Highway 133 Under 74/76 Closed for Work Beginning Apr. 15; Diverging Diamond Set to Open Apr. 18

By Frank Williams | April 10, 2016 | Comments Off on Highway 133 Under 74/76 Closed for Work Beginning Apr. 15; Diverging Diamond Set to Open Apr. 18

Newsletter Sign Up HeaderLELAND, N.C. — To prepare for the opening of the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) on N.C. 133, the N.C. Department of Transportation will completely close N.C. 133/Village Road/River Road between the interchange ramps for U.S. 17/74/76 near Belville/Leland at 9:00 p.m., Friday, April 15, weather permitting.  The DDI will open for traffic at 6 a.m. on April 18.  Click here for more information on the Diverging Diamond Interchange and how it will impact the flow of traffic.

“On Monday, drivers using N.C. 133 in Brunswick County will see a new and safer traffic pattern,” said Assistant Resident Engineer Wanda James.  “They will need to get used to the change, so we ask that everyone stay alert and be aware of the new signs and signals that will be in place to help guide them through the new traffic pattern.”

The weekend closure is necessary for crews to complete paving and lane striping for the DDI.

 

Impact of Closure on Traffic Flow

The N.C. Department of Transportation will close N.C. 133/Village Road/River Road this weekend between the interchange ramps for U.S. 17/74/76 near Belville/Leland, weather permitting.  The ramps themselves will be open, but traffic will not be able to travel beneath the overpass.  A signed detour will guide motorists through U.S 17/74/76 and N.C. 133.  The closure is scheduled to be in place beginning Friday, Apr. 15, at 9 p.m., weather permitting.  If all goes according to plan, the new Diverging Diamond Interchange will open at 6 a.m. on Monday, Apr. 18.

Motorists on N.C. 133/River Road south of the interchange heading toward Village Road in Leland or onto U.S. 74 West will be directed onto U.S. 74 East toward Wilmington to follow their detour. Drivers using Village Road in Leland to access N.C.133,   south of the interchange or U.S. 74/76 East toward Wilmington should take the ramp onto U.S. 74/76 West toward Whiteville/Myrtle Beach and follow those detour signs.
 
For example:
 
–  If you are on 133 south of the interchange (coming from the Olde Town / Jackey’s Creek / Westport / Mallory Creek, etc), you will need to take a detour to get to Village Road in Leland or to get onto US 74 West.  You will be able to take the ramp onto US 74 East toward Wilmington.
 
–  If you are on Village Road in Leland, you will need to take a detour to get to 133 south of the Interchange (i.e. heading toward Olde Towne / Jackey’s Creek / Westport / Mallory Creek) or to get onto US 74/76 East toward Wilmington.  You will be able to take the ramp onto US 74/76 West toward Whiteville / Myrtle Beach.
 
According to NCDOT, the closure is necessary for crews to pave and connect ramps at the interchange to N.C. 133 and repaint lanes back to the existing pattern in anticipation of future work on N.C. 133.  This work is part of the Causeway Bridge Project, which began January 27, 2014, and is scheduled to be completed by November 15, 2016. According to NCDOT, the project will improve safety and reduce congestion in this area.
 

Why DDIs

The NCDOT is increasing its use of DDIs because they reduce congestion by allowing traffic to keep moving through the intersection. They also improve safety by allowing free flowing turns when entering and exiting the highway, eliminate the need to turn left against oncoming traffic, and limit the number of traffic signal cycles that vehicles have to go through.

The design has two directions of traffic to temporarily cross to the left side of a road, while moving high volumes of traffic through an intersection without increasing the number of lanes and traffic signals. This movement provides easier access to an interstate. It also means traffic entering or exiting an interstate does not have to cross opposing traffic to make a left turn.

Other locations where a DDI is already in use, under construction or planned include Raleigh, Lumberton, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Concord, Charlotte, Statesville and Asheville along busy highways including I-40, I-95, I-85, I-77, I-73, I-440 and I-26.

The opening of this DDI is part of the Causeway Bridge Project which began January 27, 2014 and is scheduled to be completed by November 15, 2016.

 

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