Interactive Project Study Area Map

Project Overview

This project proposes to widen approximately 2.4 miles of Aviation Parkway (S.R. 1002) from N.C. 54 (Chapel Hill Road) in Morrisville to I-40 in Cary. The existing roadway will be widened to a four-lane, median-divided roadway with bicycle and pedestrian facilities. A quadrant-loop intersection is proposed at the intersection of Aviation Parkway and N.C. 54, and N.C. 54 is proposed to be shifted slightly to the east to create a greater separation between the railroad and roadway.  

The primary purpose of this project is to reduce congestion on Aviation Parkway and improve the level of service (LOS) in the design year (2050) peak hours along the corridor and at signalized intersections. Another purpose of this project is to improve east-west mobility through Morrisville and to I-40 and I-540/NC 540.  With adjacent recently completed projects in conjunction with U-5811, the Aviation Parkway/Morrisville Carpenter Road corridor will be a 4-lane median divided arterial road from Davis Drive to Brier Creek.  

Project History

The project began in 2015. Project Design, environmental analysis, and public engagement was conducted until the project was suspended in 2019. The project was restarted in 2023. Key dates are listed below:

• Winter 2015 through Fall 2019 – NCDOT collected data on existing conditions, developed preliminary designs, and calculated potential impacts
• February 2016 – NCDOT held public informational meeting #1
• June 2019 – NCDOT held public informational meeting #2
• Fall 2019 – Project suspended by NCDOT
• June 2023 – NCDOT restarted project development activities
• June 2023 through present day – NCDOT design redevelopment, updated agency coordination, and recalculation of impacts

Project Highlights

Aviation Parkway will be upgraded to a four-lane, median divided roadway with a 10-foot multi-use path on the south side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side. Left turns will not be allowed at Aviation Parkway/N.C. 54, but instead will be accommodated through a new, short loop road (“quadrant-loop”). Additionally, widening of Aviation Parkway will include widening across the Lake Crabtree causeway. The current design calls for replacement of the existing culvert across the causeway, resulting in causeway closure during construction efforts. 

The project will tie into the Aviation Parkway/I-40 interchange improvement project (STIP No. I-5506), which was recently completed. 

Project Maps

Clicking on the maps will enlarge them for easier viewing.

Typical Sections

Aviation Parkway

Lake Crabtree Causeway

N.C. 54 Quadrant Loop

Project Timeline

* Future dates are preliminary and subject to change

This project is listed as Project U-5811 in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded for $59.3 million.

* Costs are preliminary and subject to change

Public Involvement

NCDOT began the planning and design phase for this project in late 2015. The first public meeting was held in February 2016. At this meeting, the project team presented the study area and the purpose of the project. The public was asked for their concerns and needs along the corridor. A second public meeting was held on June 12, 2019.  At this meeting, the project team presented two options for the NC 54 quadrant loop.

A third public meeting is scheduled for:

Monday, May 12, 2025

5-7 p.m.

Morrisville Town Hall

100 Town Hall Drive

Morrisville, NC 27560

NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public of the project and gather input on the proposed design. The public may attend at any time during the public meeting hours, as no formal presentation will be made.

Comments/Questions

Any additional comments may be submitted via:

• U.S. Mail to the Project Manager listed at the bottom of this page;
• email to aviationparkway@publicinput.com;
• or at any meeting;
• or          Phone Number:  984-205-6615    enter project code 11379 to leave a message

All comments received carry equal weight, regardless of submission method. 

All comments will be reviewed and suggestions/recommendations incorporated into designs where feasible. 

Please submit any comments by the deadline, May 30, 2025.

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS 

Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of way Acquisition Process Videos

English                                                                     Spanish

Project Contact Information

Joel Perlin, PMP

NCDOT Project Manager

NCDOT Project Management Unit

1582 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC  27699-1582