North Carolina

[index]

Progress report on the Greenville SW Bypass Project:
https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14921

In other Greenville-related news, here's an update on the 10th Street Connector project:

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14919

The N.C. Department of Transportation has been hard at work converting 10th Street in Greenville into a four-lane divided road with a landscaped median that directly links Memorial Drive to 10th Street at Evans Street.

Once completed by summer, 2019, the 10th Street Connector will provide a vital connection between Vidant Medical Center and East Carolina University (and Uptown Greenville Central Business District).

The 1.4 mile long connector is expected to reduce traffic congestion and create greater connectivity with the construction of a bridge over the CSX Rail Road.

Recent activity on the 10th Street Connector includes the grading and paving of 9th Street, utility and drainage work on Evans Street, new lanes on Farmville Boulevard to tie into Memorial Street.

DOT will soon be shifting traffic to new lanes on Farmville Blvd, so work on existing lanes can take place.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6072856,-77.3800359,96m/data=!3m1!1e3

It bypasses this rather interesting railroad crossing, which has, to my knowledge, the only (or one of the only) 5 section horizontal signals in North Carolina. Horizontal signals are a rare find in NC, 5 sections that aren't doghouses are even more rare. I think there was an 8 inch 5 section tall signal in Elizabeth City on US 158 until it was removed, some time after 2008. I don't know though, this is just hazy memory from looking around with GSV.

[LM117]

A Wake County Superior Court judge has ordered NCDOT to pay property owners who are in the path of NC-540's planned extension.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article203584034.html

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT will break ground in April on a project to improve the Aviation Parkway Exit (Exit 285) of I-40 near RDU Airport, Raleigh. The existing bridge over I-40 will be replaced by a wider one, and a new loop ramp will be added for WB I-40 traffic to go SB on Aviation Parkway. Completion expected in September 2020.
https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14946

[LM117]

Construction crews working on the new Bonner Bridge struck an underground cable, knocking out power to Ocracoke and Hatteras islands. Oops...

http://www.wcnc.com/mb/news/local/regional/mandatory-evacuation-on-ocracoke-island-after-obx-power-outage-fix-could-take-weeks/460027899

The contractor has agreed to pay $10.35 million to settle the lawsuits.

http://www.wral.com/contractor-to-pay-10-3m-to-settle-lawsuits-over-outer-banks-power-outage/17421718/

[ARMOURERERIC]

I was commuting home tonight along I-40 at MM 96 and passed a F-150 pulling a trailer full of new BGS's.

The only one I could really see was like Exit 183A Roselawn Ave City Stadium.  Don't know what project it was going to.

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT will hold a public hearing Tuesday on proposed reconfigurations of the intersection of US 70/NC 50 with Timber Drive/Hammond Rd. on the south side of Raleigh. One of the proposals calls for a SPUI.
https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14989

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT will hold a public hearing Monday on an upgrade to the interchange of US 29 (Future I-785) with Reedy Fork Parkway north of Greensboro. The plan calls for replacing the present interchange with a DDI:
https://www.ncdot.gov/download/projects/publichearings/R-4707_rdy_phm_3-12-2018.pdf

I suppose (hope?) this is compatible with eventual upgrade of US 29 to interstate standards, but there remain at-grade intersections on both sides of the interchange.

[OracleUsr]

A DDI for Bryan Park and a few businesses?  Really?

[index]

A DDI for Bryan Park and a few businesses?  Really?

Even if current traffic doesn't need one right now, it could be needed in the future for potential growth. Best to do it now if that's the case.

[LM117]

Upcoming traffic shifts on I-95 in Johnson County.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15022

The paved shoulders along a two-mile leg of Interstate 95 in Johnston County will need to narrow this week as part of ongoing construction.

If the weather allows, northbound travelers will follow a traffic shift, starting Friday, April 9, between mile markers 100 and 102 north of Selma. Contract workers for the N.C. Department of Transportation need the extra room to safely build a new median and permanent concrete median barrier.

About a week later, the same shift will occur in the southbound direction. In the coming weeks, motorists can expect similar shifts and narrower shoulders north of mile marker 102 as part of the overall project.

Transportation officials remind motorists to be alert and obey speed limits and work-zone postings.

Fred Smith Co. of Raleigh is replacing original concrete sections underneath the pavement, rebuilding the median and resurfacing the interstate between mile markers 100 and 107. The project also includes replacing two bridges — at Lizzie Mill Road and Bizzell Grove Church Road — with longer and higher spans.

For real-time travel information, go to DriveNC.gov, or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

[LM117]

The C.F. Harvey Parkway (NC-148) in Kinston is being extended from NC-58 to NC-11.

http://www.witn.com/content/news/Felix-Harvey-Parkway-being-extended-to-Highway-11-478676233.html

Work is underway on a big highway project that is expected to benefit northern Lenoir County.

The Felix Harvey Parkway is being extended from Highway 58 near the Global TransPark over to Highway 11.

The $73.5 million project is being built by Branch Civil, Incorporated from Roanoke, Virginia.

The parkway will join Highway 11 just south of the DuPont plant, adding 5.8 miles of four-lane highway.

When completed in 2021, drivers will be able to take Felix Harvey Parkway from Highway 11 to where the road currently ends at U.S. 70 west of Kinston.

[sparker]

Upcoming traffic shifts on I-95 in Johnson County.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15022

The paved shoulders along a two-mile leg of Interstate 95 in Johnston County will need to narrow this week as part of ongoing construction.

If the weather allows, northbound travelers will follow a traffic shift, starting Friday, April 9, between mile markers 100 and 102 north of Selma. Contract workers for the N.C. Department of Transportation need the extra room to safely build a new median and permanent concrete median barrier.

About a week later, the same shift will occur in the southbound direction. In the coming weeks, motorists can expect similar shifts and narrower shoulders north of mile marker 102 as part of the overall project.

Transportation officials remind motorists to be alert and obey speed limits and work-zone postings.

Fred Smith Co. of Raleigh is replacing original concrete sections underneath the pavement, rebuilding the median and resurfacing the interstate between mile markers 100 and 107. The project also includes replacing two bridges — at Lizzie Mill Road and Bizzell Grove Church Road — with longer and higher spans.

For real-time travel information, go to DriveNC.gov, or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

The main part of this project -- replacing now-worn pavement and underpinnings -- sounds like a stratightforward "repair-in-place" type of construction.  But replacing overcrossings with wider structures may portend widening of I-95 itself.  A question to NC posters:  are there any pending contracts of which you're aware to actually effect a capacity increase on I-95? -- or at least revamp the ROW to accommodate future expansion?

[bob7374]

NCDOT has published, as part of the process that will produce the Draft 2019-2029 STIP, the projects with the highest scores according to Statewide Mobility Projects formula:
https://www.ncdot.gov/strategictransportationinvestments/download/draft-programmed-statewide-mobility-projects.pdf
Among the Highway projects listed are widening US 64/264/Future I-87 to 6 lanes from Wendell Blvd. to the US 64/264 split, the creation of managed lanes for I-40 from Wade Ave to NC 42, I-440, I-87 from I-440 to I-540 and US 1 South from I-40 to NC 540 in the Raleigh area, Upgrading US 70 (Future I-42) to a freeway for 7 miles from the end of the future Havelock Bypass to Thurman Rd in Craven County, Convert the I-87/US 64/264 interchange with Smithfield Rd to a DDI, Widen US 1 from 4 to 6 lanes from NC 55 to US 64, Widen I-85 to 6 lanes from the SC line to US 74 and to 8 lanes from US 74 to US 321, and add additional lanes to I-40 in Orange County from I-40 to US 15/501.

The press release summarizing the details is at: https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15029

[LM117]

Upcoming traffic shifts on I-95 in Johnson County.

https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15022

The paved shoulders along a two-mile leg of Interstate 95 in Johnston County will need to narrow this week as part of ongoing construction.

If the weather allows, northbound travelers will follow a traffic shift, starting Friday, April 9, between mile markers 100 and 102 north of Selma. Contract workers for the N.C. Department of Transportation need the extra room to safely build a new median and permanent concrete median barrier.

About a week later, the same shift will occur in the southbound direction. In the coming weeks, motorists can expect similar shifts and narrower shoulders north of mile marker 102 as part of the overall project.

Transportation officials remind motorists to be alert and obey speed limits and work-zone postings.

Fred Smith Co. of Raleigh is replacing original concrete sections underneath the pavement, rebuilding the median and resurfacing the interstate between mile markers 100 and 107. The project also includes replacing two bridges — at Lizzie Mill Road and Bizzell Grove Church Road — with longer and higher spans.

For real-time travel information, go to DriveNC.gov, or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

The main part of this project -- replacing now-worn pavement and underpinnings -- sounds like a stratightforward "repair-in-place" type of construction.  But replacing overcrossings with wider structures may portend widening of I-95 itself.  A question to NC posters:  are there any pending contracts of which you're aware to actually effect a capacity increase on I-95? -- or at least revamp the ROW to accommodate future expansion?

Two sections of I-95 will be widened to 8 lanes, as well as rebuilding substandard interchanges with construction to begin in 2026. Details here:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/traffic/article179911261.html

[bob7374]

NCDOT has published, as part of the process that will produce the Draft 2019-2029 STIP, the projects with the highest scores according to Statewide Mobility Projects formula:
https://www.ncdot.gov/strategictransportationinvestments/download/draft-programmed-statewide-mobility-projects.pdf
Among the Highway projects listed are widening US 64/264/Future I-87 to 6 lanes from Wendell Blvd. to the US 64/264 split, the creation of managed lanes for I-40 from Wade Ave to NC 42, I-440, I-87 from I-440 to I-540 and US 1 South from I-40 to NC 540 in the Raleigh area, Upgrading US 70 (Future I-42) to a freeway for 7 miles from the end of the future Havelock Bypass to Thurman Rd in Craven County, Convert the I-87/US 64/264 interchange with Smithfield Rd to a DDI, Widen US 1 from 4 to 6 lanes from NC 55 to US 64, Widen I-85 to 6 lanes from the SC line to US 74 and to 8 lanes from US 74 to US 321, and add additional lanes to I-40 in Orange County from I-40 to US 15/501.

The press release summarizing the details is at: https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15029

Among the projects not listed with the highest scores (above 75), but relatively high ones are upgrading US 29 between Hicone Rd and Reidsville to interstate standards for I-785 (73.79), upgrading US 74 between NC 41 in Lumberton to US 76 west of Whiteville to interstate standards for I-74 (73.85), upgrading US 74 to interstate standards between Rockingham and Lauringburg for I-74 (72.10), and upgrading US 64 to interstate standards from Wake to Martin Counties for I-87 (65.87). It is probable that some, if not all, of these projects will be listed in the 2019-2029 Draft STIP.

[plain]

That widening of I-85 from the SC line north[east]ward is long overdue.

Also I like the fact that I-785 may actually see some light of day along US 29 sooner than later. The already freeway grade portion deserves to be connected to Greensboro, interstate designation or not.

Hooray for I-42 (the only new 2di in NC that is actually worth it)

[VTGoose]

Drove down I-77 on Wednesday on the first half of a trip to Florida. The three former rest areas are blocked off and demolition has begun. At the one closest to Charlotte, the buildings are gone and work was in progress to take out pavement and the rest of the infrastructure. I guess they will just be green spaces when its all done.

We didn't stop at the delux new rest area but passed it by in early evening. It looked like the truck parking area was already full to capacity and just about overflowing. Was there a net loss of truck parking spaces from three rest areas into one? Ramps are still popular with truckers who have hit their driving limit and it seems like more space in this new rest area would help alleviate that.

Bruce, not in Blacksburg

[WashuOtaku]

We didn't stop at the delux new rest area but passed it by in early evening. It looked like the truck parking area was already full to capacity and just about overflowing. Was there a net loss of truck parking spaces from three rest areas into one? Ramps are still popular with truckers who have hit their driving limit and it seems like more space in this new rest area would help alleviate that.

Luckily for you, I had visited all four rest areas in 2016 and wrote their capacities; I have uploaded pictures on WikiCommons for future generations to see.

• I-77 Northbound (Mooresville): 40 cars, 11 cars with trailers and 18 trucks.
• I-77 Northbound (Iredell-Yadkin line): 38 cars, 6 cars with trailers and 11 trucks.
• I-77 Southbound (Iredell-Yadkin line): 43 cars, seven cars with trailers and 11 truck spaces.
• I-77 Southbound (Mooresville): 40 car spaces, 10 car with trailers spaces and 11 truck spaces.

And here are the capacities of the new Iredell County Rest area:

• Northbound: 56 cars spaces, 14 car with trailer spaces and 29 truck spaces
• Southbound: 61 cars spaces, 15 car with trailer spaces and 24 truck spaces

Do the math and we get: -22 car spaces, -3 car with trailer spaces and no change in truck spaces going northbound.  -22 car spaces, -2 car with trailer spaces and +2 truck spaces going southbound.

My opinion is that the reduction in car and trailer spaces is fine, but I would have wished they expanded more for trucking.

[OracleUsr]

Dana and I passed this rest area going to Yadkinville.  My concern was that there was too short an accel lane for traffic going 70+ mph but it looks like the merge lane is longer than I thought.

Sad to see that there are fewer truck spaces, especially since the rest area just south of US 421 in Yadkin County closed, too.

[WashuOtaku]

Sad to see that there are fewer truck spaces, especially since the rest area just south of US 421 in Yadkin County closed, too.

You didn't read my post.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

NCDOT has published, as part of the process that will produce the Draft 2019-2029 STIP, the projects with the highest scores according to Statewide Mobility Projects formula:
https://www.ncdot.gov/strategictransportationinvestments/download/draft-programmed-statewide-mobility-projects.pdf
Among the Highway projects listed are widening US 64/264/Future I-87 to 6 lanes from Wendell Blvd. to the US 64/264 split, the creation of managed lanes for I-40 from Wade Ave to NC 42, I-440, I-87 from I-440 to I-540 and US 1 South from I-40 to NC 540 in the Raleigh area, Upgrading US 70 (Future I-42) to a freeway for 7 miles from the end of the future Havelock Bypass to Thurman Rd in Craven County, Convert the I-87/US 64/264 interchange with Smithfield Rd to a DDI, Widen US 1 from 4 to 6 lanes from NC 55 to US 64, Widen I-85 to 6 lanes from the SC line to US 74 and to 8 lanes from US 74 to US 321, and add additional lanes to I-40 in Orange County from I-40 to US 15/501.

The press release summarizing the details is at: https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15029

I'm glad NCDOT has adopted the data-driven prioritization process for project selection, but you have to wonder about some of these project scores. For example, how does realigning the U.S. 74/N.C. 108 interchange in Polk County have any impact on statewide mobility?

[ARMOURERERIC]

I seem to have chronic issues with accessing NCDot PDF files, but I anxiously await to see what next in store for the Unifour area.

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT will hold a public hearing Monday on the project to widen I-26 between Hendersonville and I-40 at Asheville. The road will be widened to 6 lanes south of the US 25/Asheville Highway exit (exit 44) and to 8 lanes between that point and I-40. Exit 44 will be replaced by a DDI. More controversially perhaps, the interchange with US 64 (Exit 49) will be rebuilt: currently it is a tight cloverleaf (malfunction junction style). It will be replaced by a half cloverleaf, and traffic exiting I-26 will be forced to turn right; to go the other way will then require a U-turn. Here are links:
https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15064
https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i26Widening/

Construction is set to begin in 2019.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

NCDOT will hold a public hearing Monday on the project to widen I-26 between Hendersonville and I-40 at Asheville. The road will be widened to 6 lanes south of the US 25/Asheville Highway exit (exit 44) and to 8 lanes between that point and I-40. Exit 44 will be replaced by a DDI. More controversially perhaps, the interchange with US 64 (Exit 49) will be rebuilt: currently it is a tight cloverleaf (malfunction junction style). It will be replaced by a half cloverleaf, and traffic exiting I-26 will be forced to turn right; to go the other way will then require a U-turn. Here are links:
https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=15064
https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i26Widening/

Construction is set to begin in 2019.

It's still a partial cloverleaf at US 64/Four Seasons, so no U-turns are involved. I think the new release was worded poorly. I-26 WB to US 64 WB will loop and turn right onto Four Seasons, and I-26 WB to US 64 EB will exit and turn right. Same for I-26 EB. It looks like they've also added a "continuous flow" element for the left turns onto I-26 from Four Seasons (left turn lanes will cross over before the bridge).

https://www.ncdot.gov/download/projects/publichearings/I-4400_I-4700_RDY_PHM_Sheet_2_rev_2018-03-28.pdf

Also, the construction starting in 2019 will only be from US 64 west, and the 64 interchange won't be revised until 2023. The southern/eastern most section from 64 to 25 (Exit 54) isn't funded yet.

[froggie]

Correct...no U-turns needed.  The new config will be what's commonly called a 6-ramp par-clo (for partial-cloverleaf).  But, interestingly, all 6 ramps (including the loops) will be signalized.