For drivers in Durham, prepare for a hiccup in your nightly commutes over the next week. The N.C. Department of Transportation has announced closures of Interstate 40 for imminent bridge work, which will affect both directions but on separate nights. Starting tonight, westbound I-40 at Fayetteville Road will be inaccessible to traffic until March 7, according to a statement obtained by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The closures will kick in at 11 p.m. and are set to reopen by 5 a.m. the following mornings, weather allowing. Travelers going west will be rerouted through a designated detour involving Fayetteville Road, N.C. 55, and finally N.C. 751 to join back with I-40 West. Not an ideal situation for late-night drivers, but, hey, bridge safety first, right?
Not to rest on their laurels, the construction crews will immediately switch gears to eastbound lanes starting Friday through March 11. The eastbound lanes at Fayetteville Road will similarly be closed from 11 p.m. until the pre-dawn hour of 5 a.m., confirmed by the same press release. Detours for eastbound I-40 will utilize Fayetteville Road, swing traffic onto N.C. 54, connect to N.C. 55 and then back onto I-40 East.
The Department of Transportation emphasizes the need for motorists to stay vigilant, recommending drivers to reduce their speed in these work zones, and use caution; on these nights of rerouting. The potential for traffic build-up is real, but it's a short-term nuisance for a long-term gain - better bridges for all. Remember to plan ahead if you’re driving these stretches of I-40 and to keep an eye out for detour signs along the way.
