Ahead of a traffic shift in the heart of the Interstate 40 widening project in Orange County, construction and road crews are set to close an on-ramp to the thoroughfare for three nights.
An alert from the North Carolina Department of Transportation on Friday warned motorists the Lane Construction Corporation will close the on-ramp to I-40 East at New Hope Church Road starting on Monday, August 11. The closure will begin at 10 p.m. and will last overnight until 5 a.m. — with the same closures happening the nights of Tuesday, August 12 and Wednesday, August 13.
The detour for the ramp closure, according to NCDOT, will direct drivers to I-40 East by taking I-40 West to Old N.C. Highway 86 in Hillsborough — one exit over — before turning onto Old N.C. 86 and joining the eastbound traffic. Motorist are asked to use caution when approaching the detour route and check traffic sources for real-time information during the closures.
The announcement is the latest in a string of overnight closures along the interstate in Orange County. The off- and on-ramps of Old N.C. Highway 86 had their own closures in July for construction work on the I-40 bridge, while NCDOT-contracted crews demolished parts of the old bridge in May. Construction work also shut down the ramp connecting I-85 South to I-40 East in June, with the closure is expected to last until September.
The Interstate 40-Old N.C. 86 exchange in Hillsborough, taken Feb. 2025. Since then, NCDOT crews has worked to shift traffic from running on the old lanes to the newer constructed center lanes to better allow for work on the outer lanes of the roadway. (Photo via the North Carolina Department of Transportation.)
The work is all part of the state Department of Transportation’s effort to widen Interstate 40 to six total lanes in Orange County, requiring extensive work across and under 11.4 miles of roadway. In NCDOT’s latest substantive update from Feb. 2025 on its project website, it detailed traffic shifts to the completed inside lanes, median grading being complete, the concrete batch plant functioning at the Chapel Hill exchange with North Carolina Highway 86 and more than 80 drainage pipes being installed under the road.
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
‹
Painting of Bike Lanes on West Franklin Street Signals End of ProjectThe months-long project of repaving West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill is nearing an end, according to town officials, with the final steps of adding paint expected to take place this week. The North Carolina Department of Transportation repaves and re-stripes the downtown Chapel Hill street, which also is East Main Street in Carrboro, every […]
NCDOT Installing Pedestrian Infrastructure at 3 N.C. Highway 54 IntersectionsThe North Carolina Department of Transportation will partner with the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro to install pedestrian and bicyclist improvements at three intersections along North Carolina Highway 54. NCDOT will begin work Monday, Feb. 2 to install crosswalks with traffic signals at the highway’s intersections with: The Kingswood Apartments complex in Chapel Hill […]
New Chapel Hill Stop Added to NCDOT Intercity Bus ServiceThe North Carolina Department of Transportation’s intercity bus service is adding a new stop in Chapel Hill. Buses will pick up passengers at the Eubanks Park and Ride Lot in Chapel Hill four times a day. The lot is located at 2000 Eubanks Road in the Carraway Village mixed-use development. The intercity service is operated […]
Chapel Hill Given 'Huge Shock' by Potential Redesign of U.S. 15-501 ExchangeLast week, the Department of Transportation sent the Town of Chapel Hill a concept design to change U.S. 15-501 exchange with Interstate 40.
Conversations with the Mayors: Repaving Updates and A New Housing GrantChapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, July 28. She discussed the ongoing Franklin Street resurfacing project, a big grant the Town just received, and some events happening around town. This is an edited transcript. Listen to the full interview here. Andrew Stuckey: We are visiting with Chapel […]
Resurfacing of W. Franklin Street, E. Main Street in Chapel Hill and Carrboro BeginsAfter several weeks of preparation, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is expected to begin its extensive repaving work along one of the most well-traveled roads in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The state department repaves and restripes stretches of Franklin Street every ten years, with the western portion of the Chapel Hill road and its […]
Chapel Hill Proposes Adding Bike Lanes to Culbreth RoadThe Town of Chapel Hill is proposing to add bike lanes to Culbreth Road this summer. If approved, the center turn lane along most of the road would be removed and five feet bike lanes would be added on both sides of the road.
![]()
Halloween Night Safety Tips for Orange County ResidentsHalloween night is expected to be busy in Orange County. Many local agencies and town government departments encourage county residents and visitors to stay safe when out and about. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has tips to keep both trick-or-treaters and bicyclists safe from drivers. For pedestrians, the DOT suggests enhancing your visibility by […]
New Chapel Hill Crosswalk Under Construction at Site of Past Pedestrian CollisionsThe Town of Chapel Hill and North Carolina Department of Transportation partnered to add a crosswalk, pedestrian island and RRFBs (rectangular rapid flashing beacons) to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Overnight Closures Set for Orange County I-40 Ramp; Crews Prepare for Traffic ShiftAhead 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.
›
