Apex NC 55 Project Targets October Contract Award After Delay
A planned redesign of the NC 55, Technology Drive and East Williams Street intersection in Apex is targeting an October 2026 contract award, with construction expected to begin in winter or spring 2027 and continue through 2029.
The project is N.C. Department of Transportation project HL-0007. It remains a proposed improvement, and the schedule is subject to change. The Town of Apex lists the October bid or contract award target on its NCDOT projects page, while an NCDOT July 2026 transportation-program revision moved construction from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2027 to allow additional time for right-of-way acquisition.
How the intersection would work
HL-0007 would convert the intersection to a Reduced Conflict Intersection, often called a superstreet. In plain language, drivers entering NC 55 from Technology Drive or East Williams Street generally would not turn left directly across opposing traffic.
Instead, side-road traffic would turn right onto NC 55, enter the main traffic flow and use a designated U-turn lane to travel in the opposite direction or cross the highway. Raised medians would guide those movements. NCDOT says the design is intended to reduce conflict points and improve the intersection’s efficiency and traffic-carrying capacity.
Access and road changes
The proposal also calls for restricting access along sections of East Williams Street. That could change how some nearby properties, businesses and neighborhood trips connect to NC 55, although the available project materials do not establish the effect on any individual business or residence.
The project proposes widening NC 55 toward Sunset Lake Road. Project materials describe sections with multiple travel lanes, raised medians, curb and gutter, and different roadway configurations north and south of the intersection.
Pedestrian facilities are included
The plan includes pedestrian facilities along both sides of the corridor. NCDOT project materials describe five-foot sidewalks and a 10-foot side path in portions of the proposed roadway sections.
Those facilities could provide more defined routes for people walking or bicycling, but temporary access changes, crossings or detours may occur once construction begins. Specific construction impacts would depend on later traffic-control and staging plans.
Why the timeline changed
NCDOT’s July 2026 revision to the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program says the project was moved from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2027 to allow additional time for right-of-way acquisition. That fiscal-year programming change is separate from the Town of Apex’s current reader-facing schedule, which lists a contract award target of October 2026.
Under the current town schedule, construction is expected to begin in winter or spring 2027 and continue through 2029. The October award date is a target, not a guarantee, and future updates could change the award or construction timeline.
Who should watch the project
Drivers who regularly use NC 55 near Technology Drive and East Williams Street should expect the eventual design to change turning patterns rather than simply add another signal or turn lane. Nearby businesses and residents should watch for future access notices, right-of-way communications and construction traffic plans.
People who walk or bike through the corridor should also follow updates about the proposed sidewalks, side path and temporary conditions during construction. Until NCDOT awards a contract, the intersection changes, widening and access restrictions remain planned improvements rather than completed changes.
What happens next
The next major milestone is the planned October 2026 bid or contract award. Apex and NCDOT updates will determine whether that target holds and provide more detail about right-of-way work, access changes and construction staging.
Sources
- Town of Apex NCDOT Projects page
- NCDOT HL-0007 project input page
- NCDOT July 2026 STIP revisions, Item N
Look for updates to this story
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