I-440 Western Boulevard upgrades near completion; overnight lane closures continue

NCDOT says major elements of the long-running I-440 improvement around Western Boulevard are nearing completion, with the work focused on the segment from just south of Walnut Street in Cary to north of Wade Avenue in Raleigh. The agency reports the project widens the bottlenecked four-lane stretch to six lanes - three lanes each direction - and is scheduled for completion in late 2024, with some finishing touches possibly extending into early 2025.

Construction is currently in Phase 3, with all traffic shifted onto the westbound side so the eastbound lanes can be rebuilt. NCDOT and contractor The Lane Construction Corporation will next demolish the Western Boulevard bridge to replace it, a traffic shift that officials say will require additional temporary patterns and lane controls as crews remove and rebuild the structure.

NCDOT engineer Cody Winkler, cited in local coverage of the project, said the widening addresses longstanding congestion and safety problems. Winkler said, "Historically, this project had major congestion and safety issues due to the bottle-necking that you had in the past." He added, "With the Raleigh area growing as much as it is, it was very important to get this last section of the Beltline widened so we could have a full corridor without Raleigh and around Raleigh just to make sure we didn't have traffic issues and flow issues," and concluded, "This will be worth it once it's finally done."

Design materials from the project's NEPA and Section 404 merger documents, dated Feb. 14, 2018, show the Western Boulevard interchange is being reworked using the Double Crossover Diamond or DCD alternative. The public hearing summary records that most commenters supported the DCD but raised concerns about driver wayfinding and called for better bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The preliminary DCD design would remove the existing left-side flyover ramp from westbound Western Boulevard to westbound I-440, provide three through lanes in each direction at Western Boulevard through the interchange, and replace the current multi-use path on the westbound side. The preliminary design does not include a dedicated bus rapid transit lane.

Engineering notes in the Feb. 14, 2018 materials flag a high estimated construction cost for the DCD tied to drainage challenges around an existing triple box culvert. The current contract for the combined STIP projects U-2719 and U-4437 was awarded to The Lane Construction Corporation at a value of $346.2 million.

Project phasing documents and public materials also emphasize coordination to limit local disruption. The merger concurrence materials indicate closures of the bridges over I-440 at Athens Drive and Melbourne Road will be coordinated to avoid simultaneous shutdowns. The project FAQ notes traffic calming measures on Huntington Street and Kaplan Drive are not included in this state project and would be handled separately by the City of Raleigh.

The widening comes as parcels along Western Boulevard are being eyed for private redevelopment. A CityPlat plan for the former K-Mart site at Western Boulevard and I-440 proposes a $500 million mixed-use project with towers up to 20 stories; the rezoning was approved and front-site construction is slated to begin in two years while interim tenants such as 810 Billiards & Bowling and Gold’s Gym renovate space expected to open by mid-year. A social post about the redevelopment drew 788 reactions, 191 comments and 215 shares.

Drivers should watch NCDOT traffic advisories as crews prepare the Western Boulevard bridge demolition and the corridor moves toward the late-2024 finish window.