Raleigh, N.C. — Two lanes of westbound Interstate 40 in Raleigh were shut down Friday night as part of a project to repave nearly 13 miles of the highway.

Crews closed two lanes of I-40 West between Exit 301 at the split with Interstate 440 and Exit 298 at South Saunders Street at 9 p.m. Friday. The closures will continue until 6 a.m. Monday, depending on the weather.

The state Department of Transportation warned of possibly heavy delays in the area and encouraged motorists to use alternate routes.

DOT suggested drivers on I-40 West take Exit 301 at I-440/Outer Beltline, and then to Exit 4 at Wade Avenue to return to to I-40 West.

Traffic cameras showed traffic flowing freely through the area early Saturday morning.

Nightly lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. will resume on Monday.

DOT lowers the speed limit from 65 mph to 55 mph during all lane closures.

The road work is part of am $8.5 million rehabilitation project to repave 12.9 miles of the Beltline from Wade Avenue in west Raleigh to the split with Interstate 40 in southeast Raleigh. Asphalt in that stretch was laid back in the 1980s and drew complaints from regular drivers.

Contractor S.T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson was scheduled to complete the work in August 2008.

Drivers can check out current travel conditions by visiting the DOT Traveler Information Management Web site or by calling 511, the state’s toll-free travel information line.