded; it is anticipated that private development proposed in the area could construct portions of the corridor. Questions about this study can be directed to Shannon Cox, Long Range Planning Manager, 919-249-3505 or email Shannon Cox.

The Smith Farm subdivision is in the process of constructing the extension of Richardson Road from Olive Chapel Road to the existing road stub-out on the southern end of the Sweetwater development. The developer is required to monitor the intersection of Olive Chapel Road at Richardson Road and install a traffic signal when warranted during the development build-out. A signal warrant analysis was conducted in March 2019 and the intersection did not meet any signal warrants. Another warrant study is planned prior to the 400th platted lot after the road is connected. Questions about this section of Richardson Road can be directed to Russell Dalton, Senior Transportation Engineer, at 919-249-3358 or Email Russel Dalton. 

NC 55 Operational Improvements (U-5118 AE)  

Adding turn lanes on Apex Peakway approaching NC 55 and Olive Chapel Road.

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Completed: 2018
• Project Contact: Adam Stephenson, (919) 249-3417

Kelly Road / Olive Chapel Road Operational Improvements

(U-5118 AF)

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Completed: 2017
• Project Contact: Adam Stephenson, (919) 249-3417

Evans Road Sidewalk

• Lead Agency: Town of Apex
• Completed: 2017
• Location: Evans Road from Milano Avenue to Humie Olive Road