Electronic Plan Review Application Instructions
Meadowlark Drive Construction Update
The following is a brief summary of developments that have taken place on the Meadowlark Drive project since July. Below the summary there are questions that have been posed by the community regarding the project along with responses to those questions. We request that you share this information with those in the community that may have an interest in the project.
Project Construction Status
The City's Purchasing Department opened bids for the Meadowlark Drive project on July 18th, 2018. Bids were submitted from three contractors, all of which substantially exceeded the budget appropriated for the project. A contributing factor to the high bids received is the substantial number of projects currently under construction such as Business 40 and the eastern section of the beltway, and the shortage of contractors available to undertake additional work. The City did attempt to negotiate with the low bidder and ultimately decided to reject all bids. Additional funding options are currently being pursued for the project while other work related to the project, such as property acquisition and utility relocations, continues. City Council has approved a contract with Duke Energy to have the power poles relocated. The Council also approved the acquisition of property that will be required to widen the road. Those notices and acquisitions will begin shortly. The City also continues to work with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System to coordinate this project with the traffic improvements they plan on making for the Meadowlark Schools and other long range plans affecting attendance at this location.
Moving Forward
The City's Real Estate Department will be mailing out letters to property owners, within the limits of the project, this month. The letters are being sent to owners of property on which easements and/or right-of-way are needed for the project. Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas will also be relocating some of their facilities in the months to come in preparation for the project.
Goal
It is the City's goal to construct the project in its entirety from Country Club Road to Robinhood Road. We will update the community if circumstances arise that prevent us from meeting this objective.
Meadowlark Drive Q&A
Q: Does this plan still include the following:
The construction of two additional stop lights between Robinhood Road and Country Club Road?
A: Yes.
Q: Does the plan include traffic traveling South on Meadowlark toward Country Club Rd to make a U-turn to enter the school for drop off?
A: Yes.
Q: Has this information been provided to the effected neighborhoods?
A: Yes, this information was presented during a public meeting held at the Meadowlark Middle School on Monday, August 28, 2017.
Q: Is it still being anticipated these improvements will take two years?
A: Yes.
Q: Are they still planning to make the 10' wide walking/bike path from N-S on the east side of Meadowlark?
A: Yes.
Q: It is also my understanding that you advised, in March 2018, funding was available to complete this project once approved. In talking with city planners in late summer, the bids were too high.
A: Funding, approved by voters in 2014, is available. The bids that the City received in July of 2018 exceeded those funds; therefore additional funds are needed.