Durham County to resurface 21.9 miles of state roads

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $4.8 million contract to Carolina Sunrock LLC of Raleigh to improve 21.9 miles of Durham County roads.

The 13 roads slated for improvements include sections of N.C. 54 and U.S. 70 East. The contract calls for milling and resurfacing 1.7 miles of N.C. 54 in both directions between I-40 and the Orange County line, and 1.3 miles of eastbound U.S. 70 between Pleasant Drive and Miami Boulevard.

Similar improvements are set for:

-- T.W. Alexander Drive between N.C. 54 and south of Cornwallis Road;

-- Ellis Road between Riddle Road and just east of the Durham Freeway;

-- Duke Street between Lakewood Avenue and the Durham Freeway;

-- Geer Street between Roxboro Street and Mangum Street;

-- Barbee Chapel Road between its two intersections with N.C. 54;

-- Riddle Road between N.C. 55 and Fayetteville Road;

-- Orange Factory Road between U.S. 501 and west of Treyburn Road;

-- Russell Road between Umstead Road and Guess Road;

-- Bivins Road between Umstead Road and Kelvin Drive;

-- Mason Road between U.S. 501 and N.C. 157; and

-- Glover Road between Ellis Road and Angier Avenue.

The project can begin as early as March 18, and is scheduled to be finished by Oct. 18.

Since many of these roads are commuter and commercial routes, there will be restrictions on when lanes can be closed or narrowed during weekdays. On N.C. 54, all lanes must remain open between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. The same requirement will be in place for the other roads on weekdays during rush hours, with all lanes remaining open between 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.