Triangle Expressway and Extension—Toll 147 and Toll 540

Triangle Expressway -- currently under construction in western Wake County-- is the largest highway project in North Carolina history and the first modern toll road in North Carolina.  The first segment of the roadway -- Toll 147 in Research Triangle Park -- opened in December 2011.  A future extension of the turnpike -- to be called the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension -- will extend Toll 540 from the NC 55 Bypass at Holly Springs to the south and east to I-40 at the existing US 70 Clayton Bypass.   The final segment of the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension will extend 540 from I-40 at US 70 Clayton Bypass north and east to US 64/264 freeway at I-540.

The Toll 540 section of Triangle Expressway between NC 55 and Toll 147 is already open to traffic today, with tolls slated for activation in August 2012.  Toll 540, extending NC 540 from NC 55 in northwest Cary south to NC 55 Bypass at Holly Springs will open in stages during 2012.  Upon completion, and coupled with the proposed Triangle Connector to I-85, the region will enjoy new north-south, stoplight-free mobility in the heart of the Triangle.

TriEx motorists will have the option of obtaining electronic transponders which will be associated to pre-paid accounts and will provide discounted toll rates.  Those without transponders will still be able to use the toll road as cameras will take photos of license plates (similar to red light camera enforcement technology).  There will be no toll booths to slow down drivers on toll roads in North Carolina as all tolls will be collected electronically.

The next segment of the turnpike -- to be called the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension -- will extend Toll 540 from the NC 55 Bypass at Holly Springs to the south and east to I-40 at the existing US 70 Clayton Bypass.  When that section of the turnpike is complete, it will create a complete bypass opportunity of Raleigh and the RDU area for traffic from Greensboro, Winston-Salem and the rest of the western I-40 corridor, east to Wilmington, the North Carolina ports, and nearby points.  No gap funding has been identified to supplement the toll revenue for that project; identifying gap funding for this section is a very high legislative and policy priority for RTA.

The final segment of the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension will extend 540 from I-40 at US 70 Clayton Bypass north and east to US 64/264 freeway at I-540.  When that segment opens to traffic, it will complete the 70 mile circumferential freeway around North Carolina's capital city, and finalize the outer loop beltway in the most populous county in the state.  Gap funding will also be needed for this final segment.

For the RTA map showing the opening and toll activation dates of various segments of the Triangle Expressway turnpike, click here.

For the NC Turnpike Authority map of 540/Triangle Expressway, click here.

For more information about the 540 Triangle Expressway from the NC Turnpike Authority, visit:
  http://www.ncturnpike.org/projects/Triangle_Expressway/.

The following was the expected schedule of work to advance 540 / Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension to construction as of spring 2011; that timetable has since been delayed.

During 2011 - Complete Purpose and Need, Alternatives Screening, Field Surveys
May 2012 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Feb 2013 - Final EIS
Dec 2013 - Record of Decision
2014 - Final corridor determined, financial feasibility details

Phase I estimated time to complete:  5 years after funding secured