DURHAM – Work on the Alston Avenue
widening project will close the interchange at Durham Freeway (N.C. 147) and
Alston Avenue (N.C. 55) this weekend.
Starting Saturday, June 2, at 6 a.m., the entire interchange will
close for construction of a new traffic shift at the bridge over the Durham
Freeway. The shift will move Alston Avenue traffic to the new section of the
bridge.
With the exception for the northbound Durham Freeway on-ramp loop,
all ramps will be open by Monday, June 4, at 6 a.m. The northbound on-ramp loop
will remain closed for the duration of the reconstruction project.
Motorists using Alston Avenue may detour via Linwood Avenue,
Fayetteville Street and Main Street. Durham Freeway traffic wishing to access
Alston Avenue can use the Fayetteville Street exit and follow the posted
detour.
The old section of the Alston Avenue bridge will be replaced over
the next four to five months, with the entire bridge over the Durham Freeway
expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Once the traffic shift is completed, the demolition of the old
bridge will require nighttime closures of the Durham Freeway staring Monday,
June 4, at 10 p.m. and will continue Wednesday and Thursday nights, reopening by
Friday, June 8, at 6 a.m. The start of closures may change depending upon
traffic conditions.
During the construction of the next section of the bridge, no left
turns will be permitted to the existing southbound Durham Freeway on-ramp.
Eastbound Alston Avenue traffic wishing to turn left must exit at the northbound
Durham Freeway on-ramp to the Fayetteville Street exit (Exit 12A) and turn
around to southbound Durham Freeway. Signs will be posted to guide drivers
through the detour route.
The new Alston Avenue bridge is part of the overall project that
also widens the road for more than a mile. The improvements are intended to
reduce congestion and improve safety along the road. Work is scheduled to wrap
up in 2019.
For real-time travel information at any time, visit DriveNC.gov, or follow NCDOT on
Twitter.
Media Contact: Sean L. Williams
919-707-2665
slwilliams13@ncdot.gov