Complete NC 540 Project

[Henry]

Where would be a good place for an Interstate 640 to go, assuming one is ever proposed, which seems unlikely to me?

Knowing NCDOT...they could apply I-640 to the next freeway. I will not be surprised if this one goes to US-1 between I-440 in Raleigh and I-85 near Henderson. LOL. Or maybe if they go with the freeway next to I-40 going from Dunn to Wilmington.

Before BL 40 was rebuilt as the Salem Parkway, I thought that would be a good location for an I-640. But now that Winston-Salem won't allow it to be an Interstate nor Business Loop, the next best thing would be to build a freeway loop around Hickory or Burlington (fat chance, I know, but we can all dream, can't we?).

[sprjus4]

Where would be a good place for an Interstate 640 to go, assuming one is ever proposed, which seems unlikely to me?

Knowing NCDOT...they could apply I-640 to the next freeway. I will not be surprised if this one goes to US-1 between I-440 in Raleigh and I-85 near Henderson. LOL. Or maybe if they go with the freeway next to I-40 going from Dunn to Wilmington.

Before BL 40 was rebuilt as the Salem Parkway, I thought that would be a good location for an I-640. But now that Winston-Salem won't allow it to be an Interstate nor Business Loop, the next best thing would be to build a freeway loop around Hickory or Burlington (fat chance, I know, but we can all dream, can't we?).

Where would be a good place for an Interstate 640 to go, assuming one is ever proposed, which seems unlikely to me?

Knowing NCDOT...they could apply I-640 to the next freeway. I will not be surprised if this one goes to US-1 between I-440 in Raleigh and I-85 near Henderson. LOL. Or maybe if they go with the freeway next to I-40 going from Dunn to Wilmington.

Before BL 40 was rebuilt as the Salem Parkway, I thought that would be a good location for an I-640. But now that Winston-Salem won't allow it to be an Interstate nor Business Loop, the next best thing would be to build a freeway loop around Hickory or Burlington (fat chance, I know, but we can all dream, can't we?).

Do those cities even need freeway loops?

Hickory could maybe use a bypass (not sure where you'd build it though) for north-south US-321 traffic, but that's about it.

[jdunlop]

I/NC-540 will stay put. They're not going to do any renumbering after the I/NC 540 Loop is fully completed. NCDOT did ask for it to be I-640 in the past and got rejected by AASHTO/FWHA, so they're going to leave it 540.

It's a done deal.

You should supply a source for this with dates after 2020. Or supply your employee badge with NCDOT. I'll be happy to place a monetary wager with anyone on this subject. They speak so matter-of-factly about something still unfinished that began in 1992. I have the original poster for the project.

I don't have a current badge, but I have mine from 1990 and its replacement in 2007.  (They took the one from ~2015 when I retired.)

The decision to stick with I-540 was made years ago.  It's not going to change.   My source?  The engineer at NCDOT responsible for routing decisions.

[Henry]

Where would be a good place for an Interstate 640 to go, assuming one is ever proposed, which seems unlikely to me?

Knowing NCDOT...they could apply I-640 to the next freeway. I will not be surprised if this one goes to US-1 between I-440 in Raleigh and I-85 near Henderson. LOL. Or maybe if they go with the freeway next to I-40 going from Dunn to Wilmington.

Before BL 40 was rebuilt as the Salem Parkway, I thought that would be a good location for an I-640. But now that Winston-Salem won't allow it to be an Interstate nor Business Loop, the next best thing would be to build a freeway loop around Hickory or Burlington (fat chance, I know, but we can all dream, can't we?).

Where would be a good place for an Interstate 640 to go, assuming one is ever proposed, which seems unlikely to me?

Knowing NCDOT...they could apply I-640 to the next freeway. I will not be surprised if this one goes to US-1 between I-440 in Raleigh and I-85 near Henderson. LOL. Or maybe if they go with the freeway next to I-40 going from Dunn to Wilmington.

Before BL 40 was rebuilt as the Salem Parkway, I thought that would be a good location for an I-640. But now that Winston-Salem won't allow it to be an Interstate nor Business Loop, the next best thing would be to build a freeway loop around Hickory or Burlington (fat chance, I know, but we can all dream, can't we?).

Do those cities even need freeway loops?

Hickory could maybe use a bypass (not sure where you'd build it though) for north-south US-321 traffic, but that's about it.

You're definitely right about that. Now that you mention it, I remember seeing an I-273 that would run between I-74 (on the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway) and I-73 (on Bryan Blvd), serving the GSO Airport. This is from Bob's NC Future Interstates site:



One of the quotes that stuck out to me was, "if both parts are built the part running from the I-73/74 Connector south to I-40, (called the 'I-40 Connector' in some proposals) could get another number." So this would be a good candidate for a new I-640 (along with the eastern half), with the western half to get an I-x74 attached to it instead.

[Strider]

Oh yeah, I heard of that Airport connector between I-73 and I-74 with a proposed spur to I-40 (at the US 421 split). I remember there were talks within the state that NC Turnpike Authority was interested in making that road a toll road but it did not show up on their website. I have not heard anything about that connector since then however, it is listed in Greensboro MPO's 2045 Comprehensive Transportation Plan that have not been updated since 2020.

However, the connector may not be needed as both US 421 and I-40 is planned to be widened to 6 lanes in the future (for US 421- from the I-40 split to NC/Future I-74 interchange; and I-40 from US 421 split at exit 206 to current I-74/Future NC 192 interchange at exit 196 which includes the current construction of future I-40 bridges at future I-74 interchange that will have plenty of room for more lanes).

[bob7374]

The latest (last?) road closure announcement regarding the Complete NC 540 project to I-40:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-08-01-road-closure-west-lake-540.aspx

[architect77]

I/NC-540 will stay put. They're not going to do any renumbering after the I/NC 540 Loop is fully completed. NCDOT did ask for it to be I-640 in the past and got rejected by AASHTO/FWHA, so they're going to leave it 540.

It's a done deal.

You should supply a source for this with dates after 2020. Or supply your employee badge with NCDOT. I'll be happy to place a monetary wager with anyone on this subject. They speak so matter-of-factly about something still unfinished that began in 1992. I have the original poster for the project.

I don't have a current badge, but I have mine from 1990 and its replacement in 2007.  (They took the one from ~2015 when I retired.)

The decision to stick with I-540 was made years ago.  It's not going to change.   My source?  The engineer at NCDOT responsible for routing decisions.

Feel free to share the department or engineer's name at NCDOT who made the final, permanent decision before 2016 about a loop that will be completed 13-15 years in the future from 2015. He must be of Ayatollah status, lol.

[Rothman]

I/NC-540 will stay put. They're not going to do any renumbering after the I/NC 540 Loop is fully completed. NCDOT did ask for it to be I-640 in the past and got rejected by AASHTO/FWHA, so they're going to leave it 540.

It's a done deal.

You should supply a source for this with dates after 2020. Or supply your employee badge with NCDOT. I'll be happy to place a monetary wager with anyone on this subject. They speak so matter-of-factly about something still unfinished that began in 1992. I have the original poster for the project.

I don't have a current badge, but I have mine from 1990 and its replacement in 2007.  (They took the one from ~2015 when I retired.)

The decision to stick with I-540 was made years ago.  It's not going to change.   My source?  The engineer at NCDOT responsible for routing decisions.

Feel free to share the department or engineer's name at NCDOT who made the final, permanent decision before 2016 about a loop that will be completed 13-15 years in the future from 2015. He must be of Ayatollah status, lol.

Heh.  Somebody doesn't know how long major construction projects can take and be "locked into" mentalities from quite a number of years ago.

[sprjus4]

It's a number... 540 or 640, it's a loop around the Raleigh metro area.

[fillup420]

Let's stop talking about the number, which is and will remain 540.

I'm more interested in the fact that about half of the new section is asphalt, while the rest of the completed loop is concrete. i wonder why?

[jcil4ever]

Let's stop talking about the number, which is and will remain 540.

I'm more interested in the fact that about half of the new section is asphalt, while the rest of the completed loop is concrete. i wonder why?

I was wondering about that too, and saw it mentioned in this article. It looks like it's primarily a result of contractor familiarity:

Sorry, it seems like this week is 540 coverage week! I feel like this is the most helpful article and even answers a question I posted a little while back about why some of the driving surface is asphalt while most is concrete.

After years of construction, new Wake County highway goes quiet before it opens

Article with no paywall.

[jcil4ever]

N&O: We now know when NC 540 will open across southern Wake County

TLDR: Probably August 27 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony; although WRAL says it won't be open to traffic until August 28 6am.

[Alex4897]

N&O: We now know when NC 540 will open across southern Wake County

TLDR: Probably August 27 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony; although WRAL says it won't be open to traffic until August 28 6am.

UPDATE: The N.C. Turnpike Authority says erosion problems aggravated by Tropical Storm Debby have forced it to postpone the opening of N.C. 540 across southern Wake County until sometime in September.

Oops.

[Henry]

N&O: We now know when NC 540 will open across southern Wake County

TLDR: Probably August 27 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony; although WRAL says it won't be open to traffic until August 28 6am.

UPDATE: The N.C. Turnpike Authority says erosion problems aggravated by Tropical Storm Debby have forced it to postpone the opening of N.C. 540 across southern Wake County until sometime in September.

Oops.

More specifically...

The segment of highway, south and east from N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to Interstate 40 east of downtown Raleigh, now is not expected to be open before Labor Day.

[bob7374]

While the opening of NC 540 to I-40 has been delayed, seems there's some progress at I-40 itself. A new ramp to US 70 (Future I-42) East from I-40 East is set to open tomorrow:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-08-15-i-40-ramp-closure-garner.aspx

[BlueRidge]

The most recent update, per the Project Timeline on NCDOT's Complete 540 page: "Phase 1 Opens to Traffic - Late September."

[BlueRidge]

The most recent update, per the Project Timeline on NCDOT's Complete 540 page: "Phase 1 Opens to Traffic - Late September."

Somehow missed this yesterday from Triangle Biz Journal:

After years of litigation followed by years of construction, Complete 540 Phase 1 could open to the public on Sept. 25, the day after a tentatively scheduled ribbon cutting ceremony, according to officials with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority.

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2024/08/29/complete-540-phase-one-opening-ncdot-raleigh.amp.html

[jcil4ever]

A little dated now since it's a month old and changes have been made since then, but still thought this was a nice view I just saw:

[bob7374]

Long list of road closures this week related to the completion of the NC 540 extension to I-40:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-03-upcoming-closures-complete-540.aspx

[LM117]

The next section of NC-540 is scheduled to open on Sept. 25 at 6:00am.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-03-ncta-prepares-for-opening-extension-triangle-expressway-complete-540.aspx

[LM117]

Long list of road closures this week related to the completion of the NC 540 extension to I-40:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-03-upcoming-closures-complete-540.aspx

Another round of upcoming closures.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/20240-09-06-next-phase-upcoming-closures-complete-540.aspx

[jcil4ever]

Getting closer! Saw these signs up on I-40 E tonight. Got the main exit sign decently clearly, but alas...not the advance sign. It's interesting to me that they've covered the signs installed on the unopened road (that doesn't have traffic), but leave these (and those on the portion of the turbine that currently carries US-70 W to I-40 W) uncovered. Oh well, should only be an "issue" for a few days!

[The Ghostbuster]

Since Interstate/NC 540 will eventually be a full beltway, would it have made more sense to sign the road as Inner/Outer rather than the more traditional North/South/East/West?

[bob7374]

Latest update from NCDOT, looks like the Wednesday opening is still on schedule:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-23-get-ready-drive-new-triangle-expressway.aspx

As for direction signing, NCDOT has changed it on existing NC 540 in the past year. There are no more north/south sections. The outer loop is/will be signed as East the whole way from I-40 near RDU Airport to the I-40/I-42 interchange (and eventually I-87/US 64/US 264) while the inner loop will/is signed as West NC 540 in the other direction.

[Evan_Th]

As for direction signing, NCDOT has changed it on existing NC 540 in the past year. There are no more north/south sections. The outer loop is/will be signed as East the whole way from I-40 near RDU Airport to the I-40/I-42 interchange (and eventually I-87/US 64/US 264) while the inner loop will/is signed as West NC 540 in the other direction.

I'm sorry to hear that.  Having "East I-540" and "East NC 540" at the same interchange is going to be very confusing.  Plus, NC 540 from I-40 to NC 55 is geographically southwest, so it shouldn't be signed east.

IMO, it should be signed:
* I-540 Wast from I-40 @ RDU to US 401, or maybe US 64 / I-87.
* I-540 South from there to I-40 / I-42 / US 70.
* NC 540 West from there to US 1 @ Apex.
* NC 540 North from there to I-40 @ RDU.