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[CarolinaPaladin]

DOT Lays Out Plans For Overhaul Of I-40, I-77 Exit

The cloverleaf interchange of Interstates 40 and 77 in Statesville, North Carolina, is getting an overhaul.  It is being replaced with a multi-level interchange.  I do not know if this will be a full four-level stack interchange or a three-level interchange with loops remaining, similar to Interstates 26 and 85 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

[Alex]

Initially a directional ramp will replace one of the loops. In the end three of the four loops will be replaced with sweeping ramps or flyovers.

They are rendered at http://www2.statesville.com/mgmedia/file/133/srl-i40-project/

[broadhurst04]

Does it seem odd that when the interchange was first built they predicted a traffic count of only 5000 vehicles per day? That seems low, even for the 1960s.

Another interchange that needs a makeover is Business 40/US 52 in Winston Salem. That thing needs a couple of flyover ramps badly. And there's virtually no room to merge when you exit from one route and try to get on the other.

[Takumi]

Business 40, in general, has needed a makeover (why did my phone auto-capitalize that word?!) for years. I never got to fully check it out when I was in the area a lot, so I'm curious to see how it is now.

[OracleUsr]

It's about time on the 40/77 cluster----.  The only problem is it and the US 21 interchange just west of there will be a bigger cluster---- for the next 5 years while they do the work.

I guess it's going to be 70 and 115 for a while for me.

[rickmastfan67]

This is one interchange I'm happy they are finally upgrading.  Too bad it will not be that fun if you need to use the I-40/US-21 interchange till it's finished.

[OracleUsr]

I'm sure 40/77 won't be a picnic either.  How much worse it could be than it is now, remains to be seen.  I hate travelling through that interchange, and I use I-77N to I-40W a lot.  Not fun contending with traffic leaving I-40W for I-77S (CHARLOTTE!!!).

[rickmastfan67]

I'm sure 40/77 won't be a picnic either.  How much worse it could be than it is now, remains to be seen.  I hate travelling through that interchange, and I use I-77N to I-40W a lot.  Not fun contending with traffic leaving I-40W for I-77S (CHARLOTTE!!!).

I agree with you on that I-77N to I-40W movement.  Have used it a lot when leaving the Charlotte area after races weekends to stop at the K&W at the I-40/US-21 interchange.

[6a]

Does it seem odd that when the interchange was first built they predicted a traffic count of only 5000 vehicles per day? That seems low, even for the 1960s.

Remember, I-485 is a rural interstate, too 

[OracleUsr]

I'm sure 40/77 won't be a picnic either.  How much worse it could be than it is now, remains to be seen.  I hate travelling through that interchange, and I use I-77N to I-40W a lot.  Not fun contending with traffic leaving I-40W for I-77S (CHARLOTTE!!!).

I agree with you on that I-77N to I-40W movement.  Have used it a lot when leaving the Charlotte area after races weekends to stop at the K&W at the I-40/US-21 interchange.

I live about 2 miles, and work about 3 miles, from that interchange.  It's going to be a mess for all of us Statesville residents.  I hope it's worth it when it finishes and is able to accomodate more and more traffic, especially because that serves traffic headed for Hickory and Asheville.

[Strider]

I drove through Statesville on I-77 heading north, and I noticed NCDOT is rebuilding the I-40/77 interchange from cloverleaf interchange to a multi-level interchange with flyovers (I'd say about time), so I looked at the website and it is going to look very impressive. But my question is.. why don't they widen I-77 to 6 lanes from Exit 49-54, but instead they're widening I-40 to 6 lanes from exit 150 to 154. Anyone know why?


The link to the website is http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i40i77improvements/

[WashuOtaku]

I drove through Statesville on I-77 heading north, and I noticed NCDOT is rebuilding the I-40/77 interchange from cloverleaf interchange to a multi-level interchange with flyovers (I'd say about time), so I looked at the website and it is going to look very impressive. But my question is.. why don't they widen I-77 to 6 lanes from Exit 49-54, but instead they're widening I-40 to 6 lanes from exit 150 to 154. Anyone know why?

To put it simply, there is more traffic along I-40 than I-77 in Statesville.  Once you go north of Statesville, there isn't really much till Wythville.  However, along I-40, it's a string of North Carolina cities, one after another, and the whole routing will eventually widen at some point like I-85 has been for the last three decades.

[froggie]

Actually, based on 2012 traffic counts, it's the other way around.  From the 40/77 interchange, the busiest traffic direction is 77 South.  While a case can be made for widening I-40 from Exit 150 to Exit 154 as part of the 40/77 interchange project, a stronger case could be made for widening I-77 from I-40 south all the way to the start of the 6-lane section at Exit 33…especially the stretch from I-40 to Exit 45.

[WashuOtaku]

Actually, based on 2012 traffic counts, it's the other way around.  From the 40/77 interchange, the busiest traffic direction is 77 South.  While a case can be made for widening I-40 from Exit 150 to Exit 154 as part of the 40/77 interchange project, a stronger case could be made for widening I-77 from I-40 south all the way to the start of the 6-lane section at Exit 33…especially the stretch from I-40 to Exit 45.

I didn't say I-77 south traffic was light, I said there isn't much north along I-77 from Statesville,  so the need to widen is less.  I am also not against widening that stretch of highway, but I can see why NCDOT choose to widen I-40 first.  Also, travelers that connect from I-40 onto I-77 south (and vice-versa) isn't really bad, considering travelers can also use: US 321 (Hickory), NC 16 (Conover), US 601 (Mocksville), US 52 (Winston-Salem) and I-85 (Greensboro) to reach Charlotte faster than connecting through Statesville.  Commuting wise, Statesville isn't much of a bedroom community for Charlotte; that pretty much ends before reaching Troutman.

[Strider]

I agree with you that I-77 south of I-40 interchange is filled with heavy traffic, which is why I think NCDOT should just widen I-77 from Charlotte to Statesville and I-40 from Statesville to Winston Salem. Oh well, this interchange project is the start i guess. Still very happy that they're doing it.

[Third Strike]

I agree with you that I-77 south of I-40 interchange is filled with heavy traffic, which is why I think NCDOT should just widen I-77 from Charlotte to Statesville and I-40 from Statesville to Winston Salem. Oh well, this interchange project is the start i guess. Still very happy that they're doing it.

There are plans to add one lane in each direction on I-77 between West Catawba Avenue to I-40, and the project(s) ranked relatively well on the state's new STI system. Though, construction could take place as soon as 2016, or as late as 2025:

https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/STIData/Highway_STI_Data.xlsm

[Tom958]

I agree with you that I-77 south of I-40 interchange is filled with heavy traffic, which is why I think NCDOT should just widen I-77 from Charlotte to Statesville and I-40 from Statesville to Winston Salem. Oh well, this interchange project is the start i guess. Still very happy that they're doing it.

I took 77-40 from Atlanta to Greensboro not too long ago and I was amazed how little traffic there was on 40.

[LM117]

A public meeting is being held in Statesville on August 5 to give an update on the I-40/I-77 interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-07-30-iredell-county-interchange-improvements.aspx

[tolbs17]

A public meeting is being held in Statesville on August 5 to give an update on the I-40/I-77 interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-07-30-iredell-county-interchange-improvements.aspx

One time it used to be a three-level stack. I'm not sure what happened?? I really hope this interchange does not look as stupid as the I-85 I-485 in Charlotte.

Maybe the turbines are cheaper and less scary?

[sprjus4]

A public meeting is being held in Statesville on August 5 to give an update on the I-40/I-77 interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-07-30-iredell-county-interchange-improvements.aspx

One time it used to be a three-level stack. I'm not sure what happened?? I really hope this interchange does not look as stupid as the I-85 I-485 in Charlotte.

Maybe the turbines are cheaper and less scary?

I think you're thinking of a different interchange. It's always been a cloverleaf and recently had a loop removed and replaced by a flyover.

[tolbs17]

A public meeting is being held in Statesville on August 5 to give an update on the I-40/I-77 interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-07-30-iredell-county-interchange-improvements.aspx

One time it used to be a three-level stack. I'm not sure what happened?? I really hope this interchange does not look as stupid as the I-85 I-485 in Charlotte.

Maybe the turbines are cheaper and less scary?

I think you're thinking of a different interchange. It's always been a cloverleaf and recently had a loop removed and replaced by a flyover.

Yes, but this was the first proposed design

[sprjus4]

A public meeting is being held in Statesville on August 5 to give an update on the I-40/I-77 interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-07-30-iredell-county-interchange-improvements.aspx

One time it used to be a three-level stack. I'm not sure what happened?? I really hope this interchange does not look as stupid as the I-85 I-485 in Charlotte.

Maybe the turbines are cheaper and less scary?

I think you're thinking of a different interchange. It's always been a cloverleaf and recently had a loop removed and replaced by a flyover.

Yes, but this was the first proposed design

Oh, I thought you were referring to the original interchange. That design would have been more wise long-term IMO.

And going back to your first question, the turbine interchange design is less expensive, less visual impact (only being 2-level instead of 4-level), and handles / allows for much higher speeds on all movements.

EDIT - It does appear the overall final design is indeed a turbine - https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i40-i77-interchange/Documents/i-40-77-partial-turbine-interchange-rendering.pdf - that was posted in June 2019.

[tolbs17]

A public meeting is being held in Statesville on August 5 to give an update on the I-40/I-77 interchange project.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-07-30-iredell-county-interchange-improvements.aspx

One time it used to be a three-level stack. I'm not sure what happened?? I really hope this interchange does not look as stupid as the I-85 I-485 in Charlotte.

Maybe the turbines are cheaper and less scary?

I think you're thinking of a different interchange. It's always been a cloverleaf and recently had a loop removed and replaced by a flyover.

Yes, but this was the first proposed design

Oh, I thought you were referring to the original interchange. That design would have been more wise long-term IMO.

And going back to your first question, the turbine interchange design is less expensive, less visual impact (only being 2-level instead of 4-level), and handles / allows for much higher speeds on all movements.

EDIT - It does appear the overall final design is indeed a turbine - https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i40-i77-interchange/Documents/i-40-77-partial-turbine-interchange-rendering.pdf - that was posted in June 2019.

You probably would only have to drive 50-55 mph on those ramps because they are more curvy then the stack interchange. It kinda sucks but I think they chose that because it's safer.

[rickmastfan67]

EDIT - It does appear the overall final design is indeed a turbine - https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i40-i77-interchange/Documents/i-40-77-partial-turbine-interchange-rendering.pdf - that was posted in June 2019.

If that's the current plan, they might have to reconstruct the underpass for the I-77 NB -> I-40 WB under I-40 so they can include the I-40 EB -> I-77 NB lanes.
https://goo.gl/maps/XRcLq7iyD8y9TKhM8

Looks like there might be enough space for 1 additional lane, but not another 2 + barriers.

I also find it interesting that the will want to move the US-21 interchange access ramps again.

[sprjus4]

If that's the current plan, they might have to reconstruct the underpass for the I-77 NB -> I-40 WB under I-40 so they can include the I-40 EB -> I-77 NB lanes.
https://goo.gl/maps/XRcLq7iyD8y9TKhM8

Looks like there might be enough space for 1 additional lane, but not another 2 + barriers.

I was thinking the exact same thing earlier... after studying that underpass for some time, it doesn't look like there's any room for it... That will be interesting to see how they do it. My guess is replace the sloping with retaining wall to open up space.

I think part of the issue was they intended for the flyover / stack design when they built this, but then they modified it to be a turbine.