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N.C. Turnpike Authority Hosted 540 Fest to Celebrate the Extension of Toll N.C. 540

​​Runners warmed up as the beginning of the 5K race approached at 540 Fest on June 22.

​​RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) hosted 540 Fest, an event celebrating the extension of the Triangle Expressway (Complete 540 Phases 1 and 2), on the morning of June 22.

The family-friendly event included a 5k run and 10k bike race, ice cream and fun festivities all along the soon-to-open roadway with more than 2,000 people in attendance. The races offered a one-time opportunity to run or bike along the new section of Toll N.C. 540 before it opens to traffic in August 2024.

"The community has been so good to us as we’ve been constructing the first phase of the extension of the Triangle Expressway,” says J.J. Eden, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority. “540 Fest is meant to celebrate communities across the region who were patient during construction and who will benefit from the opening in August.” 

NCTA worked in partnership with MS Events, a 501(c)3 non-profit that raises funds for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and other neurological diseases, to host 540 Fest. Race registration fees and donations collected as part of 540 Fest resulted in $40,000 raised towards fighting these various diseases. 

The extension of Toll N.C. 540 is being constructed in two phases. Phase 1 will extend the Triangle Expressway approximately 18 miles from the existing corridor at N.C. 55 to I-40/U.S. 70 (future I-42) and is expected to open to traffic in August 2024. Phase 2 of the project will extend the Triangle Expressway an additional 10 miles from I-40 to the existing I-540/I-87/U.S. 64/U.S. 264 interchange in Knightdale, providing the missing link to complete the 540 loop. ​

***NCDOT***

Last updated 4:54 p.m. on Jun. 24, 2024