Plans to Extend Front Street Moving Ahead

Plans to extend Front Street from Mills Street all the way to NC 42 took another step forward this week as town officials began a search for an engineering firm to provide professional engineering services for the project.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) which details the scope of the project and services needed is being made available to firms across the area.They have until Feb. 17 to make a proposal.

"The project involves roadway and utility engineering and design for approximately one mile of a two lane minor thoroughfare connection and extension of Front Street," the RFQ states.

The anticipated scope of services includes:
• Engineering design services for new roadway, multi‐purpose path, water, sewer and stormwater utilities necessary to accomplish the extension of Front Street from Mill Street to Old NC Highway 42 East. The project design shall comply with NCDOT guidelines and procedures, and all applicable Federal, State and Town requirements and standards;
• Identifying areas where right‐of‐way or easement acquisition may be necessary to accommodate the roadway extension; and
• Providing Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) documentation meeting FHWA requirements. The plans shall be completed to show the design, site plans, landscaping, drainage, easements and utility conflicts.

Town officials may also want the firm to assist with public involvement for connection routing.  

The design phase of the project, which includes an environmental study, is expected to take a few months, with construction beginning sometime next year.  

The nearly mile-long stretch of street will have curbs and gutters with a five-foot sidewalk on one side and a 10-foot multi-use asphalt path on the other that will be part of the effort to provide walking trails through town.  

 Town officials say the extension is badly needed to provide an alternate east-west route into downtown. Along with easing traffic congestion, it would also allow emergency vehicles from Fire Station No. 2 an easier path to downtown and the north part of town, as well as access from the northeast area to the Post Office without having to cross railroad tracks.  

The extension will also open the area up for development, as well as improving access to the Clayton Spinning Mill property, which would better facilitate redevelopment.  

Most of the estimated $1.6 million cost will be paid by the state, with much of the town's part paid by a local developer whose land will be opened up by the work.