According to a town notice posted Oct. 5, drivers should expect equipment and crews this week along the north side of Holly Springs Road, across from the Holly Ridge schools, between Flint Point Lane and the new bridge over Middle Creek. The town isn't the one doing this work. Enbridge is expected to begin a gas line upgrade there. The northernmost lane and part of the sidewalk facing the schools are expected to close for a while, but both directions of traffic should stay open.
Meanwhile, a Sept. 17 notice from the Town of Holly Springs says construction is "getting ready to begin" on widening Holly Springs Road between Main Street and Flint Point Lane. It also says preliminary work, including removing a few buildings along the road, is planned in the coming weeks. Put those two notices together and the full widening could seem to be underway. It isn't. Bid documents filed through NCDOT expect the central segment's construction Notice to Proceed in March 2027, followed by a three-year contract.
So this fall is mostly prep work, and that matters for anyone who drives, walks or does school drop-off on this road. The most influence residents will have over the next two phases comes in October 2026, well before any widening begins.
The crews out there now mostly aren't the town's
The Enbridge project is a good example of who does what. The town's notice says North Carolina lets public agencies and utilities work along roadways as long as they stay within the public right-of-way or a dedicated utility easement. It also says plainly that the town "has limited authority to regulate this work." If something about the gas line work concerns you, such as a blocked sidewalk or a confusing lane shift, the town suggests calling Enbridge directly at 919-268-2195.
More utility crews are coming to the central segment before any widening contractor shows up. According to the town's answers to engineering firms bidding on the inspection contract, Duke Energy power line relocations are expected to begin, and possibly finish, before the construction start date. The town will relocate its own fiber with its own contractor. The same document says the town was buying right-of-way and easements, with all property expected to be acquired by late summer 2026.
That timing explains the building removals. Now that the land is expected to be in the town's hands, the structures in the way can come down. The town hasn't said which buildings will be removed, so it's best not to guess from the roadside.
What the central stretch will become
The central phase covers about 0.9 mile, from Main Street to Flint Point Lane. When it's done, it will be a consistent four-lane road with a median and sidewalks. It's part of the road program voters approved in November 2018. The town says it has secured more than $4 million in federal funds for corridor project costs. The procurement listing shows federal-aid funding attached to the central project. None of the documents we reviewed name a construction contractor or give a construction price for this segment.
Holly Springs Elementary, at 401 Holly Springs Road, sits inside the project limits. The town has told bidders that the work will require coordination with the Wake County Public School System's transportation department. The contractor can check the WCPSS year-round calendar to see which days the school is closed. Jones Park Greenway is also on the list of town assets the project must coordinate around.
Some rules are already set for when construction starts. The town doesn't expect night work, though it may approve it case by case. Daily lane-closure limits and holiday restrictions will be written into the contract as enforceable deadlines. The project's completion date will be too, once it's set. No detour plan for this phase has been published.
The start date has moved more than once
If you've followed this project for a while, "construction is about to begin" has started to sound familiar. Here's how the central segment's start date has shifted in public sources:
| Source and date | Forecast for central segment construction |
|---|---|
| WRAL, February 2023 | Construction beginning in 2024 |
| Holly Springs Update, February 2026 | Construction expected in 2026 |
| Town procurement notice, advertised March 30, 2026 | Construction beginning summer 2026 |
| Procurement Addendum No. 1, April 20, 2026 | Notice to Proceed anticipated March 2027, three-year contract |
The east segment followed a similar pattern. In 2023, WRAL reported that phase would be finished by mid-2025. A May 2025 budget story expected the Middle Creek bridge to open that summer. The town's February 2026 newsletter then reported that leaders had cut the ribbon on Flint Point Lane to Sunset Lake Road "last month," which puts the opening in January 2026.
The three-year contract is 1,095 calendar days. The town's inspection contract adds a fourth year to cover possible extensions, contractor delays and closeout. A March 2027 start plus three years points to roughly 2030 for the central stretch. That's a projection, not a promise.
What the east segment taught the town
The east phase began in early 2022. Crews built the new Middle Creek bridge next to the old crossing so traffic could keep moving before it shifted over. The town also designed the bridge to address historic flooding there and to improve walking and biking access near the Holly Ridge schools. When a bidder asked what lessons from that phase should carry into the central section, the town answered:
"Pedestrian safety, especially school pedestrian traffic, is a major concern by residents. It must be at the forefront of all that we do on this project."
The second lesson was about traffic control. The town said advance warning signs and other measures have to be set up correctly, kept in place consistently, and designed to minimize confusion for drivers and pedestrians.
The east segment's crosswalks show the kind of detail involved. In January 2026, the town said overhead signals would replace the flashing-beacon signs at the crosswalks nearest Holly Ridge Elementary and Middle schools. The signals stay dark until a pedestrian presses the button, and activation was expected "in the upcoming weeks." We didn't find a later town update confirming they were turned on. If you cross there with kids, check in person.
Those same Holly Ridge crosswalks are where Enbridge's lane and sidewalk closures are expected this month. Because the gas line is a utility project, the town's limits on its own oversight apply here too.
The western phase is still on paper, and October is when to weigh in
West of Main Street, the road out to N.C. 55 is still being designed. According to Holly Springs Update, Council approved a $1.89 million design budget for the western phase in early 2026. The plan is another four-lane, median-divided road with sidewalks. At this stage, drawings can still change, and the town is asking for feedback this month along with several related projects:
- Holly Springs Road West, early design meeting: Thursday, Oct. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Holly Springs United Church of Christ, 116 3rd St. You can see the proposed designs and maps. More details are on the Holly Springs Road Widening project page.
- Festival Street design open house: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6 to 8 p.m. at Town Hall. The project would turn a segment of Avent Ferry Road downtown into a street that can close to cars during events. You can find it on the Festival Street page.
- Camp Branch Greenway meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6 to 8 p.m., Bass Lake Conference Room. This is a planned paved greenway with boardwalk sections off Sunset Lake Road, eventually connecting to a Cary greenway.
- Town booth at HollyFest: Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sugg Farm. Staff from almost every department will take input on current projects.
Further out, Council held a Sept. 30 workshop on a possible street-and-sidewalk bond vote in 2028. The town says the discussion is preliminary, and any bond would need voter approval. That means this fall brings a utility project, prep work on the central stretch, early design on the western stretch, and early talk of funding for whatever comes next.
Road projects like this one come up often when our clients plan the timing of a sale or a move near a busy corridor. At Hendren Realty Group, we track schedules like the Holly Springs Road timeline so we can give clear answers about what's coming and when. If you own a home near Main Street, Flint Point Lane or the western stretch toward N.C. 55, request a free home consultation and valuation. We'll walk through how the construction schedule fits your plans.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
