I-40 Enhancements in Raleigh Highlighted in ENR Southeast

ENR Southeast recently featured RK&K’s work on the $360-million design-build corridor upgrades to I-40 in Raleigh for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The article focused on our work as the design partner preparing a 13-mile stretch of intersection for anticipated traffic surges, which includes the addition of two travel lanes in each direction and the construction of two diverging-diamond interchanges and 15 new and revamped bridges.

“The interchange is ready-made for Amazon’s trucks and workforce as well as future development in the area.”

“We’re installing a median railing to separate traffic and a new sidewalk/pedestrian railing on one side,” said RK&K’s Director of Transportation Brandon McInnis. “The interchange is ready-made for Amazon’s trucks and workforce as well as future development in the area.”

The corridor’s traffic volumes are projected to increase by 65% by 2040, the article states, so upgrades will be implemented as quickly as possible and without constraining I-40’s existing capacity.

The $360-million design-build project includes 15 new and revamped bridges, including a 1,050-ft-long flyover structure.

The project, scheduled for completion in 2022, adds needed capacity as projections estimate a 65% increase in traffic volume by 2040.

This aerial photo of the Interstate 40-440 interchange shows the old set of bridges in the outer perimeter, with the new flyover structure shown under construction above.

Crews perform fine grading of the subgrade by the new bridge on Rock Quarry Road over I-40.

(Photos Courtesy of S.T. Wooten Corp.)

The article discussed obstacles the project team overcame, such as finding ways to keep the number of material supply trucks and other construction vehicles from adding to congestion on the intersection, multiple underground utility relocations, and bad weather.

Read the full article and learn more about the project here.