Engineering Services Western Wake Freeway
Construction of the Western Wake Freeway broke ground on August 12, 2009. The freeway is scheduled to be open to traffic within the next three (3) to four (4) years, by 2013. You may contact the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) at (919) 571-3000 or visit the NCTA project website for more information. The following information is intended to assist local residents with their questions and provide local contact information.
The Western Wake Freeway is a component of Triangle Expressway that forms the western extension of the I-540, the outer freeway loop around Raleigh. This section of the Triangle Expressway extends from NC 55 near Morrisville south to NC 55 Bypass between Old Smithfield Road and Technology Drive in Apex (12.6 miles) with an estimated construction cost of close to $800 million. Apex will be served by four (4) interchanges along the route including US 64 Highway, Old US 1 Highway/South Salem Street, US 1 Highway and NC 55 Bypass. Private development plans have also included an additional interchange at Old Holly Springs Apex Road between US 1 and NC 55 Bypass which may also be constructed. That interchange would be the fifth one in Apex. A map showing the planned access points can be found on the Town’s website.
In addition to the interchanges mentioned above, other related projects are being constructed nearby within the scope of the expressway project
- Completion of Beaver Creek Commons Drive over the expressway corridor: Until that time, Beaver Creek Commons Drive will not be open to traffic between Kelly Road and the Beaver Creek Crossings shopping center.
- Construction of an interchange for Kelly Road at US 64: The existing limited movement median crossover has been a concern of local residents. It was intended to improve safety by eliminating through movements and left turns coming out of the side street approaches to US 64. The square loop interchange design includes two (2) bi-directional loops to the west so all movements to/from US 64 will be served in a low-speed urban interchange.
- Conversion of Green Level Church Road on US 64 to right-in/right-out only: The signalized full movement intersection was permitted by NCDOT under the condition that when the expressway is constructed, the median break will be closed and the traffic signal will be removed. This was because the traffic signal would otherwise be a dangerous bottleneck between the interchanges at NC 55 Highway and Western Wake Freeway. Completion of other projects including Beaver Creek Commons Drive and the Kelly Road interchange will improve access to the Beaver Creek Crossings shopping center to offset the effects of this restriction.
- Realignment of Green Level Church Road eastward to tie-in at Jenks Road: Because of the alignment of the roadway where it connects to Kelly Road, it will be moved eastward to accommodate the expressway. That avoids an additional structure over the expressway, so traffic on Green Level Church Road will rely on Jenks Road to cross the expressway corridor.
The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responses should help answer most general questions:
- What portions of the project will be constructed first?
There is currently no set schedule on when portions will be completed.
- How wide is the proposed road?
The width of the road will vary, especially around the interchanges. For the most part, the minimum typical section will be three (3) lanes in each direction, 175 feet wide on a 350-foot right of way. The two directions of travel lanes will be separated by a median of varying width.
- How do I find out how close my house or business will be to the road?
NCTA or Town of Apex staff may be able to assist with questions about distances and dimensions.
- Will there be noise walls?
There will be noise walls adjacent to properties in residential subdivisions. Currently, it appears noise walls will be provided for Bungalow Park at Scotts Mill, Scotts Mill, Kelly Glen and Ashley Downs.
- How are tolls going to be collected, and how much will it cost me?
The Western Wake Freeway will be a toll facility using an all-electronic, open road tolling system that utilizes tolling zones in the place of traditional toll plazas. Motorists on the Triangle Expressway will be able to drive through the tolling zones without stopping. Motorists subscribing to the service by establishing an account and purchasing a transponder will be given the best rates. Non-subscribers will be billed based on license plate data collected by high-speed cameras. The rates have not yet been advertised.
- What should I call it?
Some confusion about the road is the product of its name. The original plan for the Raleigh Outer Loop called for the entire roadway to be designated as Interstate 540 Highway, or I-540. Once it was determined that the road would be constructed as a toll facility, officials changed the roadway name to NC 540 Highway in order to remain eligible for federal funding.
The Triangle Expressway is a new-location toll project comprised of three segments: Western Wake Freeway, Triangle Parkway, and existing NC 540 Highway between NC 55 Highway and NC 54 Highway. You can call the section through Apex Triangle Expressway, Western Wake Freeway, or NC 540 Highway.
If the responses to the FAQs did not answer all your questions, NCTA or Town of Apex staff members may be able to assist.
Preliminary plans are on file with the Town and some staff members are included in the plan review process. However, it is a design-build project so final design plans will be developed by the design-build team managed by NCTA as the project progresses. That typically accelerates the construction schedule because the contractors can start construction without waiting on a full set of final design plans. The following persons may be contacted with requests for information:
NCTA
Jason Peterson, PE
TriEx Project Manager
919-788-7154
Jennifer Harris, PE
Staff Engineer
919-571-3004
Town of Apex
Russell Dalton, PE
Transportation Engineer
919-249-3358
Reed Huegerich
Transportation Planner
919-249-3505
Steve Miller
Public Works Engineering Projects Coordinator
919-249-3357