Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project

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

Updated: Sep 5, 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

September 2025

Paving operations and traffic shifts

Crews will be performing asphalt wedging on Monday, Sept. 8, and Tuesday, Sept.9. Asphalt wedging is a process that involves placing asphalt in a series of pavement lifts to join different grade surfaces with the existing roadway. They are undertaking this work in preparation for a major paving operation that will commence on Monday, Sept. 15. The contractor will also begin grading the remainder of the multi-use path.

Starting on Monday, Sept. 15, the contractor will begin 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.

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.