Traffic headaches expected as NC State Fair 2025, Billie Eilish shows overlap
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Drivers should prepare for more significant traffic concerns this week as major events overlap in Raleigh.
The North Carolina State Fair opens Thursday and runs through Oct. 26, bringing heavy traffic to areas including Blue Ridge Road, Edwards Mill Road, Hillsborough Road, Wade Avenue, Trinity Road, and I-440.
Adding to the congestion, Billie Eilish is scheduled to perform Thursday and Friday nights at the Lenovo Center, starting at 7 p.m. on both nights. With rush-hour traffic compounded by fair and concert activity, drivers are advised to expect longer travel times.
Lenovo Center has already told concertgoers: "Expect heavy traffic and longer travel times due to the show and the NC State Fair on adjacent property. Please allow for additional travel time; guests are highly encouraged to carpool and arrive early."
This comes after thousands were stuck in traffic for hours Tuesday night during the Chris Brown concert at Carter Finley Stadium.
Some concertgoers even walked along I-40 after parking on the interstate. However, Raleigh police said that this is not allowed because it creates safety hazards for both you and other drivers. It could also block emergency vehicles.
The conversation has intensified into how to improve the transportation experience. Fans and social media users cast their blame at different entities in agencies for the fan arrival and departure experience.
Lenovo Center opened its gates early for concertgoers on Thursday, and there have been other changes ahead of the Billie Eilish concert to help ease congestion.
Still, there is sharp criticism coming from the other big event just across the street.
"We wish we didn't have concerts during the fair. There are four this year," said North Carolina State Fair Director Kent Yelverton. "When you take a large event like the North Carolina State Fair and you add a second large event on top of it, certainly there's going to be more traffic and it is more inconvenience to customers to both events."
ABC11 has learned that the Raleigh Police Department is now taking over concert traffic from the North Carolina Highway Patrol around Lenovo Center, and six additional officers are being brought in.
"Raleigh is fortunate to have public facilities to host some of the world's most popular touring acts and one of the nation's most highly attended state fairs," Lenovo Center Management said in a statement. "We try to strike a balance between managing traffic and congestion without turning away world-class tours that have a limited window to visit North Carolina. We are always working with our state and local government partners to improve our collective procedures during the Fair, and will continue to do so in the future."
Melanie Brinson is from Garner and goes to Meredith College.
"The school is about eight minutes from here, but in traffic it can be about an hour and 45 minutes," she said.
Brinson hung out all day outside the Lenovo Center to avoid the congestion and says leaving could be a problem.
"If it was an hour and 45 minutes just for the Chris Brown stuff, I have no clue how traffic is going to be for today with the State Fair also going on," she said.
Alternative ways to get to Raleigh
NC By Train will make a special stop right in front of the NC State Fair at Gate 1 from October 17 to 26.
From October 16 to 26, GoRaleigh shuttles will run from 8:30 a.m. until the fair closes, picking up passengers at Garner Station (behind Goodberry's) and dropping them off at Gate 1. Non-stop express shuttles will run every 30 minutes.
An express bus service from Durham Station will also take fairgoers directly to Gate 1. This free service will run hourly from 8 a.m. to closing time, but keep in mind that seating is limited.
ABC11's Tamara Scott contributed.
