The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority have broken ground on the Complete 540 project.
Construction will be completed in phases. The first phase will stretch from N.C. 55 Bypass to I-40, and the second will connect I-40 to U.S. 64/264 Bypass (I-87).
The project, when completed, will connect the outer loop around the greater Raleigh area and provide a six-lane expressway that improves mobility and reduces congestion
Complete 540 will span through seven cities and will stretch 28 miles, extending the Triangle Expressway from N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to U.S. 64/U.S. 264 (I-87) in Knightdale. The second phase of construction is expected to start in 2029. The estimated cost of the total project is $2.2 billion
“Seeing construction of this critical project begin has been a top priority of so many across the Triangle,” Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon stated. “This project symbolizes what is achievable when everyone works collaboratively.”
The first phase could open to traffic as early as 2023.