540 Field Visit
- May 23, 2024
- Posted by: Joe Milazzo II
- Category: Blog
RTA members and partners,
As we noted a few weeks ago, the Southern Wake freeway will open later this summer, adding around 18 miles of new freeway to the Triangle area.
The opening of this segment, sometimes called “Phase 1” of the “Complete 540” project, will nearly double the length of the existing Toll NC 540/885 Triangle Expressway network, adding more than 100 lane-miles of freeway to our region’s total. When the Southern Wake freeway is finished, that will mean that 85% of the beltway will be open to travelers.
RTA held a field visit earlier today, Thursday, May 23, to preview the advanced toll technology for the southern Wake freeway portion of the turnpike. It is even more reliable and accurate, with lower maintenance, than the original system on the existing turnpike, which means a more effective system for both the NC Turnpike Authority and for customers. Field visit attendees also got to see inside the server room for the tolling system along with witnessing NC Turnpike test this tolling system by driving through at various speeds and lane positions.
Thank you to each of the RTA members and partners who attended the event, and kudos to the NC Turnpike Authority and NCDOT for the excellent preparation and execution of the technology demonstration for our attendees today.
Let’s get moving,
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA executive director
