Contractors are scheduled to begin construction today on a roundabout at North Greensboro Street and Estes Drive. The project is expected to be finished in September 2021.

Carrboro officials said construction is complicated by underground utilities, including a large stormwater channel under the intersection.

Work will also be slowed as the intersection will not be fully closed during construction. Officials said there are no reasonable detour options around the intersection and potential traffic would flood other areas throughout town.

August is, of course, a busy time in Chapel Hill and Carrboro as students return to campus. Town officials, including Carrboro Aldermen Jacquelyn Gist, voiced concern earlier in the summer about construction beginning in August.

“Please keep an eye on it or we could have a real — what’s the polite word — a real mess on our hands if we don’t pay attention,” Gist said at a June Board of Aldermen meeting.

But the timing of construction appeared to be largely out of the the town’s hands in many ways. There were concerns that there would be delays in state transportation funding, causing the project to potentially be postponed. But now, Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle said, there are no more setbacks.

“And while we are pleased it’s moving forward, we recognize that it’s going to play a little bit of havoc on the town,” Lavelle said.

Town officials say extended work hours and weekend work is scheduled to help complete the project in the shortest time possible. Full road closures are not anticipated unless some unforeseen event occurs.

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