I-540 to see roadway improvements between I-40 and Triangle Town Boulevard

Roadway improvements are on their way for I-540 between I-40 and Triangle Town Boulevard. The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded an $8.4 million contract to Fred Smith Co. of Raleigh to resurface the highway, as well as do some shoulder reconstruction and structural rehab work. The resurfacing will help preserve the road surface and avoid more costly repairs that could be needed if the pavement preservation improvements weren’t made.

Because of the heavy volume on the interstate, which averages about 78,000 vehicles a day along that section, the work will be done at night to lessen the travel impact for motorists. No lane closures will be allowed between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The project will include work at interchanges that could result in ramp closures and detours to the next exit, but no ramp can be closed for more than nine consecutive hours.

The project can start as early as Feb. 27, with work to be wrapped up by Nov. 15.

This is one of 39 contracts worth $203.2 million awarded by Transportation Secretary Gene Conti for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 2.9 percent, or about $6.2 million, below NCDOT estimates.

Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office in January of 2009, NCDOT has awarded 511 highway contracts totaling $3.8 billion to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to jobs and educational opportunities.

For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.