North Carolina Turnpikeâs Complete 540 project will bring the Triangle Expressway full circle
This feature published as Going Full Circle in April 2021 issue
Brian W. Budzynski / April 01, 2021 / 6 minute read
North Carolina Turnpike Authorityâs existing Triangle Expressway can be seen at the top of the photo. The Complete 540 project, which will extend the toll road 28.8 miles to the south and turn east to complete the loop around Raleigh, broke ground in November 2019. Photo Credit: North Carolina DOT Aviation Unit
In December 2012, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) opened the six-lane, 18.8-mile Triangle Expressway.
The stateâs first modern, all-electronic toll road, it immediately improved travel times in the region of Research Triangle Park and the outlying suburbs of Raleigh. It was also the largest transportation infrastructure project in North Carolina history at $1 billionâuntil now.