Category - 1 Urban Highways I-540 at Six Forks: (R-2000D) In an area of rapid residential growth, I-540 is a vital transportation route for those in and around Raleigh. This 4.8 km segment of I-540 provides safe and efficient travel on a 6-lane median divided expressway which culminates at a single point interchange at Six Forks Road in North Raleigh. During construction, steps were taken to minimize the disturbance of the surrounding area. Contractors included a retaining wall to protect a water tower, a noise wall to shield a nearby neighborhood and a reinforced concrete box culvert for pedestrians to provide continuity to a local greenway. In addition, I-540 utilizes a grade separation at Honeycutt Road. This section of I-540 has successfully upgraded the transportation system in the area without jeopardizing the safety or convenience of the existing surroundings. (click to enlarge)

Category - 1 Urban Highways RBC Center Edward's Mill Road: (U-2582) Upon completion of the new Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena (now the RBC Center), the number of commuters coming into Raleigh rose significantly. This project provides a link between the new arena and Wade Avenue, giving traffic generated by arena events direct access to the two major highways on the west side of Raleigh I-40 and I-440 (Raleigh Beltline). To make this connection and meet the physical constraints of the area, designers utilized a compressed diamond interchange at Wade Avenue. This design allowed engineers to fit the interchange into a smaller area than required by a conventional diamond interchange, lending the look of a single point urban interchange and reducing costs. In order to provide safe and efficient shuttle service at the arena, designers incorporated special bus lanes on the eastern side of the interchange to allow convenient access to the arena. Designers also employed reversible lanes between the arena entrance and the Wade Avenue interchange to promote smooth traffic flow before and after arena events. Officials use an overhead sign and signal system to direct traffic in either direction for as needed. During the times of inactivity at the sports arena, Edwards Mill Road operates as a normal multilane street, providing a convenient and much needed connection between Trinity Road and Wade Avenue. [Since this project was completed in 2000, the remainder of the Edwards Mill Road Extension (U-2582B) and the Edwards Mill Road widening project (U-2824B) have also been completed and opened to traffic, providing quick, convenient connections between Trinity Road, Wade Avenue, Duraleigh Road and Glenwood Avenue. Completing this series of projects has helped relieve the large volume of traffic traveling between west Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park and the RDU International Airport. (click to enlarge)     Back to Biennial Awards Homepage