Triangle Expressway
From the NCDOT turnpike website:
First Phase
- Will open on Dec. 8 2011 – Tolls begin Jan. 3.
- Connects the N.C. 147 and I-40 interchange to N.C. 540 near Research Triangle Park
- Connects N.C. 540 between N.C. 55 and N.C. 54
Second Phase
- Will open later in 2012. Tolls not yet set.
- Connects N.C. 55 near Research Triangle Park to the N.C. 55 Bypass south of Holly Springs
Phase I opens Dec. 8, 2011.
Phase II, the Western Wake Freeway is under construction. For updates on the construction, including traffic closures and detours, visit the Western Wake Freeway site.
click map for larger view
| Project Schedule | |
| Phase I: Open to Traffic | Dec. 8, 2011 |
| Free drive time | No tolls between Dec. 8 & Jan. 3 |
| Tolls begin on Triangle Parkway section - (NC 540 exception – tolls begin later in 2012) |
Jan. 3, 2012 |
| Phase II: Under construction | 2012 |
| Western Wake Freeway open to traffic | Later in 2012 |
From the Town of Apex Website:
Western Wake Freeway
Construction of the Western Wake Freeway broke ground on August 12, 2009. The freeway is scheduled to be open to traffic by 2013. Contact the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) at (919) 571-3000 or visit the NCTA project website for more information.
The Western Wake Freeway is a component of Triangle Expressway that forms the western extension of the I-540, the outer freeway loop around Raleigh. This section of the Triangle Expressway extends from NC 55 near Morrisville south to NC 55 Bypass between Old Smithfield Road and Technology Drive in Apex (12.6 miles) with an estimated construction cost of close to $800 million. Apex will be served by four (4) interchanges along the route including US 64 Highway, Old US 1 Highway/South Salem Street, US 1 Highway and NC 55 Bypass. Private development plans have also included an additional interchange at Old Holly Springs Apex Road between US 1 and NC 55 Bypass which may also be constructed. That interchange would be the fifth one in Apex. A map showing the planned access points can be found on the Town’s website.
In addition to the interchanges mentioned above, other related projects are being constructed nearby within the scope of the expressway project:
- Completion of Beaver Creek Commons Drive over the expressway corridor: Until that time, Beaver Creek Commons Drive will not be open to traffic between Kelly Road and the Beaver Creek Crossings shopping center.
- Construction of an interchange for Kelly Road at US 64: The existing limited movement median crossover has been a concern of local residents. It was intended to improve safety by eliminating through movements and left turns coming out of the side street approaches to US 64. The square loop interchange design includes two (2) bi-directional loops to the west so all movements to/from US 64 will be served in a low-speed urban interchange.
- Conversion of Green Level Church Road on US 64 to right-in/right-out only: The signalized full movement intersection was permitted by NCDOT under the condition that when the expressway is constructed, the median break will be closed and the traffic signal will be removed. This was because the traffic signal would otherwise be a dangerous bottleneck between the interchanges at NC 55 Highway and Western Wake Freeway. Completion of other projects including Beaver Creek Commons Drive and the Kelly Road interchange will improve access to the Beaver Creek Crossings shopping center to offset the effects of this restriction.
- Realignment of Green Level Church Road eastward to tie-in at Jenks Road: Because of the alignment of the roadway where it connects to Kelly Road, it will be moved eastward to accommodate the expressway. That avoids an additional structure over the expressway, so traffic on Green Level Church Road will rely on Jenks Road to cross the expressway corridor.
More information can be found on our News webpage, and at http://www.ncdot.gov/turnpike/
