Fortify

I-40 Gorman Street ramp to close as Fortify project wraps up

The Gorman Street ramp to I-40 East will close Thursday evening as the Fortify project continues.

Posted Updated

By
Jessica Patrick
, WRAL.com editor
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Gorman Street ramp to Interstate 40 East will close Thursday evening as the Fortify project nears completion.

According to a press release from the N.C. Department of Transportation, the ramp will close around 6 p.m. so it can be dug up and replaced by a brand new ramp. Officials said the ramp will reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday.

New lanes will open on 1-40 E in Raleigh Monday as part of the Fortify project.

During the three-day closure, drivers who usually use Gorman Street to get to I-40 East can access the interstate by heading east on Tryon Road and turning left at Lake Wheeler Road. Another option is to go from Gorman Street to Centennial Parkway, then turn right at Lake Wheeler Road by the State Farmer's Market.

When the ramp re-opens Monday, contractors hope to remove the barrier wall around the Gorman Street exit. Officials said this is the final lengthy stretch in the work zone that has a barrier wall still in place.

The ramp from Gorman Street in south Raleigh to Interstate 40 east will close around 6 p.m. so it can be dug up and replaced by a brand new ramp. Officials said the ramp will reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday.

On Monday night, weather permitting, crews plan to resume the final shifts on the east side of the highway to put traffic into its final pattern.

According to the NCDOT, most of the 8.5 miles of roadway have already been shifted on the east side, except for the area near Gorman Street heading west toward the U.S. 1/64 exit. Making these final shifts will also enable crews to completely open the new U.S. 1/64 to Gorman Street connector lane on the east side.

Once the shifts are done, a final layer of asphalt goes down to smooth out the road, with new lane striping and reflective lane markers to follow. Much of the westbound side already has its final surface in place.

Work will also soon begin on repairs needed by the sound wall near the westbound I-440/U.S. 1 exit. Once that is handled, the rest of the collector lane between Gorman Street and that exit can be opened.

The work zone speed limit is 60 mph, and officials are asking motorists to use extra caution when traveling through the area.

Speeding in the work zone can result in a $250 fine.

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