North Carolina

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Is the law for work zones, or anywhere a lane merges? As written, it appears to refer to anywhere. Will signs have to be replaced? Lane markings revised?

I get it for work zones and temporary lane closures (upcoming example of one on I-26), but I don't think this is going to change how anyone utilizes existing merge points. The better solution would be to eliminate the bottlenecks that create the issues in the first place.

"Where two lanes of traffic merge into one, drivers shall utilize both lanes until reaching the merging area, and, beginning with the driver in the right lane, alternate yielding the right-of-way until there is no longer a queue at the merging area."

HB 740 v2

[wdcrft63]

It's hard to imagine cops enforcing this law as long as there's no accident. They have a lot better ways to occupy their time. If there's an accident, it might help identify the driver at fault.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Construction at the I-440 and Wade Ave. interchange a couple of weeks ago.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

A project to repair the failing drainage system on I-26 at Howard Gap in Polk County (MM 62.5-64.0) is scheduled to begin this summer. Construction can begin after July 26, with most construction finished by May 2023.

It's not often you see roadway plans with "active landslide" outlined.

Project Proposal
Roadway Plans

[architect77]

On the Beltline, I'm not a huge fan of precast retaining walls that mimic other stone products. I say keep it plain and unobtrusive.

[Avalanchez71]

On the Beltline, I'm not a huge fan of precast retaining walls that mimic other stone products. I say keep it plain and unobtrusive.

What are you speaking of here?  Is it to the aesthetics or functionality?

[nerdom]

^^^^Thank you for the Beltline pics. Been wondering about progress there for a while. First pics I've seen.

[LM117]

As part of the I-26 widening project, the new Brookside Camp Road bridge over I-26 near Hendersonville opens today.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/2021-05-20-new-bridge-i-26-brookside-camp.aspx

[cowboy_wilhelm]

^^^^Thank you for the Beltline pics. Been wondering about progress there for a while. First pics I've seen.

I'd like to get some pictures at the Hillsborough and Western interchanges, but they're a little tricky to get to. Honestly, not much is happening at either interchange at the moment. They've started walls and bridges at both, but nothing "major" or exciting that is worth going out of the way for. They've cleared some land and demolished the gas station at the intersection of Blue Ridge and Hillsborough, but no major construction has started there that I can see. Based on how slowly the work is going at the Wade interchange, I'm a little dubious of their claim of completing this in 2023, but we will see. (Photos from last June here.)

[cowboy_wilhelm]

A project to repair the failing drainage system on I-26 at Howard Gap in Polk County (MM 62.5-64.0) is scheduled to begin this summer. Construction can begin after July 26, with most construction finished by May 2023.

It's not often you see roadway plans with "active landslide" outlined.

Project Proposal
Roadway Plans

I-26 drainage fun fact of the day: "sideway wells."
Asheville Citizen, March 21, 1975

[fillup420]

Some construction equipment has started appearing at I-85 exits 164 and 165 in Hillsborough. Anyone have an idea of what is about to happen?

[tolbs17]

http://prntscr.com/138kt7z

Oof

http://prntscr.com/138kx32

http://prntscr.com/138kzi3

Unless it's people that drive like idiots but AADT is way to high for this to only be 6 lanes. 8 lanes too even.

https://www.wral.com/traffic-i-40-and-us-1-64-i-440/12327131/

And what the hell are they doing here?!

[sprjus4]

https://www.wral.com/traffic-i-40-and-us-1-64-i-440/12327131/

And what the hell are they doing here?!

Widening the highway? 

[tolbs17]

https://www.wral.com/traffic-i-40-and-us-1-64-i-440/12327131/

And what the hell are they doing here?!

Widening the highway? 

Didn't know. I was thinking that was I-40 and not I-440.

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i-440-improvements/Documents/pre-construction-map-2-i-40-athens.pdf

Shows there is no concrete barrier unless the plans have changed.

[D-Dey65]

Is it just me, or is the new bridge for Truck Stop Road over I-95 kind of low?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.5786366,-78.1466956,3a,75y,6.99h,99.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scTxDRLhpxXAWBuRV_WuJpg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

[Mapmikey]

Is it just me, or is the new bridge for Truck Stop Road over I-95 kind of low?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.5786366,-78.1466956,3a,75y,6.99h,99.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scTxDRLhpxXAWBuRV_WuJpg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

Looks like the bottom of the new bridge will be roughly the height of the top of the current bridge railing.

[D-Dey65]

That wooden scaffolding must be the reason for my false assumption.

[tolbs17]

Is it just me, or is the new bridge for Truck Stop Road over I-95 kind of low?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.5786366,-78.1466956,3a,75y,6.99h,99.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scTxDRLhpxXAWBuRV_WuJpg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

Haha that looks kinda funny

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT has announced the Hertford "S" Swing Bridge over the Perquimans River is closing, seven weeks early, due to damage sustained in a recent crash. The bridge was going to close in July anyway while DOT builds a new bridge.
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/us-17-perquimans-closed-earlier.aspx

Here's the bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/TGo6eBfaY7wqQmnE7
https://bridgehunter.com/nc/perquimans/1430008/
The bridge was built in 1929.

[tolbs17]

NCDOT has announced the Hertford "S" Swing Bridge over the Perquimans River is closing, seven weeks early, due to damage sustained in a recent crash. The bridge was going to close in July anyway while DOT builds a new bridge.
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/us-17-perquimans-closed-earlier.aspx

Here's the bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/TGo6eBfaY7wqQmnE7
https://bridgehunter.com/nc/perquimans/1430008/
The bridge was built in 1929.

Isn't that one of the first drawbridges built in North Carolina?

[Mapmikey]

NCDOT has announced the Hertford "S" Swing Bridge over the Perquimans River is closing, seven weeks early, due to damage sustained in a recent crash. The bridge was going to close in July anyway while DOT builds a new bridge.
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/us-17-perquimans-closed-earlier.aspx

Here's the bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/TGo6eBfaY7wqQmnE7
https://bridgehunter.com/nc/perquimans/1430008/
The bridge was built in 1929.

Isn't that one of the first drawbridges built in North Carolina?

At least 2 drawbridges were built 150 years earlier–– https://www.ncpedia.org/drawbridges

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT has announced the Hertford "S" Swing Bridge over the Perquimans River is closing, seven weeks early, due to damage sustained in a recent crash. The bridge was going to close in July anyway while DOT builds a new bridge.
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/us-17-perquimans-closed-earlier.aspx

Here's the bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/TGo6eBfaY7wqQmnE7
https://bridgehunter.com/nc/perquimans/1430008/
The bridge was built in 1929.

Isn't that one of the first drawbridges built in North Carolina?

At least 2 drawbridges were built 150 years earlier–– https://www.ncpedia.org/drawbridges

NCDOT is building a new swing bridge next to the old one; a high bridge was considered but the locals were opposed to that. I'd have to guess that not many new swing bridges are being built these days. I don't know if the historic bridge will be retained for bikes and pedestrians.
https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/us-17-business/Pages/project-highlights.aspx

[tolbs17]

I wonder why a bascule bridge wasn't considered.

And according to that plan, the old one is to be demolished i'm sure.

[plain]

I wonder why a bascule bridge wasn't considered.

And according to that plan, the old one is to be demolished i'm sure.

The roadgeek in me don't mind a new swing bridge at all 

But yeah, I was about to ask the same thing you did. Maybe the residents in that area don't want anything in the air there, no matter how tall (short!!) the draw span is. How many times does the bridge open during the week anyway?

Or maybe it's a matter of cost. Which draw option is cheaper?

[tolbs17]

These projects will come alive?

https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/FeasibilityStudiesDocuments/R-4441_Feasibility-Study_Report_2003.pdf