​​​​​​​Project Overview

Planning and development are underway on two proposed projects to accommodate projected increases in traffic in Wake County over the next 25 years. Work would involve:

• Adding lanes on I-40 from the I-440/U.S. 64 interchange to Lake Wheeler Road to improve the traffic-carrying capacity of I-40 (STIP I-5701)
• Rebuilding the existing interchange at I-40/I-440/U.S. 1/U.S. 64 (STIP I-5703)

Wake County is one of the nation's fastest growing counties. It reached 1 million residents in 2014, and the population is expected to double by 2054. This additional growth will increase traffic volume by 55-70 percent on these roadways, which are important, high-volume corridors. I-40 and I-440 serve both commuter and long-distance traffic. U.S. 1 is also a primary local highway and an important route for travel to Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region.

Project Funding

For funding purposes, this is listed as two projects – I-5701 and I-5703 – in the N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for a combined total of $289 million.

Additional Lanes on I-40 (STIP I-5701)