For funding purposes, the proposed work to convert Capital Boulevard (U.S. 1) – between I-540 in Raleigh and Purnell/Harris roads in Wake Forest – to a controlled-access highway would be divided into four segments.
Segment A is scheduled to begin construction in fall 2025. Segments B, C and D will be reprioritized for funding in the next State Transportation Improvement Program. A schedule for right of way, utilities and/or construction has not been finalized at this time. However, preliminary engineering activities (design, planning, environmental studies) needed for project development are underway.
| Segment A | I-540 to Durant Road/Perry Creek Road |
| Segment B | Durant Road/Perry Creek Road to Burlington Mills Road |
| Segment C | Burlington Mills Road to N.C. 98 Business (Durham Road) |
| Segment D | N.C. 98 Business (Durham Road) to Purnell Road/Harris Road |
Converting the roadway to a controlled-access highway would limit entry onto the roadway via ramps at interchanges.
Traffic signals on Capital Boulevard within the study area are proposed to be removed and replaced with interchanges at:
Other proposed work would include:
Existing interchanges improvements at I-540, N.C. 98 Bypass (Dr. Calvin Jones Highway) and N.C. 98 Business (Durham Road)
A bridge at Jenkins Road/Stadium Drive
A third lane on I-540 westbound at the Capital Boulevard interchange
The N.C. Department of Transportation has also studied service roads and local connections to maintain access to properties along the corridor.
The Capital Boulevard upgrade for Segment A would be a design-build project. The design-build process allows NCDOT to hire a team of designers and contractors who are responsible for the design, right-of-way acquisition and project construction. The team might begin construction on one portion of the project while it finishes the design and right-of-way acquisition for others. This usually results in faster completion of a project.
Other benefits to a design-build project might be innovative solutions that save time or money or reduce impacts and offer quicker resolution to problems that might arise during design and construction. The process might provide additional alternatives or modifications to the existing alternatives, which might reduce costs or impacts.