No more potholes and cracked pavement, I-440 East revamping of roads underway

Several months from now, drivers who travel on Interstate 440 East daily will experience a smoother ride.

The inside lane of the highway will be closed as repaving of potholes and cracked pavement along the street has begun.

“It’s like turbulence,” one driver said. “Even though the speed limit is 60, people are going 70 to 75, and it’s rough.”

For years, the highway roads have slowly deteriorated, and last weekend, the work to repave it began two years ahead of schedule.

“I can’t go over 50 miles per hour without getting a chip in my windshield,” the driver said.

About 140 thousand cars use this section of the beltline daily between wake forest road and Lake Boone Trail.

Several people told WRAL the loose pavement has chipped or cracked windshields and paint on their cars.

Meanwhile, work continues along the beltline to widen I-440 past Wade Avenue to Walnut Street in Cary. That work won’t be done until late 2024.

It’s a similar timeline for the repaving project, scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024.

Some people refuse to drive this stretch; others say they can’t avoid it and can’t wait for this work to be done.

“I have a lawn care business, and I travel that road all the time, which will put my mind at ease,” driver said.