APEX - Widening N.C. 55 and finishing the Apex Peakway are among the town's transportation priorities, according to a long-range plan approved by the town this month.

Apex planners also are looking to create road interconnectivity, pedestrian-friendly paths and alternative routes to alleviate bottlenecking and traffic volume.

The town's population is expected to reach 43,000 by 2015 and 70,000 by 2030.

About $24 million in road improvements - plus five miles of sidewalks - are included in the plan.

N.C. 55

The state Department of Transportation has plans to widen N.C. 55 to a multi-lane road in 2019, said Reed Huegerich, a transportation planner for the Apex.

If the state does not widen the road, Apex has placed it on its own transportation wish list.

Adding a center turn lane west of Salem Street on N.C. 55 is needed to deal with some of the congestion on that road, officials said. It would cost about $1 million and it would take more than 10 years.

Apex Peakway

Apex planners also are trying to complete the $16.5 million Apex Peakway, which will eventually be a 5.86 mile continuous, four-lane loop through the town.

The road is to include pedestrian signals, crosswalks, and a 10-foot multiuse path along the inside lanes, and wide outside travel lanes to serve bicycles.

So far, about four miles of the Peakway have been completed. A $3.6 million half mile section over the CSX railroad opened Friday.

Walkers, riders

Apex also is making improvements for walkers and bus passengers.

Sidewalks: Three sidewalk projects are also in the works this year.

The town will spend about $312,000 to fill in gaps of sidewalks along Old Raleigh Road to connect the Eva H. Perry Regional Library to Town Hall.

A $209,000 sidewalk installation will connect Seagroves Farm Subdivision to downtown Apex.

Apex will also spend $27,000 to connect Center Street to Thompson Street.

The projects are funded through the Surface Transportation Program with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is an 80 percent federal cost share and 20 percent local funding match.

Since 2002, Apex has built more than 23,000 feet, more than 4 miles, of sidewalk.

Sidewalk projects are also eventually expected near Apex High School, South Chase Subdivision and East Williams Street.

Bus shelters: Transit shelters have been added to two Triangle Transit stops. And Apex is working with C-Tran to provide service from Cary to Beaver Creek Commons. The route would be contingent on regional funding.