RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation would like public feedback on the proposed conversion of U.S. 1/Capital Boulevard to a controlled-access highway between Interstate 540 in Raleigh and Purnell/Harris Road in Wake Forest.
Controlled-access means ramps at interchanges would provide entry onto the roadway, cross-streets could have overpasses built over them, and private driveway connections would not be allowed.
Upgrading this segment to a freeway would help relieve congestion experienced in the corridor and improve travel time reliability. Capital Boulevard currently carries between 32,000 and 65,000 vehicles per day and is anticipated to carry between 44,000 and 75,000 vehicles per day in 2040.
Travel times are also highly variable, making it difficult for drivers to plan trips. A trip during the evening commute can take up to four times longer than trips at non-peak times.
Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held virtually on Dec. 9, 2021, at 6 p.m. People are encouraged to visit the project webpage to view a video and other information about the project prior to the virtual meeting, and to access the link to register for the meeting, or find out how to dial in using their phone or video-conferencing system.
NCDOT accepts comments throughout all phases of project design and construction. To have your comments included in planning activities for this phase of the project, they should be submitted by Jan. 7, 2022. Comments may be submitted via the project webpage, emailed to capital-boulevard-upgrade@publicinput.com, or people can call in a question or comment by dialing 984-205-6615 (enter project code 3243).
The current estimated cost for the entire project is about $750 million. Construction on the first segment, from I-540 to Durant/Perry Creek Road, is currently scheduled to be awarded in October 2024.
People who require any accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in this virtual meeting should contact the NCDOT as soon as possible: Diane Wilson at 919-707-6073 or pdwilson1@ncdot.gov.
People who don't speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.