Tropical Storm Debby delays opening of next section of 540 loop

Tropical Storm Debby’s lingering impact in the Triangle means a delay to the completion of an 18-mile stretch of the Southern Wake Expressway, part of the Complete 540 project to create an outer loop around Wake County.

“Tropical Storm Debby exacerbated erosion control challenges on the project,” said Logen Hodges, director of marketing and communications for the North Carolina Turnpike Authority.

The segment of highway, south and east from N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to Interstate 40 in Garner, now is not expected to be open before Labor Day.

“Our biggest concern is safety,” Hodges said. “We don’t want to open this project if we’re not completely confident that this is going to be a safe route for folks.”

Construction started four years ago on N.C. Highway 540, the six-lane Triangle Expressway. The part expected to be finished in 2024 is Phase 1.

Phase 2, the final portion, will extend the Triangle Expressway 10.8 miles, completing N.C. 540 from I-40 at Garner to the existing Interstate 540 in Knightdale. The extension will mirror the existing Triangle Expressway as a 70 mph, six-lane all-electronic toll road. This portion is expected to be completed in 2028.