Raleigh, N.C. — A resurfacing project on Glenwood Avenue is on schedule to smooth over potholes in the Five Points neighborhood by June, but on-street parking continues to divide residents and drivers.

Some say on-street parking in the area is frustrating and dangerous, while others say it's an essential part of the old neighborhood.

Cars can be parked legally on both sides of the four-lane road. Their presence slows traffic along the thoroughfare, especially during busy travel times.

Anna Wheless said on-street parking is disruptive for drivers. “All the sudden, there's a car, and you've got to stop and wait for everybody else to go before you can get in the left-hand lane,” she said.

David Mueller said that allowing cars to park along the street makes Five Points safer.

“I feel like traffic really needs to slow down coming through here,” he said. “It's a residential neighborhood.”

Natalie Cherbaka, who lives in the neighborhood, likes it too.

“It's kind of what makes the Five Points area feel quaint,” she said.

However, Wheless pointed to the danger. “I'm surprised we've not had more accidents than we normally have,” she said.

There are no plans to change the parking rules for Glenwood Avenue, the state Department of Transportation said, mostly because of the lack of other parking options for area businesses.

“I don't think it's the best solution, but I don't know what else you'd do,” Mueller said.

Drivers in Five Points will experience additional lane closures related to the ongoing resurfacing project. Crews planned to close both southbound lanes of Glenwood Avenue for about seven hours Saturday – from 5 a.m. to noon – to remove and replace layers of old pavement. The work will move to the northbound lanes Saturday afternoon and could last until 11 p.m.

Traffic in both directions will be detoured from Glenwood Avenue to St. Mary's Street to Fairview Road back to Glenwood Avenue.

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