| NC 147 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by NCDOT | ||||
| Length: | 18 mi (29 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1970[1] – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end: | NC 540 in Morrisville | |||
| I-40 near Durham US 15 / US 501 in Durham |
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| North end: | I-85 in Durham | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Wake, Durham | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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North Carolina Highway 147 is a North Carolina state highway. The route connects the Research Triangle Park to both Western Wake County and the city of Durham.
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The route's entire length is a limited access freeway; linking NC 540 in Morrisville with the Research Triangle Park (RTP), Downtown Durham and Interstates 40 and 85. It is a fairly urbanized commuter-route and suffers from peak-traffic during conventional rush hours. Speed limits on the freeway range from 55 mph (89 km/h) to 65 mph (105 km/h).
From NC 540 to Interstate 40, the highway is a toll road, part of the Triangle Expressway. Tolling on this stretch of NC 147 will begin on January 3, 2012.[2][3]
Its northern terminus with Interstate 85 is a partial interchange, where northbound NC 147 merges onto southbound I-85 and vice-versa. Travelers wanting to go north on I-85 and vice-versa must utilize the nearby U.S. 15-501 freeway.
Though the highway is commonly known as "North Carolina Highway 147" or "Route 147" throughout the state, the highway does have other known names it uses locally in areas.
From NC 540 to Interstate 40, NC 147 is part of the Triangle Expressway, the first toll road in North Carolina. Tolls are collected all-electronically and camera enforced. Tolls are $0.15 per mile with NC Quick Pass or $0.24 per mile for non-NC Quick Pass drivers.[2][5][6]
The first section of the road, completed in the early 1970s around downtown Durham, was designated Interstate 40. The road was later extended southward to where it now meets the current I-40, but the decision was made for I-40 to bypass Durham. The section inside the city was renamed. Eventually, the problems that caused the original I-40 extension to I-85 to be delayed were overcome, and NC 147 was extended through the city.
On September 6, 2011, the south termini at T.W. Alexander Drive (exit 4) was permanently closed to make way for NC 147's extension to NC 540 in Morrisville; this made I-40 the temporary southern termini for three months. On December 8, 2011, the southern extension was opened. Dubbed the Triangle Parkway, the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) stretch of road is also part of the Triangle Expressway.[2][3][7][8]
The only future project involving NC 147 is the proposed East End Connector (Currently in planning and environmental study).[9]
| County | Location | Mile | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake | Morrisville | 1 | NC 540 (Western Wake Freeway) to I-540 to I-40 – Raleigh | NC 147 begins; Triangle Expressway continues NC 540 south | |
| Durham | 2 / 3 | Davis Drive / Hopson Road | Signed exit 2 northbound, exit 3 southbound | ||
| T.W. Alexander Drive | Permanently closed as of September 6, 2011[7][8] | ||||
| 5 | I-40 to NC 54 – Raleigh, Chapel Hill, RDU Airport | Signed as exit 5A (East) and 5B (West) | |||
| 6 | Cornwallis Road – Research Triangle Park | ||||
| 7 | T.W. Alexander Drive | ||||
| 8 | Ellis Road | ||||
| Durham | US 70 Conn. |
Proposed East End Connector (Currently in planning and environmental study)[9] | |||
| 10 | Briggs Avenue – Durham Technical Community College | ||||
| 11 | NC 55 (Alston Avenue) | ||||
| 12A | Fayetteville Street – North Carolina Central University | ||||
| 12B | US 15 Bus. / US 501 Bus. (Mangum Street/Roxboro Street) – Downtown |
To Durham Bulls Athletic Park | |||
| 12C | Duke Street | To North Carolina Museum of Life and Science | |||
| 13 | Chapel Hill Street | ||||
| 14 | To US 70 Bus. / Swift Avenue – Duke University East Campus |
To North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and Northgate Mall | |||
| 15A | Elba Street / Trent Drive | To Duke Medical Center | |||
| 15B | Hillandale Road / Fulton Street | To Veterans Affairs Medical Center | |||
| 16 | US 15 / US 501 to I-85 north – Chapel Hill, Duke University West Campus | Signed as exit 16A (north) and 16B (south) | |||
| I-85 south – Greensboro | NC 147 ends; northbound exit, southbound enterance | ||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus • Closed/Former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
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