After using portable digital messaging road signs in recent months, the Town of Chapel Hill has begun installation on 10 new permanent digital message boards – also called “variable message signs” – on major roads in the area to increase the availability of crucial travel-related information.

The signs – currently being put in place along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fordham Boulevard (US Highway 15-501) and NC Highway 54 – will provide “critical messages to people driving through town about traffic congestion, construction, incidents, and special events, like festivals, sporting events, or celebrations” according to a release. The messages will be displayed according to NCDOT guidelines and placed with combined input from the NCDOT, the town of Chapel Hill and UNC.

Construction of support structures for the signage began in December of 2019, the message boards themselves began to be installed the week of August 3, and the ten digital signs are expected to be fully operational by early September.

A map of digital sign locations on major Chapel Hill thoroughfares. (Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill)

Featured image courtesy of the Town of Chapel Hill.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
UPDATE: Man Reported Missing to Chapel Hill Police Found After Short Search
UPDATE: An OC Alerts message shared at 8:51 p.m. said Amit Desai was safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating a missing person. Police officers say 51-year-old Amit Desai was last seen around 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Circle K gas station at the intersection of East […]
Chapel Hill’s Weavers Grove Welcomes First Residents, Offering a Vision of Inclusive Homeownership
Weavers Grove, the long-anticipated mixed-income community spearheaded by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, is officially coming to life in Chapel Hill.
Chapel Hill Passes Amendments to LUMO, Plans to Expand Missing Middle Housing in Town
Chapel Hill recently passed amendments to its Land Use Management Ordinance that could make it easier to expand housing options in town.
Orange County Communities to Observe Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19. Here's How it Affects Services.
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect this year: Town of Chapel Hill Most town offices will be closed Monday. Residential trash normally collected Monday will be collected Wednesday, Jan. 21. Curbside recycling collection will […]
NCDOT Installing Pedestrian Infrastructure at 3 N.C. Highway 54 Intersections
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will partner with the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro to install pedestrian and bicyclist improvements at three intersections along North Carolina Highway 54. NCDOT will begin work Monday, Feb. 2 to install crosswalks with traffic signals at the highway’s intersections with: The Kingswood Apartments complex in Chapel Hill […]
Town of Chapel Hill Debuts New Logo, Website Design
The Town of Chapel Hill has debuted a new logo and town website, chapelhillnc.gov, amid a branding overhaul. The new logo depicts a stylized tulip poplar on rolling hills. “With this new website, we’ve created a more user-friendly experience for all who visit our site,” said Susan Brown, the town’s Director of Strategic Communications and […]
East Franklin Street Reopens After Repair of Small Sinkhole, Traffic Detours
The Town of Chapel Hill issued an alert at 3:40 p.m. on Monday saying East Franklin Street had been repaired from the sinkhole and any resulting damage.
Orange County Communities to Interrupt Services for December Holidays (2025)
Communities around Orange County will interrupt their normal service schedules during the upcoming winter holidays. Here’s what customers can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Town of Chapel Hill government offices will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 26. Residential trash collection will not be affected. Yard trimmings will not be collected on […]
Thanksgiving Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County (2025)
Thanksgiving will fall on Thursday, November 27 this year, and the holiday will affect several local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 are both town holidays. Residential trash collection will not be affected. However, there […]
Multiple UNC Football Players Facing Reckless Driving Charges
Several UNC football players are facing charges of reckless driving, speeding and other violations. An investigation by WRAL, originally published Monday afternoon, reported that “nearly 20 percent” of UNC’s 101-man roster has been cited for speeding since October of 2024. The investigation named three specific players: linebacker Khmori House, safety Gavin Gibson and cornerback Thaddeus […]
›