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Good afternoon, Raleigh. What did one eye say to the other? 👀

Between you and me, something smells. 👃

In today’s Raleigh Rundown:

• 7 fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend + live local music

• Toll roads on Capital Boulevard?

• RDU making plans to add additional runway

• Vacant Kmart finally being replaced

Let’s get to it. 🏃‍♂️

STORIES THIS WEEK

Toll roads on an expanded Capital Boulevard? 🛣️

Raleigh's Capital Boulevard transformation into a tolled freeway is a complex process that requires local officials' decisions and potential legislative approval, with the N.C. Turnpike Authority exploring multiple tolling options. Project costs have dramatically escalated from $465 million to over $1.3 billion, and without tolling, the improvements could take decades to complete.

Officials emphasize that any toll implementation would include alternative free routes and side streets to maintain business access and avoid forcing drivers onto paid lanes. The ultimate goal is to create a six-lane, 65 mph freeway with interchanges that would improve traffic flow, as demonstrated by the success of the first phase of Complete 540.

RDU planning on adding a new runway ✈️

Raleigh-Durham International Airport has approved a $524 million operating budget and a $2.5 billion capital project plan, which includes $1.1 billion for a new runway, but the Consolidated Rental Car facility (CONRAC) remains unresolved. Airport officials have hired Kimley-Horn for nearly $1 million to develop six new CONRAC concepts that would potentially locate rental car facilities adjacent to the terminal, though airport leadership is skeptical about the feasibility of an inner-core location.

In the meantime, the airport is planning a $12 million "refresh" of current operations, funded primarily by customer facility charges, to upgrade rental car service areas and potentially implement new "Guest Experience" technologies. Despite previous plans and over $5 million already spent on planning, rising costs have forced the airport to reconsider the CONRAC project, with any potential implementation likely still a decade away.

Vacant Kmart on Western Boulevard purchased 🏬

Real estate firm CityPlat has purchased the vacant Kmart location at 4500 Western Blvd. in Raleigh and plans to invest $5-6 million to transform the space into at least five separate retail suites, with three letters of intent already signed for active and entertainment tenants. The developers see tremendous potential in the location, which they describe as "second-to-none in the Triangle," and are targeting tenants that can create an experiential destination for families and weekend activities.

While the site's long-term vision includes potential rezoning for up to 20-story buildings, the current focus is on creating a dynamic, multi-use center that reflects the shifting retail landscape away from traditional big-box stores. The project comes at a time when local retail vacancy is at its lowest in five quarters, and property owners are increasingly looking to reinvigorate stale spaces with unique, engaging retail and entertainment options.

WakeMed to remodel main Raleigh campus 🏥

WakeMed is planning a significant long-term project to reshape its main Raleigh campus, involving the construction of a new patient bed tower, emergency department, and surgical suite to replace aging facilities that date back to the 1960s and 1970s. The project, still in early stages, aims to improve patient and employee environments, implement more efficient systems and technologies, and modernize spaces like the emergency department, which is one of the busiest in the United States.

After receiving an exemption from the state's certificate of need process in February, WakeMed expects the work to cost more than $4 million and will be integrated with its other ongoing healthcare expansion projects, including a new campus in Garner and tower additions at its North Hospital and facilities in Cary and Raleigh. Tom Cavender, WakeMed's vice president of facilities and construction, emphasized the importance of meeting and exceeding patient expectations by replacing older facilities that no longer meet current market standards.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC THIS WEEKEND

🎶 Raleigh Live Music – Friday, March 28

• Live Music @ Tin Roof

  • Neighborhood: Downtown Raleigh

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Blue Sedan @ Slim's Dive Bar

  • Neighborhood: Downtown Raleigh

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Skull Jams @ Hartwell

  • Neighborhood: Boylan Heights

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Undergang & Pathogenesis @ The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop

  • Neighborhood: Downtown Raleigh

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Gatsby’s Unplugged - Open Mic @ Gatsby’s Bar Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Millbrook

  • Time: 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

• Jason Damico & The New Blue @ The MC Modern Life deli & drinks

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Atlantic / Millbrook

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Open Mic w/ Brian @ Scooter’s Bar & Grill

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Atlantic / Millbrook

  • Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Pathogenesis, Numinous Lust @ The Pour House Music Hall

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ City Market

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

• Pine 1 Nine Band/Nicholas Vernon @ Uncle Jessie’s Honkytonk

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Five Points

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

• K Bomb & The Kool Whips @ Hero’s Pub & Sandwich Shop

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Six Forks / Sawmill

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

• Kevin Lee @ The Cardinal Bar - Clayton

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Brier Creek NE

  • Time: 10:00 PM - 11:59 PM

🎶 Raleigh Live Music – Saturday, March 29

• SpyCraft @ Slim's Dive Bar

  • Neighborhood: Downtown Raleigh

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Gavin Adcock @ The Ritz

  • Neighborhood: North Raleigh

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Open Mic w/ Brandon @ Compass Rose Brewery

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Live Music @ Tin Roof

  • Neighborhood: Downtown Raleigh

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Zach Burns @ The Walk-Up Company

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh

  • Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• The Mix Tapes @ The Plant

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Iron Works

  • Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• The Eternal Grateful Band @ Kings

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Warehouse District

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Peak City Band @ Scooter’s Bar & Grill

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Atlantic / Millbrook

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Blue Plate Special @ The Wandering Moose

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Spring Forest / Falls

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Good Deal, Dogwood Tales, Lauren Moore @ The Pour House Music Hall

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ City Market

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

• Bradley Edge @ My Way Tavern - Raleigh

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh DT @ Glenwood S

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

• Mike Gangi @ The Piper’s Restaurant & Tavern

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh N @ Falls/ I-540

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

• Tommy Thunderfoot & The Accelerators @ O’Malley’s Pub & Restaurant

  • Neighborhood: Raleigh NW @ Duraleigh

  • Time: 9:00 PM - 11:59 PM

RETRO PIC OF THE WEEK

Snoopy’s Hot Dogs at 1931 Wake Forest Road. May, 1980.

This is the original location of the venerable hot dog joint which was founded by Steve Webb in 1978.

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

80 🌡️ 59 | 🌤️ | 0%

Saturday

81 🌡️ 58 | 🌥️ | 0%

Sunday

78 🌡️ 63 | ⛈️ | 30%

LOCAL SPORTS

Hockey 🏒

• Friday: Montreal Canadiens @ Carolina Hurricanes | 7 PM

• Saturday: New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes | 5 PM

Men’s College Basketball 🏀

Duke remains as the lone ACC team in the NCAA tournament and plays tonight in the Sweet Sixteen.

Click here for an up-to-date tournament bracket, scores, and game times.

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Raleigh Rundown today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who likes zombies. 🧟‍♂️

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