Big change for drivers on I-440: Western Boulevard is now one exit

Big changes took effect Thursday morning. For the first time ever, westbound drivers on Interstate 440 will use a single exit to access Western Boulevard.

At 5 a.m., the exit loop from I-440 West to eastbound Western Boulevard (Exit 2A) permanently closed. What was Exit 2B has become a single exit, Exit 2, and all traffic from I-440 West will use Exit 2 to access Western Boulevard, where they can head left or right, toward Cary or N.C. State University.

The traffic change does not impact eastbound drivers exiting onto Western Boulevard if they’re traveling on the beltline toward Raleigh coming from the Cary area.

The changes are part of the Interstate 440 Improvements Project, which will also convert the interchange into a "diverging diamond" interchange.

According to the N.C. Department of Transportation, this will allow two directions of traffic to temporarily cross to the left side of the road by moving high volumes of traffic through an intersection without increasing the number of lanes and traffic signals. This movement provides easier access to the interstate, meaning drivers won’t have to make a sharp left turn to get on the beltline any longer.

This conversion is expected to be complete in November, according to the NCDOT.

The entire beltline project is scheduled to be finished some time in 2023.