Several of you took the opportunity last Friday to inform me that, contrary to what the city had earlier indicated, the Middle Creek Greenway had not reopened. Closed since last August due to storm-related erosion damage, the lengthy boardwalk stretch along Crabtree Creek at Capitol Boulevard was supposed to be repaired and finally reopen by the 9th.

The lighter wood marks where T.S. Alberto took out the boardwalk in 2006.

Not sure when it actually did open, but I walked the boardwalk this evening without having to slink under yellow tape or climb over a barricade (not that I had done that before). The new footings appear to be in, the short stretch washed out by Tropical Storm Alberto two years ago replaced. It's ready to walk, ready to ride — from Milburnie Road 11 miles northwest to just short of Duraleigh Road. (See our map under "Related Links")

Enjoy.

05/15/08 at 22:19
Hooray! Thanks for the update, Joe. Maybe I'll finish off Bike To Work Week with a trip down the newly opened Greenway.

05/15/08 at 22:32
Thanks for the great greenway article, Joe! I was confused when you wrote that the Hodges Street section was open, Just this past Saturday my family and I were disappointed to find it still closed.

Raleigh Parks and Recreation presented at my Raleigh Neighborhood College class tonight, so I got a chance to ask Vic Lebsock what the deal is. He said it actually reopened Tuesday at 11 AM.

"We drove the footings so far this time they hit bedrock!" he said proudly. If something manages to take them out now, he said, the greenway will be the last of our worries!

05/16/08 at 07:37
No one is happier to see that stretch of greenway open than Vic Lebsock.

Tuesday at 11 a.m., huh? Dang! I was two and a half days late in reporting that. Need to get out more, I reckon.

05/16/08 at 09:31

Need to get out more, I reckon.

Don't we all!

05/16/08 at 11:55
This is a Godsend, because this section of the greenway is the only safe bicycle or pedestrian crossing of Capital Blvd. between Peace St. (which isn't particularly safe) and Brentwood Rd. north of the Beltline (ditto). The RR tracks prevent more road crossings. For this reason, this section of greenway should be a high priority anytime it needs repairs. No more 8-month waits, please!

05/16/08 at 12:28
Yes. The reason I've found that closing to be particularly vexing is that I use that stretch when I want to get downtown from Crabtree Valley Mall area. Glenwood and Capital are the two roads on the north side that get me downtown without being blocked by the railroad, and I do my best to not ride on either of them, so having the greenway back to get me under Capital and under the railroad tracks will be wonderful.