Billy Graham Parkway: Road Closures Thursday, Friday For Funeral

CHARLOTTE, NC — Traffic in a portion of west Charlotte will see major detours beginning Thursday evening, when city officials shut down Billy Graham Parkway in both directions in preparation for the famed evangelists funeral scheduled for Friday, March 2.

The road closures near the Billy Graham Library, which is four miles southeast of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, could impact some travelers’ route to the airport. “If you are flying Thursday night or Friday, please allow extra time or seek an alternate route,” airport officials advised Wednesday.

Friday’s funeral concludes a week-long celebration and tribute to the legacy of Graham in North Carolina and Washington, D.C. Graham, who transformed American religious life through his preaching and activism, becoming a counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, died Feb. 21. He was 99. Graham, who long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments, died at his home in North Carolina, according spokesman Mark DeMoss.

Graham's funeral, to be held in Charlotte March 2 at noon, will be private and 2,300 mourners are expected to attend, according to The Charlotte Observer. The event overlaps with the CIAA Tournament that will be held March 1-3, which is expected to bring as many as 100,000 to the Queen City.

SEE ALSO: Evangelist Billy Graham, 'America's Pastor,' Dies At 99

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Here are the upcoming road closures, according to the City of Charlotte:

Thursday, March 1

• Officials will close Billy Graham Parkway in both directions between South Tryon Street (N.C. 49) and Tyvola Road at 9 p.m. Thursday, March 1, until funeral activities at the Billy Graham Library conclude Friday afternoon.
• Motorists traveling east on Billy Graham Parkway will be detoured to Tyvola Road, turning left on South Tryon Street, then back to Woodlawn Road/Billy Graham Parkway.
• Motorists traveling west on Woodlawn Road/Billy Graham Parkway will be detoured left onto South Tryon Street, turning right on Tyvola Road, then back to Billy Graham Parkway.

Drivers heading to Charlotte Douglas International Airport should use these alternate routes:

• From I-77 south of Charlotte, take the I-485 Inner Loop (Exit 1) to Wilkinson Boulevard (Exit 9), continuing east to Josh Birmingham Parkway; or
• From I-85, take Little Rock Road (Exit 32), continuing south to Josh Birmingham Parkway.

NCDOT will use portable message boards to alert motorists of the detours and overhead message signs advising of the alternate routes.

SEE ALSO: Former Presidents Travel To Charlotte To Pay Respects To Graham

Friday, March 2

• Partial closures of Billy Graham Parkway in both directions between South Tryon Street (N.C. 49) and Tyvola Road will remain closed until funeral activities at the Billy Graham Library conclude Friday afternoon.
• Refer to the maps above for Billy Graham Parkway detours and alternate routes for Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Maps courtesy of the City of Charlotte