Drivers in downtown New Bern should expect delays Thursday as Piedmont Natural Gas works to retire a gas line in the 200 block of East Front Street, just past Union Point Park. The work is expected to last throughout the day, and one lane of traffic will remain open.
Traffic control will be in place in the work zone, and officials are asking motorists to use caution while passing through. Drivers heading toward the bridge, U.S. 70 or James City are encouraged to use South Front Street as an alternate route.
The project is taking place in the downtown corridor near Union Point Park, where even a single lane closure can slow traffic through the heart of the city. Thursday’s work is meant to retire the gas line, and the route changes are intended to keep vehicles moving as safely as possible.
For drivers, the immediate question is how to get through the area without adding to the backup. The answer is South Front Street for those heading toward the bridge, U.S. 70 or James City, while the East Front Street work continues through the day.