The Raleigh City Council on Tuesday scrapped plans to widen parts of Six Forks Road in North Hills, an area known for its narrow lanes.
During a presentation, the assistant director of Raleigh's transportation department told city council members the cost to widen Six Forks Road from Rowan Street to Millbrook Road had grown from $56.1 million to $93.5 million, a 67% increase.
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"Market forces have continued to challenge this project," said Kenneth Ritchie with the city of Raleigh's Engineering Services Department.
With the cost increase, council members voted to instead use the project's $60 million budget to close a sidewalk gap near Carroll Magnet Middle School and fund other safety improvements in the area, including pedestrian crossings and intersection improvements along some parts of Six Forks Road.
Remaining funds could possibly be used to pay for transportation and road projects elsewhere, including designs for the midtown multi-modal bridge.
"Just like the old saying, the music died today. I think the public was dealt a very serious blow by the city," said Larry Helfant, who lives near the impacted portions of Six Forks Road.
Helfant worries that without the widening and a multi-use path, traffic in the area will worsen.
"As businesses to continue to develop and North Hills continues to grow...traffic will continue to get worse," Helfant said.
During Tuesday's meeting, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said the rising cost of land needed for widening construction could make other projects like the Capital Boulevard freeway conversion more challenging.
"This is the first project in his 40-year career where he's seen the land cost 2.5 times the road," Cowell said. "It may be impossible for us to move curbs in the future."
Other council members expressed frustration at delays for the project, which began an initial corridor study in 2012.
"I won't beat a dead horse. This is very disappointing the have this in front of us again," said At-Large Council Member Jonathan Lambert-Melton.
Some emphasized the need for public engagement and floated possible changes to comment timelines to prevent costs from skyrocketing.
"We have to be quicker from the time we have those capital funds committed to the actual construction. If we can narrow that down, my hope is we can keep the estimate in more realistic terms," said District A Council Member Mitchell Silver.
City leaders said more than $9 million has already been spent to get to this point in the project.
Council members had already scaled back an original plan of the project in 2024 that called for widening the corridor from Rowan Street to Lynn Road to a six-lane, median-divided section with separated bicycle and pedestrian paths on both sides.
On Wednesday, Midtown Raleigh Alliance executive director Emile Hartman called the city’s decision to scrap the plan “incredibly disappointing.”
“After more than a decade of planning and community engagement, to see the project stall without a path forward is disheartening,” said Hartman, whose group advocates for businesses in the North Hills and the surrounding areas. “The development of North Hills and Midtown Raleigh has been an economic driver for the city and it truly needs this kind of investment.
“The business community remains committed to working alongside residents to advocate for safe, smart transit solutions that support the future of this important hub of Raleigh.”