ConDig (08-Jun-18).  Federal officials have given the final thumbs up to North Carolina Turnpike Authority’s (NCTA) proposed $2.2 billion extension of an expressway in Wake County, North Carolina.

The Federal Highway Administration has issued a record of decision for the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension – also known as Complete 540 – signifying final federal approval of the project’s route.

The final leg of the toll road, also known as the Triangle Expressway, will stretch from the N.C. Highway 55 Bypass in Apex to U.S. Highway 264 in Knightdale along a color-coded route known as orange-green-mint-green.

Under the latest Department of Transportation (DOT) plan, awarding a contract to design and build the section between U.S. Highway 401 and Interstate 40 is expected by the end of this year and awarding two design-build contracts for the section between Apex and U.S. 401 by the middle of next year, according to reports. Work on the last stretch, between I-40 and U.S. 264, is not expected to start until 2027.

Following the final federal sign off, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority and the state DOT can start acquiring land for the highway’s right of way, obtaining environmental permits and planning for construction.

“We are excited to hit this milestone for a project that has been a priority for the local communities, metropolitan planning organization and regional business community,” said North Carolina Turnpike Authority executive director Beau Memory.

“This is a critical step in advancing a project that has received nearly 30 local resolutions of support calling for the completion of the 540 outer loop.”

Latest construction spending figures released by the Census Bureau, showed that highway construction was $88 billion in April, dropping 1% down on the March total of $89 billion and 2% down on the $89.9 billion in the same period last year.