Section of River Road to close Aug 18 for next phase of roundabout construction

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A section of River Road will close starting Monday morning, Aug. 18, as construction progresses on a new roundabout at the intersection of River Road and Independence Boulevard, according to the City of Wilmington.

The closure, which will affect River Road between Coleman Drive and Independence Boulevard, is expected to remain in place for the duration of the six-month project.

During the closure, southbound River Road traffic will be detoured to Carolina Beach Road via Raleigh Street and Sunnyvale Drive. Traffic will still be able to move through the intersection in the following ways:

• Northbound River Road traffic can turn right onto Independence Boulevard toward Carolina Beach Road
• Southbound Independence Boulevard traffic can turn left onto River Road toward the Riverlights community

Beginning this Wednesday, digital message boards will be posted along the route to notify drivers of the upcoming closure.

The $2.42 million project is a joint effort between the City of Wilmington, Riverlights, and Proximity Watermark Development. The city said the single-lane roundabout is designed to enhance traffic flow and improve safety along the busy corridor and will be similar to others already in use in the Riverlights area.