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The agency will be replacing two pavement joints on the ramp.
An average of 74,000 people travel that stretch of roadway each day.
"I think it'll be a mess, but I think we often see road construction over the summer," said Amy Herring.
"It's going to be a problem for drivers," said Pete Gardner, who works in sales and travels around a lot for his job. "Any kind of road congestion is a pain. For the most, part you've just got to tolerate it. I guess that's why we pay taxes, so we can get things done make roads better. It's just one of those things you've got to go through."
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Drivers will have to deal with the detours until after Independence Day. The road is expected to reopen July 5.
There are multiple detour routes for I-40 East traffic during the full closure.
- Drivers can use exit 279 off I-40 onto southbound N.C. 147, and then take exit 1 to access I-540 East. That is part of the Triangle Expressway but vehicles using the exit ramp for I-540 East will be exempt from tolls while the detour is in place. If a motorist uses that stretch of southbound N.C. 147 but exits at Hopson Road or N.C. 540 South, then regular tolls will remain in effect.
- Traffic using eastbound I-40 beyond Exit 279 can detour onto exit 283, take I-540 West to exit 69 at N.C. 54, make a left turn at the light, cross under the interstate, and then make another left turn to get to I-540 East.
- Motorists could also continue on I-40 East past the closed ramp and use northbound Airport Boulevard (exit 284-B) or Aviation Parkway (exit 285) to get to I-540 East near RDU Airport.
Drivers need to pay extra attention to detour signs as they choose which route to use to get around the ramp closure.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov