RALEIGH – Earlier this week, contractors began paving work to lay the foundation for a traffic shift as part of the project to improve Interstate 40 between I-440 (Exit 301) in Raleigh and N.C. 42 (Exit 312) in Clayton. Next week, they will be incrementally installing that shift.
Staring Monday, Oct. 29, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., the contractor will begin shifting traffic lanes away from the median between Rock Quarry Road and U.S. 70 Business. Because this distance is nearly four miles long, the shifts will be done in stages, and may take the full week for the eastbound side. Once crews reach U.S. 70 Business, they will turn around and shift the westbound traffic on I-40 outward until Rock Quarry Road.
Contractors are adding an extra 1.5 inches of asphalt to the existing pavement and adding pavement to the outside lanes of I-40. These asphalt additions give engineers space to shift traffic four feet to the outside, so they can begin working in the median.
As part of the traffic shifts, new lane markings will establish temporary 11-foot-wide lanes. This space is slightly smaller than the 12-foot-wide lanes drivers use in normal driving conditions, but provides added space for the work crews. Sometime in November, concrete barriers will be placed along the inside lane to provided added protection for workers.
Motorists are reminded that because this area will be a construction work zone, speed limit reductions are planned. Pay attention to the traffic switches and avoid tailgating when traveling through the zone.
As usual, these upcoming shifts are weather and temperature dependent.
The state plans to add two lanes in each direction to a nearly 12-mile stretch of I-40, between the merge with I-440 on the south side of Raleigh and N.C. 42 in Johnston County.
The project will also redesign the I-40 interchange with N.C. 42 in Johnston County, with a new ramp alignment and traffic pattern. The expanded interchange is expected to alleviate heavy traffic conditions that currently exist at the exit.
Stay tuned for more updates as the project progresses and make sure to visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter for real-time travel information.