Purpose and Need

The purpose of the project is to relieve peak hour congestion on I-40 such that a Level of Service (LOS) D or better can be maintained for the 2040 build condition. The project will also improve the traffic flow and continuity between the existing eight-lane section at the beginning of the project (I-85) and the six-lane section at the end of the project (Durham County Line). Daily commuters between points west of I-85 and U.S. 15-501 should also experience fewer delays.

*Level of Service :  The relationship of travel demand compared to the roadway capacity determines the level of service (LOS) of a roadway.

   CONSTRUCTION UPDATE   

As of August 1^st, 2024

Below is an update on the I-40 widening project in Orange County. I’ve also attached a couple progress photos. Can you please upload this to the public website?

• Concrete Batch Plant that is located at I-40 and N.C.86 intersection is operational and producing concrete for the concrete pavement operation.
• Concrete pavement work started in mid-April and is taking place in the median between the I-40/I-85 split and N.C. 86.
  • This work is currently being performed at night due to high temperatures during the day.
• Final installation of drainage pipe, drainage structures and Storm Drainage Pipe under I-40 using tunneling methods is complete except at the areas work vehicles access the median work area.
  • The Contractor has installed over 80 drainage pipes under I-40.
  • Due to the presence of the rock numerous runs required a hand tunneling method to be used.
• Grading in the median throughout the entire length of the project is complete except at the areas work vehicles access the median work area.
• Asphalt is being placed in the median of I-40 between N.C. 86 and U.S. 15-501.
• Work on the I-40 bridge over Old N.C. 86 is ongoing.
• Work on the I-40 bridges over Millhouse Rd is ongoing.
  • Millhouse Rd is closed and traffic is detoured while work is taking place.
  • Millhouse Rd is expected to reopen in October.
• Drainage and grading work has started on Old N.C. 86 and N.C. 86.

Photos from the Project - August 2024:

Project Design Noise Report Complete

The Design Noise Report has been completed and is now available for your review.  The report is very large and therefore is being made available in two ways for ease of viewing.

Design Noise Report  (very large file)
 

​*PROJECT PLANNING UPDATES*

In late 2020, the North Carolina Department of Transportation decided to use the Design-Build project delivery method for I-3306A. This project delivery method combines design and construction services, including right-of-way acquisition, into one contract. The selected Design-Build Team (Designer and Contractor) will be responsible for development of final plans for review and acceptance by NCDOT. Based on the current timeline, this project will be awarded on August 17, 2021 with an anticipated project completion date in 4^th Quarter 2025; however, the actual completion date for this contract could be sooner, depending on what is proposed by the Design-Build Team who is awarded the project.  

Design Changes

• A new twelve-foot lane is proposed to be added to the outside of I-40 eastbound approaching the I-40/I-85 interchange. The additional lane will begin west of the Dimmocks Mill Road (S.R. 1134) bridge and provide a smoother transition onto I-40 eastbound.  

• The project will now include the replacement of both I-40 bridges over Old N.C. 86 (S.R. 1009) at Exit 261 rather than replacing the westbound bridge and widening the existing eastbound bridge.

• The project will also widen the existing I-40 bridges over Millhouse Road (S.R. 1725) and Norfolk Southern Railway, rather than replacing the eastbound bridge and widening the westbound bridge as previously proposed.

• At the I-40/N.C. 86 interchange, all ramp/loop work in Quadrant A (northeast) and B (northwest) and work along N.C. 86 north of the interchange will be included in the project. (See Map No. 4)

South of the interchange bridge, improvements will include a slip-ramp, with exclusive right turn lane, from the eastbound I-40 off-ramp to Eubanks Road and addition of a second lane on the eastbound I-40 on-ramp.

• The remaining improvements proposed at Eubanks Road along N.C. 86 south of the I-40/N.C. 86 Interchange as shown on Map No. 4 will be constructed at a later date under State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project I-3306AC.

Traffic Noise Summary

During planning and design for highway projects, NCDOT must identify traffic noise impacts, examine potential noise abatement, incorporate feasible and reasonable noise abatement measures, and coordinate with local officials to provide helpful information on compatible land use planning and control. The procedures for doing this are stipulated by Federal Regulation (23 CFR 772) and the NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy.

NCDOT has performed preliminary noise analyses for this project and an initial Traffic Noise Report has been prepared.  In this study, noise walls were evaluated at 16 locations along the I-3306A project.  Of these, 4 preliminarily meet feasibility and reasonableness criteria. These 4 locations are shown in red hatching as potential noise abatement areas on the updated Public Meeting Maps referenced below.  As part of the project’s final design activities, additional noise studies will be conducted to identify recommended noise wall locations.

Once recommended noise wall locations are identified during final design, all property owners and tenants who are benefitted by a wall will be asked to vote on the wall. At that time, NCDOT will contact property owners and tenants who are eligible to vote and explain the balloting process and what they are being asked to vote on. Only recommended noise walls that pass this voting process will be constructed. 

An important concept in Federal regulation and in the NCDOT Traffic Noise Policy is the Date of Public Knowledge, which stipulates when NCDOT is and is not responsible for providing noise abatement. The Date of Public Knowledge of the location and potential noise impacts for this project will be the approval date of the Categorical Exclusion (CE). The CE was approved on March 29, 2019. NCDOT is not responsible for evaluating or implementing any noise walls to protect developed lands that did not have building permits issued before the Date of Public Knowledge. NCDOT advocates use of local government authority to regulate land development, planning, design and construction in such a way that noise impacts are minimized.

Traffic Noise Report (TNR)

The Traffic Noise Report for I-3306A (2019) is available here

The Design Noise Report is available above.

Environmental Document

The Environmental Document for I-3306A is available here

Public Involvement

Public Meetings

The first public meeting was held in June 2014.

The second public meeting was held in January 2019.

                     Public Meeting Comment Summary

Public Meeting Maps    (Updated to show Potential Noise Abatement Areas)

Map 1:  I-40 at I-85

Map 2:  Old N.C. 86 Vicinity

Map 3:  New Hope Church Rd Vicinity

Map 4:  N.C. 86 Vicinity

Map 5:  Sunrise Rd Vicinity

Map 6:  Erwin Rd Vicinity

         PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION 

Malcolm Watson, PE 

  Project Engineer

      NCDOT Design-Build Unit

1595 Mail Service Center 

Raleigh, NC  27699-1595

        i-40-orange-county@PublicInput.com

         Project Phone:   984-205-6615   code:  3714

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS 

Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of way Acquisition Process Videos

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