RALEIGH - The stretch of unseasonably
warm weather in Raleigh in February worked wonders for progress on the
Interstate 40 Fortify project.
Drivers on I-40 East saw traffic shifts to the new lanes on the
outside of the highway, including coming off the ramp from U.S. 1 North. In fact
the east side is now in the final traffic pattern except for the area near
Gorman Street. That shift will take place after crews rebuild the Gorman ramp
onto I-40 East, which should happen the middle of March. Once that is done (it
will require about a four-day ramp closure, but it will be over a weekend) then
final shifting will take place and the last closed collector lane on that side
can open.
On the sections most recently shifted on the eastbound side, new
reflective markers have been going in. And a reminder that once the section near
Gorman moves into its final traffic pattern, crews will go back over the entire
8 1/2 miles of the east lanes with a new layer of asphalt, new markers and new
lane striping. As of right now everyone is still on a temporary surface.
There is good news for the westbound side as well. Final surface
paving resumed. And plans are about finalized for finally fixing the issue
behind the noise wall near the exit for I-440 and US 1/64 that has kept us from
opening the full length of the collector lane between Gorman Street and U.S. 1.
We need to coordinate with residents who live closest to the wall so they know
why some noisy construction trucks and activity will be just about in their
backyards doing the work soon, as we hope to get to that by mid-March. It has
been decided to keep that closed lane still shut down for now, as it would
create a more dangerous traffic situation if we would open it, then in just a
week or two have to close it again for the safety of workers and to accommodate
construction vehicles that will be part of the fix.
Drivers may have also noticed most of the new overhead signs along
I-40 are in place. New ground signs are also going in along the highway.
And we need to remind people again that just because more lanes and
space are open, and the road surface is getting improved, it is still a work
zone with the 60 mph speed limit.
There has been a continued increase in speeders, and that has the
Highway Patrol's attention. Troopers will be out a lot looking for those
drivers. Just last week they clocked a driver hauling a boat through the work
zone at close to 90 mph. That will likely prove to be a very costly mistake by
that driver in terms of money lost and possibly a license as well. You don't
want to deal with the same hassle.