HUNTERSVILLE – This week, N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews will convert the Interstate 77 interchange at Gilead Road to a diverging diamond interchange as part of a $30.8 million project to improve safety and mobility in the area.
The conversion will take a few phases to complete, beginning Thursday night. At 9 p.m., 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.
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.
The interchange will operate similarly to these diverging diamond interchanges in the area:
- I-485 at Mallard Creek Road
- I-85 at Poplar Tent Road
- I-85 at N.C. 73
- I-77 at Catawba Avenue
Drivers should plan for extra time to become familiar with the new traffic pattern.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.