In a move that surprised the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA), officials of the federal government have given their approval to an environmental study of the plans of the final section of the Raleigh Outer Loop.
The NCTA did not expect to receive approval until later this year. The final part of the highway to be constructed is the 30-mile stretch between the U.S. 64 bypass in Knightdale and the N.C. Highway 55 bypass in Apex. The work will cost $2bn.
The Raleigh Outer Loop will be a ‘beltway’ that completely surrounds the city. This type of highway is common throughout the nation, where major freeways are diverted around major metropolitan areas rather than through them. The Raleigh Outer Loop will be designated as Interstate 540 and North Carolina 540, and comprises four sections.
Officials of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) are calling the effort the ‘Complete 540’ project, and state that the route of the new beltway was chosen for a number of reasons, including the fact that fewer businesses and homes will have to be relocated, and the Swift Creek watershed and the Clemmons Educational State Forest will be protected.
There is no word yet on when construction will begin, but federal approval clears one more hurdle. Major projects like this impact many people, so officials could work with a postcard printing company to devise an announcement for Mailing throughout the area.
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