Section of Gum Branch Road in Jacksonville to close for improvements Friday

A section of Gum Branch Road in the Jacksonville area is scheduled to be closed this weekend for improvements, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The roadway between Country Club Boulevard and Whaley Field Road will be closed to traffic between 8 p.m. on April 5 and 5 a.m. on April 7.

NCDOT will replace a pipe, improving drainage, as well as upgrades to the roadway, making it wider and adding shoulders.

Traffic will use Northwest Bridge Road, U.S. 258 and Rhodestown Road to access either side of the closure. Drivers should plan ahead as their commute will take longer than normal and use caution if traveling near the work zone.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.