North Carolina

[LM117]

Two public meetings are being held (May 21 in Belmont, May 22 in Gastonia) to discuss proposed improvements to I-85 in Gaston County between NC-273 and US-321.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-15-gaston-county-public-meetings.aspx

[sprjus4]

Two public meetings are being held (May 21 in Belmont, May 22 in Gastonia) to discuss proposed improvements to I-85 in Gaston County between NC-273 and US-321.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-15-gaston-county-public-meetings.aspx

Finally this is getting widened. It needs to be 6-laned all the way to meet SCDOT's widening after this.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Based on the segment specified, it will be 6 lanes going to 8 (or more)

[cowboy_wilhelm]

The last I saw was eight lanes to 74 and six lanes to the state line. There used to be three separate projects for all of those segments. The 321/74/SC segments were combined into one project (I-5985) for planning/environmental study purposes, but separate sections (A and B) for ranking and funding. Construction is estimated for 2028 in the draft STIP for those sections.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I was just noting that the meeting specified US321 to NC 273, Which is all 6 lanes now.

[LM117]

I see that Google Maps satellite image is now showing the C.F. Harvey Parkway (NC-148) extension project in Kinston.

[jcarte29]

I see that Google Maps satellite image is now showing the C.F. Harvey Parkway (NC-148) extension project in Kinston.

It also shows the Maysville 17 By-Pass impressively.

[BrianP]

I see that Google Maps satellite image is now showing the C.F. Harvey Parkway (NC-148) extension project in Kinston.

It also shows the Maysville 17 By-Pass impressively.

Also new is the NC 11 bypass construction of Greenville, Winterville and Ayden. 

I'm disappointed that the East End connector in Durham isn't shown. 

Also with the C.F. Harvey Parkway are they making an interchange with NC 58?  It looks like where the parkway crosses NC 58 is moving slightly north of the current intersection.  That's what made me wonder about that. 

[LM117]

I see that Google Maps satellite image is now showing the C.F. Harvey Parkway (NC-148) extension project in Kinston.

It also shows the Maysville 17 By-Pass impressively.

Also with the C.F. Harvey Parkway are they making an interchange with NC 58?  It looks like where the parkway crosses NC 58 is moving slightly north of the current intersection.  That's what made me wonder about that.

Yes and IIRC, the extension is being built to interstate standards. The Greenville SW Bypass definitely is.

For the past few years, Kinston and Greenvile had been pushing for the NC-11/US-13 corridor between Kinston and Bethel to become a future interstate in order to provide interstate access to the Port of Virginia (via I-87) for the Global TransPark and Greenville, but so far, no dice. There was an attempt to make it happen when the Eastern NC Gateway Act was proposed in Congress in 2016, but it didn't get anywhere since it was an election year. No further attempt has been made...yet.

[LM117]

Speaking of the Greenville SW Bypass...

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-16-pitt-county-interchange-construction.aspx

GREENVILLE — As the N.C. Department of Transportation continues with construction on the Southwest Bypass project​, a Pitt County interchange will close for one month starting next week.

Beginning at 7 a.m. on May 20, both lanes of U.S. 264 West will be closed. Crews will replace the approach slabs for the bridge at the Greenville interchange. The project is expected to take one month.

Drivers heading west on U.S. 264 to Stantonsburg Road will instead be detoured to Exit 73A and head towards Mozingo Road, Exit 71. They will exit at that location, turn left at the end of the ramp, cross over U.S. 264 and turn left onto U.S. 264 East toward Stantonsburg Road.

Drivers should anticipate needing extra time for their commute and approach the work zone with caution.

​For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.​

[sprjus4]

Yes and IIRC, the extension is being built to interstate standards.

That's correct, the extension is built to full interstate standards, having 12 foot lanes, 4 foot left shoulder, 10 foot right shoulder, and a 46 foot grassy median. The parkway is elevated and bridges over every cross road as well.

Here's a great Google My Maps map of how it will look when completed, courtesy of NCDOT - https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1XyRSHr6vK823Kwprk3u22c5Jpww&ll=35.32919594920824%2C-77.53231807840359&z=14

You can overlay it with the aerial imagery, and it matches perfectly where the construction is.

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held on May 21 in Colfax regarding improvements to the Sandy Ridge Road interchange on I-40.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-16-public-meeting-guilford-county-interchange.aspx

[Roadsguy]

Yes and IIRC, the extension is being built to interstate standards.

That's correct, the extension is built to full interstate standards, having 12 foot lanes, 4 foot left shoulder, 10 foot right shoulder, and a 46 foot grassy median. The parkway is elevated and bridges over every cross road as well.

Here's a great Google My Maps map of how it will look when completed, courtesy of NCDOT - https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1XyRSHr6vK823Kwprk3u22c5Jpww&ll=35.32919594920824%2C-77.53231807840359&z=14

You can overlay it with the aerial imagery, and it matches perfectly where the construction is.

Wow, that's really cool!

Is the northern/eastern end designed the way it is in anticipation of a possible future eastern/southern extension around the east side of Kinston? I'm not sure why else they'd design it the way it's being built instead of at minimum a trumpet, if not something better favoring movements to/from the north.

[sprjus4]

Yes and IIRC, the extension is being built to interstate standards.

That's correct, the extension is built to full interstate standards, having 12 foot lanes, 4 foot left shoulder, 10 foot right shoulder, and a 46 foot grassy median. The parkway is elevated and bridges over every cross road as well.

Here's a great Google My Maps map of how it will look when completed, courtesy of NCDOT - https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1XyRSHr6vK823Kwprk3u22c5Jpww&ll=35.32919594920824%2C-77.53231807840359&z=14

You can overlay it with the aerial imagery, and it matches perfectly where the construction is.

Wow, that's really cool!

Is the northern/eastern end designed the way it is in anticipation of a possible future eastern/southern extension around the east side of Kinston? I'm not sure why else they'd design it the way it's being built instead of at minimum a trumpet, if not something better favoring movements to/from the north.

I had wondered that too, but looking at the design, the overpasses are single lane with 10 foot shoulder, no really wide 30 foot left shoulder hinting a future expansion, also the directional ramps in the northern quadrant are not designed to accommodate a full cloverleaf design.

Probably just an alternative to a trumpet because of the smaller footprint.

[D-Dey65]

CB radios used to be good for getting information like that ahead of the jam.  Nowadays everyone just pulls an app and follows GPS save a few folks.

Which is great if you have internet access in your car. Otherwise, forget it. I've actually considered getting a CB radio in more recent times, but mainly I've been considering it, so I could contact truckers and tell them I'm staying out of their way so they can move in my lanes and things like that.

[LM117]

Speaking of the Greenville SW Bypass...

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-16-pitt-county-interchange-construction.aspx

GREENVILLE — As the N.C. Department of Transportation continues with construction on the Southwest Bypass project​, a Pitt County interchange will close for one month starting next week.

Beginning at 7 a.m. on May 20, both lanes of U.S. 264 West will be closed. Crews will replace the approach slabs for the bridge at the Greenville interchange. The project is expected to take one month.

Drivers heading west on U.S. 264 to Stantonsburg Road will instead be detoured to Exit 73A and head towards Mozingo Road, Exit 71. They will exit at that location, turn left at the end of the ramp, cross over U.S. 264 and turn left onto U.S. 264 East toward Stantonsburg Road.

Drivers should anticipate needing extra time for their commute and approach the work zone with caution.

​For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.​

Another upcoming closure related to the bypass construction.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-17-pitt-county-pipe-replacement-ayden.aspx

[LM117]

For the past few years, Kinston and Greenvile had been pushing for the NC-11/US-13 corridor between Kinston and Bethel to become a future interstate in order to provide interstate access to the Port of Virginia (via I-87) for the Global TransPark and Greenville, but so far, no dice. There was an attempt to make it happen when the Eastern NC Gateway Act was proposed in Congress in 2016, but it didn't get anywhere since it was an election year. No further attempt has been made...yet.

From a tidbit in this morning's article, they're still pushing for it.

http://www.reflector.com/News/2019/05/17/Reduced-congestion-expanded-greenways-among-proposed-transportation-projects.html

Another large project is the conversion of N.C. 11 into an interstate-quality highway connecting U.S. 64 to C.F. Harvey Parkway in Kinston, Purtle said.

"It's an important corridor because it will connect all three future interstates in eastern North Carolina, I-42 (currently U.S. 70), I-87 (currently U.S. 64) and I-587 (currently U.S. 264),"  Purtle said.

[LM117]

Upcoming lane closures on US-70 in Havelock due to the Slocum Gate project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-04-26-craven-county-bridge-girder-installation.aspx

[sprjus4]

https://twitter.com/NCDOT/status/1128023939899383808


First image is of the I-485 / I-85 northern interchange & I-485 northern extension under construction sometime about 2012 - 2014 in Charlotte.

[LM117]

An article on all of the upcoming projects in Wayne County.

https://www.newsargus.com/news/road-projects-set-to-change-landscape/article_baeb81dc-79dc-11e9-92ce-976d463860d2.html

[Roadsguy]

https://twitter.com/NCDOT/status/1128023939899383808
[picture]

First image is of the I-485 / I-85 northern interchange & I-485 northern extension under construction sometime about 2012 - 2014 in Charlotte.

Just out of curiosity, since I had never seen the original plan, I looked up the original design for the interchange. They included grading for extra ramps when they first tied this section of I-485 into the trumpet, though the final ramps as built don't really line up with the grading. I found this in a PDF from 2014 about the project:



That weird loop ramp weave solution definitely explains the odd alignment of the partial loop grading that didn't seem to be in the right place to merge directly into the mainline.

[LM117]

The latest regarding the lawsuit over Greenville's red light cameras.

http://www.reflector.com/News/2019/05/20/Red-light-camera-suit-goes-to-court.html

[LM117]

Upcoming lane closures on US-70 in Havelock due to the Slocum Gate project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-04-26-craven-county-bridge-girder-installation.aspx

Update.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-22-craven-county-bridge-girders-havelock.aspx

[LM117]

Another Business 40 update.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-23-us-40-marshall-street-closure.aspx

[LM117]

Another upcoming road closure related to the Greenville Southwest Bypass.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-05-17-pitt-county-pipe-replacement-ayden.aspx