As most of our neighbors are aware, Norfolk Southern is planning to rebuild and raise several Northside Bridges to accommodate its double-stacked trains. One of the bridges is located at the corner of West North Avenue and Brighton Road. This is the same corner where West Park Court is located.
At ACCA’s February 10, 2025 General Membership Meeting, representatives from Michael Baker International, Cindy Bartus, Technical Manager – Transportation, and Frank Sipple, Engineering Manager, answered neighbors’ questions about Norfolk Southern’s plans for the corner of West North Avenue and Brighton Road, and the impact the plans could have on West Park Court and its residents.
If you were not able to attend the meeting, below is a summary of the questions asked by ACCA and the answers from the representatives of Michael Baker International. To view the attachments referenced in the answers, follow the links within the text or click on the image links at the bottom of this post.
Q: The sidewalk grade from North Avenue to the West Park Court building entrance overhead canopy is 2%, the maximum permitted for accessibility standards. Where will water be directed and drained?
A: The maximum grade permitted for accessibility standards is 5%. The 2% max is labelled to show the grade will not exceed 2%. The proposed slopes as shown (Attachment 1) are 2% for the W. North entrance and 1.61% for the relocated sidewalk access to Brighton Road.
The water will be directed and drain the same as it does today. Pipes are proposed under the new steps and the relocated sidewalk access to maintain the existing flow.
Q: Residents are wondering about the retaining wall/structure that goes around the corner of North/Brighton, is it possible to see more detailed renderings of this area? Also wondering about drainage in this area. Has it been determined that the City would be responsible for the retaining wall/sidewalk?
A: A more detailed exhibit has been prepared to show the wall that goes around the corner of North/Brighton (Attachment 2). The water will be directed and drain the same as it does today. Pipes are proposed under the new steps and the relocated sidewalk access to maintain the existing flow. The City will be responsible for the wall/sidewalk.
Q: West Park Court residents have identified Brighton Road as being difficult to cross in order to access stores. While it may not be a part of this project, we’d like to continue exploring solutions.
A: The new traffic signals at the intersection of W. North Ave. and Brighton Road will restrict right turns on red at all four approaches.
Q: Concerns about what will occur during construction include:
- Noise, lights, parking, work hours & site conditions around the building
- Noisiest activities will be demolition at the beginning of the project. After that, typical noise to be expected will be saw cutting, reverse alarms, and trucks.
- Don’t anticipate there being night work unless we get extremely hot weather during the time the deck is being placed (see “work hours” below). There may be some lights used during the fall/winter at the beginning and end of the workday, to supplement street lighting.
- Contractor’s vehicles will probably park within the closed portion of the streets until the existing pavement is removed and profile increased. During that work, they will have to park on the adjacent streets, unless the Contractor makes an agreement with a local business to use their parking.
- Typical construction week is 4-10s, Monday-Thursday, with day beginning around 7am and ending around 5pm. Work outside these hours has to comply with county and city noise ordinances. There are no abrasive blasting/paint operations, so no extended work weeks (they seem to work 6 days a week). The days might begin earlier when concrete is being placed, especially in the summer when the Contractor will try to get all concrete placed and under burlap before 10:00 am or so, before the sun gets really hot.
- Anticipate site conditions to be similar to what occurred at Q development, with open chain link fence, stockpiled material, etc, except on a larger scale. The most that you should be affected is when the Wall 3 moment slab is being constructed, where there will be fencing/excavation happening right along the edge of the sidewalk. You will probably lose some access to North Ave during this time and have to exit onto Eloise/Buena Vista.
- Noisiest activities will be demolition at the beginning of the project. After that, typical noise to be expected will be saw cutting, reverse alarms, and trucks.
- Landscaping & tree replacement
- Items and special provisions are included in the contract (Attachment 3) for “Reset Existing Fence” and “Restoration of Parcel 15 Landscaping and Flagpole”
- Items and special provisions are included in the contract (Attachment 3) for “Reset Existing Fence” and “Restoration of Parcel 15 Landscaping and Flagpole”
- Resident access – car, shuttle, walking, bus stop
- The special provision for Maintenance and Protection of Traffic (Attachment 4) directs the contractor to provide access for as long as possible and to submit a detailed plan, including durations and detour lengths, for satisfactorily closing the walkways.
- The special provision for Maintenance and Protection of Traffic (Attachment 4) directs the contractor to provide access for as long as possible and to submit a detailed plan, including durations and detour lengths, for satisfactorily closing the walkways.
What happens if this is not approved? Or is approval a given?