When we're worried about filling up our vehicles without filing for bankruptcy, it seems odd to be thinking about a new freeway. But upgrading U.S. 64 west from Cary is worth a lot of thought.

The idea, being studied by the state Department of Transportation, is to improve traffic flow along 64 by eventually eliminating the red lights and intersections that have been springing up -- and slowing traffic -- as major development moves westward to Apex and beyond.

Right now, the multi-lane divided highway is a mixed bag. A costly renovation smoothed out the stretch from Interstate 40/440 through Cary (64 and U.S. 1 share the road here). Intersections intervene on 64 itself through Apex. Then the drive opens up, only to confront increasing development and crowded, hazardous commuter crossroads nearly to Jordan Lake. Then it's on to Pittsboro (the relatively new bypass there has been a big improvement), Siler City and Asheboro.

Maintaining a smooth-flowing roadway by building overpasses and strictly limiting access points would be a boon to motorists, saving time and perhaps even money (intersections are gas wasters). And an expressway-class 64 might have a larger benefit as well.

That's because it's long been an oddity of the North Carolina highway map that there's no multi-lane, straight-line route between Raleigh, the capital city, and Charlotte, the largest city. Taking I-40 and I-85 requires a detour to Greensboro -- the old Piedmont crescent pattern. But if U.S. 64 met expressway standards all the way to Asheboro, and if rural N.C. 49 were then upgraded to its intersection with Charlotte's I-485, the savings to motorists in miles and aggravation could be worth the cost.