Raleigh Maps Wrong Dates On Projected Road Projects

Jim and Olivia Goodman just moved to the Triangle from California.They are looking for a new house near Holly Springs, in rapidly growing southern Wake County.

The couple says an important part of their choice is locating the right neighborhood near the right highways for their daily commute.

Jim Goodman's commute will take him to Research Triangle Park, so the new Interstate 540 would be a great way to get to work from Holly Springs.

A map from the

Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau

shows that the new leg of I-540 will be ready for southern Wake County by 2008.

The

state Department of Transportation

says the guide map needs new dates.

The claim that the southern loop of I-540 opens in 2008 is way off. DOT engineers say even the rosiest projections put this section off until 2015.

The visitor's map shows I-540 from Interstate 40 to N.C. 55 near Morrisville opening in 2004. The DOT says that section will not open until late 2007.

The map shows I-540 from Capital Boulevard to U.S. 64 near Knightdale opening in 2004. The DOT says it will have to hustle to open the stretch of road by 2006.

"It's not a good thing to say it's going to be done because I'm sure all the homebuilders are going off of what they're saying on that map. Plus, the traffic is just going to get worse, and then, you know, that's a long time from now before it's built," Goodman said.

"We got the information from the DOT at the time that we did the map. So, maybe, that's been extended," said David Heinl of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

The bureau printed the map in 2003. The DOT says in 2003, its latest projections were available. The bureau admits it needs to fix the dates.

""Well, we'll definitely talk to them before we reprint the next one and update that," Heinl said.

The maps are scheduled to be updated in late 2004.

The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau says not all of the people who use their map are newcomers looking for homes. They admit the road dates need to be changed, but they still say the map is a helpful guide.