RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and N.C. Turnpike Authority (NCTA) have awarded and signed the first of two contracts for the second phase of the Complete 540 Project in southern Wake County.
The NCDOT and NCTA awarded the nearly $450 million contract to Flatiron-Fred Smith Company Joint Venture on Sept. 1, and the contract was signed on Sept. 20. This contract will construct a 70 mph (posted) six-lane all-electronic toll facility to extend the Triangle Expressway from south of Rock Quarry Road to Interstate 87/U.S. 64/U.S. 264.
The second phase of the Complete 540 Project provides the missing link to complete the 540 loop around the greater Raleigh area. The first phase of the project, scheduled to open to traffic in late spring of 2024, will extend the Triangle Expressway 18 miles from N.C. 55 to I-40.
To complete the loop, the second phase of Complete 54o will extend the Triangle Expressway an additional 10 miles from I-40 to existing I-540 at I-87/ U.S. 64/U.S. 264 in Knightdale.
The second and final contract for the second phase of Complete 540 is expected to be awarded and signed later this year.
Construction for the second phase of Complete 540 could begin as early as 2024 and the project is expected to open to traffic in 2028.
The North Raleigh part of 540 is not a toll road. Why did they make the southern part toll? I got an answer for that a few years ago from a DOT request. Because they (NCDOT) were over budget and underfunded for this portion and secondly, because the majority of the legislators at the time lived in North Raleigh and didn’t want a toll road in their neighborhood. But they would rather see the working class in the southern portion of the county pay the tab for this. Anybody surprised? Our NCGA has not changed much.