Large stretch of I-40 between Wake, Johnston counties closing Wednesday night

I-40 West will be closed beginning at midnight at Exit 312, for N.C. Highway 42, for up to five hours so crews can safely install girders on the future New Bethel Church Road bridge over I-40.

As a detour, westbound traffic can take Exit 312, N.C. 42 West and N.C. 50 North to U.S. 70 East back to I-40 West. Traffic will not be able to get on I-40 West from U.S. 70 at Exit 309 from 10:30 p.m. until 5 a.m.

As a part of the project, I-40 East will also close Wednesday night at Exit 306 for U.S. 70. The road will be closed between midnight until 5 a.m. Traffic will be detoured to take Exit 306 and U.S. 70 West and N.C. 50 South to N.C. 42 East back to I-40 East. Traffic will be unable to head east on U.S. 70 Business, the DOT said.

Only on WRAL: A tour of the progress so far building NC 540 toll road

Thirty-seven acres of pavement will wind drivers through the "turbine interchange" with I-40 and U.S. 70. Engineers compared the 37 acres of pavement to a roundabout, calling it the first of its kind in the Triangle.