HUNTERSVILLE – N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews will close the express lanes on I-77 North and South near Gilead Road (exit 23) for the next several nights, weather permitting.
The closures are part of a $30.8 million project to convert the existing Gilead Road interchange at Interstate 77 to a diverging diamond interchange and make additional improvements to U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) on either side of Gilead Road.
Contract crews will close the express lanes in both directions tonight, Thursday and Friday nights from 11 p.m. – 5 a.m. the next morning. This will allow workers to safely install girders for the new bridge being built next to Gilead Road. The general-purpose lanes will remain open to traffic.
The diverging diamond design allows two directions of traffic to temporarily cross to the left side of the road, providing easier access to the interstate. The project also includes a new bridge to handle eastbound traffic over I-77, with the existing bridge serving westbound drivers.
In addition, a section of U.S. 21 will be widened from two to four lanes on either side of Gilead Road to accommodate a reduced conflict intersection design, a type of intersection that redirects side-street traffic from going straight or left at a divided highway intersection.
Additional closures will be scheduled throughout the month as the weather permits.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.