New Interstate 885 in Durham

[snowc]

Here's the news report with all the information about the latest delay to next spring, due to: the demolition will not start until December, it will take 6 weeks to complete, completion in January means that it will be too cold to put final pavement down in the bridge area, final striping of the entire route will not take place until all the paving is completed:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article255474246.html

"The completion date has now been pushed back at least four times, mostly related to the railroad bridges. The new bridges were supposed to be completed by the end of 2018"

Jeesums crimeny! That pavement must be and all grey after 4 years!

Have they already put down the final wearing course on the entire road, or has none of it been done yet? I'd have thought they'd wait and do it all at once.

They already placed asphalt on there 4 years ago!

[architect77]

Here's the news report with all the information about the latest delay to next spring, due to: the demolition will not start until December, it will take 6 weeks to complete, completion in January means that it will be too cold to put final pavement down in the bridge area, final striping of the entire route will not take place until all the paving is completed:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article255474246.html

"The completion date has now been pushed back at least four times, mostly related to the railroad bridges. The new bridges were supposed to be completed by the end of 2018"

Jeesums crimeny! That pavement must be and all grey after 4 years!

Have they already put down the final wearing course on the entire road, or has none of it been done yet? I'd have thought they'd wait and do it all at once.

They already placed asphalt on there 4 years ago!

But is the top layer?

I was just home driving on the US401 4-laning project between Rolesville and Louisburg. They unbelievably have concrete curbs on what is a rural highway and the roadway is noticeably waiting for the top few inches of asphalt to be added.

The curbs might be included if it's an official superstreet like the Rolesville Bypass is.

It's unfortunate that the final 6-mile section to Louisburg had its funding delayed to right-of-way purchase in 2029.

I hope the county's state senator can "clawback" the funding sooner.

After a statewide loop from Charlotte to Wilmington on US74 then to Raleigh and back to Atlanta via US64/NC49 through Charlotte on Tryon, 77, 485 back to 85, I still admire the state's high standards for roads.

I saw workers weed-eating under guardrails, and lots of lurking state troopers too.

Would y'all join me in getting NCDOT to replace the many embarrassing faded overhead signs that only seem to exist in Raleigh on 440  and 540 near US1?

I mean they try too hard to be fair to the whole state and Raleigh is the lowest priority. The most trash and worst overhead sign conditions I saw in the entire state.

[tolbs17]

Here's the news report with all the information about the latest delay to next spring, due to: the demolition will not start until December, it will take 6 weeks to complete, completion in January means that it will be too cold to put final pavement down in the bridge area, final striping of the entire route will not take place until all the paving is completed:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article255474246.html

"The completion date has now been pushed back at least four times, mostly related to the railroad bridges. The new bridges were supposed to be completed by the end of 2018"

Jeesums crimeny! That pavement must be and all grey after 4 years!

Have they already put down the final wearing course on the entire road, or has none of it been done yet? I'd have thought they'd wait and do it all at once.

They already placed asphalt on there 4 years ago!

Would y'all join me in getting NCDOT to replace the many embarrassing faded overhead signs that only seem to exist in Raleigh on 440  and 540 near US1?

I'm sure you're talking about these:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.862299,-78.5500375,3a,49.9y,142.75h,101.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6JQE73gfRF0V0aSo0WNmEA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8607013,-78.5473176,3a,15y,346.95h,92.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-qqQIySom8E0efETHF8clA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D-qqQIySom8E0efETHF8clA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D104.005806%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8540177,-78.5287908,3a,43.1y,101.64h,103.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7UvuIe3HvML5tjeW1XIBhw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

And yes that embarrasses me.

____________________________________________________

Did the demolition of the temporary railroad bridge start yet?

[wdcrft63]

Here's the news report with all the information about the latest delay to next spring, due to: the demolition will not start until December, it will take 6 weeks to complete, completion in January means that it will be too cold to put final pavement down in the bridge area, final striping of the entire route will not take place until all the paving is completed:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article255474246.html

"The completion date has now been pushed back at least four times, mostly related to the railroad bridges. The new bridges were supposed to be completed by the end of 2018"

Jeesums crimeny! That pavement must be and all grey after 4 years!

Have they already put down the final wearing course on the entire road, or has none of it been done yet? I'd have thought they'd wait and do it all at once.

They already placed asphalt on there 4 years ago!

Would y'all join me in getting NCDOT to replace the many embarrassing faded overhead signs that only seem to exist in Raleigh on 440  and 540 near US1?

I'm sure you're talking about these:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.862299,-78.5500375,3a,49.9y,142.75h,101.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6JQE73gfRF0V0aSo0WNmEA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8607013,-78.5473176,3a,15y,346.95h,92.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-qqQIySom8E0efETHF8clA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D-qqQIySom8E0efETHF8clA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D104.005806%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8540177,-78.5287908,3a,43.1y,101.64h,103.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7UvuIe3HvML5tjeW1XIBhw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

And yes that embarrasses me.

The road opened in 2007. How long should these overhead signs last?

[tolbs17]

Here's the news report with all the information about the latest delay to next spring, due to: the demolition will not start until December, it will take 6 weeks to complete, completion in January means that it will be too cold to put final pavement down in the bridge area, final striping of the entire route will not take place until all the paving is completed:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article255474246.html

"The completion date has now been pushed back at least four times, mostly related to the railroad bridges. The new bridges were supposed to be completed by the end of 2018"

Jeesums crimeny! That pavement must be and all grey after 4 years!

Have they already put down the final wearing course on the entire road, or has none of it been done yet? I'd have thought they'd wait and do it all at once.

They already placed asphalt on there 4 years ago!

Would y'all join me in getting NCDOT to replace the many embarrassing faded overhead signs that only seem to exist in Raleigh on 440  and 540 near US1?

I'm sure you're talking about these:

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.862299,-78.5500375,3a,49.9y,142.75h,101.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6JQE73gfRF0V0aSo0WNmEA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8607013,-78.5473176,3a,15y,346.95h,92.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-qqQIySom8E0efETHF8clA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D-qqQIySom8E0efETHF8clA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D104.005806%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8540177,-78.5287908,3a,43.1y,101.64h,103.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7UvuIe3HvML5tjeW1XIBhw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

And yes that embarrasses me.

The road opened in 2007. How long should these overhead signs last?

Just 14 years...

EDIT: I thought you were asking how long they lasted. They should last 20 years according to this link - http://www.trafficsign.us/signsheet.html

Single-layer glass bead sheetings usually fail by gradually losing their retroreflective intensity. This is due to increasing opacity of the pigmented material caused by ultraviolet ray exposure due to sunlight. This can result in a sign that looks good in daytime but is difficult to read at night. After extended exposure (20+ years), this sheeting will crack and peel from the sign substrate.   

But when looking at these overhead signs, which are nearly 15 years old, they reached the end of their life span and need replacement surprisingly. The older ones along US-264 from Zebulon to Wilson, US 64 from Zebulon to Rocky Mount, and pretty much all of I-95 did better!

Looking at another article, - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_copy

In contrast, signs made out of retroreflective sheeting are expected to last only around 15 years.

So the signs along I-540 (near Highway 1) basically reached the end of their lifespan. But looking over here which is an older section, these are in better shape! It might be some poor design or some first introduction to retroreflective sheeting to the ones near US-1, (as there's no lighting on them compared to the other ones I linked) I guess that's how it is...

When looking at both links, they are expected to last only 15-20 years.

[tjcreasy]

The overhead signs on I-540 needs to be its own topic. I live off Buffalo Road and i can attest that they're illegible at this point.

For comparisons sake, the I-40/85 multiplex signs from the mid 90s are in great condition.

[bob7374]

I have posted new photos of Future I-885 courtesy of Adam Prince showing lack of progress due to the continued existence of the temporary railroad bridge, hopefully to be demolished in the next few weeks:


The remainder of the photos are at: https://malmeroads.net/ncfutints/fut885.html#photos

[architect77]

It's the brutal Western sun that degrades the signs.

My gripe is that Raleigh is just about the most talked about city in the country, and I don't see this level of sign degradation anywhere else in the state so....

because someone moves to the area every 30 minutes 24 hours a day 7 days a week, they must bea little disappointed in the visual appearance, not to mention the trash along the highwaysl.

So I'm sending photos of these 540 signs to NCDOT on my 3rd or 4th request to get these signs replaced. the Beltline has some needing replacement too.

[tolbs17]

I have posted new photos of Future I-885 courtesy of Adam Prince showing lack of progress due to the continued existence of the temporary railroad bridge, hopefully to be demolished in the next few weeks:


The remainder of the photos are at: https://malmeroads.net/ncfutints/fut885.html#photos

About time!

[Scott5114]

The road opened in 2007. How long should these overhead signs last?

Just 14 years...

EDIT: I thought you were asking how long they lasted. They should last 20 years according to this link - http://www.trafficsign.us/signsheet.html

Single-layer glass bead sheetings usually fail by gradually losing their retroreflective intensity. This is due to increasing opacity of the pigmented material caused by ultraviolet ray exposure due to sunlight. This can result in a sign that looks good in daytime but is difficult to read at night. After extended exposure (20+ years), this sheeting will crack and peel from the sign substrate.   

That 20 year figure is for single-layer glass bead sheetings–i.e. engineer-grade (Type I) sheeting. That type of sheeting was disallowed under new reflectivity standards in 2009, so it's possible NCDOT was using one of the newer, more reflective multi-layer sheetings by 2007. Multi-layer sheetings are more reflective, but the multiple layers can detach from one another easier than engineer-grade sheeting, so they are assumed to only have a 10 year service life.

Sheeting type is pretty easy to tell if you can walk up close to a sign. (See this Traffic Sign Retroreflective Sheeting Identification Guide.) Multi-layer sheeting has a layer of netting holding it together that looks like a honeycomb or diamond pattern. Engineer grade sheeting has a uniform texture, sometimes with small manufacturer identification watermarks printed into it.

[architect77]

I sent requests for the signs at Buffaloe and Lousiburg Rd to be replaced.

Would all of you kindly do the same? It will speed up their replacement.

Thank you.

[tolbs17]

I sent requests for the signs at Buffaloe and Lousiburg Rd to be replaced.

Would all of you kindly do the same? It will speed up their replacement.

Thank you.

Done.

[architect77]

I sent requests for the signs at Buffaloe and Lousiburg Rd to be replaced.

Would all of you kindly do the same? It will speed up their replacement.

Thank you.

Done.

Thsnk you for the team effort. The US's infrastructure is aging rapidly and we gotta keep 'em informed about unacceptable conditions.

[tolbs17]

I sent requests for the signs at Buffaloe and Lousiburg Rd to be replaced.

Would all of you kindly do the same? It will speed up their replacement.

Thank you.

Done.

Thsnk you for the team effort. The US's infrastructure is aging rapidly and we gotta keep 'em informed about unacceptable conditions.

Yes sir.

[tolbs17]

I'm sure a fact would be if it weren't for the railroad bridge going over the highway, this project could have been completed in 2019.

[fillup420]

I'm sure a fact would be if it weren't for the railroad bridge going over the highway, this project could have been completed in 2019.

The railroad bridge which still has not been touched in regards to removal. We are waiting, CSX...........

[Roadsguy]

How long before one of us pulls a Richard Ankrom and just tears the bridge down themself in the middle of the night?

[74/171FAN]

As a note, I drove on I-85 through the area yesterday and there was no signage (even new overheads being installed) indicating Future I-885.

[fillup420]

How long before one of us pulls a Richard Ankrom and just tears the bridge down themself in the middle of the night?

I had very similar thoughts while passing under it yesterday. Time to locate some dynamite....

[LM117]

NCDOT is insisting that the connector will open this spring.

https://www.wral.com/spring-opening-planned-for-east-end-connector-linking-nc-147-and-us-70-in-durham/20085935/

[tolbs17]

About Damn time!!! I hope to never see a highway project like this again where they fuck with a railroad company to allocate the bridges/tracks when a widening or new highway project is done.

Did they even state that the temporary bridge has been demolished yet? Because I didn't hear anything in that video. But when looking at it, it does look like that it was resurfaced.

[tolbs17]

Not sure what the proper term is for these signs, but I believe he's referring to the ones on the local roads prior to the interchange with I-85. These are all north of Henderson.

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4

Street view updated and one of them has changed to Petersburg.

[bob7374]

About Damn time!!! I hope to never see a highway project like this again where they fuck with a railroad company to allocate the bridges/tracks when a widening or new highway project is done.

Did they even state that the temporary bridge has been demolished yet? Because I didn't hear anything in that video. But when looking at it, it does look like that it was resurfaced.

The article says the demolition will begin late this month or early February. Until that starts, I will remain skeptical as to any statement of when I-885 is opening.

[wdcrft63]

About Damn time!!! I hope to never see a highway project like this again where they fuck with a railroad company to allocate the bridges/tracks when a widening or new highway project is done.

Did they even state that the temporary bridge has been demolished yet? Because I didn't hear anything in that video. But when looking at it, it does look like that it was resurfaced.

The article says the demolition will begin late this month or early February. Until that starts, I will remain skeptical as to any statement of when I-885 is opening.

I agree. One positive note is that the press is beginning (belatedly) to pick up on this situation.

[fillup420]

About Damn time!!! I hope to never see a highway project like this again where they fuck with a railroad company to allocate the bridges/tracks when a widening or new highway project is done.

Did they even state that the temporary bridge has been demolished yet? Because I didn't hear anything in that video. But when looking at it, it does look like that it was resurfaced.

The article says the demolition will begin late this month or early February. Until that starts, I will remain skeptical as to any statement of when I-885 is opening.

I agree. One positive note is that the press is beginning (belatedly) to pick up on this situation.

As of yesterday, the bridge has still not been touched.....