RALEIGH — N.C. Department of Transportation contractors have a series of ramp closures on Wade Avenue scheduled over the next three nights as they prepare to shift traffic in both directions between Blue Ridge Road and the Beltline.
Tonight, from midnight until 6 a.m. Friday, the following exit ramp will be closed:
- Eastbound Wade Avenue to Interstate 440 West. A detour will lead drivers to Faircloth and Hillsborough streets to get onto I-440 West.
Tomorrow, between midnight and 6 a.m. Saturday, the following ramps may be closed:
- Eastbound Wade Avenue to Blue Ridge Road. A detour will lead drivers to I-440 West and Hillsborough Street to get back to Blue Ridge Road. This ramp will not be closed at the same time as the next two ramps.
- Eastbound Wade Avenue to I-440 West. A detour will lead drivers to Faircloth and Hillsborough streets to get onto I-440 West.
- Blue Ridge Road to eastbound Wade Avenue. Northbound drivers will follow a detour to westbound Wade Avenue and Edwards Mill Road to turn around and head east on Wade Avenue. Southbound drivers will follow a detour to Hillsborough Street and I-440 East to get to eastbound Wade Avenue.
- Westbound Wade Avenue to I-440 West. A detour will lead drivers to Blue Ridge Road to turn around and then access I-440 West. This ramp will not close at the same time as the ramp to Blue Ridge Road.
Saturday, between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday, the following ramps may be closed:
- I-440 West to westbound Wade Avenue toward I-40. A detour will use Hillsborough Street (Exit 3) to turn around and access Wade Avenue.
- Westbound Wade Avenue to Blue Ridge Road. A detour will send drivers to Edwards Mill Road to turn around and access Blue Ridge Road.
- Westbound Wade Avenue to I-440 West. A detour will lead drivers to Blue Ridge Road to turn around and then access I-440 West. This ramp will not close at the same time as the ramp to Blue Ridge Road.
These closures, which are weather dependent and subject to change, are necessary for crews to move barrier wall, change lane markings and perform any necessary pavement tie-ins to shift eastbound traffic closer to the shoulder and westbound traffic closer to the eastbound lanes. This will open up the existing westbound lanes for the continued construction of additional lanes in each direction and the new flyover bridges at the I-440 interchange as part of the I-440 Improvements Project.
Motorists should allow extra time to navigate the detours and slow down and pay attention throughout the work zone.