A North Carolina construction company has been awarded a project to make improvements to Interstate 40 in Sampson County.

S.T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson will improve drainage, rehab pavement and replace the guardrail for more than 20 mi. of I-40 between the Johnston County line at mile marker 340, and the Duplin County line at mile marker 360.

The contractor can start this project as early as April. The work is expected to be complete in the fall of 2020. The contract is worth $17.7 million.

Those who drive in this area should expect possible travel delays at times throughout the project. To lessen the impact to travelers along that section of I-40, the contractor will not be allowed to close any lanes on the eastbound side between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Monday thru Thursday, and not at all on Friday and Saturday.

The westbound lanes restrictions don't allow any lane closures between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Monday thru Friday, and not at all on Saturday and Sunday.

This is one of 21 highway and bridge projects awarded recently by the NCDOT. Per state law, they went to the lowest bidder among qualified contractors. They are worth $331.5 million, more than $57 million under engineer estimates.

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