City officials opened Monday a roundabout touted as one of the first people-friendly ideas of the Ignite High Point initiative.
The oval-shaped mass of concrete and what will become lawn grass at the intersection of W. Parkway Avenue, N. Lindsay Street, N. Elm Street and Hillcrest Drive replaces a traffic signal and is designed to make the area more pedestrian friendly by slowing down vehicles. For weeks, drivers endured detours and blocked streets. With the streets open, city officials are looking for an efficient flow of traffic.
“There are more things to come,” said Richard Wood, City Project board chairman. “We are looking at how to uplift the library plaza to make it more green.”
A roundabout has long been planned for the intersection, but the design for it was revised by the Duany Plater-Zyberk team of urban planners and architects who visited the city in May.
The Miami-based firm suggested changing the roundabout design from a circle to an oval-shaped structure that would be a better fit with the new urbanism principles the DPZ team likes.
The team is developing a master plan on how to revitalize three general areas: Uptowne, the furniture market district and the High Point University area.
“We are working on the pit (an urban gathering spot for special events in a former parking lot on W. High Avenue) and are just about ready to take plans to City Council. There are so many things happening because of this study,” Wood said.
“It is a great design and great looking. We’ll decide about landscaping later.”
The traffic project is one phase of several upgrades either planned or underway along Lindsay Street from N. Main Street to English Road.
“Initially, we were against it,” said Terry Kuneff, the city’s project engineer. “But as we began to understand the purpose of the changes as a step towards making High Point a workable city, we decided it not only looks good but it has the calmed the traffic and will allow people to enjoy the green space. We’re pleased with the outcome.”
A portion of the street has been widened from Sunset Drive to Quaker Lane and overhead power lines have been put underground between N. Main Street and Ray Avenue.
“People have worked very hard to re-establish the core and the heart of the city with the project,” said Britt Moore, mayor pro tem.
Other neighborhood upgrades include new light poles. Sewer lines will be installed between Quaker Lane and English Road, and sidewalks and new curb and gutter will be built along the route.
New Roundabout
Shape: About 200 feet long and 85 feet wide with sidewalks connecting both ends and both sides.
Cost: The entire Lindsay Street project cost is $5.1 million, about $4 million of which is covered by bond money approved by city voters in 2004. The redesigned roundabout cost the city an additional $85,000.
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