RALEIGH — N.C. Department of Transportation contractors are scheduled to shift traffic toward the median on Interstate 440 East from I-40 to Jones Franklin Road on Friday night as part of the Interstate 440 Improvements project. This shift was previously scheduled for Sunday night, but crews were unable to complete the work.
At 9:30 p.m., crews will isolate traffic to a single lane beginning with the outside and then alternating to the inside lane to allow crews to place barrier wall and pavement markings. The shift is scheduled to be completed by 6 a.m. Saturday. Traffic will be in this pattern for about nine months.
The ramp from I-40 West to I-440 East will be closed during the shift. Drivers will follow a detour through the loops at the interchange to get on I-440 East.
At the same time, the ramp from I-440 East to Jones Franklin Road (Exit 1C) will close for nine months. A detour will direct drivers to take the Western Boulevard exit (Exit 2), turn right onto Western Boulevard, make a U-turn at Kent Road and take I-440 West back to Jones Franklin Road.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, a new temporary exit loop will take motorists from I-440 East to Jones Franklin Road (Exit 1C). Drivers will pass under the Jones Franklin Road bridge and immediately exit to the right onto the new loop. There will be a signal at the top of the ramp and lanes to turn right and left. This pattern will be in place for nine months as the new bridge over the highway is constructed.
All work is weather conditional.
Drivers should pay attention and allow for extra time to navigate through the work zone.