Apex Peakway bridge over Salem Street due early 2027

The Apex Peakway bridge over South Salem Street and the CSX railroad is now expected to be finished in early 2027.

The Town of Apex gave the timeframe in a status update on its Apex Peakway Southwest Connector project page, dated Thursday. The town called the date tentative. Its previous update, on Oct. 2, gave no date, and the project FAQ still says only that the work, through final NCDOT approval, is expected to finish in 2027.

The weather is the main catch. Final paving and lane striping can only be done when both the road surface and the air are above 50 degrees, the town said. It said the contractor and town staff are working to finish that paving as quickly as possible.

The Peakway has been closed between Towhee Drive and South Salem Street since construction began in October 2024. The new four-lane bridge closes the last gap in the loop around town.

Where the work stands

The town’s Nov. 5 update lists this work as finished:

• the 20-inch water main along South Salem Street
• storm drainage
• the block retaining wall on South Salem Street, apart from its handrail

Still in progress:

• asphalt paving along South Salem Street
• the brick facade around the north end of the bridge
• the retaining walls, median and sidewalk where the Peakway meets the new South Salem Street on and off ramp

What comes next

Before the road can open, the town’s list of upcoming work includes:

• sidewalks and medians along South Salem Street
• brick facades, guardrails, bridge light poles, decorative rails and fencing
• the remaining brick pavers on the medians and sidewalks
• traffic and pedestrian signals
• final surface paving, permanent lane markings and signs

The town said it will post traffic changes as the project gets closer to completion. It has not said whether traffic will use the bridge before every item is finished.

What it means for you

• The detour stays for now. Through traffic still goes by Olive Chapel Road, Williams Street and Salem Street. Grappenhall Drive and Towhee Drive remain reachable from the Peakway.
• A cold winter could push the date. The 50-degree rule for final paving means the timing depends partly on the weather.
• Tingen Road will change for good. Once the bridge opens, Tingen Road closes permanently at the railroad crossing, the town says. A temporary signal now controls Tingen Road and Justice Heights Street at South Salem Street. James Street was built as a major collector road to carry the extra traffic.
• Towhee Drive becomes right in, right out. After construction, drivers at Towhee Drive will only be able to turn right onto or off the Peakway, on both sides. That serves Whitehall Manor to the west and Shangri-La to the east.

Cost and funding

The construction contract runs from October 2024 to October 2027, at an estimated $22 million. Federal money covers up to $12.5 million of that, as a 50% matching grant toward construction. The town’s 2015 transportation bond paid for design, permits, utility moves and land, and its 2021 streets and sidewalks bond covers the rest of construction.

The bridge was designed for traffic projected for 2040, with wide sidewalks on both sides, the town says.

For the downtown Salem Street work, the Jessie Drive project and state road work near town, see our Apex road closures page. For main roads, transit and parking, see our guide to getting around Apex.