If you've been to Downtown Raleigh recently, you may have noticed some construction underway. Good news: a lot of exciting projects are coming your way! Here's what's going on:
Upgrading water and sewer lines
While this might not seem super exciting, the City is upgrading water and sewer lines. Road or lane closures related to this project are a pain, but replacing aging pipes now prevents bigger problems later. Work is necessary now to prepare for the new Bus Rapid Transit system currently under construction.
Creating a quicker connection to downtown
A faster, more reliable transit service is on the way! If you've traveled along New Bern Avenue between downtown and WakeMed, you’ve navigated a slalom of traffic cones. We're currently working on underground utilities, a necessary step to bringing this new transit system to life.
Building an enhanced place to see your favorite artist
A Raleigh favorite, Red Hat Amphitheater, is in the midst of a relocation to make way for expansion of the Convention Center. The new Amp will have a stage structure that will improve where and how the sound is directed downtown. It will also feature upgraded concessions and restroom facilities.
Bringing City services under one roof
Hargett Street is once again open to two-way traffic as construction nears completion for our new City Hall. It is on track to open in 2027, when you’ll be able to access almost all City services in one place, right in the heart of downtown.
Expanding the Convention Center
In addition to a new name, Raleigh’s convention center will add nearly 300,000 square feet of space. Construction, which could have periodic impacts to nearby streets, will begin where the Red Hat Amphitheater currently sits as soon as the new Amp opens up.
And, remember when our convention center caught on fire?! We’re still chipping away at some fixes. Every once in a while you’ll see a lane closed for a crane to work on the room or support the shimmer wall. We’ll continue to do our best to pick low-impact times.
Where are all these additional convention guests going to sleep? Don’t worry, the new 600-room Omni Raleigh is under construction next to the convention center and across from the new Lichtin Plaza at the Performing Arts Center. In addition to rooms, the Omni will include bars, restaurants and more.
Adding vibrant places to park your bike or scooter
Do you ride or scoot around Downtown Raleigh? There's a new place to park! Eight local artists are designing and painting artwork for a network of e-scooter and e-bike corrals. The artists are using special road-safe paint to create bold and simple designs that highlight the scooter corral locations and provide a pop of color.
But wait, there's more!
The City isn’t behind all the projects happening downtown. State projects – like the North Carolina Education Campus at Jones and McDowell streets – and the North Carolina Museum of History on Edenton Street – are also underway. City staff do their best to coordinate with community partners to limit project impacts where possible.
With growth comes construction. We’re fortunate that Raleigh is growing, because that means more people want to be part of what we’ve got going on. We appreciate everyone’s patience when the road on your regular route is closed or you’ve got to walk, bike, or roll around the block. We always hope the improvements are worth the inconvenience. Learn more about all the work happening in Downtown Raleigh: Building a Downtown for All.