LUMBERTON — Construction on a roundabout in downtown Lumberton is expected to begin early this week, meaning street closures and detours for motorists.

The roundabout will replace traffic signals at the now-tricky four-way intersection of Water Street, Sixth Street and Elizabethtown Road. The actual traffic circle will sit slightly north of the current intersection, requiring Sixth Street to be dead-ended at Water Street.

Michael Parker, resident engineer at the Department of Transportation’s office in Lumberton, said the project had been delayed because it took longer than expected to relocate utility lines underneath the current intersection. Additionally, the traffic control company that will post signs at the site was delayed because of the Fourth of July holiday.

Once signs are posted and the street closure is announced, McArthur Construction can begin the $1.1 million project.

The project has been in the works since 2014 and construction is expected to take about 10 months.

“I think it’s going to be a good project when it’s done,” Parker said. “Once we get it built, traffic will free-flow.”

Information about road closures can be found at tims.ncdot.gov/tims.