Erwin Road Widening To Begin
One eastbound lane of Erwin to close during work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Starting the middle of this month, work will
begin on the widening of Eye Center Drive and Erwin Road between the Eye Center
and the Duke Hospital entrance.
The first two weeks of work will occur during
normal working hours and consist of new curb and gutter and 6' sidewalks
behind the existing sidewalk along the east side of Eye Center Drive and the
south side of Erwin Road. Orange fencing is being installed along the south
edge of the existing sidewalks. The new curb and gutter and sidewalk will be
installed behind this fencing and will not interfere with pedestrian traffic on
the existing sidewalk.
Once the new curb and gutter and sidewalk are
in place, pedestrian traffic will be diverted to the new sidewalk so that the
road widening can begin. This work will occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., one of the eastbound
through lanes will be closed from just west of Eye Center Drive to the railroad
tracks near the ED Drive. This will be facilitated by barrels, cones and
signage in accordance with the NCDOT approved traffic control plans and
lighting plans.
By 6 a.m. each day, the existing travel lanes
will be re-opened. This widening, when completed along the south
side of Erwin Road, will allow two eastbound turn lanes onto Fulton. Work
is anticipated to be complete by the end of May 2012.
The bus stop near the entrance to Duke Hospital
will remain active. A bus turn-out will be in place during the eastbound lane closures,
and temporary walk paths will be provided through the construction zone to get
to the buses.
On or around April 9, the installation of storm
sewer lines in the Erwin/Fulton intersection will begin. This will require the
closure of additional lanes of traffic along Erwin and Fulton, however, one
lane in each direction will remain open.
The lane closures will be facilitated with water
barriers, barrels, cones and signage. This work will also be done between 9
p.m. and 6 a.m. The lanes will be re-opened each day at 6 a.m. Each of the
sections of the excavations will be plated for traffic during the day. This
work is also anticipated to be completed by the end of May 2012.
These traffic improvements along Erwin Road and
other locations are designed to help traffic in and around the new
Cancer Center and Duke Medicine Pavilion.