MORRISVILLE – Now that temperatures across the Triangle have increased, final paving operations have begun on the project to improve the Interstate 40 interchange at Aviation Parkway.
N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews began final paving on Wednesday of the National Guard Drive, RDU Center Drive, Gateway Centre Boulevard and Lake Crabtree Park connections to Aviation Parkway along with the bus lanes and U-turn areas. This work is scheduled to be completed today.
Crews are set to begin a five-night effort Sunday to pave all lanes of Aviation Parkway from National Guard Drive to just south of Gateway Centre Boulevard at the entrance to Lake Crabtree Park.
Drivers should plan ahead, expect lane closures on Aviation Parkway and allow extra time to get to and from RDU Airport as work is performed next week.
Between 7 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, the ramp from I-40 West to northbound Aviation Parkway (Exit 285B) toward RDU Airport will be closed for up to five hours as crews pave the road near the top of the ramp. Depending on progress made, crews may also close the ramp from Aviation Parkway onto I-40 West during this timeframe.
During the closures, message boards will direct drivers to Airport Boulevard to exit and access I-40 West.
Pending weather and completion of work, further ramp closures will occur on the subsequent nights and will be confirmed Monday morning.
Final paving of the ramps and the new auxiliary lane on I-40 West between the Aviation Parkway and Airport Boulevard interchanges is tentatively scheduled for next weekend.