New Section of I-540 Could Open by June

Raleigh, N.C. — The newest section of I-540 could open as early as May, but more likely in June, according to the Department of Transportation.

The new section from I-40 to Highway 55 promises relief to numerous drivers across the Triangle. But eventually, it will come at a cost.

The state has approved one section of the new 540, from Highway 54 to Highway 55, for conversion to a toll road. It will be a free highway at first, but it could become pay-to-drive as early as 2011.

Driver Rich Colson said he is opposed to it.

“Once you start with a toll road there, who's to say where the next toll road's gonna be?” he said.

Right now, 540 ends at I-40 at the Wake/Durham County line causing daily bottlenecks in the area. The new stretch of 540 will let drivers go over I-40 and off into Research Triangle Park, giving them several options to get into the Park without getting stuck on I-40.

Driver Paul Raye said he is tired of the traffic where the road squeezes down at I-40.

“It's a two-lane road, but the right lane is always stopped about two miles back. There's people always cutting in, and it really gets irritating,” he said.

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Latest Comments

Just like the lottery, this toll will be a new *optional* tax that I will never pay. I will just abso-freakin-lutely refuse to drive on it. I'm still PO'd that they've raided the highway fund for other pork-barrel spending and that this tollroad now "has" to be implemented in order to pay for it. I'm officially changing my screen name and my personal voting habit to "Vote Out All Incumbents" starting today. If we can't get term limits, that ought to do it.

appgrad95
April 12, 2007 1:59 p.m.

Don't worry, In The Wind, they will get their train eventually, and you and I will be paying for it to go around empty all day.

Mac
April 12, 2007 11:21 a.m.

The problem with the train idea is where they will leave you when they get you there. None of the Triangle towns currently have the transportation infrastruture to get you near your destination after the train drops you off. Goodness knows a taxi ride twice of day would be more expensive than gasoline. I may be wrong, but I have seen no discussion on moving people around town, only from town to town.

InTheWind
April 12, 2007 10:36 a.m.

smoothtip is right. Dumb people do make dumb decisions. We keep having the train idea being push on us that will increase taxes because of its enormous cost. However, no one has done the necessary studies and surveys to determine how many people will be able to use it, during their commute, with the route they have planed. I think they are gambling that if we built it they will come. I'd like someone to show us that it will be used enough to have a positive impact on traffic before we spend a Billion dollars, and more, building it.

68_polara
April 12, 2007 10:20 a.m.

A Toll Booth at each end of a 2 mile stretch of road?? Any old timers remember a DJ named Pat Patterson who "tonge-in-cheek" ran for president on the platform that he was going to make Raleigh the "Newark NJ of the South" with "Toll Booths every 2 miles" and gas stations on each corner. BTW, 540 is all paved and all the road signs are already up and guard rails too... Why the 2 to 3 month delay?? ....Retired!

bbackus
April 11, 2007 8:05 p.m.