Jane Porter’s story on the seemingly never-ending construction on Glascock Street ran in today’s Raleigh Agenda. It’s a fair piece and properly highlights the frustration neighbors have been feeling.
To give a little context to my remarks, I also told Jane that I’m happy that the City is bringing much-needed investment to East Raleigh (after all, there are still two actual, honest-to-God unpaved dirt roads that connect to Glasdock). I only wish the city had done a better job of setting expectations for how long this project (these projects) would take.
Being that I was East CAC chair at the time (or had just been), I certainly knew that the project was gearing. I was not aware, though (and I don’t think any other neighbors were aware), of the time it would all take.
What I would like to see for future projects is the city not only telling us when a project is expected begin but when it is expected to be completed. Put up a sign at the work site with this information. Include a URL (or QR code) that points people to the project webpage. This would do a lot to keep neighbors comfortable with the process.
A good example of why this is needed is the construction that has temporarily closed Old Louisburg Road. A sign appeared over the weekend of October 8th, which tells drivers that the road would close on the 10th. The sign does not tell drivers when the road will reopen! Because Old Louisburg Road is the main way people in my neighborhood get to downtown Raleigh, it being closed is hugely disruptive.
I get it. Work needs to be done, but how about being more open with the public so we can:
- better appreciate the scope of your work, and
- plan accordingly around your work?
The other thing I’d like the city to do is to designate one point person for these joint projects. I did reach out to the engineer in charge of one aspect of this project but received no response. Was this the right engineer for this particular project phase? Who knows? Raleigh should have one person the public can call with questions/concerns about city work. That could be in the Public Works department or it could be in the Public Affairs department; it probably doesn’t matter which. But one name and number should be prominently designated to find out more information.
It’s taken more than two years, but a major construction project along Glascock Street on the edge of Oakwood and Mordecai should soon be finished.
Beginning where Glascock connects with Wake Forest Road and ending where it intersects Raleigh Boulevard, the multi-tiered, $1.2 million effort has been entirely necessary but caused considerable disruption to area residents and traffic patterns. The project involved installing a new water line and traffic-calming measures, including implementing multiple speed humps and warning signs, then re-paving the road and rebuilding several sidewalks.
But neighbors say the city’s lack of engagement and communication with residents has the potential to influence the way Raleigh residents think about future road projects. Will they now aim to avoid the nuisance, even when it’s needed?