Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project

We strive to make Raleigh’s roadways safe for all types of transportation.

Updated: Sep 3, 2025

Atlantic Avenue Construction

We're making improvements to Atlantic Avenue between New Hope Church Road and Highwoods Boulevard.

We are working to improve safety and make it easier for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians to navigate this section of Atlantic Avenue. This is a Complete Streets project, designed to be safe and accessible to all users.

Improvements to the roadway will include:

A median with turn lanes;
Sidewalks; and,
A multi-use path.

Project Details

Type:: Streets
Budget:: $11.6 Million
Project Lead:: Roadway Design & Construction
Contractors:: AECOM (Design Consultant) Carolina Sunrock (Construction)

Contact

Project Manager
Nabil Hasan
nabil.hasan@raleighnc.gov

Division Manager
Sylvester Percival
Sylvester.Percival@raleighnc.gov

Comment Form

Lead Department:: Engineering Services

Participating Department:: Engineering Services Transportation

Construction Updates

August 2025

Paving operations and traffic shifts

Starting on Monday, Sept. 15, the contractor will start paving the southbound lanes from Bramer Drive to Wolfpack Lane. A traffic shift will be in place during this work, with another shift coming after paving is finished. There will be no lane closures during this period.

Crews have completed the concrete work between Comfort Court and Ridgeway Court, as well as the temporary driveway work near the Thermo Fisher building. Driveway work at WakeMed is in progress. Crews are also continuing sidewalk and driveway construction along the west side of Atlantic Avenue, as well as utility relocations.

July 2025

Construction crews have wrapped up the curb and gutter work between New Hope Church Road and Ridgeway Court. Right now, they are working on driveway tie-ins near the Thermo Fisher building and WakeMed. Crews are also actively coordinating with private utilities. On the east side of Atlantic Avenue, they will continue with grading, curb and gutter installation, and sidewalk work. In the upcoming weeks, they plan to start wedging on South Atlantic Avenue as well.

June 2025

Contractors will soon begin grading for the multi-use path on the west side of Atlantic Avenue. In the coming weeks, crews will remove the existing sidewalk, curb, and gutter to make way for new asphalt on the east side of the street. Currently, they are working on the storm pipes near Wake Med.

Behind the Barrels | Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project

Schedule

Date	Activity
April 10, 2019	Pre-design Public Meeting
Summer 2019	Preliminary Plans Public Meeting
Spring 2020	Design Plan Public Touchpoint
Summer 2020	City Council Project Presentation
Summer 2021	Complete Right of Way and Easement Acquisition
Summer 2021	Advertise for Construction Bids
Summer 2021	Award Construction Contract
Feb, 22, 2022	Pre-construction Meeting
Fall 2023	Construction Activity Ceased
Fall 2023	Carolina Sunrock Awarded Remainder of Construction Contract
Winter 2024	Construction Activity Resumes
Summer 2026	Project Completed

Public Art

The project will include a public art component. The City selected Durham artist David Wilson as the artist for this project. To learn more about the artist selected, and give your input visit the Atlantic Avenue Public Art Project page.

History

During the early construction phase of this project the construction contractor, JSmith Civil, stopped work on the project. The City worked with Westfield, JSmith Civil's bonding company, to arrange for the project’s completion by a replacement contractor. In Late 2023, Carolina Sunrock was selected as the contractor to complete the Atlantic Avenue Project.

The Atlantic Avenue Widening Project is part of the Capital Improvement Program.

Key factors the City and our design consultants will consider during the design processes are:

The existing street is a four-lane undivided roadway with a sidewalk on the east side.
The intersection at Ingram Street has been a high-crash location historically, made difficult by rolling topography.
The east side of this section of Atlantic Avenue is mainly residential, and any widening will likely occur on the other side of the street.

Atlantic Avenue Pre-Construction Meeting - Feb. 22, 2022

Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project: Advanced Design

Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project - Time-lapse Video: July 2024 - February 2025

Atlantic Avenue Pre-Construction Presentation

The City of Raleigh is scheduled to start construction along Atlantic Avenue between New Hope Church Road and Highwoods Boulevard, in March 2022. This short video explains what people living and commuting through this section of Atlantic Avenue can expect during construction.