From North Raleigh to South Raleigh, everyone knows about the Glenwood Avenue and Lead Mine Road intersection near Crabtree Valley Mall.
Known as one of Raleigh’s most congested intersections, thousands of people pass through there each day on their way to work, shop, eat or travel to destinations throughout the county or state.
But it wasn’t always like that.
Lead Mine Road was once a dusty gravel road that was used to access early graphite mines.
Earlier travelers along Glenwood Avenue were met with a rural countryside, tall trees and winding creeks.
We chatted with historians Karl Larson and Kim Andersen from the State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh Planning Administrator Travis Crane and Raleigh Transportation Manager Eric Lamb to find out how this once-quiet intersection became what it is today and where it’s headed.
Click the arrows to view our interactive timeline.
