WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A portion of Northwest Boulevard in Winston-Salem will be closed for the next few weeks while crews make changes for traffic improvements.

• Northwest Boulevard will be closed from Hawthorne Road to Reynolda Road.
• Detours will be in place.
• The portion of the road is closed for improvements in traffic flow. 

The closure stretches from Hawthorne Road to Reynolda Road, so detours are in place in both directions for drivers.

Officials said the major problem in the area is pedestrians crossing Northwest Boulevard -- either Wiley Middle School students crossing after drop-off or Reynolds High School students who park on Northwest Boulevard.

The plans include centralizing pedestrian crossing locations on Northwest Boulevard and marking a pick-up and drop-off location for Wiley Middle School students.

Crews will also mill and resurface Northwest Boulevard between Hawthorne and Reynolda roads, add concrete medians and add sidewalks in some places.

Finally, they will make improvements to both parking lots on Northwest Boulevard that are used by buses for both schools.

This project will cost about $2 million and is paid for through bonds that voters passed in 2016.

District officials say parents and students can expect to see more organization and a safer environment.

The City of Winston-Salem will keep the stretch of the road closed until July 11.

Hanes Park will be open in the meantime. Crews say they will try their best to accommodate pedestrians.