Morgan Creek Greenway Extension

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Morgan Creek Greenway is a 0.85 mile paved trail with a parking lot along Highway15-501, extending to Merritt’s Pasture and Southern Village.

This project will extend the greenway to Smith Level Road on the west and Manning Drive on the east. The project is divided into these two segments because they have different timing and funding sources.

The West Extension will continue the existing greenway an additional 3,700 feet from the trailhead parking lot along US Highway 15-501 to the Smith Level Road bridge and Public Works Drive. The plan is to connect to the Town of Carrboro's future Morgan Creek Greenway. The greenways will connect under Smith Level Road and to the sidewalk along Public Works Drive.

The East Extension will continue the existing greenway from the bridge at Merritt’s Pasture to Manning Drive. It will include a new paved accessible greenway section in Merritt’s Pasture to Fordham Boulevard, where it will become a paved sidepath until it reaches Morgan Creek Road. From there, the greenway will go through the Kings Mill Morgan Creek neighborhood using neighborhood streets, with a section of these roadways identified as shared streets for bicycle and pedestrian users.

Aerial map showing the greenway connection from Merritt's Pasture to Manning Drive.

The engagement for planning and design of these extensions included:

  • community members

  • partners

  • neighborhood associations

  • Botanical Garden Foundation members

  • University of North Carolina Botanical Garden staff

  • Town of Chapel Hill Mayor and Council members

  • Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Commission members

  • Local and state governmental and regulatory officials

Updates to these projects will be shared below.

Morgan Creek Greenway is a 0.85 mile paved trail with a parking lot along Highway15-501, extending to Merritt’s Pasture and Southern Village.

This project will extend the greenway to Smith Level Road on the west and Manning Drive on the east. The project is divided into these two segments because they have different timing and funding sources.

The West Extension will continue the existing greenway an additional 3,700 feet from the trailhead parking lot along US Highway 15-501 to the Smith Level Road bridge and Public Works Drive. The plan is to connect to the Town of Carrboro's future Morgan Creek Greenway. The greenways will connect under Smith Level Road and to the sidewalk along Public Works Drive.

The East Extension will continue the existing greenway from the bridge at Merritt’s Pasture to Manning Drive. It will include a new paved accessible greenway section in Merritt’s Pasture to Fordham Boulevard, where it will become a paved sidepath until it reaches Morgan Creek Road. From there, the greenway will go through the Kings Mill Morgan Creek neighborhood using neighborhood streets, with a section of these roadways identified as shared streets for bicycle and pedestrian users.

Aerial map showing the greenway connection from Merritt's Pasture to Manning Drive.

The engagement for planning and design of these extensions included:

  • community members

  • partners

  • neighborhood associations

  • Botanical Garden Foundation members

  • University of North Carolina Botanical Garden staff

  • Town of Chapel Hill Mayor and Council members

  • Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Commission members

  • Local and state governmental and regulatory officials

Updates to these projects will be shared below.

  • Fall 2026 Update

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    Morgan Creek Greenway West Extension

    The design documents are approximately 70% complete and have been shared with regulatory agencies, utility companies, and partners. We will update the documents based on their feedback. Right-of-way acquisition will begin this fall and winter. The design phase will continue until the construction documents are finalized in 2027. Construction is planned for Summer 2028, pending the receipt of $5.5 million in federal funding.


    Morgan Creek Greenway East Extension

    The design documents have been revised to reflect input received from regulatory agencies, utility companies, and partners and have been shared with these officials. The design team is working with OWASA and the North Carolina botanical garden team to replace wastewater lines that cross Morgan Creek. The team will share the final plans with community members this winter.

    Since project funding covered only the design phase, Town staff will continue to look for funding opportunities for construction

    Morgan Creek Greenway West Extension

    The design documents are approximately 70% complete and have been shared with regulatory agencies, utility companies, and partners. We will update the documents based on their feedback. Right-of-way acquisition will begin this fall and winter. The design phase will continue until the construction documents are finalized in 2027. Construction is planned for Summer 2028, pending the receipt of $5.5 million in federal funding.


    Morgan Creek Greenway East Extension

    The design documents have been revised to reflect input received from regulatory agencies, utility companies, and partners and have been shared with these officials. The design team is working with OWASA and the North Carolina botanical garden team to replace wastewater lines that cross Morgan Creek. The team will share the final plans with community members this winter.

    Since project funding covered only the design phase, Town staff will continue to look for funding opportunities for construction

  • Find Project Updates Here

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    This is where we’ll post periodic updates about the progress of the projects.

    This is where we’ll post periodic updates about the progress of the projects.

Page published: 28 Oct 2026, 04:12 PM