Gene Watson with Barnhill Contracting Company directs traffic on Goodman Road in Brunswick County as construction on the I-140 bypass continues Dec. 8, 2011. StarNews photo by Paul Stephen.

Originally projected for completion this fall, the I-40 bypass project remains on schedule. It is scheduled to remain under construction until 2016.

Wayne Currie, engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation, explained the stages of the project: “I am administering the contract for the R-2633AA/AB section of the bypass, from U.S. 17 at Winnabow (to) US 74/74 west of Leland. It is approximately 80 percent complete and should be completed in July 2013.”

“The only remaining section of the bypass is the R-2633BA/BB section to be let to construction,” continued Currie. “It runs from U.S. 74/76 where my project terminates to U.S. 421, where the bypass currently ends.”

According to Currie, the R-2633BA/BB project(s) are tentatively scheduled for September 2013 project letting.

According to the NCDOT plan, once each end of the roadway is connected and striped, traffic will be placed into both lanes on the newly-constructed section of U.S. 17 South. The roadwork on the approximately 6-mile stretch of I-140 has been occurring in stages, rather than all at once.

“This particular project is the southernmost section of the Wilmington Bypass,” said Currie. “Once the entire bypass can be completed, travelers coming toward Wilmington from U.S. 17, I-40, U.S. 421 and U.S. 74/76 will be able to bypass Wilmington, if they wish. This will relieve some of the congestion in Wilmington also. Until the section of the bypass between U.S. 74/76 and U.S. 421 is completed, this section of the bypass will connect U.S. 74/76 with U.S. 17.”

RELATED LINKS:

Why is it called Interstate 40? How are interstate highway numbers selected?

Is Interstate 40 the longest interstate highway?

Are there plans to repave Interstate 40 in New Hanover or Pender county anytime soon?

Date posted: February 6, 2013

User-contributed question by:
R. Savidge