Fayetteville residents who frequent Raeford Road will need to adjust their travel plans starting at the end of this month. A critical infrastructure project will see part of this major artery near Highland Country Club closed for a culvert replacement, set to last approximately eight months. The current drainage system under Raeford Road, constructed in the 1940s, is due for an upgrade to better serve the area's needs.

Mountain Creek Contractors Inc., based out of Mount Pleasant, has the task of installing the new culvert after winning the $1 million bid back in December. They're scheduled to quickly begin work on March 31, the same day Raeford Road will shutter in both directions in the specified area. Existing message boards have already started to warn drivers of the impending closure, according to the NCDOT announcement.

The closure is a necessary inconvenience to allow for the improvement of the road's drainage system, with the current, outdated culvert no longer up to the task. After completion, motorists can expect smoother travel over Branson Creek, minus the detours and delays that are about to become an everyday reality. The NCDOT has urged the public to plan ahead and allow extra time for commutes, directing attention to detour signs that will guide traffic around the construction site during this period.

For those who regularly navigate this stretch of Raeford Road, patience will soon be tested as the November reopening date sits on the distant horizon. Commuters are advised to remain cautious and to duly follow detour signage, anticipating a longer commute in the months to come.