A major Raleigh road will close to through traffic next week as the city begins a $21.8M two-year construction project that will force drivers to take detours around a part of Lake Wheeler Road.
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 8, drivers will not be able to travel on Lake Wheeler Road between Goode Street and Umstead Drive. Construction along portions of the road is expected to continue for two years.
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The closure is part of a major overhaul of the Lake Wheeler Road corridor near Dix Park and the North Carolina State Farmers Market.
The project will add sidewalks, bike paths, stormwater infrastructure and roundabouts designed to slow traffic, along with other street and safety improvements.
The city said residents and businesses along the construction zone will continue to have access to their properties.
Dix Park will also remain accessible. Drivers coming from I-40 can use Goode Street to reach the park, while drivers coming from downtown Raleigh on South Saunders Street can use Umstead Drive.
Bus service will continue in the area, although some stops will be affected. The Goode Street stop will remain open, while stops at Daladams and Fuller streets will temporarily close.
The city has established a detour using Maywood Avenue and South Saunders Street. The work is part of Raleigh's broader effort to redesign Lake Wheeler Road as a "complete street," with infrastructure intended to make the corridor safer and more accessible for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
WRAL previously reported on the planned improvements to Lake Wheeler Road, including concerns about how construction and the redesigned corridor could affect drivers and nearby businesses.