Quote :

"Think they would rip up some of that rail for me?"

No but it's dark outside right now. Have at it. I've got a piece of old railroad rail that I use as an anvil, it's great.

They don't give a shit about archaeology. Historical significance means significant delays and days without pay. When I operated heavy machinery, my orders were: If you dig up something cool, bury it again quick before someone finds out.

[Edited on December 6, 2009 at 12:02 AM. Reason : .]

12/5/2009 11:58:41 PM

i have a piece of the rail too. Ask them. You're just getting it out of their way. (^Truth)

12/6/2009 3:43:02 AM

are they working on it today?

12/6/2009 1:10:49 PM

I drove past the spot near Ashe where Hillsborough and Morgan split. They'd dug up a large portion of the middle of the road and had a stack of recently unearthed railroad ties sitting there.

12/13/2009 11:42:44 PM

I thought this article was really interesting

http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/2009-the-tale-of-two-city-streets-fayetteville-hillsborough/

12/18/2009 2:14:44 PM

Spotted a few bits of exposed rail between the bell tower and Chamberlain.

12/19/2009 5:04:28 PM

ArcBoyeee just said on facebook that the roundabout opened

12/21/2009 8:05:19 PM

the small one closer to the harris teeter has been open awhile. not sure on the main one on hillsborough.

12/21/2009 8:09:30 PM

The roundabout on Hillsborough st opened today, I saw 2 different car accidents there between noon and 1pm.

Using Clark and Woodburn to skip the roundabout is gonna be is FTW

12/21/2009 8:14:49 PM

I was headed west on Hillsborough and did a 270 out of traffic to turn onto Woodburn it was such a mess.

12/21/2009 8:49:32 PM

Right now it's not so much a "roundabout" as a "large somewhat round expanse of pavement where the traffic flow is determined by cones and wayward construction personnel". But it is, in fact, open.

12/21/2009 8:50:57 PM

Big ditch in front of the bell tower full of railroad tracks today.

1/8/2010 3:54:19 PM

that's really cool... someone should map them using magnetometers or something.

1/8/2010 4:27:11 PM

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6764348/

Quote :

"Raleigh, N.C. — A project for Raleigh's future has uncovered a glimpse into the city's past. Crews installing a sewer line beneath a new traffic circle at the intersection of Hillsborough and Morgan streets recently unearthed streetcar tracks that date to 1891. Karl Larson, a graphic designer at North Carolina State University and a self-proclaimed expert on Raleigh's streetcar system, said electric trolleys used to fan out in various directions from the State Capitol. "The tracks were extended to what was called suburbs. Of course, N.C. State was a suburb back then," Larson said. "One line came all the way out to the fairgrounds to bring passengers out." A century ago, he noted, the State Fairgrounds were across Hillsborough Street from where the D.H. Hill Library now sits on the N.C. State campus. "Another line went all the way out to what is now the Carolina Country Club," he said. Carolina Power & Light, the forerunner of Progress Energy, operated the streetcar system, which was phased out in 1933 as automobiles became the preferred mode of transportation around Raleigh, Larson said. "The streetcars were scrapped. The tracks were left in place," he said. The city eventually paved over the tracks and forgot they were there until the recent discovery. Ken Dunn, an engineer for the city, said officials are working to take up some of the tracks and preserve them, possibly moving them to an area museum or incorporating them into other projects around Raleigh. "There's a desire to hold on to those tracks and hold on to that history," Dunn said. He said the preservation effort will likely add $20,000 to $30,000 to the cost of building the roundabout, which is among several traffic circles planned to improve traffic flow on Hillsborough Street. It also will delay completing the project by a few weeks, he said, adding that it still should be finished by late summer."

[Edited on January 9, 2010 at 9:56 AM. Reason : ]

1/9/2010 9:54:47 AM

Plans for a 10-story apartment building off of Stanhope, kinda behind UT and the Dan Allen parking deck.

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/279806.html

Quote :

" An Alabama developer paid $6 million last week for three acres near N.C. State University, where it plans to build a private 10-story student apartment building and a parking deck. The purchase by Capstone Development is the first sign of life on an $85million project that has been delayed by the credit crunch since being approved by the Raleigh City Council in October 2008. Called the Stanhope Center, the building would include 277 multifamily units and a six- to seven-story parking deck with 787 parking spaces south of Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. Capstone declined to comment on the status of the project. Capstone had originally planned to lease the property from the seller, Hillsborough Ventures. The center is the first of three parcels that Capstone hopes to redevelop just south of Hillsborough between its intersections with Friendly Drive and Rosemary Street. The parking deck is to go on the south side of Stanhope Avenue. More than 10 months lapsed between the time Capstone introduced the project and the City Council approved it in 2008. Capstone, which specializes in student housing, revised the project in an attempt to gain the support of city planners and nearby residents - some of whom still oppose it. Although there are a number of private apartment complexes that market themselves to NCSU students, the Stanhope Center would offer students the ability to walk to campus. NCSU officials have expressed support for the project, saying that it will be a key part of the revitalization of Hillsborough Street. The city of Raleigh is in the midst of a $9.9 million Hillsborough Street renovation project that is scheduled to be complete in September. The project will add two roundabouts and spruce up the streetscape from Pullen Road to Gardner Street."

Projects like these need to be a major part of the revitalization process. Students would love to live within walking distance to campus, and having more students around will only improve Hillsborough Street. Stop sending people all the way down to Trailwood and Tryon and keep them up near campus.


The project was originally proposed and approved over a year ago but was delayed due to credit issues. The old people who live in the neighborhood bitched about it.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/84274.html
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/45909.html
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/92526.html
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/51076.html
http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/3702255/



[Edited on January 12, 2010 at 12:06 PM. Reason : ]

1/12/2010 12:03:04 PM

if people can't properly navigate a round about they should probably just forfeit their driver's license on the spot.

I can't wait to see the finished product, so close!

1/12/2010 12:13:08 PM

Video showing current state of roundabout with cars driving around it and everything!!
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/620310/crews-ahead-of-schedule-on-hillsborough-st--roundabouts

Says they're 60% completed, 2 months ahead of schedule.

1/12/2010 12:21:01 PM

The roundabout is fantastic. I used to hate that intersection and try to avoid it, but I breeze through there every time now.

1/12/2010 12:22:05 PM

Quote :

"Crews also changed the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Oberlin Road, turning the section of Oberlin near Playmaker's Tavern into a one-way street."

perhaps TWW should go back to writing the news for them

1/12/2010 12:23:54 PM

Quote :

"The roundabout is fantastic. I used to hate that intersection and try to avoid it, but I breeze through there every time now."

Agreed! I love roundabouts for the simple reason that you can go if traffic is clear to your left. No need to wait for lights to cycle.

1/12/2010 12:52:38 PM

My, that is indeed a simple reason.

1/12/2010 7:18:22 PM

i didn't realize the hillsborough roundabout was going to be two lanes.

i don't see how a roundabout that small is going to benefit from an extra lane. seems it would just add to confusion.

1/12/2010 11:00:07 PM

Now if they could fix Hillsborough as it goes through Gorman toward campus...that would be great!

1/12/2010 11:09:33 PM

two lane magic:

1/12/2010 11:15:57 PM

wow. that looks confusing as hell.

1/12/2010 11:17:55 PM

I had a late lunch at Zaxby's and had the pleasure of overhearing some meathead idiot explaining to a girl how those "big circles" work.

1/12/2010 11:26:46 PM

they have one around some statue at the northwest corner of central park

[Edited on January 13, 2010 at 12:00 AM. Reason : ish]

1/12/2010 11:59:44 PM

REALLY?!?!?!

1/13/2010 12:05:27 AM

i think that the technician should keep a tally of accidents that take place in the roundabouts once hillsborough st opens back up

1/13/2010 12:06:13 AM

the tally would be meaningless, because there is none demonstrating the number of accidents with the previous traffic configuration.

furthermore, it would need to be a long term study before one could make a determination of its safety and therefore the early numbers which would arguably get the most attention would be the least significant.

1/13/2010 12:07:51 AM

two things:

why are both of the new roundabouts "tilted?" they are not level. Has anyone noticed this? and I have no logical reason as to why? visibility to a specific direction? does that really matter?

and

as one is headed EAST on h-boro entering the circle, and turning RIGHT onto PULLEN road, those STUPID zebra lines with reflectors are currently there, and dont seem to go away in that final drawing ^^. That would be lame since stupid people will turn over them and could potentially collide with someone exiting from the circle onto pullen (happened to me yesterday). It's like, you don't even have to enter the circle to turn. that's not intended, but present. design flaw. They should have brought the sidewalk/curb out to that margin. lame.

1/13/2010 2:12:16 AM

Quote :

"i think that the technician should keep a tally of accidents that take place in the roundabouts once hillsborough st opens back up"

They (not the technician, NCDOT I think) did a study of the roundabout that's on further down on Pullen. The roundabout reduced accidents by quite a bit versus the old signaled intersection.

1/13/2010 8:37:47 AM

^^ i do that when going east on hillsborough. but it seems that the reflectors go pretty far out into the circle making that turn a really sharp turn.

1/13/2010 8:45:28 AM

Quote :

"as one is headed EAST on h-boro entering the circle, and turning RIGHT onto PULLEN road, those STUPID zebra lines with reflectors are currently there, and dont seem to go away in that final drawing ^^. That would be lame since stupid people will turn over them and could potentially collide with someone exiting from the circle onto pullen (happened to me yesterday). It's like, you don't even have to enter the circle to turn. that's not intended, but present. design flaw. They should have brought the sidewalk/curb out to that margin. lame."

They probably left the sidewalk way back and put in the reflector margins because the buses will have to turn right there and wouldn't be able to make the corner without hitting the curb.

I don't understand what you mean about people colliding with someone exiting from the circle. I guess that's why you prefaced it with "stupid" people. It's like the idiots on the interstate who drive on the shoulder to pass people so they can get to their off-ramp faster. Or the people who drive down the middle/turning lane for a half mile before they actually turn left.
If you stay in your damn lane and don't pull out in front of anyone, there's no way to get in an accident. If you drive off the edge of the road and pull out in front of other cars ... well, like you said, that would make them stupid.

1/13/2010 11:16:24 AM

Quote :

"they have one around some statue at the northwest corner of central park"

3 of the 4 corners of Central Park have traffic circles...strange you didn't mention the most famous one, Columbus Circle.

1/13/2010 11:38:09 AM

I'll take that ^^

but what about the tilt?

1/13/2010 4:53:52 PM

well at least for the big roundabout, that area wasn't level to begin with, it got lower as you went towards downtown

1/13/2010 4:57:08 PM

My new hobby at lunch will be grabbing some Cookout, then going to campus, sitting along the side of the roundabout, and watching all the girls spaz out

1/13/2010 5:07:54 PM

2008 version of the Stanhope development I talked about near the top of this page:

1/15/2010 11:00:44 AM

living in australia for 2 years made me really appreciate roundabouts. glad to see hillsborough getting some. i'm just ready for construction to be done.

1/15/2010 11:08:16 AM

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20050521/ai_n14643547/

Quote :

"The first thing to do when approaching the roundabout is to look at the signs indicating the proper ways to enter and exit. Drivers should select the lane by which to enter the roundabout based on which lane they need to be in to exit. Drivers should not change lanes once in the roundabout. The right lane is intended to make the first right turn possible after entering the roundabout or to make the second possible right, which would be a continuation of the same road as when a driver entered... The left lane is intended to exit at the street opposite from the one entered (continuing straight on the same road), to make a left turn as if it was a normal intersection, or to make a U-turn and return on the street from which a driver entered... Drivers approaching the roundabout must yield to any pedestrians crossing the street. If there are no pedestrians, drivers must yield to traffic in their lane in the roundabout. Drivers approaching from the right lane must enter the right lane, and drivers approaching from the left lane must enter the left lane. Drivers entering the roundabout from the right lane must keep in mind that if they plan to continue straight on the same road and not take the first right turn, they could be next to a vehicle in the left lane that entered at a different location and might be turning right at the intersection. This is the danger area of a two-lane roundabout."

1/16/2010 12:13:42 AM

They will have to redesign the traffic flow. That's waaay too complicated for a population who has difficulty with a single lane roundabout.

Crossing two lanes of exiting traffic to enter a roundabout = tbones weekly

[Edited on January 16, 2010 at 8:36 AM. Reason : Ehh]

1/16/2010 8:32:48 AM

who wants to go down there with me and cause a huge clusterfuck by just doing laps around the roundabout for 10 or 15 minutes? how many cars y'all think it'll take to fill the inside lane up?

1/16/2010 9:47:13 AM

As much as I hate to admit it, because I'm a huge advocate for this project and the roundabouts in general, the learning curve on this is going to be hilarious to watch. The shear dilemma of having two lanes of circular traffic is going to cause someone to plow right into the side of somebody else.

Hopefully they'll have good signage on this thing or else I'm going to just get a lawn chair out in the center of the thing one day when this project is done and watch what ensues.

1/17/2010 12:05:58 AM

Quote :

"The Raleigh City Council’s public works committee members voted unanimously to support bike lanes for Hillsborough Street. If the plan gets final approval from council and the state Department of Transportation, there will be dedicated bike lanes along the section of the street fronting N.C. State University. The plan has several hurdles to cross before it can become a reality. First, council will have to approve the proposal at its next meeting. Second, the proposal will have to go through the DOT, which maintains the street. According to Eric Lamb, with the city’s Public Works Department, the DOT has said previously that it prefers “sharrows” or shared lanes with markings to warn drivers to share the lane with bicycles. Third, the plan will require an amendment to the recently adopted 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The plan amendment will require a neighborhood meeting and a public hearing, which could take more than a year."

1/28/2010 10:48:28 AM

that's a long meeting

1/28/2010 10:52:42 AM

the roundabouts are 'tilted' to keep the water flowing off them during heavy rains. the same reason all roads are not perfectly flat.

1/31/2010 7:54:53 PM

Slightly related to Hillsborough Street Revitalization:


Apparently Red, Hot, & Blue is past broke and quit paying bills a while back and they're getting sued to get evicted and Player's Retreat is like picketing them or small claims suing or something because they shared dumpsters except RH&B never paid their share.

So Imma guess soon they;ll be gone and maybe something good will take their place.

1/31/2010 7:59:20 PM

I've also wondered if the business on HB St. are eligible for any financial assistance due to the decreased traffic? I know most of the businesses suck and I have no idea why they are there, but some of them have to be hurting at no fault of their own. RH&B sucks, but when the construction started, I bet the business died off fast.

1/31/2010 8:16:49 PM

there ought to be a bar there

i think a bar with that much seating, with that much wall space for jumbo TVs, with a full kitchen, on that end of Hillsborough, would do very well

1/31/2010 8:27:51 PM