The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) announced a public meeting on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. to discuss a major upgrade to US 64 in Wake County, a corridor that carries tens of thousands of vehicles daily and directly affects Raleigh commuters.
According to WRAL, the meeting will be held at the John M. Brown Community Center in Apex. Residents, business owners and other stakeholders are invited to hear project details and provide feedback.
The proposed improvements include constructing new interchanges at Laura Duncan Road and Lake Pine Drive, elevating both roads above US 64. NCDOT maps also show a widening of the highway to six lanes, extending from just west of Laura Duncan Road in Apex to US 1 in Cary.
Current traffic counts on the corridor range from more than 40,000 vehicles per day near Laura Duncan Road to over 56,000 vehicles per day at US 1. NCDOT projects a traffic increase of more than 40 % by 2040, underscoring the need for additional capacity, according to the agency’s spokesperson.
Cost estimates for the project exceed $340 million, with construction slated to begin in 2031. Before any widening can start, NCDOT plans to extend the CSX railroad bridge located west of Laura Duncan Road.
Members of the public may submit comments online at [email protected] or by phone at 512‑580‑8850, using project code 2246. The comment period closes on Dec. 18.
Pat Quick, a resident living near the planned Laura Duncan Road interchange, told WRAL, “It’s bad. It’s noisy. It’s crowded. Basically, it’s just a traffic jam… It’s something that’s needed. The county’s growing, especially Apex.”
What’s next? After the Nov. 18 meeting, NCDOT will review public input before finalizing design plans. Residents should submit feedback by Dec. 18, and the agency expects to move forward with construction preparations toward a 2031 start date.
Sources: wral.com
