Work crews are making changes to freeways in R-T-P as they build the new Triangle Expressway. The short segment of the Durham Freeway south of I-40 closed for good this week. That section of Highway 147 provided a quick connection to T-W Alexander Drive in south Durham. It will eventually be part of the Triangle Expressway, a toll road running along the west side of Raleigh from Morrisville to Holly Springs. D-O-T spokeswoman Holly Allen says drivers going south on the Durham Freeway should take a detour via I-40.
Holly Allen: "You will need to take exit 5B, which will put you on I-40 West, and you will then exit on 278, which puts you on Highway 55. You take that to Highway 54, which will take you to T.W. Alexander Drive."
I-40 will have overnight lane closures for the next week in that area. The toll road from the Durham Freeway to 540 is expected to be complete by the end of this year. The entire Triangle Expressway is due to open in December of 2012.