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Northern Wake Expressway / Future Interstate 640

Interstate 540 represents the beginning of the Raleigh beltway, a planned circumferential highway for the capital city of North Carolina. The freeway at present constitutes a spur from Interstate 40 at Cary to U.S. 1 at Wake Forest. The highway varies between four and six lanes through Raleigh-Durham Airport, Leesville, and north Raleigh.

Road work continues on the eastward extension of Interstate 540 from U.S. 1 (Capital Boulevard) to the 2005-opened U.S. 64 Knightdale bypass east of Raleigh. Completion of the northeastern quadrant of the Raleigh beltway is slated for 2006 or 2007. Additionally growth of the beltway to the west is underway in the form of short extension between Interstate 40 and North Carolina 54 (Chapel Hill Road). The western extension should be ready for traffic in 2006.

For more on Interstate 540, please see Interstate 540 @ Wake County Road (Gribblenation.com).

Interstate 540 East
No Photos at Present
Interstate 540 West
The westbound beginning of Interstate 540 sees traffic from U.S. 1 (Capital Boulevard) merge with traffic emanating from the Interstate 540 SPUI at Triangle Town Boulevard. The SPUI at Triangle Town Boulevard serves nearby Triangle Town Center Mall. U.S. 1 passes by the mall just to the west through Wake Forest. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Interstate 540 reduces to three westbound lanes as it departs the interchanges with U.S. 1 (Capital Boulevard) and Triangle Town Boulevard. Pictured here is the two-mile sign bridge for Exit 14 (Falls of Neuse Road) and a lane ends overhead near a railroad underpass adjacent to Greshams Lake. Photo taken 07/12/05.
The Northern Wake Expressway (Interstate 540) continues west toward the Exit 14 folded-diamond interchange with Falls of Neuse Road. Falls of Neuse Road migrates northward from the Wakeview section of Raleigh to Falls Lake State Park and northern Wake Forest. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Westbound at the Exit 14 ramp departure to Falls of Neuse Road. Falls of Neuse Road reaches Falls Lake State Park 2.5 miles to the north and Spring Forest Road in Raleigh 2.9 miles to the south. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Continuing west to the Exit 11 SPUI (single point urban interchange) with Six Forks Road on Interstate 540. Six Forks Road derives its name from the Six Forks community of north Raleigh. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Interstate 540 west expands to four lanes with the addition of the Exit 11 exit-only lane to Six Forks Road. Six Forks Road, like Falls of Neuse Road, travels northward from the Wakeview section of Raleigh to Falls Lake State Park. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Traffic to Five Forks Road departs Interstate 540 west for the Exit 11 SPUI. Five Forks Road meets North Carolina 98 (Durham Road) 5.4 miles to the north. Southward the surface roadway meets Interstate 440 & U.S. 1 in 5.5 miles at the North Hills Mall within the Northglen section of Raleigh. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Six lanes of Interstate 540 pass through the Exit 11 SPUI. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Several of the reassurance markers for Interstate 540 on the older sections of the Northern Wake Expressway exist in the form of small guide signs. The shields within these guide signs are devoid of the word "Interstate". Photo taken 07/12/05.
Next in line for westbound drivers is the Exit 9 diamond interchange with North Carolina 50 (Creedmoor Road). Creedmoor Road carries the state highway five miles north from its split with U.S. 70 at Crabtree Valley Mall to junction Interstate 540. Chander Drive passes over Interstate 540 within one mile of the Exit 9 off-ramp. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Motorists bound for North Carolina 50 (Creedmoor Road) depart Interstate 540 via Exit 9. North Carolina 50 passes through the city of Raleigh co-signed with U.S. 70 between Garner and the Brookhaven section of the city. The state highway continues north of Interstate 540 5.5 miles to junction North Carolina 98 (Durham Road) and 15.5 miles to Creedmoor and junction North Carolina 56 (Wilton Avenue). Photo taken 07/12/05.
Another Interstate 540 reassurance guide sign resides along westbound between North Carolina 50 (Exit 9) and Leesville Road (Exit 7). Photo taken 07/12/05.
The one-mile overhead for Exit 7 (Leesville Road) resides near the Ray Road overpass on Interstate 540 west. Leesville Road stems northwest from the Brookhaven section of Raleigh to Leesville and U.S. 70 (New Raleigh Highway) in eastern Durham County. A diamond interchange joins the freeway with the north-south roadway. Photo taken 07/12/05.
U.S. 70 (Glenwood Avenue) meets Interstate 540 at Exit 4 in northwestern Wake County. The federal highway ventures northwest from downtown Raleigh to William B. Umstead State Park and the city of Durham. A symmetrical directional-cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between the two divided highways. Photo taken 07/12/05.
An exit-only lane emerges from Interstate 540 west for Exits 4B/A (U.S. 70). U.S. 70 (Glenwood Avenue) crosses the Durham County line 2.4 miles to the northwest on the 6.5 mile drive to Durham. Southward U.S. 70 enters the Glen Forest neighborhood of Raleigh within six miles. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Exit 4B departs Interstate 540 westbound for U.S. 70 (Glenwood Avenue) west. Glenwood Avenue intersects Brier Creek Parkway in one mile and TW Alexander Drive in 1.5 miles. Photo taken 07/12/05.
A loop ramp carries westbound motorists onto U.S. 70 (Glenwood Avenue) eastbound for the city of Raleigh. The federal highway interchanges with Aviation Parkway/Westgate Road within 0.75 miles of Interstate 540. Aviation Parkway stems west from U.S. 70 to Commerce Road and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Traffic interests to Raleigh-Durham International Airport are guided to Exit 2 from Interstate 540 westbound. However cargo traffic to the airport should use Exit 3 (Lumley Road) to Commerce Boulevard and International Drive for their deliveries and pickups. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Nearing the Exit 3 folded-diamond interchange with Lumley Road on Interstate 540 west. Lumley Road links the freeway with the intersection of Aviation Parkway, Commerce Boulevard, and Mt. Herman Road to the east. North of Interstate 540, the surface road meets Brier Creek Parkway and TW Alexander Drive on the 2.4-mile drive to the Durham County line. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Drivers merging onto Interstate 540 west from Lumley Road form the exit-only lane for Exit 2 (Aviation Parkway). Aviation Parkway comprises a short limited-access connector between Interstate 540 and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport terminal. The freeway ends to the north at Globe Road near the Durham County line. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Globe Road itself passes over Interstate 540 westbound just ahead of the Exit 2 off-ramps to Aviation Parkway. The road carries Aviation Parkway traffic north to Page Road in Durham County. Aviation Parkway southbound interchanges with Terminal Boulevard in two miles. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Exit 2 drivers bound for Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Globe Road north depart Interstate 540. A directional-cloverleaf interchange joins the two freeways to the north of the Brier Creek Reservoir. Interstate 540 traffic otherwise draws to within 1.50 miles of the junction with Interstate 40 (Exits 1B/A). Photo taken 07/12/05.
Interstate 540 westbound reduces to two overall lanes in anticipation of the temporary end at Interstate 40. Re-striping eventually will add two additional lanes to the freeway between Aviation Parkway and Exits 1B/A. The junction with Interstate 40 ahead carries drivers northwest to Research Triangle Park and Durham (via North Carolina 147) and southeast to Cary and Raleigh. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Drivers cross the Durham County line on the approach to the Exit 1B/A ramp split to Interstate 40 west and east. Construction is evident involving the western extension of Interstate 540 between Interstate 40 and North Carolina 54 (Chapel Hill Road). Photo taken 07/12/05.
A North Carolina 147 trailblazer directs motorists bound for the Durham Freeway and downtown Durham onto Interstate 40 west. Interstate 40 interchanges with the north-south freeway three miles to the north. Photo taken 07/12/05.
Exit 1B leaves Interstate 540 westbound for Interstate 40 west to Research Triangle Park, Durham, Burlington, and Greensboro. Downtown Durham interests should take North Carolina 147 north. Others should continue west on Interstate 40 as it bypasses Durham to the southwest. Interstate 40 merges with Interstate 85 south 24 miles to the northwest at Hillsborough. Photo taken 07/12/05.
The Interstate 40 east to Interstate 540 east flyover passes overhead as all remaining Interstate 540 westbound drivers default onto the Exit 1A loop ramp onto Interstate 40 east. Interstate 40 continues 6.2 miles east to the split with Wade Hampton Boulevard and ten miles to junction Interstate 440 & U.S. 1 (Cliff Benson Beltline) at Raleigh. Photo taken 07/12/05.
A parting shot of the future roadbed of Interstate 540 from the Exit 1A loop ramp to Interstate 40 east. In the distance is the Slater Road overpass. At one point a ramp existed between Interstate 540 west and Slater Road. However due to construction associated with the Interstate 40/540 interchange, that ramp was closed. Photo taken 07/12/05.

Page Updated August 7, 2005.