Repaving set to begin on three Chapel Hill roads after delay

Repaving is set to begin on three town roads after what residents say have been weeks of inconvenience.

The Chapel Hill Public Works Department began the repaving process on North Columbia Street, South Roberson Street and South Graham Street in August.

But plans were unexpectedly postponed when the extra height repaving will add required the Orange Water and Sewer Authority to raise the height of water valves and manholes on the roads, said Greg Ling, streets supervisor for the department.

Residents who live and drive on the streets say the delay in repaving has been a hassle.

Cameron Parker, a resident of North Columbia Street, said swerving around the raised manholes has been frustrating.

And Stephen Bisher, a South Graham Street resident, said riding his bike on the unpaved road caused him to pop his tire.

Ling said despite the halt in roadwork, repaving will commence within the next week.

“It’s kind of an unfortunate set of circumstances,” Ling said.
He said the streets, which are being repaved as part of the town’s Street Improvement Project, were in need of routine improvements.

Forty streets total are undergoing construction as part of the project, which is expected to be completed by Oct. 1.

Shelton Burnette, streets and construction services superintendent for the department, said the North Columbia, South Roberson and South Graham portion never had a set end date, but was expected to be completed sooner.

But the contractor went to work on another job after removing pavement from the streets to allow OWASA time to raise the manholes and water valves, Burnette said.

“The contractor can’t sit and wait,” he said.

Residents have said they did not receive adequate notice of the repaving.

“Literally, my roommates and I heard noise and we looked out the window and they started scraping,” Parker said.

Burnette said in an email that notices were placed on each resident’s door or mailbox informing them that paving would take place in the following weeks.

Ling said the Public Works Department is dealing with complaints by explaining the situation to residents.

He said that once the contractors come back, it shouldn’t take long to finish the project.

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