How to put in new sidewalk in a tough spot, without breaking the bank

Most of Van Dusen Road has drainage swales on both sides of the road.  These "ditches" catch rainwater runoff from the road and filter it into the earth and direct it to larger stormwater management systems.  These ditches work fine for rural roads. The problem is that Van Dusen Road has lots of development on it and lots of pedestrians - it is not rural - and it needs sidewalk.  However, one can't simply plop down sidewalk above the road-grade without redirecting the flow of water to someplace where it shouldn't be.  Retrofitting ditches with concrete piping and stormwater catch drains/basins to alleviate this becomes extraordinarily expensive. The Laurel City Department of Public Works came up with a nifty solution to install sidewalk along Van Dusen Road that utilizes the existing drainage ditches, but also builds above-grade sidewalk. The initial segment of new sidewalk to take advantage of this solution is this segment of Van Dusen Road that leads from the intersection of Cherry Lane to the entrance of the Laurel Oaks development.  As shown in the picture below, it is well traveled and in need of sidewalk, as Van Dusen also has its fair share of speeders.

The new solution involves utilizing a concrete flume, extending from a new gutter, that runs underneath the sidewalk panels, at predetermined intervals. 

The flume allows water that is caught by the gutter to exit out into the ditch, as before, yet still allows for uninterrupted sidewalk. The sidewalk panel over the flume is reinforced with 1/2" rebar, because of concrete's weak tensile strength.  This covered-flume solution has been installed along Van Dusen between Cherry Lane and Laurel Oaks for the past 2 months and appears to be working as intended.  Provided it continues to hold up well, this system allows for continuous concrete sidewalk to be installed along the remainder of Van Dusen without the prohibitive costs of brand new stormwater management systems.

New Traffic Calming Island at Montrose & 10th

Speed profile data collected on Montrose Ave, just east of 10th Street, showed a high number of speeders and an intolerably high number of excessive speeders (35+ mph in a 25 mph zone). See data below:

To mediate this, the City is installing a center-island median (26' long by 10' wide) in the intersection. This median will serve two purposes:  1) focus attention of motorists toward the intersection where a new crosswalk is being installed; and 2) force speeders to slow down to a residential speed.

The new island will look something like this and will be bisected by a ladder-style crosswalk:

Status update:  Complete.

New Pedestrian Signal Crossing at Van Dusen & Cherry Lane

The City of Laurel is installing a new pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Van Dusen Road and Cherry Lane. 

 

The new crossing entails:

1. Opening up the walkway width of the 'porkchop" island on the northeast corner (this will allow for extension of the Van Dusen Road Bike sidepath in a future phase);
2. Tightening the turning radius on the south east corner and adding an extra-wide ADA compliant ramp;
3. Installing an 8' wide ladder-style crosswalk across Cherry Lane on the east side of the intersection;
4. Adding a pedestrian crossing signal phase and countdown timer.

 There is currently no crosswalk or pedestrian phase for residents to cross Cherry Lane at this intersection.  The new crossing desscribed above will fix this, providing students from the Wellington Developments a safer crossing to Laurel High School without having to cross at an unprotected location in front of the school, as is often the case.  It will also allow all the developments near this intersection - Laurel Oaks, Laurelton Forest, Crescents, etc. - quick and safe pedestrian access to surrounding neighborhoods.

 

Status Update:  Items 1), 2) and 3) are complete.  Item 4  is scheduled for mid-October.