What's in a name? Interstate 540 or Triangle Expressway

David McDowell over at the No Tolls on I-540 website writes about the official decision to call the 540 toll road the "Triangle Expressway" or the "Tri-X". He writes:

...they officially approved a motion to call the road the "Triangle Expressway" and to nickname it "Tri-X", which is what they hope traffic reporters will call the road. There you have it, the road will not be called 540 if the NCTA has their way.

You can see the full post here.

Well he's kinda right. From everything I have read and been told it will continue to be Interstate 540. even though it will be part of the "Triangle Expressway". Just like you have the Durham Freeway as NC 147. Or specifically related to I-540, the Southern Wake Expressway or the Western Wake Expressway etc. More than likely, I-540 will be signed as Interstate 540 Toll. Just like they do in Greenville, South Carolina with the toll section of Interstate 185.

Here's an example of how it may be posted.

Photo credit: Carter Buchanan, 2001.

And don't forget, when the entire loop is finished, I-540 is supposed to be redesignated as I-640. Now how the NCTA will sign the extension of NC 147 - the part of the Triangle Expressway that runs from I-40 to I-540, is unknown.

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