JOBSITE INNOVATIONS
Construction on S.T. Wooten’s I-40 Overhaul How crews are tackling an expansive road widening and redesign project in North Carolina
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s North Carolinians hit the road for their vacations this summer, S.T. Wooten was making major progress on its 13-mile highway widening project on I-40 between Raleigh and Clayton. The completion of eight traffic shifts this past spring helped crews transition into the next phase of the $412 million job and prepare for significant grading and paving work set to take place through the fall. The I-40 project, which commenced in 2018, includes the addition of two new lanes in each direction, which will help bring much need improvements to traffic conditions on the interstate. Crews are managing construction of 15 new or revamped bridges as part of the project. DESIGN AND BUILD The I-40 project has been divided into six separate (but connected) construction areas to help crews tackle the expansive stretch with different activities happening in each area. In one section,
crews are building the inside lanes first and pushing traffic to the outside lanes during construction. Other sections have the opposite design with construction happening in the outside lanes first. Breaking things up into different construction areas helps the team manage different activities and keep the high volume of traffic flowing through the area. Understanding how each section fits together allows project managers to be strategic with planning and schedules. If there is a delay in one area, crews can shift priorities and focus on different objectives to keep things moving forward.
Crews have utilized a temporary access ramp beside the Garner plant that runs from a closed bridge to help bypass traffic and haul asphalt right down into the median. A temporary road built adjacent to the plant provides access to the outside shoulder in the westbound direction. This system will save the team from having to haul approximately 24,500 loads of asphalt in traffic during the project. At the Clayton plant, the team will be using a materials conveyer that will also allow crews to deliver loads directly to the median and bypass traffic. This conveyor is expected to help save an additional 7,600 loads from being hauled in traffic. The conveyor is expected to be installed in late 2022 or early 2023.
GETTING AROUND THE TRAFFIC One of the greatest challenges for crews on I-40 has been dealing with the traffic volume, which also impacts work schedules because there are strict hauling and lane closure restrictions. There is a lot of paving that must be done at night to accommodate restrictions and to avoid problems with hauling trucks getting stuck in traffic. One advantage S.T. Wooten has to help alleviate some of the issues, is two asphalt plants right beside the work zone in the towns of Garner and Clayton for easy access.
SAFETY FIRST S.T. Wooten has worked with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to implement several practical safety measures for the estimated 100,000 vehicles that can pass through the I-40 stretch each day. The work zone is equipped with intermittent speed limit reductions projected by electronic display in sections to help
Crews have utilized a temporary access ramp beside the Garner plant that runs from a closed bridge to help bypass traffic and haul asphalt right down into the median. A temporary road built adjacent to the plant provides access to the outside shoulder in the westbound direction. This system will save the team from having to haul approximately 24,500 loads of asphalt in traffic during the project. ST Wooten
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ASPHALT CONTRACTOR OCTOBER 2022
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