Congestion puts cars, pedestrians and cyclists at risk. Will this plan help Hillsborough?

Over 20,000 drivers who negotiate a jumble of strip malls, fast-food restaurants and busy side roads on South Churton Street could see major changes happening in the next 10 years.

The street is a vital transit corridor for Hillsborough and a southern gateway for people coming from Chapel Hill and Carrboro. It links local residents to communities to the east and west via Interstates 40 and 85 and U.S. 70A.

But the current design is unsafe, especially for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers trying to turn left, town and state officials have said. N.C. Department of Transportation data shows over 200 crashes in the corridor between 2016 and 2020.

Roughly 1 in 5 crashes were reported at the I-40 and Old N.C. 86 (South Churton Street) interchange, which is being redesigned. The next most-dangerous area was from McDonald’s and the I-85 interchange to Mayo Street, which had 100 crashes, some with severe injuries and involving pedestrians.

More crashes with pedestrians and cyclists were seen from Orange Grove Road to U.S. 70A, and at least one driver was killed at the John Earl Street intersection — a notoriously difficult place to make left turns because of speeding and sometimes heavy traffic.

The situation will only worsen as the corridor is further developed, including at the former Daniel Boone Village next to I-85 and the site of a long-anticipated Amtrak train station at South Churton Street and Orange Grove Street.

The town has worked with state engineers for several years to find ways to make the corridor safer. Previous plans to widen South Churton Street were rejected, because they focused more on cars, instead of bicycles and pedestrians, and because of the amount of private land required for right of ways and the number of trees lost.

This summer, the town gave the public its first look at the results of a yearlong study to address those concerns.

Stephanie Trueblood, the town’s public space and sustainability manager, said Churton Street “will be a much safer corridor and a beautiful entryway into downtown” once the nearly $50 million project is completed.

“When we started this study, we asked what the community wanted for the future of Churton Street,” Trueblood said. “This plan expresses those interests and combines them with findings from traffic modeling and forecasting.”

What did the Churton Street study find?

▪ Congestion: Traffic often backs up on South Churton Street, but is especially heavy during the morning and evening commutes. NCDOT data shows 13,000 to 17,000 people on average drive between I-40 and I-85 daily, while the I-85 to U.S. 70A stretch averages 17,000 to 21,000 people.

▪ Crashes: The state’s crash rate for South Churton Street is 1.34 times the average crash rate for similar roads in North Carolina.

▪ Safety: Half of those who responded to the town’s survey said they feel safe driving on South Churton Street during the day, and only 23% said they feel safe walking or biking during the day.

What are the recommended changes?

▪ Widen South Churton Street to four lanes from Interstate 40 to Mayo Street.

▪ Build a median on South Churton Street to slow traffic, encourage drivers to pay more attention, and give pedestrians a place to pause while crossing the street.

▪ Redesign I-85 interchange at South Churton Street. The NCDOT has long-term plans to widen I-85 to six lanes from the Orange Grove Road overpass to the Durham County line.

▪ Add traffic signals at major intersections that don’t have them, such as Cates Creek Parkway, and replace some existing signals with roundabouts to keep traffic moving more effectively. Roundabouts are being considered for Mayo Street, Rebecca Drive and Orange Grove Road.

▪ Better landscaping and stormwater measures, including street trees and bioswales to collect and absorb or slowly filter rainwater.

▪ Remove or combine driveways on South Churton Street to reduce the number of places where cars, cyclists and pedestrians cross each other’s paths.

▪ Build a paved path, 10 feet wide and disability accessible, on the east side of South Churton Street from I-40 to Orange Grove Road.

▪ Build a sidewalk on the west side of South Churton Street from I-40 to Orange Grove Road.

▪ Widen a sidewalk across the railroad bridge between Orange Grove Road and U.S. 70A.

▪ Add pedestrian crosswalks with signals between intersections, such as between Cates Creek Parkway and Waterstone Drive.

Will the changes fix congestion downtown?

Planners have previously acknowledged traffic still could back up at the Eno River Bridge, but downtown Hillsborough’s historic homes and buildings only leave enough room for two lanes. A plan to build a bypass around downtown using Elizabeth Brady Road was dropped in 2010.

Will it improve the western end of Mayo Street?

No. That intersection with Orange Grove Road is part of a different project. A 2020 study recommended roundabouts at Mayo Street and at Eno Mountain Road, where traffic often backs up and left turns are dangerous. There is no money or timeline for those improvements, Trueblood said.

How much could the Churton Street project cost?

NCDOT officials estimate the work for the stretch between I-40 and I-85 could cost between $20 million and $21.7 million in today’s dollars. The estimated cost is $22 million to $23.8 million for the stretch north of I-85.

When could the work start?

The state could have the money to pay for the roadwork by 2031-32. Construction could take several years and have a significant effect on businesses and residents in the area, town planners have said. The I-85 construction project is not scheduled yet.

Stay updated: The South Churton Street project and other state roadwork can be found at tinyurl.com/5n8jf767.

Tammy Grubb

The News & Observer

919-829-8926

Tammy Grubb has written about Orange County’s politics, people and government since 2010. She is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumna and has lived and worked in the Triangle for over 30 years.