Some call it the “TriEx.” North Carolina’s Triangle Expressway is the first “modern” toll road in Tar Heel State. It also has the distinction of being one of the first toll roads in the country to use electronic toll collection exclusively. If you roll onto the TriEx, your license plates will be photographed, and you’ll get a bill for your toll charges in the mail. Now the TriEx is getting something else: a 10-mile extension, complete with—you guessed it—higher toll rates.
Triangle Expressway two phases: one coming online, the other starting
The 10 miles of new pavement will plop down in the Raleigh area, “easing traffic on local roadways” and connecting Cary, Clayton, Garner, and Holly Springs. Technically, the extension will see North Carolina Highway 55’s Bypass at Apex as one point, and Interstate 87/U.S. 64/U.S. 264 in Knightdale as the other point. This 10-mile stretch is Phase 2 of the highway project. Construction will start this spring.
If there’s a Phase 2, there must be a Phase 1. Sure enough, Phase 1 connects SR55 to I-40/U.S. 70, and runs 18 miles. Phase 1 is almost complete, and will open up this spring.
RVers beware! Quadruple the rate if you have four or more axles
And now for the “bad news.” Last month, a rate increase to $3.94 for NC Quick Pass users traveling the full length of the Triangle Expressway went into effect. Don’t have a “Quick Pass” system? You can use the toll route, but you’ll pay about 35% more. RVer’s beware: Vehicles with four or more axles pay four times the toll rate in North Carolina.
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A few years ago, I was in the Raleigh area on business. Not being familiar with the town, I used the map from the rental car agency to navigate. They neglected to tell me about the toll roads around Raleigh and they were not indicated on the map. I got on one without knowing it. I completed my business, checked in my car and came back home. A couple of months later, I got a bill from the North Carolina department of highways. An enclosed letter said that I had traveled on one of their toll roads without paying. I was charged, I think $4.95. I was also fined $75.00 for not paying to use the road.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! I’ll be sure our RV GPS has “avoid toll roads” selected while we are in North Carolina. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Gas stations on toll roads should not be collecting the fuel tax as that tax is ment to pay for the roadway