North Carolina

[Beltway]

About the new rest area.. this is the first one I've heard about being constructed in the median in a very long time. Matter of fact the last one I know was the ones on I-85 in between those double crossovers southwest of Thomasville, but that's different because that section of highway was newly constructed plus no left hand exits necessary. I'm actually surprised the feds let NCDOT get by with this new one. I thought they frown upon new left hand exits on interstates now or something

I believe this is the location here, with construction nearly complete --
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9006256,-80.8586975,574m/data=!3m1!1e3

[TimQuiQui]

Travelling that stretch of 77 often I was rather surprised when I saw the left hand exit and entrances start to go in, but 77 empties out fast as soon as you hit 40 going north. That stretch from 40 to 421 has to be one of the least driven miles of interstate in the state and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon so it doesn't bother me safetywise. One of those cases where the benefits seem to clearly outweigh the risks IMO.

[fillup420]

It seems as though the interstate was planned and built to have a rest area in that spot. The median has always been very wide there.

[LM117]

NCOT has awarded a contract to make improvements to US-17 Business between Hertford and Winfall, which includes replacing the Perquimans River bridge. However, construction won't begin until summer 2019.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14817

In other news, another contract has been awarded to build a pedestrian tunnel under Trinity Road in Raleigh, linking the parking lots at Carter-Finley Stadium and the state fairgrounds.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14820

[ARMOURERERIC]

I had the opportunity to drive through the NE outskirts of Shelby today.  Wanted to note significant construction activity around the NC 150/ NC 180 Intersection for the US 74 Shelby bypass.  Work is for the bridge over NC 150 and a nearby parrell creek to the west.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

I found a GIS file on NCDOT's website showing future Interstate designations. I guess most of these are already known, but I thought I'd throw it on a map for a good visualization.

[sparker]

I found a GIS file on NCDOT's website showing future Interstate designations. I guess most of these are already known, but I thought I'd throw it on a map for a good visualization.

Interesting that this doesn't show the portion of I-87 west of I-95; that should have been there on any earlier versions of this as I-495 in any case, so it's likely just a cartographic error.   

[rickmastfan67]

I found a GIS file on NCDOT's website showing future Interstate designations. I guess most of these are already known, but I thought I'd throw it on a map for a good visualization.

Interesting that this doesn't show the portion of I-87 west of I-95; that should have been there on any earlier versions of this as I-495 in any case, so it's likely just a cartographic error.   

They do partially show it.  Just the segment between I-587 & I-95 is missing.

They are also missing I-840 too (except for what had already been opened prior to mid 2017).

[Roadsguy]

Sure makes it obvious how incredibly dumb the planned end of I-74 is...

[jwolfer]

Sure makes it obvious how incredibly dumb the planned end of I-74 is...

I agree... 74 is way out of place... It will never be linked to the Western 74. There is a long multiple with 73... Another number for 74 in Southeast NC should be given. .. I say 28 and then go to Charlotte and i26

Z981

[LM117]

I-74 wouldn't be quite so bad if it wasn't for that crooked ass turn to South Carolina. Anybody coming from Rockingham and points west or north would use I-73 to go to Myrtle Beach.

Another thing that stands out in that map is that it confirms what many of us suspected about I-285. It was originally supposed to end at I-40 just south of Winston-Salem, but once it was decided that I-74 become part of the W-S Northern Beltway, there were suspicions that I-285 would be extended north of I-40 through downtown W-S to the beltway.

Of all the future interstates, I-795 and I-42 are the most important right now, IMO. They're both major trucking corridors connected to ports, serve as hurricane evacuation routes, as well as carrying tourist traffic and neither corridor has to rely on cooperation from states like Virginia that have zero interest in new interstates or South Carolina, who wants the feds to pay for everything...

[dfilpus]

I found a GIS file on NCDOT's website showing future Interstate designations. I guess most of these are already known, but I thought I'd throw it on a map for a good visualization.

Other errors in map:
The Winston-Salem North Beltway is not shown at all. Future I-74 should be routed over the Beltway on the east side and Future I-274 on the west side.
The northernmost segment of Future I-26 should be shown as Existing I-26.

[jwolfer]

I-74 wouldn't be quite so bad if it wasn't for that crooked ass turn to South Carolina. Anybody coming from Rockingham and points west or north would use I-73 to go to Myrtle Beach.

Another thing that stands out in that map is that it confirms what many of us suspected about I-285. It was originally supposed to end at I-40 just south of Winston-Salem, but once it was decided that I-74 become part of the W-S Northern Beltway, there were suspicions that I-285 would be extended north of I-40 through downtown W-S to the beltway.

Of all the future interstates, I-795 and I-42 are the most important right now, IMO. They're both major trucking corridors connected to ports, serve as hurricane evacuation routes, as well as carrying tourist traffic and neither corridor has to rely on cooperation from states like Virginia that have zero interest in new interstates or South Carolina, who wants the feds to pay for everything...

42 is at least more or less direct route.. 87 is circuitous

Z981

[Roadsguy]

The map also doesn't show Future I-295 around Fayetteville; it just shows Business 95. It doesn't show all of I-140 either.

EDIT: Aren't they also planning on an I-885 for the East End Connector in Durham?

[LM117]

EDIT: Aren't they also planning on an I-885 for the East End Connector in Durham?

Yes, but NCDOT hasn't submitted a request to AASHTO or FHWA yet. However, I would be shocked if the request gets denied.

[LM117]

Speed enforcement will be picking up in Cleveland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson, and Randolph counties until June.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14835

Also, the Alligator River bridge on US-64 will be closed for a week in March for renovation work.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14831

[wdcrft63]

This is the signage, as of May 2017, at the WB I-40/85 split east of Greensboro. Too early for I-785 to be mentioned, but that's not my question. My question is, why does the sign over the I-85 lanes say "to NORTH I-73" instead of "to South I-73" or, better, simply "TO I-73"?

[wdcrft63]

This is the signage, as of May 2017, at the WB I-40/85 split east of Greensboro. Too early for I-785 to be mentioned, but that's not my question. My question is, why does the sign over the I-85 lanes say "to NORTH I-73" instead of "to South I-73" or, better, simply "TO I-73"?

Forgot the link: https://goo.gl/maps/xm7iD6FKam42

[Strider]

This is the signage, as of May 2017, at the WB I-40/85 split east of Greensboro. Too early for I-785 to be mentioned, but that's not my question. My question is, why does the sign over the I-85 lanes say "to NORTH I-73" instead of "to South I-73" or, better, simply "TO I-73"?

Forgot the link: https://goo.gl/maps/xm7iD6FKam42

No idea. It had to be either: an error by NCDOT, or they put it up there to "show" if you want to bypass Greensboro by using the Loop, going south on I-85 and then north on I-73 makes sense, however the directions for all thru traffic to bypass Greensboro were very horrible back then (before they upgraded the signages).

[Mppheel]

I read on this forum that when the Greensboro loop is finished and properly signed that Green 85 will disappear.  That makes sense  coming from the east. When approaching the  from the south on I-85, will Green 85 disappear from the Lexington area to Death Valley also?  I'm assuming so. Couldn't Green 85 be made a 3di traveling from the south from where I-85 joins the Loop to I-40 at Death Valley?  I assume it's up to interstate standards... Could be 685?
It may be a bit of Interstate overkill for the Triad though.

[Strider]

I read on this forum that when the Greensboro loop is finished and properly signed that Green 85 will disappear.  That makes sense  coming from the east. When approaching the  from the south on I-85, will Green 85 disappear from the Lexington area to Death Valley also?  I'm assuming so. Couldn't Green 85 be made a 3di traveling from the south from where I-85 joins the Loop to I-40 at Death Valley?  I assume it's up to interstate standards... Could be 685?
It may be a bit of Interstate overkill for the Triad though.

No, they will only remove the Green 85 routing through Greensboro (making it only US 29/70 going towards I-40 merge). The one that goes through High Point, Thomasville and Lexington (also along US 29/70) will remain Green 85... unless they changed their mind because the southernmost routing of Green 85 that multiplex with US 29/70/52 will be renamed I-285 in the future, so who knows.

[wriddle082]

I found a GIS file on NCDOT's website showing future Interstate designations. I guess most of these are already known, but I thought I'd throw it on a map for a good visualization.

Other errors in map:
The Winston-Salem North Beltway is not shown at all. Future I-74 should be routed over the Beltway on the east side and Future I-274 on the west side.
The northernmost segment of Future I-26 should be shown as Existing I-26.

They also forgot the future interstate designation for US 74 from I-26 at Columbus to I-85 at Kings Mountain.  Was that supposed to be 885 or 226?  Or has that one even been approved by the feds yet, or given a number?

[Jmiles32]

They also forgot the future interstate designation for US 74 from I-26 at Columbus to I-85 at Kings Mountain.  Was that supposed to be 885 or 226?  Or has that one even been approved by the feds yet, or given a number?

Surprisingly NCDOT hasn't applied the corridor to AASHTO for a future interstate designation yet. However, when this does inevitably happen, it will likely be an I-x26.

[sparker]

They also forgot the future interstate designation for US 74 from I-26 at Columbus to I-85 at Kings Mountain.  Was that supposed to be 885 or 226?  Or has that one even been approved by the feds yet, or given a number?

Surprisingly NCDOT hasn't applied the corridor to AASHTO for a future interstate designation yet. However, when this does inevitably happen, it will likely be an I-x26.

I still think NCDOT, as per their recent practice, will "shoot for the moon" here and go for a 2di in conjunction with the Charlotte-Rockingham efforts (aka the "Monroe Bypass" tolled facility).  And if they ask for an odd number, someone needs to go to Raleigh and kick some collective ass!

[LM117]

They also forgot the future interstate designation for US 74 from I-26 at Columbus to I-85 at Kings Mountain.  Was that supposed to be 885 or 226?  Or has that one even been approved by the feds yet, or given a number?

Surprisingly NCDOT hasn't applied the corridor to AASHTO for a future interstate designation yet. However, when this does inevitably happen, it will likely be an I-x26.

I agree. They're probably waiting until the Shelby Bypass is complete.

Also, it will definitely not be I-885. NCDOT is saving that number for NC-147/East End Connector in Durham.

As for I-685, this is speculation on my part, but I strongly suspect NCDOT is saving that number for US-1 between I-540 and I-85 in Henderson. There are long-term plans to upgrade that stretch to a freeway, though it's only funded as far as Wake Forest. The idea of giving north Raleigh a northerly interstate connection to I-85 would be too much for them to pass up, IMO.