NCDOT ending left turns along stretch of South Memorial Drive

A stretch of South Memorial Drive in Greenville will get a new traffic pattern to improve safety, the N.C. Department of Transportation said.

Crews began making improvements to the road between O’Hagan Place, near Wendy’s restaurant, and Fifth Street on Monday.

The work will require lane closures in the inside lanes where concrete islands will be installed to mitigate north and southbound turning along South Memorial Drive.

The work will take about four weeks to complete. Once finished, drivers will not be able to cross or turn left in this section of South Memorial Drive. Instead, they will continue to the traffic lights at Fifth Street or Stantonsburg Road and make a U-turn.

The N.C. Department of Transportation is making this change in response to several crashes at this location. The department is coordinating this project with the city of Greenville.

Drivers are urged to slow down while crews are working in the area and be alert to the new traffic pattern.