RALEIGH – All lanes for an Interstate 40 widening project in Wake and Johnston counties fully opened Friday morning, easing congestion for commuters and other visitors to the capital city.
While minor work still needs to be completed, the last segment of modernizing 13 miles of I-40 south of Raleigh was completed Friday. Here's a run-down of the total number of lanes in each direction now available to drivers:
- Five lanes between Exits 301-306;
- Four lanes between Exits 306-312; and
- Three lanes between Exit 312 and mile marker 314 near the Cornwallis Road overpass in Johnston County.
Before construction, the highway had either two or three lanes in each direction. This corridor is heavily used by commuters, and it's one of the major gateways into the Triangle.
The project, which began in 2018, also included the replacement of several bridges along this 13-mile stretch; the construction of a new interchange (Exit 312B) at Cleveland Road; and the conversion of the N.C. 42 bridge into a diverging-diamond interchange, which has improved traffic flow.
Although all lanes are now open, the contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation building this project still has remaining work to complete, such as installing permanent signs and placing rumble strips and snow-plowable reflective markers. This work may necessitate an occasional nighttime or daytime lane closure in off-peak hours.
The contractor aims to finish by the end of this year.