I-40 revamping projects underway near RDU

The good news is that officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation have some ideas to relieve many of those backups.

Crews have been clearing trees at I-40 and Aviation Parkway as part of a new loop exit at the interchange. Right now, all the westbound traffic on I-40 takes the same exit, stopping at the top of the ramp and turning onto Aviation Parkway, but the new exit will carry westbound drivers onto the southbound side of Aviation.

NCDOT engineer Cameron Richards says the work should help drivers get through the interchange a little faster.

"It should overall help with the capacity and the volumes we're expecting to see on Aviation," said Richards. "It should help the flow of traffic."

Once the clearing finishes, crews will have to relocate utilities before the grading can start. Officials said they are not exactly sure when that will happen, but all lanes of Aviation will remain open during the project.

The project will be complete in about two years.

The other big airport exit -- Airport Boulevard -- is also getting a makeover. Engineers are currently deciding exactly what to do there but say it's likely that interchange will get one of the new diverging-diamond designs.

Once the DOT decides what to build there, expect construction to start next year.