Construction Barrels Continue To Add Up Along Highway 55

Construction projects currently cover 20 miles of Highway 55. The idea is to create a four- or five-lane highway from Fuquay-Varina to Durham and Research Triangle Park. Business owner Naser Abdul said the construction is frustrating to him since his gas station is surrounded by orange barrels.

"The time they take, it takes a long time to do this job for me. I think it should be done faster," he said.

Many drivers say the work on Highway 55 has made the road an impossible mess during rush hours, but some are looking at the big picture.

"Ultimately, it will, and it has to be done. Otherwise, (Highway) 55 would continue to be the bottleneck it's been for all these years," driver Charles Bennett said.

Engineers say the Holly Springs bypass could be ready by November. The section including the U.S. Highway 1 bridge to Apex should be finished by Christmas 2003. Portions on the north and south ends should wrap up by 2005. Engineers say they also plan to eventually tie in the widened Highway 55 with Interstate 540.