Pullen Drive Extension/Catholic Diocese

Initiated to enhance accessibility and circulation within the Catholic Diocese campus situated between Western Boulevard and Centennial Parkway in Raleigh, N.C., the Pullen Drive Extension/Catholic Diocese project involved preparing a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) study for the master plan.

This comprehensive study performed by traffic engineers addressed the inclusion of a new cathedral and a future school in the master plan, focusing on analyzing the surrounding roadways to pinpoint necessary improvements. Notably, the City of Raleigh's Transportation Plan highlighted Pullen Road as a future City roadway along the campus, prompting a thorough analysis and evaluation of alignment alternatives for the City's Pullen Road Extension within the traffic study.

Traffic engineers coordinated with the City of Raleigh, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and North Carolina State University (NCSU).  Engineers formed a three-party agreement between the City of Raleigh, North Carolina State University, and the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh to complete the Pullen Road Extension project as part of the Catholic Diocese development.

Engineers prepared all design plans for the new 2-lane divided roadway section with bike lanes, sidewalks, and multi-use paths that connect Western Boulevard with Centennial Parkway to complete a key link in the City’s transportation network. A roundabout intersection was designed at the intersection of Pullen Road and Bilyeu Street. The project also included roadway and storm drainage design and permitting, signal design, traffic control plans, pavement marking plans, and erosion control plans.

The design effort included public roadway drainage design based on the City of Raleigh’s infrastructure standards and reviews by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) where the new Pullen Road connected to existing NCDOT streets. The roadway drainage system included approximately 2,600 LF of pipe and 35 structures at an estimated construction cost of over $250,000 for the drainage portion of the project.

The project included coordination with NCSU and the City as well as the development's Civil Engineer related to stormwater management and BMP design, which were integral to the project. The project included two large riser structures with skimmers to control sedimentation with conversion to permanent BMPs as well as phased construction and a stream crossing. Traffic engineers provided erosion control design and permitting through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) as well as approval from the City of Raleigh Stormwater Management Division.

The completion of the Pullen Drive Extension/Catholic Diocese project significantly improved campus accessibility, fostering smoother traffic flow, enhanced pedestrian mobility, and contributed to sustainable development in Raleigh, N.C.