North Carolina

[LM117]

Good news for those going to the State Fair.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-18-i-40-nc-54-ramp-lanes-open.aspx

​RALEIGH — Travelers using the Interstate 40-N.C. 54 interchange in West Raleigh, including those heading for the N.C. State Fair through next weekend, will have an easier time navigating through the interchange thanks to a recently-completed project to add capacity to the ramps at Exit 290.

The ramp from eastbound I-40 now has three lanes — one right-turn lane towards Cary and two left-turn lanes towards the State Fairgrounds and Raleigh.

Drivers exiting I-40 West now have four lanes — two turning left to go towards Cary and two turning right toward the fairgrounds and Raleigh.

The additional lanes will allow more vehicles to get through the traffic signal during each cycle, reducing travel times.

In addition to having more lanes, the ramps have also been lengthened. Longer ramps and more lanes increase safety and relieve congestion by reducing potential backups onto I-40.

This $2.7 million project began in April.

[LM117]

Regarding the Business 40 project in Winston-Salem, lane reopenings are set for this weekend.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-18-business-40-winston-salem-lanes-reopen.aspx

I'm probably in the minority here, but I would've preferred that the road had become I-640 instead of Salem Parkway...

[tolbs17]

New signage has been posted on the Greenville SW bypass, it says Greenville, Washington, and Snow Hill. at the US 13 interchange. Haven't seen any signage for the cloverleaf interchange yet.

For Forlines Rd, the signage says "Winterville". (at least for southbound. Not sure about northbound, it would probably say Winterville too, but could just be "Forlines Rd")

For NC 102, I've not been over there yet but i'm pretty sure for southbound traffic it will say "Ayden". Northbound would probably just say "NC 102" But could say Ayden too.

For the bypass and NC 11 split, i'm sure the left sign will say "Greenville, Washington" and the right sign would say "Ayden / Winterville". When the northwest bypass gets built, I think they should add "Bethel" in there too.

Where this is at where it says "Wilson", I think Raleigh should be added in there too.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6129964,-77.437702,3a,51.7y,195.96h,84.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFl7xA51Ivy_qBIMBQvJNxA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

For over here, remove the signs from the bridge and make a new overhead sign, have US 264 and an extra space for I-587 on the left side "That says Wilson and Raleigh, not just Wilson." (or have it just I-587 if US 264 gets put back on it's old alignment) and have the new sign on the right say Kinston. Haha. I think they should do that but it might stay on the bridge if it's their choice.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6078664,-77.4375437,3a,75y,268.33h,79.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7O1XvWbBwaTVvLbngAobEg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Here's an example that I would love for it to look like
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1322682,-77.150718,3a,40.8y,286.36h,91.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbdc77Kabd-Q2xCtX3DHdzQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[tolbs17]

This is a question since I can't find an I-40 thread on here,

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Documents/U-5792_U-5881_PM_Map_Alt_1.pdf

Could I-40 be extended to Walmart and College rd can be truncated at the Market St interchange?

[froggie]

This is a question since I can't find an I-40 thread on here,

You yourself have responded in an earlier I-40 east of Raleigh thread.

Could I-40 be extended to Walmart and College rd can be truncated at the Market St interchange?

Not without a design exemption.  Spacing's too tight between the proposed 74 and Kings Dr ramps.

[sprjus4]

Not without a design exemption.  Spacing's too tight between the proposed 74 and Kings Dr ramps.

I don't think that spacing is an issue, as long as you have an auxiliary lane between them. I mean, NCDOT has built cloverleafs on newer interstates and have had no issues. I-74 at I-95 around 2006, I-40 at I-95 in the 90s, I-587 will run through the cloverleaf at the NC-11 Bypass in Greenville, I-42 will run through the partial cloverleaf at US-17 outside New Bern which has a small merge on the westbound lanes, and they're studying one at I-42 and I-95.

[froggie]

Cloverleaves are an exception, because the loops are considered part of the same interchange.  FHWA does not like short weaving sections between two adjacent interchanges.

Again, NCDOT could apply for a design exemption should they desire Interstate designation.  But that design itself (based on that PDF), does not meet Interstate standard for ramp spacing between two interchanges.

[Beltway]

Cloverleaves are an exception, because the loops are considered part of the same interchange.  FHWA does not like short weaving sections between two adjacent interchanges.
Again, NCDOT could apply for a design exemption should they desire Interstate designation.  But that design itself (based on that PDF), does not meet Interstate standard for ramp spacing between two interchanges.

Doesn't matter.  They'll do it anyway.

[Roadsguy]

I suppose it could be brought to standard by having the ramps from Kings Drive feed into the ramps to 74 and having slip ramps provide access between 117 and 74.

Slightly disappointed that this upgrade doesn't allow for a freeway-to-freeway connection between 117 and 74, but doing so would be vastly more expensive.

[sprjus4]

Cloverleaves are an exception, because the loops are considered part of the same interchange.  FHWA does not like short weaving sections between two adjacent interchanges.

Again, NCDOT could apply for a design exemption should they desire Interstate designation.  But that design itself (based on that PDF), does not meet Interstate standard for ramp spacing between two interchanges.

When they built the US-17 New Bern Bypass, they tied it into US-70 between two interchanges, and there's two areas of short weaving because of three rural interchanges within a mile, and it's now being incorporated into I-42.

I don't think it's a design exception, rather FHWA doesn't seem to care much nowadays. I've said before, as long as it meets general basic interstate standards, they'll approve it.

[wdcrft63]

Cloverleaves are an exception, because the loops are considered part of the same interchange.  FHWA does not like short weaving sections between two adjacent interchanges.
Again, NCDOT could apply for a design exemption should they desire Interstate designation.  But that design itself (based on that PDF), does not meet Interstate standard for ramp spacing between two interchanges.

Doesn't matter.  They'll do it anyway.

Not necessarily; it's not true that NCDOT wants every inch of every freeway to be an interstate (case in point: Green 40 in Winston-Salem). In this case it doesn't matter very much; the northbound side will have TO 40 shields that makes it feel like I-40 to drivers. The southbound side will probably be signed US 117 but it will still feel like I-40 to drivers.

[sprjus4]

Cloverleaves are an exception, because the loops are considered part of the same interchange.  FHWA does not like short weaving sections between two adjacent interchanges.
Again, NCDOT could apply for a design exemption should they desire Interstate designation.  But that design itself (based on that PDF), does not meet Interstate standard for ramp spacing between two interchanges.

Doesn't matter.  They'll do it anyway.

Not necessarily; it's not true that NCDOT wants every inch of every freeway to be an interstate (case in point: Green 40 in Winston-Salem). In this case it doesn't matter very much; the northbound side will have TO 40 shields that makes it feel like I-40 to drivers. The southbound side will probably be signed US 117 but it will still feel like I-40 to drivers.

It'll likely happen like I-26 does in Tennessee - the shields and designation will end a few miles before the actual freeway does. In this case, I-40 will end, but it will continue for a couple of miles south as an urban 6-lane freeway.

Regarding the interstate comment, while NCDOT has an apparent love for interstates, pretty much all of the recent additions are appropriate additions, have merit, etc. The urban beltways, interstates linking the inland cities to the coastal cities, etc.

[LM117]

The new I-95 Business/US-301 bridges over Dunn Road in Eastover are open.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-22-cumberland-county-route-reopens.aspx

[wriddle082]

The new I-95 Business/US-301 bridges over Dunn Road in Eastover are open.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-22-cumberland-county-route-reopens.aspx

Does this mean that Business 95/US 301 is finally fully opened up now for the first time in several years?  Seems like it took an awfully long time for the Cape Fear River bridge to get rebuilt, and then this one happened.  But I'm sure there were other nearby higher priorities due to hurricane/flood damage.

[sprjus4]

The new I-95 Business/US-301 bridges over Dunn Road in Eastover are open.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-22-cumberland-county-route-reopens.aspx

Incredible. They replaced two interstate-grade freeway overpasses with taller and wider spans in just one year, and only for $4.9 million.

[rickmastfan67]

Split out the 11'8" bridge posts and merged them into the other thread about that bridge.

[LM117]

Rehab work on the NC-58 Emerald Isle bridge will begin on October 28. Work is expected to last through next spring.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-25-rehab-emerald-isle-bridge.aspx

[LM117]

A contract was awarded for several Nashville/Rocky Mount area projects, which includes building an I-95/Sunset Avenue interchange.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-25-ncdot-awards-nash-county-projects.aspx

[sprjus4]

A contract was awarded for several Nashville/Rocky Mount area projects, which includes building an I-95/Sunset Avenue interchange.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-25-ncdot-awards-nash-county-projects.aspx

Looks like another accelerated project thanks to Build NC.

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

A contract was awarded for several Nashville/Rocky Mount area projects, which includes building an I-95/Sunset Avenue interchange.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-25-ncdot-awards-nash-county-projects.aspx

I would assume the Sunset Ave. interchange will added and the 64 interchange removed in anticipation of I-87, no?

[LM117]

A contract was awarded for several Nashville/Rocky Mount area projects, which includes building an I-95/Sunset Avenue interchange.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-25-ncdot-awards-nash-county-projects.aspx

I would assume the Sunset Ave. interchange will added and the 64 interchange removed in anticipation of I-87, no?

No, the US-64 interchange will (and needs to) remain. The C/D lanes will be extended from the existing US-64 interchange to the new Sunset Ave interchange.

Here's the map:

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/nashville-rocky-mount-projects/Documents/i-95-carolina-coastal-us-64-map.pdf

[sprjus4]

A contract was awarded for several Nashville/Rocky Mount area projects, which includes building an I-95/Sunset Avenue interchange.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-25-ncdot-awards-nash-county-projects.aspx

I would assume the Sunset Ave. interchange will added and the 64 interchange removed in anticipation of I-87, no?

No, the US-64 interchange will (and needs to) remain. The C/D lanes will be extended from the existing US-64 interchange to the new Sunset Ave interchange.

Here's the map:

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/nashville-rocky-mount-projects/Documents/i-95-carolina-coastal-us-64-map.pdf

That would be a mistake if they were to remove it - I-87 or not.

It's an important corridor to the east & Rocky Mount from I-95, and to the west & Raleigh from I-95.

If anything, they need to add flyovers from US-64 East to I-95 North, and US-64 West to I-95 South, especially if I-87 would increase traffic from the east & the existing major US-64 to I-95 North movement.

[sprjus4]

Took a drive down to Ahoskie & Murfreesboro today and noticed a few things -

A) Progress on the NC-11 / NC-11 interchange is going, the bridge structure is up but not completed. The ramps looked as if they were mostly graded (the interchange is a par-clo), and the northwest quadrant (the off-ramp loop and on-ramp leg) is being used for NC-11 traffic.
B) Progress on the Modlin Rd overpass over NC-11 is slightly behind the NC-11 interchange, the bridge approaches are completed though the bridge itself has not been constructed yet.
C) The speed limit on 7 miles of 4-lane US-13 / US-158 north of Winton, and 8.5 miles of 4-lane US-158 west of Winton has been increased from 55 mph to 60 mph sometime within the last year. Nice to see it increased as it's easily drivable at 65 mph, now they need to increase other 4-lane highways in eastern NC like US-17 south of Elizabeth City to 60 mph, and the future US-158 widening east of Elizabeth City starting next year once it's completed.

[tolbs17]

For the new southwest bypass, I wish there was lighting at the interchanges because it's brand new and it will look really dark. Why don't we get lighting like this?

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9646004,-78.8659764,3a,75y,11.25h,114.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYudDDn_PWazeOtkVSJxMzA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[LM117]

The eastbound US-70 Business loop onto I-40 West in Garner will permanently close on November 3.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-10-29-us-70-loop-i-40.aspx