News

Detour has started for Erkwood-Shepherd roundabout

By Bill Moss, Published: July 17, 2019

The detour for up to three months to build a new roundabout on Greenville Highway at Shepherd Street and Erkwood Drive started today.

Although the marked detour directs motorists to take Brooklyn Avenue, Spartanburg Highway and Highland Lake Road, there are numerous other ways around the closure, including Rutledge to Erkwood to Kanuga, West Blue Ridge to Spartanburg Highway and Little River Road to Kanuga.

"Detours are designed for all vehicles to be able to make it through, so you don't want 18-wheelers down neighborhood streets," said David Uchiyama, the NCDOT spokesman for Western North Carolina.

When the road reopens in mid-October, "except for decorations and plants" the roundabout will be done and "folks will be driving on it," Uchiyama said.

On Wednesday morning, many motorists were testing to see if the road was actually blocked and finding out that it was.

Engineers designed the roundabout as a solution to the misaligned Shepherd Street and Erkwood Drive intersection, which is considered a safety hazard.