RALEIGH – Construction crews on the Fortify Project plan to close the ramp from Poole Road onto I-440 East in Raleigh this weekend, weather permitting, as well as the right turn lane from eastbound Poole Road onto the interstate in the same area.
The closures are needed to complete pavement reconstruction at the top of ramp to tie it in with the rebuilt lower section of the ramp. Crews will begin closing the ramp and roadway at 6 p.m. on Friday. They will re-open by 6 a.m. on Monday.
A signed detour will be in place, with eastbound traffic on Poole turning left on New Hope Road and then going west on I-495/U.S. 64/264 to get back to I-440. Westbound drivers on Poole Road will turn right on Sunnybrook, and right on New Bern Avenue to access I-440.
The N.C. Department of Transportation reminds drivers to use caution and obey the speed limit of 55 mph in the I-440 work zone and 60 mph in the I-40 work zone for their safety, as well as the safety of passengers, other motorists and the crews working along the highway.
The ramp work is another step toward the expected opening of the third travel lanes for both I-440 East and West in that portion of the Fortify project within a few weeks. If weather cooperates, crews will begin shifting concrete barriers to open the third lane on the westbound side on Saturday night. It is expected to take about four nights of good weather to open the third lane for the entire length of the westbound side.
More paving work is needed on I-440 East, with the opening of that third lane expected in February.
Once the I-440 section of Fortify is done, the main focus of work will switch to the longer I-40 section of the project between the I-440/U.S. 1/64 interchange in Cary and the I-440 split in southwest Raleigh. Crews will do the same road replacement work on I-40, and have been doing prep work along the interstate for several months, with bridge widening and shoulder strengthening under way in several locations.
Project Background
The Fortify project involves the removal and replacement of the highway surface and substructure along 11.5 miles of interstate on I-40 and I-440. A chemical reaction in the 40-year-old substructure of the roadway is causing it to crumble, and in turn, damaging the road surface. That required constant repairs, and led to concerns of ongoing major travel disruptions along one of the state’s busiest stretches of highway.
The initial phase focused on I-440 so it will be available as a possible alternate route for drivers to consider to get around construction on I-40, where traffic will eventually be in a three-lane pattern in both directions for the duration of the project.
Commuter Options
Because of the expected traffic impact of the project, especially when work is under way full-time on I-40, NCDOT is partnered with Go Triangle, Triangle Transit and Capital Area Transit to promote options to help motorists avoid traveling through the work zone at peak travel times. The Fortify website provides comprehensive information, including alternate transit options, project maps and links to live traffic cameras. Employers can also access online resources to help them develop and implement a flexible work program. The site includes links to Twitter, Facebook and other social media to stay engaged with NCDOT and other commuters.