The NC Department of Transportation announced today (Tuesday) that Ricks Road will be closed in both directions to local traffic now through February 1st, as part of a widening project that began in August 2018.
Ricks Road is a shortcut between US 301 and US 70 in Selma.
Last year, Fred Smith Co. of Raleigh was awarded a $3.6 million contract to widen the two-lane road to accommodate a center turn lane, improve the road’s drainage system and construct concrete curbs and gutters. Prior to road work beginning, contractors had to relocated utility lines.
The addition of a middle lane will ease congestion and make it safer for traffic to turn left. On the average day, 7,000 vehicles use Ricks Road – a figure projected to increase to 9,000 a day in 20 years.
The closure from Jan. 15 – Feb. 1st will also allow for work to take place at a railroad crossing on Ricks Road to accommodate the widening project.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2020.
