Interstate 73/74

Started by Voyager, January 18, 2009, 08:09:48 AM

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bob7374

Quote from: Strider on June 20, 2012, 01:53:13 PM
I can't be more than happy for how NC and SC is trying to make the interstates come true. I dont know about Virginia though.. I think that in the future, I-73 will just exist from Roanoke to Myrtle Beach, and I-74 from I-81 southward as well.

Is there more pictures on the US 220 improvements though Asheboro? Just wondering.

When is the new updated I-73/74 website up and running?
Hopefully, within the next few weeks. I have to update my original 2010 web page files with new info and photos and then work on uploading everything to a new server (while I'm back at Duke, my volunteer status prevents me from accessing my files on their server). Meanwhile, any new I-73/74 info will be posted here.

I have several more pics of the Asheboro area that will be posted on the web page, when it is up. Next time, hope to get shots heading northbound.


bob7374

Bad and good news to report on the two I-73 and I-74 construction projects going on in NC. First the bad, due to delays in completing two bridges and possibly other problems, the completion date for the I-74 freeway between Cedar Square Road and US 220 has been pushed back from late October to the end of 2012. The good news is the reconstruction project for US 220 through Asheboro is still scheduled to be completed in about 2 months, on October 16. Most of the remaining construction work surrounds the NC 42, left side, interchange.

You can view the latest photos of the I-74 construction progress in my latest blog entry:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2012/08/last-pre-opening-i-74-freeway-progress.html it has links to my prior post covering progress in completing I-73/74 through Asheboro.

bob7374

On the 10th anniversary of the debut of my I-73/I-74 in NC website, I have revised and updated the pages with information through this past August and have placed them on a new server. The new URL is: <url>http://web.simmons.edu/~malme/prog7374.html</url>

I am still in the process of placing the latest photos from this past summer on some of the pages. Given my current residence in MA, I would welcome any updates or photos from anywhere along the I-73/I-74 corridor. Contact information is listed on the main page. Comments or suggestions about the site are appreciated.

Henry

Nice-looking and informative website, as usual.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

bob7374

Good News/Bad News on the I-73/I-74 in NC front. The good news is that the project to improve US 220 through Asheboro is ahead of schedule. NCDOT reports its 99.1% done as of 9/30 and to be completed next week (10/16). This will allow NCDOT to sign the rest of US 220 north to I-85 in Greensboro as official I-73 or I-73/I-74 (though this may not happen until next summer). Also the US 311, I-74 freeway project was 95% complete at the end of September. While press reports indicate a December completion, at this rate it could be open sooner.

The bad news is the letting of the first part of the US 220 Rockingham Bypass has been delayed from next month to May 2013 due to unresolved issues regarding the moving of utilities in the highway ROW. This will not delay the completion of the entire project, however, since the next 2 parts are not scheduled for construction until 2019.

Alps

Quote from: bob7374 on October 09, 2012, 11:07:15 AM
Good News/Bad News on the I-73/I-74 in NC front. The good news is that the project to improve US 220 through Asheboro is ahead of schedule. NCDOT reports its 99.1% done as of 9/30 and to be completed next week (10/16). This will allow NCDOT to sign the rest of US 220 north to I-85 in Greensboro as official I-73 or I-73/I-74 (though this may not happen until next summer). Also the US 311, I-74 freeway project was 95% complete at the end of September. While press reports indicate a December completion, at this rate it could be open sooner.

Cool. I'll be past there Monday and make sure to take a look.

jcarte29

Quote from: bob7374 on September 03, 2012, 10:38:51 PM
On the 10th anniversary of the debut of my I-73/I-74 in NC website, I have revised and updated the pages with information through this past August and have placed them on a new server. The new URL is: <url>http://web.simmons.edu/~malme/prog7374.html</url>


I am still in the process of placing the latest photos from this past summer on some of the pages. Given my current residence in MA, I would welcome any updates or photos from anywhere along the I-73/I-74 corridor. Contact information is listed on the main page. Comments or suggestions about the site are appreciated.


So did I see right that there are I-74 mile markers in Forsyth County as of July 2012?!
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

bob7374

Two new items on I-73/I-74. First, a couple travelers up the US 220 corridor report that I-73/74 is signed officially through Asheboro as far north as Vision Drive with the completion of the upgrade project. The new exit signs all have I-73 mileposts, and the most northern reads mile 75. Once the FHWA signs off on the completion of the Asheboro upgrade project, NCDOT can replace the Future I-73 signs north to I-85 in Greensboro with official I-73 shields (and Future I-74 north with official I-74 shields as far north as Randleman). They can also replace all the future signs south to Ellerbe as well. This may not happen though (with the exception of the stretch between Asheboro and the I-74 freeway when it opens) until a contract to replace all the exit signs is let sometime in 2013.
Second, NCDOT has posted letters on its Route Changes webpage sent to the FHWA Regional Office in Raleigh requesting the remainder of the US 311 Bypass freeway from Cedar Square Rd to US 220 be added to the Interstate system as I-74 and that the FHWA recognize US 311 between I-40 and High Point as Future I-74. The first is largely a formality, however the second is interesting for 2 reasons, one-they've had this route signed as Future I-74 since 2008 and two-the official I-74 is supposed to leave US 311 on the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway before hitting I-40. Perhaps they want to tie the western end into an Interstate, or its a contingency plan in case the Beltway completion is put on hold and they get permission to route I-74 through Winston-Salem, at least temporarily.

jcarte29

Bob, that is an amazing development and update. Thank you for all your hard work with information from  those projects. As a native to Winston-Salem, I am giddy to think that we will finally get recognition for I-74, besides one little "future corridor sign" on each side of the highway.

So I guess I still have 2 questions though...

To your last point, would a waiver be granted to take away the "future" on I-74 in Forsyth County so (as you speculated) it ties in to an interstate (40) even though the
Long term plan is to turn it north by union cross rd along the eastern belt line? (which I think we all realize is a long ways off). I used to travel that section of 311 back and forth when I worked in HP and even though the shoulders might not be interstate standards, the exits are IMHO.

And 2, is the last leg of the HP east belt still scheduled for completion by the end of the year? would this mean I-74 is official from ellerbe to High Point? That was the only part of your post I was a bit confused about...

Thanks and I also  enjoy the blog and your site dedicated to 73/74 on the new server...
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

bob7374

Quote from: jcarte29 on October 16, 2012, 06:32:54 AM
So I guess I still have 2 questions though...

To your last point, would a waiver be granted to take away the "future" on I-74 in Forsyth County so (as you speculated) it ties in to an interstate (40) even though the
Long term plan is to turn it north by union cross rd along the eastern belt line? (which I think we all realize is a long ways off). I used to travel that section of 311 back and forth when I worked in HP and even though the shoulders might not be interstate standards, the exits are IMHO.

And 2, is the last leg of the HP east belt still scheduled for completion by the end of the year? would this mean I-74 is official from ellerbe to High Point? That was the only part of your post I was a bit confused about...

Thanks and I also  enjoy the blog and your site dedicated to 73/74 on the new server...
Thanks for the site comments. As to your questions: NCDOT's letter to the FHWA regarding the future I-74 designation implies that, at least for now, they're not considering applying for a waiver for US 311 in Forsyth. I agree the major issues are with the shoulders and not the exits. Ironically though, as shown with the waivers allowed through the Asheboro area regarding the current exits there, the FHWA seems more concerned with getting the shoulders up to standard before granting interstate status than deficiencies in off and on-ramps.

Yes, when I-74 is completed by the end of the year, the route will be official (though it may not be signed that way in some places for a while) from High Point to just beyond Ellerbe. And you will be able to take an uninterrupted 4-lane road without stoplights, mostly freeway, if not an interstate, all the way from Mt. Airy to just north of Rockingham. The Future/I-74 route from I-40 to I-73 should be helpful to people going to Asheboro and points further south and east from the Winston-Salem area and back wanting to avoid Greensboro.

jcarte29

Just saw a story (link below) on Fox8 WGHP High-Point that completion of I-74 8 mile stretch has been pushed back *again* to...get this...April 2013! :-/

http://myfox8.com/2012/10/10/311-bypass-project-delayed-again/
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

Strider

Delayed again? Wow. I was so looking forward to drive on the new road. oh well, at least it's not delayed one year. I wonder if that will affect the signing of I-73 north to Greensboro since now the opening is delayed. Does everyone have the pictures of the I-73/I-74 completed through Asheboro? I would like to see them.

I also wonder if US 220 will be moved back to the old routing (from where I-73/US 220 meets Business 220 at Level Cross exit) or? I know that NCDOT put US 117 back on its original routing after I-795 is signed..

jcarte29

I finally got a chance to drive segment 8 of I-73 today....looked great. I took pictures and will upload them later, or send them to Adam Prince, whichever is easier. As predicted signs changed to "future" once I reached segment 7, except overhead.

I was also excited to see the skinny I-74 mile posts *inside* Forsyth County, even though it was "Future I-74" along US 311.
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

bob7374

Quote from: jcarte29 on October 21, 2012, 10:08:39 PM
I finally got a chance to drive segment 8 of I-73 today....looked great. I took pictures and will upload them later, or send them to Adam Prince, whichever is easier. As predicted signs changed to "future" once I reached segment 7, except overhead.

I was also excited to see the skinny I-74 mile posts *inside* Forsyth County, even though it was "Future I-74" along US 311.
I would be happy to post some of your photos once you upload then on my Segment 8 page, as well. Contact info on the main page http://www.simmons.edu/~malme/prog7374.html

CanesFan27

Please send them to Bob...I don't have time to really work on anything at this point.  He'll be able to add them to his site and/or the blog a lot quicker than I could.

jcarte29

Quote from: CanesFan27 on October 22, 2012, 10:34:17 AM
Please send them to Bob...I don't have time to really work on anything at this point.  He'll be able to add them to his site and/or the blog a lot quicker than I could.

I will do that, I am still out of town but I don't work again until tomorrow so I'll get time to upload them tonight at home. Happy to help, I'm sure the drivers on the highway thought I was crazy or in distress on the side of the road haha, stayed in the car most of the time though. Took the pics with my iPad, which did an awesome job IMHO.
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

Strider

jcarte29, I am glad you took pictures of that segment. I am not in NC at this time, but I wanted to see how it look like. So exciting that NC is finally about to sign I-73 north to Greensboro (especially on the overhead boards that needs to be signed.. whether it is "Future" or "Interstate". Still disappointed about the delay of US 311 bypass though.

Also I am excited about NC moving their 73/74 projects faster. Hopefully SC and VA will do the same. (I know they have their own issues to deal with)

vdeane

I think NC is really the only state that interested in I-73 and I-74; they seem to be dragging the other states along.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

Strider

Yeah and they are also the first state to sign I-73/I-74. so yes they are really interested into signing them around the state.

jcarte29

Well, I hope my pictures got to Bob, I received an immediate "undeliverable" but I think it was because of my old school email addy, I cc'd it so I could check and see if it worked lol. But now that the pictures are on my computer, I can post to Flickr (sp?) or any other method you might see fit...
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

jcarte29

Quote from: Strider on October 22, 2012, 01:00:43 PM
...Hopefully SC and VA will do the same. (I know they have their own issues to deal with)

SC looks like it will, VA is going to be years and years away, IMHO.
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

CanesFan27

you can always post to the Southeast Roads Facebook Group

jcarte29

Quote from: CanesFan27 on October 23, 2012, 10:48:25 AM
you can always post to the Southeast Roads Facebook Group

great idea, just sent the "request" to be added. Didnt even know bout it.
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

Henry

Quote from: deanej on October 22, 2012, 05:40:52 PM
I think NC is really the only state that interested in I-73 and I-74; they seem to be dragging the other states along.
Quote from: jcarte29 on October 23, 2012, 10:48:12 AM
Quote from: Strider on October 22, 2012, 01:00:43 PM
...Hopefully SC and VA will do the same. (I know they have their own issues to deal with)

SC looks like it will, VA is going to be years and years away, IMHO.
As this would be entirely east of I-77, and I-75 for that matter, this, at the very least, should've been a southern extension of I-79! In fact, I have some old atlases with that route drawn in, using parts of the I-73 and I-74 as proposed here.

Unless WV, OH and MI reconsider their decisions, the number as it is makes absolutely no sense at all. Then again, I-99 is so far west of I-95 that this would be rendered moot.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

bob7374

Quote from: jcarte29 on October 22, 2012, 10:44:50 AM
Quote from: CanesFan27 on October 22, 2012, 10:34:17 AM
Please send them to Bob...I don't have time to really work on anything at this point.  He'll be able to add them to his site and/or the blog a lot quicker than I could.

I will do that, I am still out of town but I don't work again until tomorrow so I'll get time to upload them tonight at home. Happy to help, I'm sure the drivers on the highway thought I was crazy or in distress on the side of the road haha, stayed in the car most of the time though. Took the pics with my iPad, which did an awesome job IMHO.
I've posted jcarte29's photos and they are available at:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2012/10/photos-of-new-i-73i-74-segment-through.html



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