Expect more detours, delays in southern Wake County as next phase of 540 project begins

Construction crews are clearing a miles-long swath through southern Wake County, making room for the next phase of the project to complete N.C. 540.

The next section of 540 will run from the N.C. 55 Bypass in Holly Springs to I-40 in Garner. The next phase will involve construction of interchanges on roads along the new highway.

"We will start to see a lot of detours going into place," said Robby Hoffman, resident engineer with Summit Design and Engineering. "People can expect some varying traffic patterns over the next year or year-and-a-half."

Drivers on N.C. 55 in Holly Springs, Holly Springs Road, Old Stage Road and N.C. 50 can expect delays as construction begins in those areas. NCDOT is maintaining an interactive map to give you an in-depth look at what crews are doing on the project.

The latest timeline suggests the section of 540 from N.C. 55 Bypass to I-40 in Garner will be open to traffic some time in 2023. The contract for the final phase, connecting I-40 to the current interchange at I-87, is scheduled to be awarded in 2029.