HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The diverging-diamond project is nearing completion for Interstate 77 Exit 23, state officials say.
N.C. Department of Transportation crews will convert the interchange at Gilead Road in Huntersville to its new alignment. The conversion, a $30.8 million project, will take place in multiple phases.
Beginning Thursday night at 9 p.m., when left turns will be removed on U.S. 21 at Gilead Road. By Friday morning, drivers wanting to turn left will continue to a designated U-turn bulb to turn around and proceed in the opposite direction. This will be a permanent pattern.
I-40 expected to be open to drivers by New Years Day
Then, crews will close Gilead Road between Reese Boulevard and U.S. 21 at 9 p.m. Friday to complete placing stripes, lane markings and markers on the road to reflect the diverging diamond pattern. Drivers will be detoured to I-77 during the closure.
The road will reopen with the new traffic pattern by 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25.
North Mecklenburg drivers will be familiar with the pattern since a diverging diamond opened at Exit 28 in Cornelius in 2014 . Those alignments also can be found at I-485 at Mallard Creek Road and I-85 at Poplar Tent Road and again at N.C. 73.