Lane Marking Points the Way Toward End of I-40 Repaving Project

Westbound lane sections will be closed overnight through Tuesday morning, but then there is clear sailing at least through Oct. 22.

Posted 8:09 p.m. Aug 21, 2007 — Updated 11:13 p.m. Oct 5, 2007

DURHAM, N.C. — Crews working for the state Department of Transportation will close two of three westbound lanes of Interstate 40 in places in Durham County on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, but the project is close to completion.

According to the state's weekly update, issued Friday afternoon, lane marking will close the westbound lanes:

From 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m., Saturday from Exit 279 (N.C. Highway 147/Durham Freeway) to Exit 278 (N.C. Highway 55)
From 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m., Sunday from Exit 278 (N.C. 55) to Exit 276 (Fayetteville Road)
From 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m., Monday from Exit 276 (Fayetteville Road) to Exit 273 (N.C. Highway 54)
From 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m., Tuesday from Exit 273 (N.C. 54) to Exit 270 (U.S. Highway 15/501)

After that, it looks like drivers will have clear sailing.

Tuesday night's and Wednesday night's work will be on eastbound exit and entrance ramps, leaving all travel lanes open. On Wednesday night, workers will begin cleaning up from the project, NCDOT said. No work at all is planned from Friday, Oct. 12 through Oct. 22 to allow clear sailing for people going to the State Fair in Raleigh.

The state had to rip up concrete that had been laid improperly over the two lanes that were in place before the road was widened. The third lane – the left-most lane in each direction – was put in new at that time and didn't have the break-up problems that happened with the repaved two lanes, NCDOT engineers explained.

Lane Construction Corp. of Meriden, Conn., is doing the work.

The DOT posts schedules for work and lane closures on a Web site for the project. Drivers can always check traffic conditions on the interstate on WRAL's traffic cameras page.

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