Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010

Judd Parkway: A busy route is coming full circle

For some, the business district of Fuquay-Varina is a travel destination, whether for window shopping or a relaxing meal.

For many others, however, the town's busy streets and railroad crossings are daily bottlenecks as they try to drive between Raleigh and Fayetteville along U.S. 401, or between the Research Triangle Park and points south along N.C. 55.

Town officials think they can alleviate the congestion, the delays and many of the headaches for both groups - and increase commercial growth - through continued construction of Judd Parkway, a traffic loop around town.

Construction of the parkway began with the southeast section in the late 1990s.

Work is continuing along the northeast section.

The loop will be more than half complete by the end of this year and three-fourths complete by 2012.

"The parkway will alleviate congestion in parts of downtown, making it more walkable, allow commuters to pass through more easily, and will become an economic development tool as well," said Andy Hedrick, Fuquay-Varina's town manager.

The parkway is funded primarily by Fuquay-Varina taxpayers, including an $8 million bond referendum approved in 2007.

The loop has also received state and federal funding and contributions from businesses that have, and that will, sprout up along the route.

Construction crews were busy grading a stretch of the Northeast Judd Parkway Extension late last month.

The stretch will soon connect N.C. 55 to U.S. 401.

The section could eventually be designated as the N.C. 55 Bypass around Fuquay-Varina, said Hedrick.

He says that several commercial developers have already expressed interest in building along this section.

Businesses have long been settled-in along the southeast section of the parkway.

Town Hall sits along this section, and occupies land that was once part of a tobacco farm owned by the Judd family, namesakes for the parkway.

Hedrick says the trickiest section of the loop to complete will be the northwest section.

It passes through wetlands, and will require extensive environmental studies before the road can be designed and permitted.

"It's uncharted territory," Hedrick said.