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It looks (from 55) like they're getting REALLY close to laying pavement. Anyone know when the Morrisville Parkway extension is set to open? Will the 540 interchange we done then, too, or is that slated to roll out sometime later?
Pretty sure the 540 interchange is years away at best.
Kind of crazy, since lots of people that would actually benefit from an therefore are potential paying customers of the toll road live very close to that intersection, so it seems like the Toll Authority would have been smart to have put it in. Instead, they make those people drive so far out of the way to get to 540, that they may as well not even try.
Pretty sure the 540 interchange is years away at best.
Kind of crazy, since lots of people that would actually benefit from an therefore are potential paying customers of the toll road live very close to that intersection, so it seems like the Toll Authority would have been smart to have put it in. Instead, they make those people drive so far out of the way to get to 540, that they may as well not even try.
It looks like they're giving access to the new neighborhoods first, thus the current road construction, with the exchange coming in a 2-3 years. I'm one of those waiting for the exchange - it will make a difference in my morning commute, since half my time is spent trying to get on 540, although it's close enough to spit on from my neighborhood.
I lived in Dallas for a few years and while I didn't love the atmosphere, one of the things that stood out to me was the efficiency of their Dept. of Transportation. Projects were laid out well in advance and once funded, the work began and it was completed quickly.
From what I understand, a lot of this has to do with the strategies/ideas/wants of the town and planning agencies versus the Turnpike Authority. Once 540 was built out, every one was like, "Great! When we finish Morrisville Pkwy, we can have the Turnpike Authority connect it to 540!" and the Turnpike Authority was all, "Uh, with whose money? Our money? Seriously? We just built this thing and aren't exactly planning on extra interchanges" And then everything kinda had to go back to the drawing board as far as funding the connection - where I believe it is today hence all the "if funding is available" language on the website.
Also, IMHO, I'd hate to see 540 get a million exits/interchanges (not that I can tell if this specific one would be a problem) and end up not being anywhere close to a true limited-access highway. Too many exits/interchanges and the whole thing self destructs and is pointless.
From what I understand, a lot of this has to do with the strategies/ideas/wants of the town and planning agencies versus the Turnpike Authority. Once 540 was built out, every one was like, "Great! When we finish Morrisville Pkwy, we can have the Turnpike Authority connect it to 540!" and the Turnpike Authority was all, "Uh, with whose money? Our money? Seriously? We just built this thing and aren't exactly planning on extra interchanges" And then everything kinda had to go back to the drawing board as far as funding the connection - where I believe it is today hence all the "if funding is available" language on the website.
Also, IMHO, I'd hate to see 540 get a million exits/interchanges (not that I can tell if this specific one would be a problem) and end up not being anywhere close to a true limited-access highway. Too many exits/interchanges and the whole thing self destructs and is pointless.
No reason for a ton of interchanges, but Morrisville Parkway is smack in the middle of a several mile gap, which would be fine if there weren't a few thousand homes right near it where people live that could actually use the road.
The Cary Town Council on Thursday is expected to consider entering a $17.6 million deal with the state Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority to build an interchange connecting Morrisville Parkway and N.C. 540.
Cary would pay $5.1 million, and state transportation authorities would pay $12.5 million.
Quote:
The deal is likely to expedite construction, Cary spokeswoman Carrie Roman said, but an exact timetable remains unclear because the town still needs to acquire land for the project.
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