CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Motorists already frustrated with construction at a busy Mint Hill intersection faced more issues Wednesday morning as crews closed a side street that drivers have been using to avoid the mess.
[MAP: Roundabout project and detours]
At 7 a.m., Hoods Village Drive was blocked off so crews can install a pipe.
The road runs off Highway 51, where the intersection of Idlewild Road is completely shut down.
[READ MORE: Closures begin for Mint Hill roundabout construction]
Construction started a few weeks ago and the plan is to turn the intersection into a roundabout before students go back to school in August.
Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito was at the intersection days ago when drivers were cutting through parking lots to get around the closures.
[RELATED: Drivers ignore detours during Mint Hill roundabout construction]
It’s been a huge problem and just last week, neighbors put cones up at the Mint Lake Village retirement community to keep traffic out.
(Video of cars using this parking lot to avoid the detour from construction in Mint Hill)
Local businesses said they were fine with construction as long as entrances were kept open, but some business owners said the road closures have hurt sales.
The closure of Hood Village Drive next to the CVS will last from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Traffic Team 9’s Mark Taylor offers alternate routes around the area:
Idlewild Road from Margaret Wallace Road:
Traffic will be detoured from Idlewild Road to Margaret Wallace Road. Motorists will turn right and follow Margaret Wallace Road to Sam Newell Road, turning left, following to U.S. 74 East. Staying east, motorists will take the ramp to the I-485 Outer Loop and follow to Idlewild Road (exit 49). A left turn will take motorists back toward the road closure, and a right turn will take motorists toward Hemby Bridge.
Idlewild Road from Union County:
Traffic will be detoured from Idlewild Road to the I-485 Outer Loop to Lawyers Road (exit 47). Motorists will exit the interstate and turn left, following Lawyers Road toward Mint Hill. Crossing N.C. 51, motorists will turn left at Lebanon Road, then bear right to Margaret Wallace Road. Drivers can then turn left on Idlewild Road toward the road closure, or turn right toward Harris Boulevard.
N.C. 51 from Mint Hill:
Traveling south on N.C. 51, motorists will turn left on Lawyers Road, following to Interstate 485, taking the exit to the Outer Loop toward Matthews. Motorists will exit to U.S. 74 West (exit 51A) and follow to N.C. 51. A left turn lets motorists continue south on N.C. 51 to Matthews, and a right turn will return traffic toward the road closure.
N.C. 51 from East Independence Blvd:
Traveling north on N.C. 51, motorists will turn right to access U.S. 74 East, following to Interstate 485, taking the Outer Loop toward Mint Hill. Motorists will exit at Lawyers Road (exit 47). At the exit ramp, motorists will turn left, staying on Lawyers Road toward Mint Hill, following to N.C. 51. Motorists can turn right on N.C. 51 to reach I-485, or turn left back toward the road closure.
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