Triangle Parkway Update

[jeffandstef]

Update on Triangle Parkway is below. Expect delays on Hopson Road in March and Davis Drive in April. Plus, there will be weekend and night lane closures on NC 540 between NC 55 and NC 54 in March to perform pavement analysis at toll collection locations
Stef



TRIANGLE PARKWAY NEWSLETTER

Overview
Construction on the Triangle Expressway in Wake and Durham counties is underway. This 18.8-mile toll road system is a new roadway from NC 55 Bypass near Holly Springs to I-40 at NC 147 and is comprised of three segments – the Western Wake Freeway, existing NC 540 between NC 55 and NC 54, and the Triangle Parkway.
The Triangle Expressway will improve commuter mobility, accessibility and connectivity to western Wake County and Research Triangle Park while reducing congestion on the existing north-south routes that serve the Triangle region, primarily NC 55 and NC 54. The project is expected to save customers up to 20 minutes over the 18.8-mile distance. The Expressway will utilize an all-electronic toll collection system, meaning there will be no tollbooths and no stopping to pay tolls. The opening of the Triangle Parkway is scheduled for late 2011, while the opening of the Western Wake Freeway is scheduled for late 2012.
Triangle Parkway Segment
The S.T. Wooten Design-Build Team was selected by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to design and construct the Triangle Parkway section of the Triangle Expressway. S.T. Wooten Corporation, of Wilson, NC, is responsible for the construction and RK&K Engineers, of Raleigh, is responsible for the design.

The Triangle Parkway is a new multi-lane toll facility from NC 540 in Wake County to I-40 in Durham County with a length of approximately 3.0 miles (see Figure 1). Interchange connections will occur at NC 540, Davis Drive (SR 1999), Hopson Road (SR 1978), and I-40. The project also includes widening approximately 2 miles of existing northbound NC 147 in the median from I-40 to T.W. Alexander Drive.

Pre-construction activities for the Triangle Parkway project are nearly complete. The design plans are being finalized. Erosion control, grading and drainage activities are underway. The majority of the required right-of-way, easements and environmental permits needed to construct the project have been acquired.

Current Construction Activities
Construction on the 1.5-mile portion of the Triangle Parkway project between Hopson Road and NC 147 began on August 31, 2009. While winter weather has restricted operations involving earthwork, construction of the bridges at Burdens Creek have progressed. Bridge foundations have been constructed and girders are scheduled to be set in March. Relocation of existing sanitary sewer lines will begin within the next two weeks, as weather allows. Drilling and blasting operations in the area are approximately two-thirds complete. Blasting work is scheduled to be complete by mid-April. Utility relocations have begun along Hopson Road and NC 54 and this work will continue for approximately two months.

Upcoming Construction Activities
Upon completion of the utility relocations on Hopson Road, construction of the on-site detour will begin. This detour is scheduled to open to motorists by the end of April. Construction on the 1.3-mile portion of the Triangle Parkway project between NC 540 and Hopson Road is scheduled to begin in late February 2010. Tree-clearing operations in the area are scheduled to begin in the first week of March 2010. Drilling, blasting and earthwork operations will proceed as soon as this area is cleared. Timely blast notices will be sent to property owners adjacent to the project as they have been previously for the section of the project north of Hopson Road.
Expect traffic patterns to shift on Davis Drive in April 2010. Temporary realignments of the traffic patterns are necessary as work will be performed under Davis Drive. Two travel lanes in each direction will be maintained on Davis Drive at all times while this work is performed. Additionally, there will be weekend and night lane closures on NC 540 between NC 55 and NC 54 in March to perform pavement analysis at toll collection locations.
Construction of the 2-mile portion of the project along the northbound lanes of NC 147 from the end of NC 147 just south of NC 54 to T.W. Alexander Drive is scheduled to begin in April 2010. Widening work will begin on NC 54 and NC 147 (north of I-40) in April as well.