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Durham leaders say new East End Connector will cut drivers' commute by 10 minutes

The long-awaited East End Connector, also known as Interstate 885, opened Thursday afternoon.

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By
Monica Casey & Nia Harden
, WRAL reporters
DURHAM, N.C. — The long-awaited East End Connector, also known as Interstate 885, opened Thursday afternoon in Durham.

By connecting U.S. 70 to the Durham Freeway, leaders with the North Carolina Department of Transportation say it will provide another route from Interstate 40 to I-85, bypassing downtown.

"The opening of this connector will help promote economic development in areas along I-85 up toward Virginia by improving access for travel and the transportation of goods in counties north of Durham, and employment and retail centers, including RTP, RDU and locations in Wake County and south of there," said North Carolina Department of Transportation Joey Hopkins.

Officials say it could cut some drivers commute down by around 10 minutes and ease congestion through downtown.

Construction on Durham's East End Connection started in 2015 and since then, the project faced many delays.

Joey Hopkins said this project has been in the city's plans since the 1970s.

"It took time to work out utility relocations, construction impacts to neighborhoods and local streets, and coordination with the railroad companies that we cross multiple times in this project, including us having to construct a temporary railroad bridge along US-70," he said at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday.

Liam Shannon, engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, said this new connector should make it easier to get from I-40 to I-85, which will benefit drivers traveling from North Durham to RTP and Raleigh.

"In the future you will not have to go through downtown Durham to get from north Durham to NC-147," Shannon said.

Several other Durham leaders attended Thursday's event to open the new connector, including Mayor Elaine O'Neal and Durham County Commission Chair Brenda Howerton.

"Equitably improving transportation and infrastructure for those who live and travel through Durham are key priorities of the City Council of Durham," O'Neal said.

For Howerton, the new highway has a personal impact on her.

"I live on this side of town, and always having to go through downtown to get to I-85 is not fun," Howerton said. "I've been here since 1986."

State leaders said drivers could start driving along the highway on Thursday afternoon.

"Though decades in the making, and given the unprecedented growth we're experiencing, today's opening is right on time," said State Rep. Zack Hawkins, D-Durham.

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