GREENSBORO -- The eastern section of the Greensboro Urban Loop is open to travelers a year earlier than anticipated.

The contractor used DOT incentives to hire more help, bring in extra equipment, and put in weekend and overtime hours  to get the job done sooner.

Interstate 785 between I-40 and 85 to U.S. 29 should alleviate traffic on 29.

"Hopefully, it will avoid folks coming out of Virginia, Rockingham County, northern Guilford -- instead of having to go 29 all the way down into Greensboro, to be able to get to the interstate much faster," said Patty Eason, an NCDOT Construction Engineer with Division 7.

The DOT says another piece of the loop will open February first between Bryan Boulevard and Battleground Avenue.

That'll leave just two sections to complete between Battleground and U.S. 29.

For more information on the Greensboro Urban Loop project click here.