US 27/Carruthers project delayed by surveys, utilities and historic‑review hurdles

City staff updated the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 7 about persistent delays and new technical obstacles on the US 27 corridor and the Carruthers Road connection.

Staff said incorrect surveys uncovered in project plans required significant redesign and that major underground utility work — including a large stormwater culvert inside a private shopping center, and coordination with SD1 and Duke Energy — needs separate staging and approvals. The underpass portion is subject to a Section 106 review by the State Historic Preservation Office because the structure is older than 50 years; staff said SHPO review has not yet approved proposed underpass changes and that mitigation requirements may be significant.

Budget and timing: The project was once considered shovel‑ready but staff now views winter 2027 as the earliest realistic bid window for at least a phase of the work. Inflation and scope changes mean previously projected combined budgets (around $8 million) are unlikely to cover the full scope without additional funding.

Safety and design goals: Staff said the primary objective remains creating a barrier between travel lanes and bicyclist/pedestrian routes through the underpass; some elevated sidewalk designs would have required full underpass closures of six months to a year, and staff emphasized alternative designs to avoid that level of disruption.

Next steps: Staff said the design engineer has been asked to reevaluate the underpass and will keep OKI and other regional partners apprised of changes. The board stressed the need to prioritize pedestrian safety, short‑term fixes where feasible and clear public communication about staging and traffic impacts.

Provenance: Project status discussion and timelines come from staff remarks during the Feb. 7 session.