Raeford Road detour begins July 13 in Fayetteville after NCDOT finds culvert

Fayetteville drivers planning trips around Ireland Drive should expect delays starting early Monday, July 13. NCDOT says an approximately two-week detour is required because crews working on drainage work tied to Buckhead Creek discovered an old culvert beneath Raeford Road.

NCDOT says the culvert’s age and condition are unknown. Because the culvert is more than 20 feet deep, crews must excavate and remove it before a new drainage pipe can be installed—so both directions of Raeford Road near the McDonald’s at Ireland Drive will need to close for about two weeks.

Where the closure is and when it starts

NCDOT says the closure will begin early in the morning hours of Monday, July 13—just after midnight Sunday.

The closure is expected to last for about two weeks while contractors work to excavate the abandoned culvert area and ready the road for traffic again. NCDOT also says multiple crews will work 24 hours a day to remove the culvert as quickly as possible.

Detour routes: Skibo Road and the All American Freeway

During the closure, NCDOT says detour signs will direct traffic—particularly commercial vehicles—onto two similar multilane, state-maintained highways: Skibo Road and the All American Freeway.

NCDOT advises drivers to prepare for a longer commute and to be cautious near the work zone when it’s barricaded.

How this connects to the larger Raeford Road improvement project

NCDOT says this short-term drainage repair is part of a broader Raeford Road corridor effort intended to improve safety along the U.S. 401 corridor in Fayetteville.

In its project materials, NCDOT describes a higher-than-average crash rate along the corridor because motorists must cross several lanes to turn left. The department says the reconstruction will use a reduced conflict intersection design that replaces the open center turn lane with a raised median, along with storm drainage upgrades, new curbs and gutters, and replacement of water and sewer lines.

What residents and businesses can do now

• Plan alternate routes starting the week of July 13, especially for commutes and deliveries that normally use Raeford Road at Ireland Drive.
• If you run a business near the closure area, coordinate with drivers/couriers and follow posted detour guidance and barricade restrictions.
• Because NCDOT describes the timeline as “about two weeks,” treat it as an estimate and watch for updates while construction is underway.

Sources

• NCDOT press release: Major Corridor in Fayetteville Requires Detour (published July 2, 2026)