Interstate 540 (North Carolina) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

In the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

of North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, Interstate 540 and North Carolina Highway 540 share a partially completed interstate grade beltway, also known as the Raleigh Outer Loop, around the city of Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...

Route description

When completed, the beltway will total 70 miles (112.7 km) in length, surrounding the city of Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina

and the towns of Apex

Apex, North Carolina

Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 37,476 according to the 2010 census., wakegov.com-Geography:Apex is located at ....

, Cary

Cary, North Carolina

Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...

, Garner

Garner, North Carolina

Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 17,757 at the 2000 census and was 27,533 in 2009.-Geography:Garner is located at ....

, and Morrisville

Morrisville, North Carolina

Morrisville is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. A small portion of the town extends into Durham County. The population was 18,576 according to a April 1, 2010 census. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region...

. The designation from I-540 and NC 540 happens at I-40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

, in Durham County

Durham County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 223,314 people, 89,015 households, and 54,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 769 people per square mile . There were 95,452 housing units at an average density of 329 per square mile...

, where I-540 goes north and NC 540 goes south.

The beltway is further broken down into four segments:

Segment Name	Designation	Location	Mileage
Northern Wake Freeway	I-540	NC 55 to US 64/US 264	29.0
Western Wake Freeway	NC 540	NC 55 in Cary to NC 55 South of Apex	12.4
Southern Wake Freeway	NC 540	NC 55 to I-40 near Garner	16.5
Eastern Wake Freeway	NC 540	I-40 to US 64/US 264	12.9
Total			70.8

Interstate 540

I-540 is the designation for the northern completed part of the perimeter loop around Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina

(not to be confused with the I-440 Beltline

Interstate 440 (North Carolina)

Interstate 440 in North Carolina, also known as the Raleigh Beltline and the Cliff Benson Beltline, is a 16.4-mile partial beltway that nearly encircles central Raleigh. Prior to August 2002, it was a complete loop and shared a concurrency with its parent, Interstate 40 along the loop's southern...

). Known formally as the Northern Wake Freeway, it runs 26 miles (41.8 km) from I-40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

, in Durham County

Durham County, North Carolina

, to US 64/US 264

U.S. Route 264

U.S. Route 264 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Raleigh to Manns Harbor, entirely in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-Route description:...

, near Knightdale

Knightdale, North Carolina

Knightdale is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,958 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 9,843 in January 2008. With the population boom experienced in the North Carolina Research Triangle area in the past two decades,...

. Majority of the route is 6-lanes, with some major intersections at 8-lanes; the speed limit throughout is 65mph (105km/h).

North Carolina Highway 540

NC 540 is the designation given to the Western Wake Freeway and future Southern and Eastern Wake Freeways. As of August 2007, the North Carolina state route traverses east–west from I-40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

, in Durham County

Durham County, North Carolina

to NC 55, in Morrisville

Morrisville, North Carolina

. Initially intended to be signed as an extension of the I-540 loop, the route bears mile markers and exit numbers for the complete Interstate loop, going from 66 to 69. In Mid-2012, this section of the beltway will become part of the Triangle Expressway.

History

Planning for the highway originally started in the early 1970s; by 1976, the "Northern Wake Expressway" was added to the planning map. In the mid-1980s, realizing that the growth in western Wake County may require more roads than planned, highway planners decided to expand the project as a new beltway around Raleigh. In 1992, construction began on the first 3 miles (4.8 km) section of the Northern Wake Expressway, connecting I-40

Interstate 40 in North Carolina

Interstate 40 runs through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington.-Pigeon River Gorge:...

with US 70. On January 21, 1997, the freeway opened as Interstate 540.

In the following ten years, the now known Northern Wake Freeway (so not to be confused with the Triangle Expressway) made several extensions:

December 11, 1999: From US 70/Glenwood Avenue (exit 3) to Leesville Road (exit 7).
December 21, 2000: From Leesville Road (exit 7) to NC 50
North Carolina Highway 50
NC 50 is a major cross-state route in North Carolina that runs from near the Virginia border to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the major north/south route through Wake County and the state capital of Raleigh.-Route description:...

/Creedmoor Road (exit 9).
June 29, 2001: From NC 50
North Carolina Highway 50
NC 50 is a major cross-state route in North Carolina that runs from near the Virginia border to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the major north/south route through Wake County and the state capital of Raleigh.-Route description:...

/Creedmoor Road (exit 9) to Falls of Neuse Road (exit 14).
August 12, 2002: From Falls of Neuse Road (exit 14) to US 1
U.S. Route 1 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 1 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Rockingham, to the Virginia state line, near Wise...

/Capital Boulevard/Triangle Town Boulevard (exit 16).
January 16, 2007: From Triangle Town Boulevard (exit 17) to US 64/US 264
U.S. Route 264
U.S. Route 264 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Raleigh to Manns Harbor, entirely in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-Route description:...

/Knightdale Bypass (exit 26).

From 1999 to 2002, each additional section of the freeway was designated as Future 540, until it connected with US 1

U.S. Route 1 in North Carolina

U.S. Route 1 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Rockingham, to the Virginia state line, near Wise...

.

On July 14, 2007, a section of the loop from I-40 west to NC 54 and NC 55 was opened. However, the route is signed not as I-540 but as NC 540. Officials decided to change the designation in early July at the urging of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority

North Carolina Turnpike Authority

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority was created in 2002 as a board with the authority to study, plan, develop and undertake preliminary design work for toll roads and toll bridges in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The NCTA has the power to design, establish, purchase, construct, operate, and...

(NCTA). Work on the western and southern portions of the beltway, if paid for by state funds, would possibly not open until 2030. At the request of several Wake County

Wake County, North Carolina

Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...

mayors, the NCTA in 2006 began studying the use of tolls to complete these portions of the Outer Loop.

The Authority concluded in early 2007 that it would be financially feasible to build the western section (along with an extended Durham Freeway, which combined would be called the "Triangle Expressway") using toll funds. The NCTA apparently never wanted an interstate designation for the Western Wake Parkway. To lessen motorist confusion about where I-540 ended, the route was truncated to the I-40 interchange. All I-540 signs that were put up along the unopened stretch between I-40 and NC 55 were taken down in early July 2007; the new section is now signed as NC 540. (In addition, I-540 as a completed loop would violate the Interstate numbering convention regarding three-digit routes, as spurs begin with an odd number and loops with an even number, and at one point, I-640 — the last remaining available number within the state, as I-240, I-440 and I-840 are already taken — was proposed for the loop.)

Work to build the Western Wake Freeway, which would be renamed the "Western Wake Parkway" under the toll proposal, began August 12, 2009, with the Triangle Parkway portion scheduled to open in late 2011, and Western Wake portion scheduled for 2012. The state legislature so far, however, has not included gap funding (to fill the missing funds between the total construction costs and that that can be raised by tolls) to help the NCTA start construction, which could mean a later completion date.

In October 2008, the authority was unable to issue bonds to fund the Western Wake Turnpike project as planned due to market conditions affecting municipal bonds such as those. On July 29, 2009, the Authority closed on a revised $1.01 billion bond plan, consisting of $270 million in toll revenue bond

Toll revenue bond

A toll revenue bond is a financial promissory note usually issued to generate funds for the construction and/or operation of a public accommodation such as an expressway, bridge, or tunnel...

s, $353 million in Build America Bonds

Build America Bonds

Build America Bonds are taxable municipal bonds that carry special tax credits and federal subsidies for either the bond issuer or the bondholder. Build America Bonds were created under Section 1531 of Title I of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that U.S. President Barack...

, and a $387 million loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.

Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...

was held on August 12, 2009 at the west end of Interstate 540. "A dozen dignitaries" used shovels painted gold as 150 watched.

After work began on Western Wake Parkway in 2009, engineering and environmental studies

Environmental impact assessment

An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....

began a year later for the Southern and Eastern Wake Freeways, also known as the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension. Construction would begin on 2014 and be completed by 2019; however, it was delayed on March, 2011 by the enactment of North Carolina Session Law 2011-7 (N.C. S.L. 2011-7), which forbid NCDOT to consider a few alternative routes.

In 2010, NCDOT made an interchange improvement at I-540/I-40; adding an additional auxiliary lane from I-540 south to I-40 west, at a cost of $4.8 million.

Future

The Triangle Parkway will be connected to the beltway in December, 2011; reestablishing exit 67. On January 3, 2012, collection of tolls will begin along the Triangle Parkway, first section of the Triangle Expressway.

In Mid-2012, the Western Wake Freeway will be completed; connecting NC 55 in Morrisville

Morrisville, North Carolina

(exit 66) to NC 55 in Holly Springs

Holly Springs, North Carolina

Holly Springs is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of 2009, the town population was estimated at 21,749, and it had gained the title of"The fastest growing town in North Carolina".-Geography:...

. This section will also be part of the Triangle Expressway, and will begin collecting tolls along all designation sections of NC 540.

The Southern Wake Expressway would connect Holly Springs with Garner

Garner, North Carolina

Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 17,757 at the 2000 census and was 27,533 in 2009.-Geography:Garner is located at ....

. The route for the southern leg known as the Orange Route, on maps since the 1990s, would affect only a few people, but it would potentially hurt the endangered

Endangered species

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...

dwarf wedge mussel

Dwarf wedgemussel

The dwarf wedgemussel, scientific name Alasmidonta heterodon, is an endangered species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.- Distribution and conservation status :...

, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...

asked for other routes to be considered. In September 2010, a new map showed several other routes, including the controversial Red Route, which many Garner-area residents protested in a December 2010 meeting; a total of 3,000 signatures on petition

Petition

A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....

s opposed the route as well. A Pink Route would run along the Orange Route to Lake Benson and then join with the Red Route at I-40; residents opposed this plan as well. Another possibility would be to prevent pollution that would affect the mussels, mainly around bridges.

Exit list

This exit list encompasses both I-540 and NC 540.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Mile
!#

Exit number

An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....

!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Durham

Durham County, North Carolina

|
|0
|1
|, RTP

Research Triangle Park

The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...

|I-540 and NC 540 begins; signed as exits 1A (east) and 1B (west)
|-
|rowspan=18|Wake

Wake County, North Carolina

Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...

|rowspan=4|Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina

|2.0
|2
|Aviation Parkway – RDU Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...

|Signed as exits 2A (south) and 2B (north)
|-
|4.0
|3
|Lumley Road
|
|-
|4.2
|4
|
|Signed as exits 4A (east) and 4B (west)
|-
|7.0
|7
|Leesville Road
|
|-
|
|9.2
|9
|
|
|-
|rowspan=5|Raleigh
|11.4
|11
|Six Forks Road
|
|-
|13.8
|14
|Falls of Neuse Road
|
|-
|16.8
|16
|
|
|-
|17.0
|17
|Triangle Town Boulevard
|To Triangle Town Center

Triangle Town Center

Triangle Town Center is a shopping mall in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is located in North Raleigh off U.S. Highway 1 and Interstate 540. The mall is owned by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.-History and description:...

Johnston County, North Carolina

-Major highways:* Interstate 40* Interstate 95* U.S. Highway 70* U.S. Highway 301* U.S. Highway 701-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 121,965 people, 46,595 households, and 33,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were...

Wake County, North Carolina

Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...

Holly Springs, North Carolina

Apex, North Carolina

Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 37,476 according to the 2010 census., wakegov.com-Geography:Apex is located at ....

Morrisville, North Carolina

|style="background:#ffdddd"|66.4
|style="background:#ffdddd"|66
|style="background:#ffdddd"|
|style="background:#ffdddd"|NC 540 ends; signed as exits 66A (east) and 66B (west)
|-
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|68.4
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|67
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|
|style="background:#d3d3d3"|Originally Davis Drive before June 1, 2010; to be reopen as continuation of the Triangle Expressway
|-
|69.2
|69
|
|
|-
When NCDOT initially posted the exit signs for exits 66 A/B, 68, and 69, they had posted them as 47 A/B, 49, and 50. The reason for the discrepancy was an apparent error made when summing the mileage for the new highway by the NCDOT's GIS unit, about 20 miles (32.2 km) of the proposed route was left out. NCDOT corrected the exit numbers and corresponding mileposts prior to the road opening in mid-July 2007.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.