Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation will be at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre Thursday, Oct. 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. to unveil how the department plans to remake Capital Boulevard (U.S. 1) into a controlled-access highway.
The plans appear to be very similar to those proposed several years ago and reviewed at local meetings.
DOT plans to convert Capital Boulevard to a controlled-access highway from I-540 to the Purnell Road/Harris Road intersection. A controlled-access highway is one on which access is provided only via ramps at interchanges. Some cross-streets will be grade separated, and no driveway connections will be allowed.
These are the proposed changes:
*Traffic signals on Capital Boulevard are proposed to be removed and replaced with interchanges at:
– Durant Road/Perry Creek Road
– Burlington Mills Road
– Falls of the Neuse Road/South Main Street/U.S. 1-A
– Purnell Road/Harris Road
*Existing interchanges at 1-540, N.C. 98 Bypass (Dr. Calvin Jones Highway), and N.C. 98 Business (Durham Road) will be modified
*A bridge (grade separation) is planned at Jenkins Road/Stadium Drive
*A third lane is being studied as part of this project on I-540 westbound at the U.S. 1 interchange to modify the existing lane drop.
*DOT will study service roads and local connections to maintain regional mobility and access to properties along the corridor.
The project will be built in four segments which are listed without dates, expected construction time or anticipated cost:
*Segment A from I-540 north to Durant Road/Perry Creek Road
*Segment B from north of Durant Road/Perry Creek Road north to Burlington Mills Road
*Segment C from north of Burlington Mills Road to south of Durham Road (N.C. 98 Business}
*Segment D from south of N.C. 98 Business to Purnell Road/Harris Road.
There will also be a meeting in Raleigh on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Lifepointe Church at 9500 Durant Road from 4 to 7.
The purpose of the project is to reduce traffic congestion, improve travel times and maintain regional mobility and local connectivity. A map of the proposed improvements can be viewed or downloaded on the NCDOT public meetings website at www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/U-5307-2018-10-09.Aspx<http://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/U-5307-2018-10-09.Aspx
