CARY – Improvements are on their way for the east and westbound off-ramps at the Interstate 40 interchange with Chapel Hill Road in Cary.
A $2.7 million contract, awarded to S.T. Wooten Corporation, calls for widening both ramps. The off-ramp from westbound I-40 will be widened to four turn lanes, while the off-ramp from eastbound I-40 will be widened to three turn lanes.
As early as Feb. 25, contractors can begin work, with the project wrapping up by Oct. 1.
These additional turn lanes are needed to store ramp traffic as it waits for the signal change to enter Chapel Hill Road. Average daily traffic on these ramps is over 10,000 vehicles. Within the next 20 years, engineers estimate traffic will increase to nearly 15,000 vehicles per day.
To lessen the traffic impacts on daily commuters during the lane additions, contractors will be restricted from closing or narrowing a lane of traffic on the ramps Monday thru Friday from 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.
This is one of 14 highway and bridge projects recently awarded by the Department. As required by state law, the contracts went to the lowest qualified bidder. They are worth $144.4 million.