RALEIGH, N.C. — The state Department of Transportation claims relief is on the way in eastern Wake County.

Motorists who drive along Highway 64 know the pain of too many cars and not enough roadway, especially from the Beltline to Knightdale.

"It takes them some of them, say, an hour and so minutes to get four miles and that's ridiculous, really. There's no back way to go once you get on 64," store owner Bob Reynolds said.

The new U.S. 64 bypass will be an 11-mile highway stretching from the Beltline to Wendell. Drivers said the road cannot come too soon, but officials with the state Department of Transportation said it will come sooner than expected.

"Certainly, we've had some luck in some places and been able to make up some time and we're moving along nicely," DOT engineer Steve Leonard said. "Right now, barring any unforeseen long periods of bad weather, I think we'll be finished early 2005."

The original completion date was August 2005. Officials said crews are working seven days a week.

U.S. 64 is not the only place that gets relief from the bypass. For over a year, drivers on the Beltline have felt the squeeze of one lane closed on both sides for construction. Once the bypass opens, the Beltline will get both of its lanes back.