As if the $241 million widening of Interstate 85 through the city isn’t enough, Salisbury motorists will face the inconvenience of several other major road construction projects in coming years.

It’s time to take inventory.

First, there’s the widening of Statesville Boulevard from the Salisbury Mall area to Kepley Road, a distance of about 3.8 miles. The $11 million project will add two lanes and a controversial 18-foot-wide median.

The state already has begun purchasing rights of way along this section of U.S. Highway 70. Construction should start in July 2002.

Then there’s the replacement of the East Innes Street bridge over the railroad tracks. Construction on this $1.99 million project might begin as soon as 2002-2003.

To keep at least one lane of traffic open at all times, the bridge’s replacement could take two years.

Also on the agenda: The replacement of the Ellis Street bridge, a.k.a. the Shober Bridge. It will be replaced pretty much in the same location, and the new structure is expected to cost $1.5 million, of which the city pays 20 percent.

The new Ellis Street bridge will meet Historic Preservation Commission standards and have a design speed of only 20 mph. The design has been delayed because Norfolk Southern has requested that the bridge be long enough to accommodate a third set of tracks.

Right of way acquisition starts in 2002, with construction scheduled for 2003-2004.

Though the project is well north of the city, many Salisbury motorists also will be affected by the replacement of the I-85 bridge over the Yadkin River. Right of way acquisition for that $147 million project will last from 2003-2005, and construction probably will begin in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

In relation to the Yadkin River bridge replacement, the city is supporting preservation of the 1921 Wil-Cox Bridge that crosses the river as part of U.S. Highway 29.

These road projects and more are recommendations that will be included in the city’s update of its state Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

The city divides its transportation improvement efforts into three areas: projects that already have state TIP funding, such as those mentioned above; unfunded TIP projects, which have not yet been scheduled for construction but may have feasibility studies under way; and other city transportation projects, some of which may qualify for specialized state funds or grants.

The two-year TIPs go to the Salisbury Planning Board for review before being referred to Salisbury City Council for a public hearing and approval.

The city then presents its TIP to the N.C. Department of Transportation at a public hearing, probably in October.

“In developing our recommendations for the TIP, the city has endorsed projects that will improve the efficiency of existing streets and promote controlled growth in keeping with Salisbury Vision 2020,” City Manager David Treme says in a draft statement prepared for the DOT.

A committee of the Salisbury Planning Board continues to look at the TIP recommended by City Engineer Dan Mikkelson.

Funded TIP projects — the city has 13 — are those that are nearing construction or completion.

Other projects in this category include a $602,544 TEA 21 grant for streetscape improvements, a Grants Creek greenway, passenger rail efforts, an eventual U.S. Highway 52 relocation, bicycle route mapping and signing, a greenway connector between Kelsey-Scott Park and Jake Alexander Boulevard, an Arlington Street Extension and Fisher Street bridge replacement.

The TEA 21 grant, coupled with $175,000 in local funds, will be spent in the Flowers Bakery Redevelopment Area. Some of those improvements have already begun.

The Grants Creek greenway represents a $300,000 second phase extension of greenway from Eagle Heights and through Catawba College property toward Meadowbrook. The city oversees construction and also supplies $35,000 in local funds.

Construction on the new greenway should start next spring or summer.

The passenger rail efforts include statewide studies and improvements connected to high-speed rail service between Charlotte and Raleigh and restored passenger service and station improvements between Asheville and Salisbury.

Design on the relocation of U.S. Highway 52 in Rowan County is expected to start in 2005.

The DOT and Rowan County will coordinate bicycle route mapping and signing in the future, with the city’s participation.

The greenway connector between Kelsey-Scott Park and Jake Alexander Boulevard will cost $400,000 and is scheduled for construction in 2003-2004.

The $3.9 million extension of Arlington Street had not been scheduled for construction until 2006, but that project could be moved up dramatically with the construction of a Super Wal-Mart near Interstate 85. Wal-Mart is expected to help pay for the costs of the extension, which will connect with Old Concord Road.

A $1.2 million replacement of the Fisher Street bridge would follow completion of the Ellis Street bridge.

While nine other city transportation improvement projects wait in the wings without any funding, three of those are subjects of feasibility studies and have been assigned state project numbers.

They include grade separations — either bridges or underpasses — at the railroad tracks on Klumac Road and Henderson Street. Also, planners are looking at the future potential of an “Airport Parkway” that would extend from I-85 at Peach Orchard Road to Jake Alexander Boulevard at Harrison Road.

Rowan County requested a study of such a corridor in 1996. The DOT’s Planning and Environmental Branch prepared a feasibility study that estimated the cost of such a parkway at $16 million.

The city supports the county initiative, but in terms of its own priorities of unfunded projects, the city currently ranks the parkway eighth out of nine.

Here are other unfunded projects on the city’s TIP wish list:

• A widening of Old Concord Road from Town Creek to Ritchie Road.
• A widening of Julian Road from Jake Alexander Boulevard to Summit Corporate Center.
• Jake Alexander Boulevard’s extension from Stokes Ferry Road, past Bringle Ferry Road, to the proposed relocation of U.S. Highway 52 near I-85.
• Connecting the greenway between Catawba College and Kelsey-Scott Park.
• Brenner Avenue improvements between Statesville Boulevard and the railroad tracks.
• A grade separation at the Jake Alexander Boulevard railroad tracks near Woodleaf Lanes.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com .