Raleigh, N.C. — Ten road improvement projects are being put on hold in Raleigh due to budget constraints.
The city planned to widen Rock Quarry Road from New Hope to Sunny Brook roads next year, but that is among those projects getting postponed.
"Given the gas prices and the lesser amount of driving, it doesn't seem to be a necessity right now. So that has been postponed,” Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said.
Improvements to Lake Wheeler Road, and the widening of Leesville and Mitchell roads have also come to a halt, after Raleigh city leaders voted not to move forward with a transportation bond.
“It's always a concern anytime you postpone something like that, but given the economy, it seemed like the right thing to do,” Meeker said.
Plans to widen Buck Jones Road hit the same road block.
Traffic "picks up around eight and nine in the morning, coming from Cary into Raleigh and then it picks up about five (in the afternoon), coming from Raleigh to Cary,” motorist Matthew Krachey said of Buck Jones Road.
Representatives from group 'WakeUP Wake County' said the decision to delay the road projects should be a wake-up call.
"I think the answer for the congested streets is more transit, because you can move more people at rush hour when the congestion is happening,” said Greg Flynn, with WakeUP Wake County.
Congestion that may only get worse.
“As we grow, it only gets to be more of a concern. It would be nice to keep up with the demands of the thoroughfares as opposed to waiting until a crisis occurs,” Flynn added.
There are two projects that did get the green light. The widening and realignment of Falls of Neuse Road at a cost of $6.5 million, and $3.4 million worth of improvements to Hillsborough Street.



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Instead, Meekerville should focus on improving roads which benefits a large percentage of the population.
July 4, 2008 1:34 p.m.
July 2, 2008 4:57 p.m.
And we still have people who have the myopic "roads where I don't live are not important" thinking. That is DOT thinking, which is why we are in this mess to begin with! Why else was US-70 and US-64 finished early while I-540 is delayed? I can name 3 projects more important than 540, as important as that is. I-485 in Charlotte (20 years late and still not done), I-140 in Wilmington (5 years late and still not done), and the Bonner Bridge (pray you make it over the bridge).
We need a common sense approach to roads. Yes urban areas need more funding. Yes other projects are important. Common sense would fix the DOT problems. Instead, we have deprecated thinking and special interest thinking. The roads the DOT big wigs and politicians will use and want get done quicker whereas roads where they don't drive are delayed. That is not the answer.
July 2, 2008 11:53 a.m.
July 2, 2008 11:43 a.m.
The city should not be involved in road projects in the first place. The thing I do not understand is with all the additional taxes and fees that Meeker has piled on why is there not tons of money available?
________________________________________________________ whatelseisnew: If the City does not Engineer future roads...Who will? Ever been stuck in traffic gridlock? Like it?
By your suggestion things would wax worse & worse until every road to took was like Capital @ 5:15.
I agree we need better mass transit but to say we dont need constant infrastructure upgrades is crazy.
July 2, 2008 11:37 a.m.