Traffic and infrastructure concerns surface as $3 billion Apex development progresses

On Wednesday, Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert celebrated progress in plans for a $3 billion mixed-use development while concerns about traffic and infrastructure were top of mind for many. 

2025-12-10

Mayor Gilbert and the Apex Town Council unanimously approved four public hearings related to the Veridea project and the North Carolina Children’s Hospital at their meeting Tuesday night.

“It’s really a win, win, win,” says Gilbert.

Construction is already underway on Veridea, a triangle-shaped site with U.S. Highway 1 and N.C. Highway 55 as its borders. The 1,100-acre space is being converted to shops, restaurants, homes, hotels, office space and more.

Mayor Gilbert says Tuesday night’s approvals make room for several key improvements to the project including a 25,000-square foot indoor recreation center - built and paid for by Veridea developer RXR, a regional bus transit center, and walking trails throughout the development. 

“When it comes to responsible development, I think this was a textbook look into what we can do together,” says Gilbert. “When you have developers and the staff sitting down at the table, working together, they can come up with unbelievable plans and this was an example of that.” 

Meanwhile, the thought of plans for more growth makes people like Patricia Runge cringe. 

“Unfortunately, the infrastructure improvements come after the growth,” says Runge. 

She points to increased traffic on N.C. Highway 55 as one example. 

“It’s terrible,” Runge says. “Starting at two o’clock in the afternoon, it’s backed up all the way to 540.” 

Mayor Gilbert says it is a worry he has heard before. 

"It is a valid concern, and when you look at these plans that are approved, oftentimes the build out is years to come just like the transportation plans in place by DOT,” says Gilbert. 

He says the NC Department of Transportation is working with the Town of Apex to address traffic concerns. Projects like the NC 55 Widening & CSX RR Bridge Replacement are listed on the Town of Apex website with proposed right of way and construction schedules.

“We just have to continue to work with NCDOT and communicate with our residents to keep them up to date on what is going on,” Gilbert says. “There are a lot of great things in this project and we’ll address transportation needs along the way.”