Construction Begins on Durham’s East End Connector
(Triangle Business Journal, April 22, 2015)
State and local officials broke ground Wednesday on the East End Connector, which will provide Durham with a direct freeway connection.
The 3.9-mile, $142 million project is expected to be completed by 2019. It is designed to reduce traffic cutting through downtown Durham.
When finished, the connector will link four major routes in the area, including I-85, U.S. 70, N.C. 147 and I-40. It will also provide a freeway link between the Triangle Expressway and U.S. 1 in southern Wake County, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Joe Milazzo, executive director of the Regional Transportation Alliance, says the East End Connector has been a top priority for the local business community for decades. The project was initially proposed in 1959.
“This is a big deal for the Durham community and the greater Triangle,” Milazzo says. “Improving access to downtown Durham while also alleviating traffic will mean a lot in terms of commerce.”