New phase of Fortify project begins in Raleigh

Lane shifts on I-40 between U.S. Highway 1 and Lake Wheeler Road have been in place for several weeks. Traffic patterns were moved to the outside lanes, giving crews room to rebuild the inside lanes.

After a number of delays at the start, traffic has begun to flow through the fortify work zone—but that's about to change.

DOT officials said the new phase of the Fortify project will have a much bigger impact. In addition to shifting traffic to the outside lanes, it will reduce capacity in effected lanes.

Steve Abbot, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said work will begin Thursday night on I-40 eastbound around Lake Wheeler Road.

Abbot said the I-440 split and westbound sections will take about a week to complete.

The new phase is scheduled to be completed in September, according to Abbot.

“Everybody’s back from vacation, all the schools are in,” Abbot said. “That’s when we’ll see how much of an impact that has.”

Engineers said to expect a 30 minute delay on I-40 during the morning and evening commutes with ideal conditions.

Abbot said if public transit isn’t an option, I-440 can be used as an alternate route.

“It looks longer on paper,” Abbot said. “It is longer, but if traffic is flowing, that’s a better way to go.”

Lane shifts and reductions will be in place 24 hours a day during the new phase. The Fortify project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016.