The Interstate 40 widening project is still ongoing through Orange County, with the 11-mile effort shooting past its initial estimated completion of summer 2026. Now, the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced road closures this week resulting from the work.

In a Monday announcement, NCDOT said it will impose overnight closures at the I-40 bridge over Old N.C. 86 at Exit 261.

Crews will work to repair the bridge from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. starting the night of Monday, Oct. 12 through Thursday, Oct. 15. The interstate will be open during daytime hours. Overnight traffic coming from both directions will be detoured to avoid the bridge, using the offramp at Exit 261 and Old N.C. 86 before getting back on I-40.

“The interstate closure is needed for crews to safely repair bridge joints and is part of the I-40 widening project in Orange County, which will reduce congestion and improve travel times upon completion,” NCDOT’s release read.

The release ended with the department encouraging drivers to plan ahead when making overnight trips through the area and to obey all posted traffic signs.

In September, NCDOT activated the new west-bound on-ramp for Highway 86 and provided more information on the on-going project. Real-time traffic data can be found on the department’s Drive NC website.

 

Featured image via Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.

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