All Things NC! takes a look at how  became .
The headline on the July 4, 2007 Raleigh News & Observer read "New bit of Outer Loop renamed."  This headline told the story of how the soon to be opened five mile stretch of Interstate 540 was not going to be called I-540 after all.  Instead, the freeway would have a new designation, NC 540.  This 'change' was made after many signs for I-540 had been posted on the new freeway.

The reason for the change is North Carolina's plans to build much of 540, that is south of Interstate 40, as a toll road.  Because federal funding was used to build the freeway, in order to maintain 'Interstate' status, NCDOT would had to have given back the money used to build the road.  So rather than pay back the federal government, I-540 became NC 540.

The change came only days before then I-540 was to open to traffic.  Signs for Interstate 540 were in place on the highway as early as May.  As you can see in the photos below, the I-540 shields had to be removed and replaced by NC 540 shields.  Fortunately, myself and others were able to capture some of the former I-540 shields before they were taken down.

Before and after shots of signage on NC 55 East at NC 540. 
Left: A Junction shield for 'Future' I-540 (Taken by William Lawson; May 28, 2007)
Right: After the designation change, a junction NC 540 shield.  (Taken by Bob Malme; July 4, 2007)
Before and after shots of the overhead guide signs located on the 540/Davis Drive on-ramp.
Left: Interstate 540 shields were originally placed on overheads at this interchange.  (Taken by William Lawson; May 28, 2007)
Right: The new freeway is opened as NC 540 and the same overheads reflect the change in designation (Taken by Brian LeBlanc; July 14, 2007)

Site Navigation:
  • Return to the Triangle @ All Things NC! Index
  • I-540/NC 540 @ Wake County Roads


    • Sources & Links:

  • Brian LeBlanc
  • Bob Malme
  • I-540 @ Kurumi.com ---Scott Oglesby
  • I-540 @ Interstate-guide.com ---Andy Field & Alex Nitzman
  • I-540 @ NCRoads.com Annex ---Mike Roberson

    •  

     

    Page Created: November 24, 2007
    Last Updated: November 24, 2007

    © 2007 William Lawson