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Manning Drive

Limits: South Columbia Street to Fordham Boulevard
Manning Drive

Purpose of Improvements

This connection would improve north-south connectivity between Fordham Boulevard and Ridge Road.

Existing Conditions

  • Manning Drive consists of two distinct cross sections:
    • Segment A is approximately 55 feet wide curb to curb from S. Columbia to Ridge Road.
    • Segment B is approximately 48-foot wide curb to curb from Ridge Road to Fordham Boulevard.
  • Approximately 15,000 vehicles per day use this roadway. It has a 25 mph speed limit.
  • The roadway’s lack of existing bicycle accommodations results in a high-stress shared environment.
  • There are 6- to 10-foot sidewalks on both sides of the roadway between South Columbia and Ridge Road.
  • The roadway has a 6-foot sidewalk on its west side be- tween Ridge Road and Fordham Boulevard.
  • The steep grade between Fordham Boulevard and Ridge Road is a significant barrier for bicyclists traveling north.
  • This section is a critical gap in providing access to campus from the south.
  • Survey and Wikimap users identified Manning Drive as a high-stress route. The lower, uphill section is especially uncomfortable for bicyclists where commenters noted that drivers are impatient with slow-moving cyclists and often travel at high speeds.
  • This roadway is maintained by NCDOT.

Short-Term Recommendation Options

Further study will be required to select one of the following options.

Shared Lane Markings (Segment A)

Add shared lane markings from South Columbia Street to Ridge Road in the center of the outside lanes with BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE signs.

Primary Implementation Challenges: coordination with NCDOT

Probable Construction Cost: $11,580

Climbing Lanes (Segment B)

Manning Drive Short-Term Improvements Segment B
Stripe a 6-foot wide northbound bicycle climbing lane by narrowing inside travel lanes to 10 or 11 feet from Ridge Road to Fordham Boulevard. Place shared-lane markings in the center of the south- bound curb lane with BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE signs.

Primary Implementation Challenges: coordination with NCDOT, approval for narrow lanes

Probable Construction Cost: $79,380

Long-Term Recommendation Options

Further study will be required to select one of the following options.

Shared Use Path (Portion of Segment A)

Reconstruct existing 6-foot sidewalk with a 12- to 14-foot wide shared use path on either the south or north side of the roadway from Hibbard Drive to Paul Hardin Drive. This shared-use path would connect the Hibbard Drive climbing lane to the Paul Hardin Drive and Ridge Road connections. (Portion of Segment A)

Primary Implementation Challenge: reconstruction of the roadway, drainage design.

Probable Construction Cost: $206,565

Shared Use Path (One Side, Segment B)

Manning Drive Long-Term Improvements Segment BAs part of a roadway reconstruction or through redevelopment of adjacent properties, replace existing sidewalk with 12- to 14-foot-wide shared use path from Ridge Road to Fordham Boulevard. The shared use path would be constrained as it approaches and passes by the Horton Residence Hall. (Segment B)

Primary Implementation Challenge: reconstruction of the roadway, drainage design.

Probable Construction Cost: $826,260