Triangle Expressway
Overview & Schedule
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Construction has begun on North Carolina’s first modern toll road, the Triangle Expressway in Wake and Durham counties. This 18.8 mile toll road system is a new roadway from the NC 55 Bypass near Holly Springs to I-40 at NC 147 and is comprised of three projects: Western Wake Freeway, Triangle Parkway, and a portion of existing NC 540 between NC 55 and NC 54.
Why is this project necessary?
The Triangle Expressway will improve commuter mobility, accessibility and connectivity to western Wake County and Research Triangle Park while reducing congestion on the existing north-south routes that serve the Triangle Region, primarily NC 55 and NC 54.
How much does the project cost?
The project’s cost is just over $1 billion and is the largest single transportation infrastructure project in North Carolina history.
How will tolls be collected?
Tolls will be collected without the use of toll booths or otherwise stopping to pay a toll. Instead, customers are identified while traveling at highway speeds through free-flow “toll zones.” To pay their toll, customers can use transponders which are radio-frequency tags that users affix to their windshield and are read from overhead gantries. Customers who choose not to use a transponder are detected at toll zones where a picture of their license plate is taken. These customers pay their tolls by establishing a pre-paid account or receiving a bill in the mail. There will also be a facility near the project that will accept cash payments.
How much will the tolls cost?
The Turnpike Authority Board of Directors has not yet set toll rates. Similar toll facilities around the country charge tolls in the range of 10 to 20 cents per mile.
Does my opinion matter?
Yes! Your opinion and input matter in the decisions about the project. To email the project team, please click here.
Timeline
| Triangle Parkway Open to Traffic | 2011 |
| Western Wake Freeway Open to Traffic | 2012 |