RALEIGH, N.C. — People who live in north Raleigh neighborhoods like Durant Trails and Alyson Pond say they are fed up with Interstate 540 construction. They say their once-quiet streets are now gridlocked by bulldozers and orange barrels. Now the state Department of Transportation said it will step up the roadwork.

North Raleigh resident Jill Fetters thinks the inconveniences have been around too long.

"I feel like I've been held hostage in my neighborhood," she said.

Fetters said flag wavers have fueled road rage.

"They were, in my opinion, very incompetent. They were holding traffic eight to 10 minutes," she said. "It was backed up on Harp's Mill [Road], backed up on Litchford [Road]. It was backed up on Falls Of Neuse Road. It was horrible."

DOT officials are planning to shut down a section of Litchford Road completely from 11 p.m. Tuesday until 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, weather permitting, to install steel bridge beams. The neighbors who have been upset up to this point said they do not know what is going to happen during this next phase of construction.

DOT crews said they will only keep the road closed overnight. They said problems with five main water lines have slowed progress. They also said they will listen to residents' complaints.

"Ms. Fetters, I've not addressed her complaint personally. I was unaware of it. If she's unhappy, she can always call my office or

1-(800) DOT-4-YOU

," DOT engineer Bob Shultes said.

"It's a temporary thing, I realize. I just try to leave a little extra time and not get too uptight about it. It'll be over soon," resident Susan Larsen said.

DOT officials said I-540 from Falls of Neuse Road to Capital Boulevard will be finished in August.