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19 <br />NC 54 <br />From I -40/85 in Burlington <br />to Chapel Hill Bypass <br />Alamance- Orange Counties <br />R -2538 <br />I. DESCRIPTION <br />This report covers a preliminary study of a proposed widening of a <br />20 -mile section of NC 54 from I -40/85 in Burlington to the NC 54 Chapel <br />Hill Bypass (see Figure 1). This project is included in the 1990 -1996 <br />Transportation Improvement Program for feasibility study and /or right - <br />of -way protection and is not currently funded. <br />The project begins just beyond-the I -40/85 interchange at the <br />intersection of NC 54 and SR 2106 to the east and SR 2217 to the west. <br />The Y -line improvement for the I -40/85 widening project (I -303K, con- <br />struction scheduled to begin in 1990) includes a 5 -lane curb and gutter <br />section tapering back into the 2 -lane section just south of SR 2106. <br />The project terminates approximately 0.3 mile west of SR 1107, where <br />the proposed widening of the western portion of NC 54 Chapel Hill Bypass <br />ends. This widening project (U- 2003AA) is scheduled to start construc- <br />tion in 1991. <br />II. PURPOSE OF PROJECT <br />Existing Conditions <br />NC 54 is classified as a minor arterial on the County Functional <br />Classification Plan. NC 54 acts as an important connector between the <br />Chapel Hill /Carrboro areas and Burlington. <br />Existing NC 54 is generally a 2 -lane, 24 -foot paved facility with <br />12 -foot shoulders (4 feet of which is paved). Left turn lanes are pro- <br />vided at all major intersections and along short sections of NC 54 from <br />I -40/85 to SR 2106 and from SR 2136 to NC 119. <br />.The speed limit from the I -40/85 ramps in Burlington to SR 2136 is <br />45 mph, rising to 55 mph as NC 54 continues to the project terminus in <br />Carrboro. The existing development along the project consists mainly of <br />light density residential and industrial.uses. <br />Existing right -of -way is generally 120 feet throughout most of the <br />project length, except for the section from I -40/85 to SR 2109, where <br />only 100 feet was reserved. The existing alignment of NC 54 is generally <br />good and built through rolling terrain. The maximum degree of curve is 6 <br />degrees (maximum safe speed of 55 mph), and the maximum percent grade is <br />5p. ' <br />