The newly widened section of Independence Boulevard between Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road will include a southbound on-road bicycle lane and a northbound wide outside lane, said Joshuah Mello, city of Wilmington associate transportation planner.
The newly constructed southbound carriageway was designed to accommodate two 12-foot-wide travel lanes and a 4-foot-wide bicycle lane, Mello said.
“There is not sufficient width on the northbound carriageway (pre-existing) to accommodate two travel lanes and an on-road bicycle lane. To provide accommodations for cyclists, the inside lane will be 11 feet, while the outside lane will be 13 feet,” Mello said.
South of Carolina Beach Road, “A short southbound bicycle receiving lane will be marked but will end just south of Carolina Beach Road,” he said.
“As the project limits end at the intersection of Carolina Beach Road, no changes will occur to the roadway cross-section south of there. When Independence Boulevard is widened between Carolina Beach Road and River Road, a southbound bicycle lane will be included in the design of the new southbound carriageway,” Mello said.
Mello noted that state law and city code require cyclists to ride in the direction of traffic.
“The provision of an on-road bicycle lane in one direction is not meant to encourage wrong-way riding. Cyclists traveling southbound on Independence Boulevard should be in the southbound travel lane. Cyclists traveling northbound on Independence Boulevard may use the northbound travel lane or the northbound bicycle lane,” he said.
Related links:
Where can I park my bicycle at Wrightsville Beach?
How bicycle friendly is Wilmington?
Can I ride my bike on sidewalks in the City of Wilmington?
Can someone get arrested for drunken driving while on a scooter? How about a bicycle?
Date posted: November 9, 2010
User-contributed question by:
Sarah Aab
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