WEAVERVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Duke Energy will begin electric grid improvement work in the Weaverville area in early February, a project aimed at strengthening the system against severe weather and improving outage restoration times, town officials said.

The work, expected to continue through mid-April, will primarily affect downtown Weaverville. Major construction is set to begin along Main Street, with additional activity planned for Church Street, North College Street and Central Avenue.

Residents and visitors should expect to see large utility equipment, including bucket trucks, along with single-lane closures, temporary traffic pattern changes and potential impacts to parking and sidewalks in the affected areas.

Duke Energy said the upgrades will benefit all customers served by the utility in the Weaverville area by improving overall reliability of the electric grid.

Questions about the project can be directed to Duke Energy at NCGridWork@duke-energy.com or by calling 800-365-8979.