North Carolina

[LM117]

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-06-overnight-business-40-closures-winston-salem.aspx

WINSTON-SALEM — State transportation contractors are planning several overnight lane closures as part of the ongoing work on the Business 40 Improvements project​.

One lane in either direction of the highway will be closed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Tuesday, Dec. 17 until the morning of Friday, Dec. 20, weather permitting.

Crews will begin on eastbound Business 40 at U.S. 52 and work nightly toward Sandy Ridge Road. They will then shift the closure to the westbound side to work back to U.S. 52.

These closures are needed for crews to begin changing exit numbers and mile maker signs. The new exit numbers will follow the U.S. 421 numbering rather than the old Business 40 numbering.

Drivers should slow down when approaching this stretch of Business 40 and be mindful of crews throughout the work zone.

The new exit numbers have been posted on the Business 40 Facebook page and will be posted on https://www.business40nc.com/ on Monday. List from the FB page:

Eastbound US-421 exits (from west to east) with their old and new numbering:

Eastbound US-421 to I-40 East will become Exit # 238 (previously no exit number)
Exit # 2A, US-421 to Silas Creek Parkway South, will become Exit # 237B
Exit # 2B, US-421 to Silas Creek Parkway North, will become Exit # 237A
Exit # 3A, US-421 to Knollwood Street, will become Exit # 236
Exit # 3B, US-421 to US-158/Stratford Road, will become Exit # 235
Exit # 4, US-421 to Cloverdale Avenue, will become Exit # 234C
Exit # 5A, US-421 to Peters Creek Parkway, will become Exit # 234A
Exit # 5C, US-421 to Marshall Street and Cherry Street, will become Exit # 233B
Exit # 6A, US-421 to US-52 South, will become Exit # 232C
Exit # 6B, US-421 to US-52 North, will become Exit # 232B
Exit # 6C, US-421 to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, will become Exit # 232A
Exit # 7, US-421 to Lowery Street, will become Exit # 231
Exit # 8, US-421 to US-158/Walkertown/Reidsville, will become Exit # 230
Exit # 10, US-421 to Linville Road, will become Exit # 228
Exit # 12, US-421 to NC-74 West, will become Exit # 227 (even though the signs have not gone up for Exit 12)
Exit # 14, US-421 to Kernersville/South Main Street, will become Exit # 224
Exit # 15, US-421 to NC-66/NC-150/Kernersville/Walkertown, will become Exit # 222
Exit # 17, US-421 to Macy Grove Road, will become Exit # 221

Westbound US-421 exits (from east to west) with their old and new numbering:

Exit # 17, US-421 to Macy Grove Road, will become Exit # 221
Exit # 15, US-421 to NC-66/NC-150/Kernersville/Walkertown, will become Exit # 222
Exit # 14, US-421 to Kernersville/South Main Street, will become Exit # 224
Exit # 12, US-421 to NC-74 West, will become Exit # 227
Exit # 10, US-421 to Linville Road, will become Exit # 228
Exit # 7, US-421 to 5th Street, will become Exit # 231
Exit # 6C, US-421 to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, will become Exit # 232A
Exit # 6B, US-421 to US-52 North, will become Exit # 232B
Exit # 6A, US-421 to US-52 South, will become Exit # 232C
Exit # 5D, US-421 to Main Street, will become Exit # 233A
Exit # 5C, US-421 to Cherry Street and Marshall Street, will become Exit # 233B
Exit # 5A, US-421 to Peters Creek Parkway, will become Exit # 234A
Exit # 4B, US-421 to West First Street, will become Exit # 234B
Exit # 4A, US-421 to Cloverdale Avenue, will become Exit # 234C
Exit # 3C, US-421 to Stratford Road North, will become Exit # 235A
Exit # 3B, US-421 to Stratford Road South, will become Exit # 235B
Exit # 3A, US-421 to Knollwood Street, will become Exit # 236
Exit # 2B, US-421 to Silas Creek Parkway North, will become Exit # 237A
Exit # 2A, US-421 to Silas Creek Parkway South, will become Exit # 237B
Exit # 1, US-421 to I-40, will become Exit # 238

Here's the press release:

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-09-business-40-exit-number-sign-changes.aspx

An update on that press release says that the changeover has been postponed until after Christmas.

[tolbs17]

Wasn't I-40 originally supposed to be routed to go to Durham?

[bob7374]

Wasn't I-40 originally supposed to be routed to go to Durham?

Check out: http://www.gribblenation.com/ncpics/history/i40.html

[tolbs17]

Wasn't I-40 originally supposed to be routed to go to Durham?

Check out: http://www.gribblenation.com/ncpics/history/i40.html

Alternative 1 was probably chosen because it wouldn't go through cities. I just wish that document worked though.

[LM117]

The flyover bridge from US-70 East to Slocum Gate at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock is expected to open tomorrow morning.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-19-slocum-gate-overpass-opening.aspx

[tolbs17]

The flyover bridge from US-70 East to Slocum Gate at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock is expected to open tomorrow morning.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-19-slocum-gate-overpass-opening.aspx

I would love to see some projects like that happen in Greenville. It's desperately needed. We have many non-freeways, but I'm sure we could use some of their work. I'm sure everyone there is happy! When going to the beach, it's clogged. I know that interchange would help a little bit. The Havelock bypass should already be started by now.

[LM117]

NCDOT awarded a contract for improvements to I-795 between Ash Street in Goldsboro and the Wilson County line.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-20-wayne-county-i-795-upgrades.aspx

[sprjus4]

NCDOT awarded a contract for improvements to I-795 between Ash Street in Goldsboro and the Wilson County line.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-20-wayne-county-i-795-upgrades.aspx

Isn't the interstate only 13 years old? Are there already big issues with it or are they just trying to keep it renewed?

[LM117]

NCDOT awarded a contract for improvements to I-795 between Ash Street in Goldsboro and the Wilson County line.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-20-wayne-county-i-795-upgrades.aspx

Isn't the interstate only 13 years old? Are there already big issues with it or are they just trying to keep it renewed?

Keeping it renewed. The only big screwup was after it first opened in 2006. By the time 2008 rolled around, it was falling apart because it was laid too thin and couldn't handle the weight of the trucks. NCDOT had to go back repave nearly the whole road not long after that. That left a huge black eye on NCDOT for quite some time.

I-795 was recently repaved again a little over a year ago, though that was for maintenance, not the screwup.

[LM117]

Construction on the new I-26 French Broad River bridge will begin soon.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-20-i-26-fbr-bridge-start.aspx

[Roadsguy]

I already posted this on the I-73/74 thread, but since this affects US 311 as well, I'm posting it here in the general NC thread:




Signage plans for the combined section D/E/F of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway seem to indicate plans to truncate US 311 again to the new beltway, likely after the entire eastern section is completed down to the existing I-74.

[tolbs17]

NCDOT awarded a contract for improvements to I-795 between Ash Street in Goldsboro and the Wilson County line.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-12-20-wayne-county-i-795-upgrades.aspx

Isn't the interstate only 13 years old? Are there already big issues with it or are they just trying to keep it renewed?

Keeping it renewed. The only big screwup was after it first opened in 2006. By the time 2008 rolled around, it was falling apart because it was laid too thin and couldn't handle the weight of the trucks. NCDOT had to go back repave nearly the whole road not long after that. That left a huge black eye on NCDOT for quite some time.

I-795 was recently repaved again a little over a year ago, though that was for maintenance, not the screwup.

Same thing with part of the Knightdale bypass. It opened in 2005-2006 and it was falling apart badly in 2013. Those markings are gone.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8051734,-78.4260166,3a,75y,67.52h,76.21t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1skFm2zFQjgouee7SbRD5S_w!2e0!5s20130701T000000!7i13312!8i6656

They were added back though.

Also, what makes me wonder is the southbound of 64/264 (Future I-87) is the westbound or southbound side is darker than the eastbound (or northbound) side! Anything why that is? Maybe it's the type of pavement that they use? Could be a different asphalt type or anything?

[cowboy_wilhelm]

This has been a pretty impressive decade for highway construction in North Carolina. The decade started with a recession and a poor financial situation at NCDOT that was putting projects on hold. That got turned around and many projects were accelerated and built. I still can't believe that all of I-85 is widened from Charlotte to Greensboro, considering they were struggling to come up with funding just to replace the Yadkin River bridge a decade ago. Unfortunately, we're currently looking at a dismal financial picture at the end of this decade that has put numerous projects on hold.

We'll look back at some of the bigger projects in a sort of numerical highway order.... I'm sure I missed a few.

• I-26 widening started southeast of Asheville
• I-40 widening started southeast of Raleigh
• I-73/I-74 Rockingham bypass starting
• I-77 express lanes north of Charlotte
• I-85 widening

   
• Charlotte to China Grove
• Salisbury to Lexington (including Yadkin River bridge)
• I-140 in Wilmington/Brunswick County
• I-440 widening started in Raleigh
• I-485 completed around Charlotte
• I-295 slowly continues around Fayetteville
• NC-540/Triangle Expressway/Complete 540 started
• Greensboro Urban Loop/I-840
• Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
• Bonner Bridge replacement
• US 64 Asheboro Bypass almost finished
• US 70 Goldsboro Bypass
• US 74 Monroe Bypass/Expressway
• US 74 Shelby Bypass started
• Greenville Southwest Bypass

Coming this decade (maybe)...

• I-26 connector in Asheville ($1 billion+)
• I-40 widening

 
• between I-85 and US 15/501 (finally)
• between Winston-Salem and Greensboro
• through Hickory, west to Morganton too?
• Widening west of Asheville?
• I-77 widening in south Charlotte? Also $1 billion?
• I-85 widening Gastonia to South Carolina
• I-42? Kinston Bypass?
• Will I-73/I-74 ever be completed?
• I-87?
• I-95 widening projects
  
• Several freeway upgrades around Raleigh


• US 1 to north
• US 70 to northwest/Durham
• US 64 to the west (sort of)
• Maybe the Shelby Bypass will be finished (wouldn't count on it)

The future?

• Funding issues


• Less revenue from traditional sources
• Higher construction costs
• Aging infrastructure
• Maintaining all of the roads that have been widened, built or are proposed.
• Will this be the last round of major widenings and bypasses? (at least "free")
• Population growth in the cities, population loss in rural areas.


• Funding equity, "strategic prioritization" and data-driven scoring
• Can we keep up with increasing congestion in the metros?
• Do new highways spur growth for rural areas in this age and economy?
• More toll roads and lanes?
• Autonomous vehicles...? (passenger and freight)
• "Smart" (ish) roads and systems (improved ITS, traffic signals, etc.) to improve capacity and reduce congestion with existing infrastructure?

[sprjus4]

This past decade, the US-17 corridor has seen some significant progress in the effort to complete a 4-lane corridor throughout the state.

54 miles has been completed, along with 23 additional miles of existing 4-lane divided freeway being incorporated, including...

Beaufort County - three segments combined to create 15 miles of continuous 4-lane divided highway, completed between 2011 and 2014:

• Widening to 4-lanes - North of Washington - 5 miles
• New location 4-lane freeway - Bypass of Chocowinity and Washington (including a 3 mile bridge over wetlands and the Pamlico River) - 6 miles
• Widening to 4-lanes - South of Chocowinity - 4 miles

Craven County / Jones County / Onslow County - four segments combined, along with utilizing 10 miles of the existing US-70 freeway & US-17 Neuse River Bridge, to create 35 miles of continuous 4-lane divided highway, completed between 2011 and 2019:

• Widening to 4-lanes - North of Bridgeton - 4 miles
• New location 4-lane freeway - Bypass of Pollocksville and southern New Bern - 13 miles
• Widening to 4-lanes - Between Pollocksville and Maysville - 4 miles
• New location 4-lane freeway - Bypass of Maysville - 4 miles

New Hanover County / Brunswick County - the western 14 mile stretch of I-140 completed, in combination with the existing 13 miles, creates 27 miles of continuous 4-lane divided freeway bypassing Wilmington, completed between 2014 and 2017:

• New location 4-lane freeway - Western half of I-140 bypassing Wilmington (including two 1.5 mile bridges over wetlands and the Cape Fear River) - 14 miles

[tolbs17]

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0858503,-79.9758072,3a,75y,288.07h,94.78t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8ZY4Yw372dJ0Whg1AYsytQ!2e0!5s20190601T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Pretty sure there was an overhead sign here but suddenly it disappeared. Are they going to replace it or what?

[tolbs17]

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.773491,-78.5073825,3a,33.5y,164.61h,95.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVS9aw3_SohLM_Be77NK-_A!2e0!5s20190301T000000!7i16384!8i8192

The funny thing about this sign is they switch it from Wilson/Rocky Mount to Rocky Mount/Wilson. Anyone know why that is? 

[wdcrft63]

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.773491,-78.5073825,3a,33.5y,164.61h,95.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVS9aw3_SohLM_Be77NK-_A!2e0!5s20190301T000000!7i16384!8i8192

The funny thing about this sign is they switch it from Wilson/Rocky Mount to Rocky Mount/Wilson. Anyone know why that is? 

The person who wrote the specs probably put Rocky Mount first because it's on 64 and Wilson is on 264.

[tolbs17]

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.773491,-78.5073825,3a,33.5y,164.61h,95.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVS9aw3_SohLM_Be77NK-_A!2e0!5s20190301T000000!7i16384!8i8192

The funny thing about this sign is they switch it from Wilson/Rocky Mount to Rocky Mount/Wilson. Anyone know why that is? 

The person who wrote the specs probably put Rocky Mount first because it's on 64 and Wilson is on 264.

Also, the furthest city/town should always be on the bottom i'm sure.

[tolbs17]

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8379,-78.6738527,3a,31y,120.27h,95.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stlgK9fspFgxlTWrNm1x_ww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtlgK9fspFgxlTWrNm1x_ww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D279.0589%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Are to I-87 signs going to be placed there? Also the links I have above i posted too, i'm asking the same question. Or are they waiting until 64/264 gets upgraded to interstate standards to Zebulon?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.7641482,-78.7404012,3a,22.8y,60.16h,95.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD-x3YSrLqWsvqSLlGtxYdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This one too.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8036853,-78.699547,3a,19.3y,92.17h,95.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJIB0reqtu6HiL9qkhY2o_A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

This one would also need a change.

[Roadsguy]

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8379,-78.6738527,3a,31y,120.27h,95.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stlgK9fspFgxlTWrNm1x_ww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtlgK9fspFgxlTWrNm1x_ww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D279.0589%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Are to I-87 signs going to be placed there? Also the links I have above i posted too, i'm asking the same question. Or are they waiting until 64/264 gets upgraded to interstate standards to Zebulon?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.7641482,-78.7404012,3a,22.8y,60.16h,95.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD-x3YSrLqWsvqSLlGtxYdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This one too.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8036853,-78.699547,3a,19.3y,92.17h,95.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJIB0reqtu6HiL9qkhY2o_A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

This one would also need a change.

I-87 shields won't be placed there because I-87 doesn't go there. It turns down I-440 to the southeast to end at I-40 there. Most if not all of the signs there are updated.

[tolbs17]

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8379,-78.6738527,3a,31y,120.27h,95.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stlgK9fspFgxlTWrNm1x_ww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtlgK9fspFgxlTWrNm1x_ww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D279.0589%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Are to I-87 signs going to be placed there? Also the links I have above i posted too, i'm asking the same question. Or are they waiting until 64/264 gets upgraded to interstate standards to Zebulon?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.7641482,-78.7404012,3a,22.8y,60.16h,95.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD-x3YSrLqWsvqSLlGtxYdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This one too.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8036853,-78.699547,3a,19.3y,92.17h,95.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJIB0reqtu6HiL9qkhY2o_A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

This one would also need a change.

I-87 shields won't be placed there because I-87 doesn't go there. It turns down I-440 to the southeast to end at I-40 there. Most if not all of the signs there are updated.

I'm saying it should say "TO I-87".

[sprjus4]

I-87 shields won't be placed there because I-87 doesn't go there. It turns down I-440 to the southeast to end at I-40 there. Most if not all of the signs there are updated.

The only other signs I could think of that still need updating are ones like this sign and others regarding this exit, specifically replacing "To US-64 East" to "To I-87 North". This swap would make logical sense as I-540 is a bypass of Raleigh and would take motorists bound to I-87 North.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

NCDOT released an updated project suspension list that includes the "tenative" start date for preliminary engineering to resume on suspended projects. Basically, engineering will resume over the next five months in the order that projects are scheduled for construction in the first five years of the STIP. If construction is not funded in the first five years of the STIP, preliminary engineering will resume at an undetermined date.

[tolbs17]

NCDOT released an updated project suspension list that includes the "tenative" start date for preliminary engineering to resume on suspended projects. Basically, engineering will resume over the next five months in the order that projects are scheduled for construction in the first five years of the STIP. If construction is not funded in the first five years of the STIP, preliminary engineering will resume at an undetermined date.

By the way what does "PE" stand for?

[tolbs17]

I'm trying best to not change the topic, but this bridge replacement would be needed and i say make it a 4-lane bridge because people would love going from Greenville to Washington. And guess what? Construction was to begin in 2017 and nothing happened...