UNC: Ridge Road Open to One Lane After Month-Long Closure, Still 2 Weeks From Normal Traffic

After more than a month of being closed at Avery Residence Hall and Boshamer Stadium due to construction at the dormitory, Ridge Road on UNC campus is allowing vehicles and pedestrians through once again. But normal traffic patterns are likely still weeks away.

UNC’s Facilities and Services department shared an update on Tuesday alerting the campus community the north lane of Ridge Road would reopen on Wednesday, which would allow two-way traffic to return to the north-south street that connects Raleigh Road to Manning Drive on the university’s campus. The closure began at the start of December as part of Avery Hall’s ongoing renovation to accommodate construction vehicles and a staging area, which largely aligned with UNC’s winter break. Wednesday marked the first day of classes in the spring semester.

The closure along Ridge Road at Avery Residence Hall, as taken on Jan. 5, 2025. UNC reopened the road to one lane of traffic on Wednesday, Jan. 8, but said one lane would remain closed as part of the ongoing renovation to Avery.

While through traffic will have access again, UNC Facilities and Service said the two-way traffic on Ridge Road will be directed by some temporary, automated signals to manage the one-way stretch. Drivers should continue to expect delays while traveling on the road, and detours may still be necessary at peak traffic. UNC’s alert also said pedestrians ought to remain alert to the ongoing construction work and to follow the designated pedestrian detour, which runs on the north sidewalk of Ridge Road.

The south lane is expected to remain closed for one week, according to Facilities and Services, before the closure will shift to the north lane on Wednesday, Jan. 15. At that time, the south lane will reopen and traffic will be directed through there.

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