Here's another look at the roads around the airport, from the Raleigh Times on August 17, 1977. It reads "The long-range planning committee of Raleigh-Durham Airport wants to know where citizens would like to see a new runway and terminal building built. Airport Engineer Thomas H. McDowell said citizens should draw their design and send it to him, in care of Raleigh-Durham Airport, P.O. Box 27284, Raleigh, N.C., 27611." Neato.
Evening update. Here's a second version of this diagram, with additional graphics noting which roads have since been closed, changed, or added. Things were moved around after the third runway was built, then really rearranged after Interstate 540 was built. Mind you, the engineers still botched the Lumley / Westgate / Highway 70 / Interstate 540 exchange. Who thought that one up, requiring a stoplight between exiting 70 and entering 540? Thanks to the gang at the airport fire station for clarifying a few details. Click once or twice to enlarge:
And things will get even more botched up once the planned 4th (3rd parallel) runway is built.
RescueRanger - 10/12/11 - 21:54
To add on to your comment about 540/70/Lumley/Westgate, this was the same group of engineers that thought 1 lane was enough to exit from 540 onto 40. Thankfully THAT debacle has since been fixed
cpd5675 - 10/17/11 - 01:18