Drivers traveling between Southern Pines and Pinehurst should prepare for periodic daytime lane closures as the next phase of Midland Road construction begins later this month.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation says preliminary work has been completed along the busy Moore County corridor. Crews have installed planned U-turn bulbs, removed designated crossovers and selectively cleared trees to improve sight distance.
Temporary wooden bollards have also been placed where crossovers were removed. The barriers are intended to mark the revised traffic pattern and keep vehicles from continuing to use the closed crossover areas.
Resurfacing Expected to Take About Three Months
Weather permitting, contractor S.T. Wooten plans to begin milling and resurfacing Midland Road between Airport Road and Clark Street later in August. NCDOT expects the work to require periodic lane closures during non-peak daytime hours.
The resurfacing phase is expected to take approximately three months. Drivers should allow extra travel time, stay alert for workers and equipment, and follow posted traffic directions while construction is underway.
Bike Lanes Planned Near Southern Pines
When the Midland Road construction project is complete, the section between U.S. 1 and Clark Street will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction with designated bike lanes. The section between U.S. 1 and Airport Road will remain a four-lane divided roadway.
Crews also plan to add landscaping this fall in the areas where crossovers were removed. NCDOT says some of the temporary bollards will be removed as the new vegetation matures.
Project timing may change because of weather or other construction conditions. Motorists can monitor NCDOT travel updates before heading through the work zone.
Source: Information from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, as reported by Sandhills Sentinel.
