The first half of Complete 540 has been open for almost two years. The second half, about 10 miles of new toll road between Garner and Knightdale, is still being built, and NCDOT’s target for finishing it is 2028.
If you live or own a home near the route, here is what the state has actually published about where the project stands.
Complete 540 is being built in two phases
Complete 540 extends the Triangle Expressway from the N.C. 55 Bypass in Apex to I-87 and U.S. 64/264 in Knightdale, closing the outer 540 loop around Raleigh. NCDOT puts the full project at about 28 miles and approximately $2.5 billion.
Phase 1 covers roughly 18 miles, from the N.C. 55 Bypass to I-40 and U.S. 70, which is also designated future I-42. It opened to traffic on September 25, 2024.
Phase 2 is the remaining 10 miles or so. NCDOT describes it as running from the I-40/I-42/Toll N.C. 540 interchange near Garner and Clayton to the existing I-540/I-87/U.S. 64/U.S. 264 interchange in Knightdale. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority is building it in two sections, and NCDOT’s completion target is 2028.
What construction looks like right now
For people who live along the route, the project shows up mostly as closures and detours.
This summer, NCDOT scheduled East Garner Road between Auburn Knightdale Road and Rock Quarry Road to close for about 45 days, starting on or around July 13, 2026, so crews could shift the road onto its new permanent alignment. The state said local access would be kept open during the closure.
Last fall, Rock Quarry Road between Auburn Knightdale Road and Old Baucom Road closed overnight from about November 3 through November 7, 2025, with intermittent lane closures afterward.
NCDOT’s construction activities page describes grading, drainage, and bridge work along the corridor. It is worth checking before you plan a route through the area, although when we looked it had last been updated on December 3, 2025.
What it could mean if you own a home nearby
In the short term, it means construction traffic and the occasional detour, especially around Rock Quarry Road, Auburn Knightdale Road, and East Garner Road.
Longer term, the effect cuts both ways. A new highway interchange can make a location easier to commute from. Road noise and traffic can make a home right beside the corridor less appealing. Which one matters more depends on the specific property and how close it sits to the road, and nobody can promise a result either way.
If you are near the route and trying to decide whether to sell before, during, or after construction, we are happy to talk it through at (919) 205-0576.
How to follow the project
- NCDOT’s Complete 540 project page has the project overview and maps.
- The construction activities page lists work by section.
- NCDOT announces road closures in its press releases.
- The project hotline is (800) 554-7849.
Frequently asked questions
When will Complete 540 be finished?
NCDOT’s target for finishing Phase 2, the last section between Garner and Knightdale, is 2028. Phase 1 opened to traffic on September 25, 2024.
Where does Complete 540 Phase 2 go?
About 10 miles, from the I-40/I-42/Toll N.C. 540 interchange near Garner and Clayton to the existing I-540/I-87/U.S. 64/U.S. 264 interchange in Knightdale, which completes the outer 540 loop.
Is Complete 540 a toll road?
Yes. NCDOT describes the extension as part of the Triangle Expressway, Toll N.C. 540.
How much does Complete 540 cost?
NCDOT puts the cost of the full project, both phases, at approximately $2.5 billion.
Who do I contact about Complete 540 construction?
NCDOT lists a project hotline at (800) 554-7849, and it announces closures in press releases and on the project’s construction activities page.
Sources: NCDOT Complete 540 project page; NCDOT press releases “Road Closure Scheduled for East Garner Road as Part of the Complete 540 Phase 2 Project” (July 2026) and “Road and Lane Closures Scheduled for Rock Quarry Road as Part of the Complete 540 Project” (October 28, 2025); NCDOT Complete 540 construction activities page; Town of Garner development map data. Checked September 12, 2026.
