Public
meetings to be held in February
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Turnpike Authority has updated the
schedule for the Complete 540 project and set public meeting dates to share
information about the project and solicit public comment. The Complete 540
project will extend the Triangle Expressway from the N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to
U.S. 64/U.S. 264 (I-495) in Knightdale, completing the 540 Outer Loop around the
greater Raleigh area.
“We worked hard to accelerate this schedule and with the recent
release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, we are confident in getting
this under construction more quickly,” said NCTA executive director Beau Memory.
“With the latest schedule, we now anticipate extending the Triangle Expressway
to I-40 about a year and a half sooner.”
Next Steps
NCTA and NCDOT will hold a series of public meetings in February to
provide information on the project, share the preliminary design of the project
and gather feedback from the public. The three public meetings and one hearing
are scheduled at the following times and locations:
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 6 – 8 p.m.
- Holly Springs High School Cafeteria
- 5329 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs 27540
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 – 8 p.m.
- Barwell Road Community Center - Gymnasium
- 5857 Barwell Park Drive, Raleigh 27610
Thursday, Feb. 22, Public Meeting: 4—6:30 p.m.,
Hearing: 7 p.m.
- Wake Tech Community College – Southern Wake Campus – Student
Services Building L. Rooms 212/213/214
- 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh 27603
The meetings will be open house style and citizens can stop by at
any time. Verbal comments will be recorded at the meetings for inclusion in the
public hearing record. The hearing will include a formal presentation, followed
by an opportunity for the public to provide verbal comments. Written comments
can be submitted at the meetings, at the hearing, or immediately following these
meetings. Information gathered in the public meetings and hearing will be used
in developing final design plans for the project. All comments carry the same
weight, regardless of how they are submitted.
The project’s updated schedule and more information can be found on
the Complete 540
website.
Background
The Complete 540 schedule was accelerated after the Federal Highway
Administration approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in December.
Originally, the Turnpike Authority had anticipated having the FEIS signed by the
Federal Highway Administration in mid-2018.
The document is available online and at locations across Wake
County for public review and comment until Feb. 1. Comments received on the FEIS
will be used to develop the Record of Decision, which is the final environmental
document needed to move forward with the final design, permitting and
construction.