Bikelanes for Estes Drive Extension

In addition to the sidewalk problem on Estes Drive Extension, we have a serious bikelane problem as well. In an effort to make the situation safer in the short term, I got the Chapel Hill Town Council, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the NC Dept of Transportation to co-operate on the paving of a wide should on each side of Estes Drive Extenstion a few years ago.

Only problem is that there is very little public right of way for the last segment of Estes between Estes Park Apts. and N. Greensboro Street. Here's an aerial photo with the right of way shown in red:



As you can see, the southern end of the road is much narrower. And unfortunately many of the houses are already close to the street.

Consequently, we are proposing to build a bike path from Estes Drive Extension (opposite Estes Park Apts.) up through Wilson Park to Williams Street so that cyclists can skip the narrowest and most dangerous section of Estes Drive Extension. This path is commonly known as the proposed Wilson Park Multi-use Path. Here's approximately what that path would like (in blue):



The Multi-use Path is currently shown on the Capital Improvements Plan as being funded jointly by the Town and the Feds. Construction of the path would happen several years from now, however.