Work is underway to realize the vision of the North Carolina Department of Transportation to extend the Triangle Expressway from the N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to U.S. 64/U.S. 264 (I-87) in Knightdale, completing the 540 Outer Loop around the greater Raleigh area.
Referred to by two names (Complete 540 or the Southeast Extension), the project will create additional transportation infrastructure in southeastern Wake County and would link Apex, Cary, Clayton, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Raleigh. It is also expected to ease congestion on area roadways, including I-440, I-40, N.C. 42, N.C. 55 and Ten Ten Road.
While work is expected to start in phases and have different timelines, depending on funding availability, Garner-based S. T. Wooten reports that its crews are currently doing a lot of bridge work along a 12.8 mile stretch of the I-40 from the Beltline in Raleigh (Wake County) to just north of Cornwallis Road (Johnston County).
Once this portion of the project is completed, it will have seen the construction of 15 total bridges, including the new flyover bridge from I-440 to I-40 east bound and the installation of two new bridges as part of an innovative Diverging Diamond Interchange at NC 42.