RALEIGH — If you travel Interstate 40 or the 540-extension, you'll need to have some patience starting Monday. That's when the DOT starts widening I-40 in both directions in Wake County.

Construction will stretch from Wade Avenue in Raleigh, to the 540-extension in Durham. So how will the construction affect you? If you use I-40, you can expect delays, especiallybetween the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.That's when lanes will be closed to accommodate the construction.

What's now a grassy median will soon become two more lanes. Transportation officials hope that eventually the complete eight lane highway will handle more traffic and speed up the morning commute.

The construction gets underwayMarch 2nd. The $4.2 million dollar project is expected to be done by late summer this year. The DOT suggests drivers take alternative routes during the construction process, including Highway 70 and NC-54.