The widening project that could snarl I-40 commutes as early as 2018
Triangle Business Journal; Wednesday, October 4, 2017
The traffic jams along nearly 12 miles of I-40 in the Triangle could start as early as 2018 – but they will be worth it, says N.C. Department of Transportation engineer Robert Deaton.
Specifically, NCDOT is planning to widen more than 11 miles along I-40 between N.C. 42 in Johnston County and I-440 in Raleigh, adding two lanes in each direction and changing the traffic patterns at the exits. As part of the same contract, the department plans to then upgrade the current intersection at N.C. 42, adding ramps to improve traffic flow. The additions will include a new access to Cleveland Road – one that could further lessen congestion at nearby exits.
Joe Milazzo, executive director of the Regional Transportation Alliance, says his group is supportive of the project.
“It is very important for the future of not just Raleigh and Wake County, but the entire market,” he notes in an interview. “It’s our primary interstate.”
And it’s not just about rush hour, he notes, pointing to its significance as a freight and tourism corridor. “The market is not going to stop growing and we can’t stop investing,” he adds.