I-540 Loop Closure Back on Track

In 2011 North Carolina lawmakers voted to stop the North Carolina Department of Transportation from studying the controversial so-called “Red Route”, which proposed routing part of I-540 through Garner.  That move caused the federal government to pull funding from the project because it meant that no alternatives for the route would be studied – a violation of federal law.

In May of this year lawmakers reversed course and passed Session Law 2013-94, which allows the “Red Route” to be studied.  The law also directs the DOT to expedite the environmental studies necessary for closing the I-540 loop.  As a result, the DOT recently announced that it will resume the I-540 project, deemed “Complete 540.”   As part of that announcement the DOT indicated that it will hold three public meetings in October to present information and maps of the alternatives:

Mon., Oct. 14, 2013, 4 – 7 p.m. Wake Tech Community College 9101 Fayetteville Road Raleigh, NC 27603

Tues., Oct. 15, 2013, 4 – 7 p.m. Barwell Road Community Center 3935 Barwell Road Raleigh, NC 27610

Wed., Oct. 16, 2013, 6 – 9 p.m. Holly Springs High School 5329 Cass Holt Road Holly Springs, NC 27540

Although the DOT has kicked off the project study, groundbreaking on the project is not expected to occur until 2018.