DOT Finishes New Bridge Designed to Keep Traffic Moving

Construction crews are building the Triangle's first single-point urban interchange at Six Forks Road and Interstate 540.

In the single-point design, traffic from the busiest road -- I-540, in this case -- flows uninterrupted underneath a bridge. The rest of the traffic flows through one set of traffic lights on top of the bridge.

Charlotte has one of the new bridges along Interstate 85. Engineers say it has greatly improved traffic flow.

"The number of signals are reduced," says Gary Faulkner, a DOT engineer. "You're able to provide more green time to traffic flow in this direction and still provide maximum time for side flow to and from the interchange here."

The DOT had hoped to have I-540 open to Six Forks Road and the new bridge by the end of the month. They now say the project will not be completed until April.