DURHAM — N.C. Department of Transportation contractors are beginning work to finish the East End Connector project, connecting the Durham Freeway (N.C. 147) and U.S. 70, and providing a stoplight-free drive between Interstates 85 and 40.
Final paving operations begin overnight this week on U.S. 70 between I-85 and the connector. Pavement markings will also be applied as traffic moves into its final pattern. Work on the connector and N.C. 147 has already been completed.
Drivers should be on the lookout for crews in this area and plan for overnight lane closures to be in place for the next several weeks. Additional traffic control measures will be in place for through traffic on U.S. 70 East. All work is weather dependent and subject to change.
Signage denoting the new I-885 designation will be installed beginning next week. I-885 will run concurrently with U.S. 70 between I-85 and the connector, along the connector, and on existing N.C. 147 between the connector and I-40.
Once complete, N.C. 147 will no longer begin at I-40, but at the connector and go northwest through Durham.
Several exit numbers on U.S. 70 and N.C. 147 will change as displayed in the attachment.
Existing Toll N.C. 147, which goes from I-40 south to Toll N.C. 540, will also change to Toll N.C. 885.