Wayne Memorial closures delayed until Monday
By From staff reports
Published in News on October 10, 2014 1:46 PM
Highway improvements that will require lane closures on Wayne Memorial Drive have been delayed until Monday.
The $425,000 resurfacing and median construction project was to have started today.
State Department of Transportation officials did not say why the work had been delayed.
Starting Monday, crews with S.T. Wooten Co. of Wilson will begin a repaving project on Wayne Memorial Drive between U.S. 70/11th Street and Country Day Road.
Once the existing pavement has been milled (a process in which a machine takes up part of the old road for reprocessing), temporary pavement markings will be installed and crews will begin construction of a concrete median in the current middle lane of Wayne Memorial Drive.
After the concrete for the median has been poured, S.T. Wooten will then finish paving the road.
The entire project is expected to take about four weeks, weather permitting.
Constructing a median improves safety along the road by preventing traffic from turning left in front of oncoming vehicles, DOT officials said.
The median will be between existing signals at intersections along Wayne Memorial Drive.
Drivers on Wayne Memorial Drive seeking to turn left at areas where there is not an intersection will travel to the next break in the median, make a U-turn and then turn right at their destination.
By paving the road and constructing the median at the same time, crews will be able to save time, money and materials on the project, as well as to eliminate the need for additional lane closures at a later date.
Lane closures will be in place during construction. Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in the area and to expect delays.