The good news: The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded contracts to make I-40 three lanes for 3.3 miles west into Davie County, including replacement of the bridge over the Yadkin River.

The bad news: Expect traffic delays between Davie and Forsyth counties for the next four years or so.

The $72 million project will widen 3.3 miles of I-40 to six lanes from four, replace dual bridges over the Yadkin River and accommodate a future greenway by replacing the Bert’s Way bridge over I-40 with a pedestrian bridge.

Flatiron Constructors, Inc./Blythe Development Company Joint Venture is the contractor for the design-build project. The design-build concept helps complete projects faster and save money by allowing the design, environmental permitting, right of way acquisition, utility relocation and construction to take place under one contract. That helps the department avoid cost inflation, lessens environmental impact and helps lessen driving delays for motorists, according to an NCDOT news release.

Work can begin as early as Aug. 28, with final completion, including landscaping, anticipated for November 2021.

This was one of 16 highway and bridge project contracts recently awarded by the DOT, worth about $204.5 million, more than $13 million under DOT estimates.