Complete NC 540 Project

[Dirt Roads]

US 70 East exit ramps from I-40 to be closed this weekend due to crews making connections to new ramps as part of NC 540 extension project:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-06-09-us-70-exit-close-for-540-project.aspx

Aah.  The detour for Future I-42 involves a routing over NC-42.  Will wonders ever cease?

[LM117]

Meanwhile, around July 11, Deer Meadow Drive is expected to close for about a year.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2022/2022-07-01-complete-540-deerborn-drive-extension.aspx

It should reopen tomorrow.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-08-14-complete-540-opening-deer-meadow.aspx

In other news, a 4-month closure of a section of Donny Brook Road is expected to begin around August 21.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-08-16-complete-540-donny-brook-closure.aspx

There are also upcoming overnight closures on I-40 East at the US-70 interchange (Exit 309).

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-08-16-i-40-east-540-70-closed-detour.aspx

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Section B of the the southeast extension was awarded this week as a design-build project. This is the northern portion from Rock Quarry Rd. to I-540/U.S. 64. The proposed completion date is September 20, 2028. Section A from Rock Quarry Rd. to I-40/U.S. 70 is scheduled to be let next month.

Award Letter C204825

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[mvak36]

Section B of the the southeast extension was awarded this week as a design-build project. This is the northern portion from Rock Quarry Rd. to I-540/U.S. 64. The proposed completion date is September 20, 2028. Section A from Rock Quarry Rd. to I-40/U.S. 70 is scheduled to be let next month.

Award Letter C204825

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Did they say what the completion date would be?

[LM117]

Section B of the the southeast extension was awarded this week as a design-build project. This is the northern portion from Rock Quarry Rd. to I-540/U.S. 64. The proposed completion date is September 20, 2028. Section A from Rock Quarry Rd. to I-40/U.S. 70 is scheduled to be let next month.

Award Letter C204825

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Did they say what the completion date would be?

According to today's NCDOT press release, completion date is 2028. Construction will begin in 2024.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-09-21-first-contract-awarded-complete540.aspx

[Plutonic Panda]

Update: https://www.equipmentworld.com/roadbuilding/article/15635608/22b-toll-expressway-for-raleigh-outer-loop-moves-to-next-phase

[The Ghostbuster]

The article spelled Raleigh wrong. Nevertheless, it will be great to the Southern Wake Expressway segment of NC 540 completed, and construction on the Eastern Wake Expressway segment commencing.

[nerdom]

The article spelled Raleigh wrong. Nevertheless, it will be great to the Southern Wake Expressway segment of NC 540 completed, and construction on the Eastern Wake Expressway segment commencing.

I drive between New Bern and Durham twice a week for work. I'm literally dying for the southern arc to open. Late spring doesn't sound too bad.

[1995hoo]

The article spelled Raleigh wrong. Nevertheless, it will be great to the Southern Wake Expressway segment of NC 540 completed, and construction on the Eastern Wake Expressway segment commencing.

I drive between New Bern and Durham twice a week for work. I'm literally dying for the southern arc to open. Late spring doesn't sound too bad.

Have you made funeral arrangements yet? Sounds like you won't make it to spring.

[nerdom]

Cremated and ashes spread from the highest point of the 42/40/540 interchange... only if not completed.

[LM117]

The new Holly Springs Road bridge is expected to open on Oct. 21.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-10-18-complete540-opening-holly-springs-bridge.aspx

[bob7374]

The new Holly Springs Road bridge is expected to open on Oct. 21.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-10-18-complete540-opening-holly-springs-bridge.aspx

They are also closing I-40 West at (for now) NC 42 Thursday and Friday nights for NC 540 related work:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-10-19-interstate-40-closure-nc-42.aspx

Meanwhile, the NCDOT traffic map indicates the closure of the ramp from the US 70 Bypass (Future I-42) West to I-40 East that was supposed to end in early September is now planned through the end of the year.

[LM117]

On or around November 14, Donny Brook Road east of Juaquin Lane and west of Reigate Lane is scheduled to reopen to traffic. Detour signs and barricades will be removed, and motorists will once again have full access to the road. The reopening of this road is weather dependent.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-11-08-complete-540-donny-brook-road-open.aspx

[cowboy_wilhelm]

The last section of 540 was awarded last week. This will complete the loop in 2028.

Award Letter

[The Ghostbuster]

I had previously heard that the full loop would be completed sometime between 2030 and 2033. I would be very surprised if it were completed by 2028.

[orulz]

I wish they would widen (and upgrade to Interstate standards) Future I-87 between US64 business in Knightdale and the US64/US264/I-87/I-587 split in Zebulon before finishing 540. That solves a much more existential problem for Eastern Wake than completing 540.

This unflinching commitment to finishing 540 above all else is sucking up too much of our region's transportation money.

[bob7374]

I wish they would widen (and upgrade to Interstate standards) Future I-87 between US64 business in Knightdale and the US64/US264/I-87/I-587 split in Zebulon before finishing 540. That solves a much more existential problem for Eastern Wake than completing 540.

This unflinching commitment to finishing 540 above all else is sucking up too much of our region's transportation money.

Unfortunately, the latest STIP removed any funding for upgrading and widening US 64/264 meaning, currently, there's no plans for the project to start until after 2033, several years after NC 540 is completed. Perhaps realization of increased traffic and the planned upgrading of US 264 to I-587 east of Zebulon will accelerate the starting of the project in future STIPs.

[architect77]

I wish they would widen (and upgrade to Interstate standards) Future I-87 between US64 business in Knightdale and the US64/US264/I-87/I-587 split in Zebulon before finishing 540. That solves a much more existential problem for Eastern Wake than completing 540.

This unflinching commitment to finishing 540 above all else is sucking up too much of our region's transportation money.

Isn't there a separation between building a tolled road and allocations for all the other roads in the state?

I would think with sold bonds there would be money right away for I-540 that isn't competing with other road projects for gas-tax generated funding statewide.

[bob7374]

NCDOT announces awarding of final Complete 540 contract, due to be finished in 2028:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-11-27-final-contract-awarded-complete-540-phase-2.aspx

[LM117]

Upcoming traffic shifts and lane closures at NC-55 Bypass.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2023/2023-12-14-construction-scheduled-for-triangle-expressway-and-nc-55-bypass-as-part-of-complete-540-project.aspx

[bob7374]

Upcoming closure of I-40 West for NC 540 work and the use of a NC 42 to Future I-42 detour:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-01-19-overnight-interstate-40-closed-clayton.aspx

[The Ghostbuster]

NC 540 is planned to be completed between NC 55 and Interstate 40 this spring. If the whole beltway is indeed completed in 2028, it will have taken 36 years to complete the entire Interstate 540/NC 540 beltway, since construction first started on the Interstate 40-to-US 70 segment (Exit 1AB to Exit 4AB) in 1992.

[bob7374]

It appears preliminary work is starting for the final segment of NC 540:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-02-31-complete-540-ramp-closed-us-70.aspx

[webny99]

NC 540 is planned to be completed between NC 55 and Interstate 40 this spring.

Great news, is there an expected opening date yet?

[bob7374]

Continuing closures this week along I-40 for the NC 540 project:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-02-05-consstruction-continues-clayton.aspx