Over the years, the extension of N.C. 147 has been identified as a needed project by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The McCrimmon Connector
The need for the N.C. 147 extension was first identified in 2008 as the McCrimmon Connector, which would complement the Triangle Parkway (STIP Project No. U-4763B), a toll road at the time that extended between N.C. 540 and I-40.
The McCrimmon Connector was planned as a non-toll roadway that would not necessarily be built to freeway standards. However, it was only programmed as STIP Project U-4763A for planning and environmental study in the 2007-2013 State Transportation Improvement Program.
2014 Hot Spot Study
In 2014, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization completed a “Hot Spot Study” that evaluated the traffic operations for three McCrimmon Connector alternatives. The study concluded that the N.C. 147 extension to McCrimmon Parkway – consistent with the McCrimmon Connector description – would have unacceptable traffic consequences to the surrounding roadways. Two other alternatives were evaluated. Variants of these are currently being evaluated for this project.
The extension of N.C. 147 was identified in the Adopted 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (Project F13) as a four-lane new alignment roadway from N.C. 540 to McCrimmon Parkway/Little Drive.
Town of Morrisville
The Town of Morrisville included the McCrimmon Connector in its 2009 Transportation Plan but with a direct connection to Town Hall Drive. However, this direct connection to Town Hall Drive is no longer favored by the town.
The town’s 2018 Transportation Plan Update includes the N.C. 147 Extension project from N.C. 540 to Davis Drive at Little Drive.