President Biden and motorcade are coming to Raleigh Thursday. Where to expect traffic.
President Joe Biden is expected to spend four or five hours in Raleigh on Thursday, bringing a campaign message about his economic policies and a motorcade that will halt traffic as it moves through the city.
The White House disclosed Tuesday that Biden would come to the “Raleigh-Durham area” to call attention to how it says “Bidenomics” and his agenda are helping repair and rebuild infrastructure, lower costs, support small businesses and create good-paying jobs. Late Wednesday it confirmed his arrival and departure times, while other sources confirmed at least one stop he plans to make while he’s here.
The traffic snarls will begin sometime after 1 p.m., when Biden is expected to arrive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport aboard Air Force One. He is scheduled to speak at Abbotts Creek Community Center on Durant Road in North Raleigh a little more than an hour later.
The State Highway Patrol and local police usually clear the way for visiting presidents and their entourage, closing off the roads as they move about.
The White House has not disclosed what route Biden will take, but the shortest and fastest way to the community center from RDU is via Interstate 540, to either Falls of Neuse Road or Capital Boulevard, then up to Durant Road.
Early Thursday, the Raleigh Police Department said drivers should expect road closures and traffic delays in North Raleigh associated with Biden’s visit, but wasn’t specific about timing. “Falls of Neuse Rd, Durant Rd, and other major thoroughfares will be impacted,” police wrote on social media.
The Wake County Public School System warned parents that parts of Falls of Neuse and other roads in North Raleigh will be “closed periodically” between 1 and 5:30 p.m. and that dismissal at several schools will likely be delayed. It said families of students who attend those schools had been notified.
The school system also said some school bus routes would be affected by the road closures, causing some delays in students arriving home.
Details of the president’s visit were closely guarded late Wednesday. Gov. Roy Cooper announced that he would be joining Biden at some point, but did not disclose where or when.
It’s not clear if Biden will make any other stops while he’s in Raleigh or when he’ll return to RDU, presumably on I-540. Air Force One is scheduled to depart at 5:25 p.m.
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 7:43 PM with the headline "President Biden and motorcade are coming to Raleigh Thursday. Where to expect traffic.."
