Late-night drivers around Knightdale are in for a rough week, with a series of overnight lane closures on I-87 as crews push ahead on the Complete 540 Phase 2 project. The closures will hit the I-87 interchange area in both directions, and anyone rolling through during those hours should plan for detours and some stop-and-go frustration.
According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, I-87 South between Smithfield Road and Hodge Road is scheduled to close nightly from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on April 6–7, while I-87 North between Hodge Road and Smithfield Road will see similar overnight shutdowns April 9–10, with detours routed via I-540 and U.S. 64, per NCDOT. The agency notes that all closures are weather dependent and is bluntly suggesting drivers steer clear of the area if they can.
The work is focused on tying together final ramps and interchange connections at the I-87/I-540/U.S. 64/U.S. 264 junction in Knightdale, and crews could start shifting traffic into new patterns by the end of April as that work continues, according to Triangle Business Journal. Those shifts are designed to let crews finish paving and ramp tie-ins without creating daytime chaos along the corridor.
What Complete 540 Will Change
Phase 2 of Complete 540 will stretch the Triangle Expressway about 10 miles from I-40 to the existing I-540/I-87 interchange in Knightdale and add new interchanges at White Oak Road, U.S. 70, Rock Quarry Road, Auburn-Knightdale Road and Poole Road, as reported by ABC11. Supporters argue that closing the loop will take pressure off local roads and unlock new development corridors across southern Wake County.
Timeline And Big Picture
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority's FY 2024 annual report lists Phase 2 as opening to traffic in late 2028, which would finally complete the outer 540 loop around the Raleigh area and tie together decades of planning and phased construction, per the Turnpike Authority. Once open, operations and maintenance of the facility will be covered by toll revenues collected on the Triangle Expressway.
How To Stay Updated
Motorists can track the Complete 540 construction schedule and current lane closures on NCDOT's project page and reach the project team at [email protected] or 1-800-554-7849 with questions, according to project materials from NCDOT. Drivers should also brace for intermittent overnight detours on local routes such as U.S. 64/Knightdale Boulevard while crews move equipment and set up new traffic patterns.
