Traffic alert for Raleigh as President, VP make two stops
The visit of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to Raleigh on Tuesday could mean traffic delays for those of us who live here.
The worst of the traffic could hit during the evening rush hour as the presidential motorcade makes its way from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to downtown Raleigh for two events and then back to the airport.
Biden and Harris made a stop at Chavis Community Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Raleigh to deliver remarks about health care and reproductive rights around 3 p.m. In the early evening, they will attend a private fundraising event at the Raleigh Marriott City Center on Fayetteville Street.
Their return trip to the airport could again bring delays. The town of Morrisville advised people to expect heavy traffic delays past 8 p.m. along:
- Airport Boulevard
- Aviation Parkway in Morrisville
- I-40 between Durham and Garner
- I-540 from Holly Springs to north Raleigh
WRAL News has a live map showing traffic volume, and any delays that may occur will be indicated in red.
The vice president's plane touched down at RDU just before 1:55 p.m., and the president landed at 2:15 p.m. The president was welcomed by Gov. Roy Cooper, Morrisville Mayor Mayor TJ Cawley and Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams.
Biden and Harris were scheduled to land earlier, but remarks on the bridge collapse in Baltimore delayed their visit by less than an hour.
It's rare for the president and vice president to campaign together, identifying North Carolina, one of the closest in the country in the 2020 presidential election, as a swing state.
Biden already visited Raleigh earlier this year, when he discussed the economy, investments and infrastructure. He highlighted the impacts on North Carolina from the American Rescue Plan and 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
Harris visited North Carolina ahead of Super Tuesday, spending time in Durham to discuss supporting small businesses, announcing $32 million to support historically underserved businesses in NC.
First Lady Jill Biden also visited Raleigh in March to advocate for women's health research.
With North Carolina a battleground state, we've also had recent visits from candidates like Donald Trump, who visited Greensboro ahead of Super Tuesday. According to a WRAL poll, Trump is leading over Biden by 5 points in North Carolina, where Biden is struggling to reach younger voters.
