Project Overview
Planning and development are underway to improve the flow of traffic along U.S. 64 and intersecting roadways in Wake County from just west of Laura Duncan Road in Apex to U.S. 1 in Cary.
Western Cary, Apex, southwestern Wake County and Chatham County have experienced significant growth, which has contributed to a high volume of commuter traffic passing through the area.
Traffic volumes currently range from more than 40,000 vehicles per day just west of Laura Duncan Road to more than 56,000 vehicles per day at U.S. 1. Those numbers are expected to increase by more than 40 percent by 2040.
Additionally, there were nearly 800 crashes – almost twice the state average for similar highways – in the area between 2012 and 2016. This underscores the congestion issues related to the corridor and safety implications of the stop-and-go nature during the morning and evening rush hours.
Without improvements, the project study area will experience an increase in congestion-related issues.
- Drivers on U.S. 64 will experience longer commutes during morning and evening rush hours.
- Residents in the area will spend more time at stop lights waiting to cross or enter U.S. 64 to travel to nearby shopping destinations, schools, or to their jobs.
- The number of crashes will likely increase.
- Apex High School students walking to and from local restaurants during lunch will also experience more risk while attempting to cross U.S. 64.
Construction Segmenting
Widening U.S. 64 requires lengthening of the CSX railroad bridge, which runs over the highway and is west of Laura Duncan Road. This bridge will be a separate construction contract and will be built prior to the highway project. This will eliminate the existing bridge span constraint and ensure there are no conflicts between the highway improvements or overlapping work by the individual contractors. Further segmenting of the project is yet to be determined.
Environmental studies, public involvement activities, and the completed
Environmental Document include both segments’ scopes of work in the study area and analysis.
Project Funding
This project is listed as Project U-5301 and U-5301A in the N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for a combined $331.7 million.
Right of way
| $5,600,000
|
Utility relocation
| $110,000
|
| Construction costs | $32,300,000
|
|
Total cost |
$38,010,000 |
Right of way
| $82,200,000
|
Utility relocation
| $4,400,000
|
Construction costs
| $207,100,000
|
*Estimated costs subject to change