Painter Boulevard has been broken into several smaller projects; two of these projects cover I-840. The western half of 840 is funded, and will start construction as early as 2002 but not finish until after 2005. The eastern half (north of U.S. 70) has not been funded, and no construction will start until after 2008. If the eastern half of Painter is ever built, part of the future I-785 will probably also be signed over it. 

The NCDOT has apparantly been referring to this road as I-840 since 1997 or 1998[1]. Empirical use of the number 840, however, did not occur for several years afterward. 

As of March 2002, no part of I-840 is open to traffic. However, part of the road has already been completed. A 2-mile stretch from U.S. 70 east of Greensboro south to the I-85 area was finished in late 2001. By February 2002, "Future 840" signs (Image #1) had been erected on U.S. 70, which itself was also widened to four lanes at this time.

Although the portion of 840 immediately near 85 is still under construction (it's part of the I-85 southern bypass project), the rest of this fragmentary 840 is  ready for use, with all pavement markings and signs in place. Most of the signs are labeled with late-2001 erection dates. Although mile markers and 65-mph speed-limit signs are up, there are no I-840 signs on the road itself, presumably so people won't steal them.

The existing 840 has interchanges only at its endpoints. The exit numbers will be 19 (U.S. 70; Image #2) and 21 (I-85/40; Image #3). The blank areas on the Exit 21 sign are proabably where shields for Green 85 and Green 40 will go. The use of mile markers and exit numbers is intriguing: much of I-840 hasn't even been designed yet, so its total mileage, as well as the location of Mile 0,  is uncertain.

The Greensboro Future Freeways page has more information on I-840, including an explanation on why 840 is a deplorable choice of number. There's still time to use I-685 instead!