Update October 2025

The Town is making temporary repairs to the pedestrian bridge and the asphalt Side Path. Construction plans are being modified to address the impact of Tropical Storm Chantal, and construction is expected to begin in Summer 2026.  

Update June 2025  

The Town Council voted in June to allocate a portion of the bond funding approved by the voters in 2024 for the construction of this Project to construct a multi-modal path between Cleland Drive and Willow Drive. The procurement "bidding" phase is expected to begin in the Fall-Winter 2025.  

Update August 2023

The Town received construction bids in the summer of 2023 for the renovation and extension of the Fordham Boulevard Side Path Project. The bids exceeded the funding allocated for this Project. The Town is working to develop next steps in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Durham, Carrboro, Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Agency.  

Update on March 23, 2022

Fordham Boulevard Side Path Project Receives Additional Funding

The Town of Chapel Hill has received $160,000 from the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Fordham Boulevard side project. These funds will supplement funding already received from the Federal Highway Administration Transportation Alternative Program. 

Read the News Release from March 23, 2022

Project Background and Information: 

The Side Path project will provide a multi-modal path along Fordham Boulevard between Cleland Drive and Willow Drive. This Project is divided into two segments. The southern portion between Cleland Drive and Ridgefield Road involves upgrading the existing asphalt section to concrete.

The northern part involves constructing a new path between Ridgefield Road and Willow Drive, along the eastern side of Fordham Boulevard. It includes landscape buffering, noise abatement, and stormwater control. The project design and permitting are underway, with construction expected to begin this fall. 

April 14 -15, 2021 - Site Meetings

Project site meetings to review the Side Path alignment were held on Wednesday, April 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and on Thursday, April 15, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Town of Chapel Hill's Project Manager, team members, and stakeholders participated in these meetings.  

April 12, 2021 - Virtual Public Information Meeting

A public information meeting was held on Monday, April 12, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. to review the current plans and next steps for the development of the Fordham Boulevard Side Path. Questions and answers from this meeting are included below. 

Traffic-Calming Concept Plans Survey Results 

The Town of Chapel Hill has received community input on the Fordham Boulevard Side Path, focusing on addressing potential conflicts along the northern portion, specifically where the Side Path crosses Ridgefield Road and Walnut Street. The Town will move forward with a combination of Option 1.1 and Option 2. This solution is based on feedback from stakeholders and residents received through the survey and the October 22, 2020, public meeting.

The design will include a traffic diverter to restrict right turns from Fordham Boulevard onto Ridgefield, as well as raised crosswalks at Ridgefield and Walnut. The Town will also examine additional traffic-calming and safety measures in the final plans.

• For the first noise assessment (January 2020), two long-term noise measurements were obtained for 24 hours near STIP Project EB-5 21. One measurement was taken west of Fordham Boulevard, near the University Place shopping center (LT-1), and the other measurement was taken behind the residences along Hickory Drive (LT-2). Both measures were taken at the same distance from the edge of Fordham Boulevard; however, LT-2 was slightly higher in elevation. Therefore, the noise levels tracked at LT-2 were generally high (~5 dB). While LT-1 was located at approximately the same elevation as Fordham Boulevard, LT-2 was located about 5 feet higher than Fordham Boulevard. This elevation difference likely provided a more direct line of sight to LT-2, resulting in higher noise levels than those at LT-1.

• For the second noise assessment (October 2020), two long-term noise measurements were obtained for 24 hours near STIP Project EB-5 21. One measurement was taken west of Fordham Boulevard, near the University Place shopping center (LT-1), and the other measurement was taken behind the residences along Hickory Drive (LT-2). Both measurement locations were the same distance from the edge of Fordham Boulevard, and the microphones were located at approximately the same elevation above the roadway. The noise levels fluctuated throughout the day; however, the monitored noise levels at LT-2 were slightly higher on average. The difference in noise levels isn't considered noticeable to the human ear.

Based on the noise level data collected in the field for both noise assessments and the information on vegetative buffers from FHWA, the existing vegetation between Fordham Boulevard and the residences along Hickory Drive isn't providing any noticeable reductions in traffic noise levels. However, the existing vegetation is likely providing a visual barrier from Fordham Boulevard traffic, which may cause perceived noise levels to be lower than they are. Although the multi-use path project proposes to remove the existing vegetative buffer, noise levels are anticipated to remain the same as those experienced today.

Noise Monitoring Report - Fordham Boulevard

Town Arborists report outlining a visual assessment of trees along Fordham Boulevard from Ridgefield Road to Willow Drive.

Contact Information

Marcia Purvis, Project Manager
email: mpurvis@townofchapelhill.org 
phone: (919) 968-2750