A old bridge of Interstate 40 in Hillsborough is set to be demolished as the North Carolina Department of Transportation continues work on widening the road in Orange County.

NCDOT shared an alert on Monday saying a section of Old North Carolina Highway 86 will be closed to traffic starting on Monday night, as crews will be doing “demolition activities” on the bridge of I-40 that runs over the road. The release said the nightly closures will begin at 9 p.m. Monday and run to 5 a.m. Tuesday, and will continue from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. each night through May 20 as the weather permits.

Much of Old N.C. 86 will still be accessible, but the closure will affect the stretch between the westbound and eastbound ramps to the interstate. As a result, a signed detour will encourage motorists around the work zone by taking Waterstone Drive, N.C. 86 and New Hope Church Road to travel north-south in the area.

The Interstate 40-Old N.C. 86 exchange in Hillsborough, taken Feb. 2025. Construction on the westbound lanes of I-40 over the road are now complete and the NCDOT is preparing to demolish the bridge of eastbound lanes. (Photo via the North Carolina Department of Transportation.)

The closure is similar to the one NCDOT made in March 2024 to gradually demolish the westbound lanes of I-40 that bridge over Old N.C. 86. Since then, a new and wider bridge was constructed closer to the older part and traffic has been shifted to run over the new bridge.

The Department of Transportation urged drivers to plan ahead for potential traffic delays and asked them to be alert when following detours around the work zone. Real-time travel information can be found on the NCDOT’s website and social media pages during the closures.

Other updates from NCDOT on the project — which are dated from Feb. 2025 on the project website — include shifting the traffic on I-40 to the new inside lanes to begin work on the outside shoulders of the interstate. Additionally, the concrete batch plant at the Chapel Hill exchange with N.C. 86 is operational and contractors have successfully installed 80 new drainage pipes under the interstate. Grading the median throughout the entire length of the 11.4-mile project is complete with the exception of areas where work vehicles are parked, and the bridges over Millhouse Road are continuing to be widened — but will require more time than the initial May 2025 estimate. NCDOT now projects Millhouse Road to reopen “late this winter.”

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Work on I-40 Widening Project Set to Close Lanes, Exit Ramps Overnight in Hillsborough
The ongoing work to widen I-40 in Orange County is set to disrupt overnight traffic patterns for the rest of the week, according to NCDOT.
NCDOT: Bridge Work on I-40, Old NC 86 Means Overnight Closures in Orange County
The latest batch of overnight closures for Interstate 40 and Old N.C. 86 in Orange County are set to happen this week, according to an alert from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Overnight Closures Set for Orange County I-40 Ramp; Crews Prepare for Traffic Shift
Ahead of a traffic shift in the heart of the I-40 widening project in Orange County, construction and road crews are set to close an on-ramp.
Old NC 86 Set to Begin New Overnight Closures in Hillsborough for I-40 Widening, Bridge Work
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will close down Old N.C. 86 under the I-40 bridge nightly until March 30.
UPDATE: Work on Interstate 40 in Orange County This Weekend Postponed
Editor’s Note: The original version of this story cited incorrect wording from the North Carolina Department of Transportation about the length of the closure of I-40 East. An updated release from the state department clarified the entire widening project in Orange County is 11.4 miles, but the closure would only be at the split of […]
NCDOT Announces I-40, Whitfield Road Projects in Orange County
The state Department of Transportation shared two projects that will require full road closures in Orange County in the coming days. NCDOT will conduct overnight closures on Interstate 40 West outside Hillsborough starting on Sunday, as bridge replacement over Old N.C. 86 begins. An alert from the department said the interstate will close both lanes […]
After Nightly Closures, Millhouse Road Set for Months-Long Shutdown for I-40 Widening
A release from NCDOT said Millhouse Road will be fully closed from New Jericho Road to Cell Tower Drive for four months as I-40 is widened.
I-40, Highway 86 in Orange County To Start April With Lane Closures
Interstate 40, N.C. Highway 86 and Old N.C. 86 in Orange County are likely going to be well-traveled this weekend as people come in and out of the greater Chapel Hill region. But the North Carolina Department of Transportation is warning drivers to be ready for some lane closures. The department shared a release on […]
Lane of Interstate 40 in Orange County to Close Thursday Night
One lane of the eastbound Interstate 40 in Orange County is set to be closed overnight on Thursday. The North Carolina Department of Transportation shared a release Wednesday alerting motorists about the lane closure. The right lane of the interstate from New Hope Church Road on Exit 263 to U.S. 15-501 on Exit 270 is […]
Section of Millhouse Road to be Closed Nightly for I-40 Widening Project
A section of Millhouse Road under the Interstate 40 bridge in Orange County will be closed as the North Carolina Department of Transportation works to widen the highway. The work is part of a larger project to widen I-40 throughout the area. According to the NCDOT, contract crews will start work at the bridge on […]
›