This question was answered by Mike Kozlosky, executive director of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization:
“The Wilmington MPO and City of Wilmington completed Walk Wilmington: A Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan that was adopted by the Wilmington City Council on Aug. 4, 2009. Walk Wilmington: A Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan recommends the addition of pedestrian signals to the existing signal at the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Shipyard Boulevard. The plan includes “pedestrian crossing signals and new sidewalks are recommended for location in the vicinity of this intersection.” Below please find a list of recommendations at this location and conceptual design from the Walk Wilmington: A Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
The following concept plan illustrates the proposed recommendations for improvements to this intersection. Highlights of the physical improvements include:
- Install high-visibility crosswalks on all four legs of intersection. (Note: this will require relocating the stop bar and vehicle detection loops in the pavement.)
- Install high-visibility crosswalks on right-turn slip lanes on Carolina Beach Road.
- Install large traffic islands on northwest and southeast corners of intersection.
- Install median pedestrian refuge island on Shipyard Boulevard. Widen eastern Shipyard Boulevard median from 4 feet to 8 feet.
- Narrow eastbound travel lanes on Shipyard Boulevard to 11 feet.
- Install pedestrian countdown signals and activation equipment for all crosswalks.
- Reduce right-turn radius on northeast and southwest corners of intersection to 55 feet and 50 feet, respectively.
- Install sidewalk leading north and east from northeast corner of intersection.
- Ensure all driveways are Wilmington standard “ramp” type. Close southern McDonald’s driveway on Carolina Beach Road.
A conceptual design for a crosswalk at the intersection of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road, from the Walk Wilmington: A Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan. (Contributed photo)
Date posted: December 8, 2011
User-contributed question by:
Lee Bell
The question was not actually answered. Is the sidewalk scheduled to be done?
Jake,
The project is not currently funded, so the change would depend on when officials decide to fund it.
Has Wilmington made any changes to it’s ordinance recently in order to develop more pedestrian friendly (human size) properties and infrastructure? A sidewalk is a good step, but an empty sidewalk isn’t really much better than no sidewalk at all (granted it is a step to more pedestrians and a walking culture, but that could take decades to develop, or might never develop).