Planned slowdowns coming to eastbound I-40 in Garner starting Wednesday
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Traffic will be slowed to about 25 mph daily at ~2:30 p.m. starting March 11.
- Pilot vehicles will lead five-mile slow rolls to clear eastbound lanes during blasting.
- Ramps from N.C. 540 and I-42 will be slowed about 30 minutes each afternoon Mar 11–22.
Drivers can expect big slowdowns on eastbound Interstate 40 near the Wake-Johnston county line several afternoons starting Wednesday.
Every day at about 2:30 p.m., traffic will be slowed to about 25 mph using what’s known as a slow-rolling roadblock. Pilot vehicles with flashing amber lights will get in front of all eastbound lanes of I-40 just past the U.S. 70 interchange in Garner and lead everyone at a leisurely pace down the highway for about five miles.
The goal is to clear the eastbound lanes while a contractor does blasting work next to the highway on Technology Drive, near the N.C. 36 interchange, the former N.C. 42. The roadblocks will ensure no cars or trucks are hit if the blasts send debris onto the road.
In addition to I-40, rolling roadblocks will slow traffic on the ramps to eastbound I-40 from both N.C. 540 and Interstate 42.
Drivers headed westbound toward Raleigh will not be affected.
The roadblocks are expected to gum up traffic for about a half hour each afternoon from March 11 through March 22.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article referred to the N.C. 42 interchange with Interstate 40. The state highway has been renamed N.C. 36.
