Last Updated on September 20, 2012 4:41 pm
Motorists traveling through Statesville along Interstate 40 and 77 will begin to see more work commencing on the I-40/77 interchange improvement project.
N.C. Department of Transportation contractor Zachary Construction Corp. of San Antonio, Texas has been conducting surveying work for several weeks in preparation for the start of clearing, shoulder strengthening and utility work on I-40 by This work includes the installation of traffic and erosion controls that will allow the contractor to begin the other phases of the project. Also, work will take place at night when traffic is lighter so the contractor can occasionally close lanes.
As part of the project, the Greenway Trail under I-40 will be closed starting Monday, Sept. 24 from Free Nancy Avenue near the Waffle House to Glenway Drive near Wal-Mart. The trail closure will be marked with orange safety fencing and signs. This closure will be in place until all work adjacent to the Fourth Creek bridges is complete, which is scheduled to be sometime in late 2015.
By the end of the month, Exit 153 for U.S. 64 on I-40 East will be closed permanently. On the westbound side of I-40, the on-ramp from U.S. 64 to the interstate also will close permanently as they do not meet current design safety standards. Travelers can get on U.S. 64 at Exit 154.
The $89.1 million project must be completed by March 14, 2017.
There will be several phases of the project both on and off the interstate and interchange area. The project includes:
Constructing a multi-level interchange of the two interstates;
Widening I-40 from four to six lanes from N.C. 115 to Old Mocksville Road;
Constructing parallel lanes on I-40 that will allow vehicles to access U.S. 21, as well as access I-40 from U.S. 21, without disrupting the flow of traffic;
Reconstructing U.S. 21 from just north of Glenway Drive to BB&T on Sullivan Road south of I-40, with a diverging diamond interchange at I-40;
Reconstructing the bridge on Radio Road;
Building a new bridge over U.S. 21 and Fourth Creek;
Building a new bridge from Sunset Hill Road to Gaither Road; and
Closing the existing interchange at Old U.S. 64.
The Statesville interchange of I-40/77 was built in late 1960s. The current configuration does not meet today’s design guidelines, and the interchange has outlived its service life.
Originally, the traffic projections through the area were about 5,000 vehicles per day. Today, the traffic on both interstates through the area is about 70,000 vehicles per day, and is projected to grow to about 110,000 vehicles per day in 2035.
There will be lane closures during the project, but there are restrictions on when those closures can occur, such as holidays and major events in the region, including races in Charlotte. The list of closures can be found on the project website.
For more information about this project, contact the project hotline at (704) 534-3542.
