N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded a contract to reconstruct and improve the Interstate 40/77 interchange in Statesville. An $89.1 million contract was awarded to Zachry Construction Corp. of San Antonio, Texas. Work can begin as early as July 30 and 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 accessing 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. This is being done as the access to Gaither Road from U.S. 21 will be eliminated. The only access to Gaither Road will be from the new bridge on Sunset Hill Road; and
• Closing the existing interchange at Old U.S. 64.
The Statesville interchange of I-40/77 was built in late 1960s and has outlived its service life. The current configuration does not meet today’s design guidelines.
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 vpd, and is projected to grow to about 110,000 vpd in 2035.
There will be lane closures during the project, but there will be restrictions on when the contractor can close lanes during holidays and major events in the region, including NASCAR races in Charlotte. There will be public information efforts once the project begins. These efforts will include project updates via the NCDOT website (www.ncdot.gov), traditional media, social media and a project kickoff meeting in the Statesville area that is being planned.
This is one of 23 contracts totaling $246.7 million awarded by Conti last month for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 5.9 percent, or $15.4 million, below NCDOT estimates.