Capital Boulevard North upgrade enters geotechnical phase as Wake Forest corridor moves toward final design

NCDOT’s long-planned Capital Boulevard North Upgrade has entered a new preconstruction phase, with geotechnical work beginning in June 2026 on the planned Raleigh-to-Wake Forest corridor.

The work is not roadway construction. It involves studying soil, rock and groundwater conditions so engineers can complete the design and prepare for future construction on U.S. 1.

For Wake Forest residents, businesses and property owners, the immediate consequence is preparatory activity such as surveying, drilling and other investigations—not major construction, immediate traffic changes or the removal of existing driveways and signals.

What is happening now

The project would run from I-540 in Raleigh to Purnell and Harris roads in Wake Forest. NCDOT says segments A and B, from I-540 to Burlington Mills Road, are in final design and right-of-way acquisition.

Segment C would run from Burlington Mills Road to N.C. 98 Business, also known as Durham Road. Segment D would continue from N.C. 98 Business to Purnell and Harris roads. NCDOT says design work is not currently in progress on either segment and is anticipated to restart in late 2026, with the project highlights page describing the restart as expected in winter 2026. Future dates may change.

NCDOT’s project materials identify right-of-way activities for relocations, but the current overview does not establish which specific Wake Forest properties, if any, will be acquired or relocated. Property owners should rely on project maps, formal notices and direct NCDOT communications for location-specific information.

How Capital Boulevard is proposed to change

The proposed project would convert the existing four-lane, median-divided roadway with partial access control into a six-lane controlled-access highway. Drivers would enter and exit through ramps and interchanges rather than using the current pattern of direct driveway and side-street access.

NCDOT’s project highlights include new or improved interchanges, overpasses, service roads and connecting streets. The proposal also calls for removing traffic signals within the project limits and eliminating direct driveway access to the main roadway.

Those are future project features, not changes taking place during the current geotechnical phase. For Wake Forest businesses along U.S. 1, the major long-term question will be how customers, employees, deliveries and neighboring streets connect to the future corridor.

Construction targets remain years away

NCDOT currently lists 2031 as the target for construction to begin on segments A and B. Construction for segments C and D is targeted for 2033. The department cautions that future dates are subject to change as design, right-of-way, funding and coordination continue.

The project is proceeding as a traditional non-tolled roadway. NCDOT’s toll-road evaluation ran from January 2024 through November 2025, but that evaluation has ended.

Why it matters locally

The Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership has described the corridor as important to commuting, regional connections and future business access. Its July 6, 2026, account said design, planning and geotechnical work were underway and highlighted the proposed limited-access design and service roads.

That business perspective does not guarantee future development or economic results. It does underscore why access planning matters now: a faster regional route could also change how drivers reach individual properties along Capital Boulevard.

Residents, businesses and property owners can monitor NCDOT’s project maps, right-of-way information and future design updates for changes affecting particular locations. The current schedule leaves substantial time before construction, but the June geotechnical work marks a step from long-range planning into more detailed preparation.

Sources

• NCDOT Capital Boulevard North Upgrade project overview
• Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership: State Adopts Capital Boulevard Corridor Transformation as a Top Priority
• Raleigh News & Observer: NCDOT will build US 1 freeway in Wake County without tolls