Agenda - 03-24-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PROJECT HISTORY The Durham Northwest and Northeast Loop, also known as Eno Drive - Gorman Road and the Inner Loop has been in the planning stage for over 25 years in the Durham area. The 1964 Durham Urban Area Long Range Thoroughfare Plan identified the need for the Eno Drive Corridor. Additionally, in 1967, preliminary functional designs of Eno Drive-Gorman Road were prepared for the City of Durham in order to protect the corridor for future roadway construction. Several additional corridors have since been recommended by local elected officials, neighborhood associations, civic groups, and the public as part of the continuing planning process for the Durham Urban Area Thoroughfare Plan, The Eno Drive corridor remained relatively unchanged in the 1964, 1980, and 1985 Thoroughfare Plans. The corridor extended from the intersection of U.S. 70 and NC 751 near the Orange/Durham county line, remained south of the Eno River, crossed 1 -85 at Glenn School Road, and ended at the intersection of U.S. 70 and Mineral Springs Road. Planning for the current Thoroughfare Plan began in the late 1980'x. initially, the only substantial change in the Eno Drive corridor involved the relocation of the eastern project terminus along U.S.70 to a new connector to Aviation Parkway at the Raleigh- Durham airport. In 1989, the Durham City Council suggested additional corridors for consideration. One was located north of the Eno River, and followed Umstead, Latta, and Infinity Roads. The other corridor was located along Horton Road south of the original alignment, That same year, the North Carolina General Assembly approved the Highway Trust Fund Bill which provided funding for the construction of urban loops for seven North Carolina cities, including Durham. In 1990, the Durham City Council recommended that additional alignments in the vicinity of Roxboro Road be considered. The Durham City Council also that year, by resolution, requested the North Carolina Department Of Transportation to begin an Environmental impact Statement to determine the most feasible corridor for the proposed roadway. The Durham Northwest and Northeast Loop Corridor Study began in July, 1991. Each of the previously recommended corridors, as well as others suggested by citizens and the Department of Transportation, have been evaluated during this study and comprise the basis for the preliminary corridors that are being presented at this informational briefing. TRAFFIC PROJECT IONS Initial traffic forecasts for the proposed roadway indicate the need for a four -lane facility. Travel demand estimates for the design year of 2015 range from a low of 10,000 vehicles per day to a high of 30,000 vehicles per day at various locations along the corridor. West of Roxboro Road traffic estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000 vehicles per day. East of Roxboro Road the daily traffic volume estimates are higher and range from 13,000 to 30,000 vehicles per day. Generally, if traffic volumes on a two -lane urban arterial approach or exceed 10,000 vehicles per day, then a multi -lane roadway would be necessary to provide a reasonably efficient level of traffic service. Since the projected traffic volumes for this roadway would emceed 10,000 vehicles per day, a multi -lane roadway facility is being proposed. Based on the traffic projections, a four -lane roadway would be required to accommodate travel demand in the design year. 3