Special to Iredell Free News

This weekend, the N.C. Department of Transportation will close a ramp on Interstate 40 in Statesville as part of the larger I-40/I-77 interchange project.

Starting Friday at 8 p.m., the I-40 West entrance ramp from Old Mocksville Road will be closed while crews reconstruct part of the existing ramp to tie into a new ramp. Work is expected to be complete by 6 a.m. Monday.

Crews will build a temporary road for emergency vehicles only, which should be open by 8 a.m. Saturday. All other traffic will be detoured to I-40 East, Exit 162, and back to I-40 West.

Motorists should remain alert and plan for delays while using the detour.