Tonight: Weather permitting, Lane Construction Corp. starts a new phase of its $21.7 million I-40 repair project in Durham County. A special asphalt layer called Ultra-Thin will be applied to, eventually, all three lanes in both directions -- providing a single top layer over the inner concrete lane and the two outer asphalt lanes.
Lane works this week in the EASTBOUND lanes. Tonight, EASTBOUND traffic will be reduced to a single lane between U.S. 15-501 (Exit 270, Chapel Hill) and N.C. 54 (Exit 273, Chapel Hill), from 8pm to 6am. Two-mile delays are likely.
Wednesday-Thursday 8/28-30: More work on EASTBOUND I-40.
Friday-Monday 8/31 - 9/3: Labor Day weekend. I-40 pavement repair work suspended. All lanes are open. Work resumes Tuesday night, 9/4.
The DOT contract requires Lane to finish work by May 2008, but Lane and DOT engineers hope to get the job done by December.
Meanwhile:
* Westbound NC 147 Durham Freeeway / I-85 (a good road to take even during a DOT holiday) or Westbound NC 147 Durham Freeway / US 15-501.
* Eastbound I-85 / NC 147 Durham Freeway or Eastbound US 15-501 / NC 147 Durham Freeway
3) Express your I-40 angst. Let the rest of us know how these detours work out for you, or recommend another shortcut. Let me know if you've been caught in I-40 backups. Please email me or weigh in on our I-40 forum.
4) Check back at I-40 Worrier every night for the latest on repair plans, including DOT webcams and updates on traffic backups.
5) Try these useful links:
* NCDOT: I-40 work schedule
* NCDOT: I-40 traffic delays
* NCDOT: I-40 Durham Work Zone
* Crosstown Traffic: I-40
* Road Worrier
* traffic.com: Raleigh-Durham
- Bruce Siceloff
