A major culvert replacement project on Longleaf Drive scheduled for the first week of January will effectively cut the community in half – with one side restricted to entering and exiting at the Seven Lakes West front gate, and the other side restricted to the back gate.
Barricades will be located at the culvert between Vanore Road and Wagoner Court. Work is anticipated to commence on Monday, January 3, and conclude on Friday, January 7.
A temporary guardhouse will be installed at the back gate and guards will be checking with vendors at the gates to determine if they need to be redirected to the other gate to reach their destination.
“Notification has been sent to the fire departments, emergency services, and police. Signs will be posted at both gates and also on the crests of each hill preceding the work site,” reported Infrastructure Director John Goodman during the Tuesday, December 14 Work Session.
Goodman said the culvert channels an active stream and noted that the landscape slopes away from the road on each side, which creates a hazardous situation for any pedestrian trying to get off the road.
However, Legal Director Ed Silberhorn cautioned him that, from a safety standpoint, if a sidewalk is installed it must meet NC-DOT standards.
“If you put in a sidewalk and someone gets hit that is our problem. If a person walks in the road and gets hit, that is their problem,” said Silberhorn.
With several other similar culvert replacement projects anticipated, Goodman suggested another option would be to widen the road at culvert crossings or to simply add length to the culvert to create additional space for an adequate area for walking.
“I’d like to think we had enough room if, in the future, we decide we want to put up a guardrail [to protect pedestrians],” said Goodman.
