RALEIGH - Ten Raleigh road projects will be delayed at least a year by the City Council's decision not to put a transportation bond issue to a public vote this fall.

The projects include widening and other improvements to some of Raleigh's busiest streets, including Wade Avenue, Poole Road and Lake Wheeler Road.

Other major streets that are likely to be affected by the delays include Old Wake Forest Road, Jones Franklin Road, Sandy Forks Road, Leesville Road, Rock Quarry Road, Mitchell Mill Road and Buck Jones Road.

With the property tax rate set to go up 4.18 cents, the council chose this week to defer projects one year and review them, along with public transportation funding, before a new bond issue is proposed. City Manager Russell Allen recommended that the council set a $120 million transportation bond referendum for this fall.

Delaying the road bond referendum will not delay some projects, such as the realignment and widening of Falls of Neuse Road and the widening of Six Forks Road. Both projects will receive money this fiscal year from a $60 million road bond issue voters approved in 2005.

Although the City Council recently increased the impact fees it charges developers to help pay for roads, the increase is expected to raise only an additional $2 million this year because of a decrease in construction.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.