Triangle Expressway turnpike (540/Triangle Pkwy acceleration)

Completion of the Research Triangle Expressway turnpike—the Western Wake Freeway (I-540) and Triangle Parkway portions of the Research Triangle Freeway corridor (map) has been a longstanding priority of the Regional Transportation Alliance and an issue of key importance and interest in the region.

540/Triangle Expressway will provide nonstop travel for cars, vanpools, buses, and trucks—free of stoplights and related delays—from the Holly Springs Bypass in southwestern Wake County all the way to I-40 at the NC 147/Durham Freeway interchange in the heart of Research Triangle Park in Durham County. The Triangle Parkway alone is expected to reduce future traffic on I-40 by more than 40,000 vehicles every day.

The Alliance released a "Getting there Faster" report in Feburary 2006 (full report, executive summary), outlining the need for accelerating I-540 and Triangle Parkway and providing background on the turnpike option. With continued growth in population and employment, and ongoing escalation in project construction and right-of-way costs, the urgency of the turnpike option has only increased since that time.