NC: Proposed I-777 (Wilkesboro to Winston-Salem along US 421)

[Rothman]

There's a reason why Congress is called the legislative branch of our government...

Because they can override a process that shouldn't have government interference?

...

Because they make the laws and AASHTO was only filling a legislative void when it took upon itself that role.

Also, please review what "AASHTO" stands for if you think they're not government...

Given the amount of interstate highways (and numbers) that have been written into law recently, I feel like the USDOT/FHWA/AASHTO/ or someone should one day have the authority to reject or provide alternative numbers for proposed interstates regardless of if a specific number was written into law. Given that a lot of these new interstates are unfunded mandates (i.e. I-69), there is no guarantee that it would get built in the foreseeable, especially in poorer states without earmarked funds from Congress. Reserving a number for a Congressman's election rather than a highway that has actual viability is a waste.

Probably should give the Constitution a read...

Assuming it went to the Supreme Court, it could be argued that the Federal government has an interest in assigning and maintaining route numbers for the national highway systems, both Interstate and the US Highway System. In the case of suffixed routes, the Federal government has an interest in removing and disallowing them to improve the overall navigability of the system.

Regarding 3DIs, this is less of an issue as they were always intended for local / intrastate connectivity, but I think it's improper for Congress to assign highway numbers.

Wut.

USDOT/FHWA are Executive Branch agencies.  AASHTO only has informal authority.  Congress makes laws.

The idea of someone challenging congressional laws that assign route numbers in a way that any appeals court would entertain after being struck down by summary judgment strikes me as delusional.  Wonder if an attorney would even take up the case.

[vdeane]

^ And given that the Supreme Court heard a case where the plaintiff basically asked for the ability of Congress to even willingly delegate authority to federal agencies be declared unconstitutional, something tells me they wouldn't rule in favor of a federal agency (much less an independent organization like AASHTO) overriding Congress.

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

Bumping this......

Why would Winston-Salem want 421/old green 40 tacked on, when they already took 40 off of it 3+ decades ago?

Also, I do wonder if Boone actually getting the long-rumored Daniel Boone Parkway built would make it a candidate to be part of this I-777 (which SHOULD be I-340)......while Wilkesboro is a regionally important place to northwest NC, it doesn't hold a candle to the importance of Boone and ASU. Though the terrain between the Wilkesboros and Boone would be a whole other kettle of fish in its own right.

If you really wanted an I-x77 route in NC, take I-74 here out of the system and re-designate the I-77 to Winston-Salem portion as I-177

[sprjus4]

Bumping this......

Why would Winston-Salem want 421/old green 40 tacked on, when they already took 40 off of it 3+ decades ago?

Also, I do wonder if Boone actually getting the long-rumored Daniel Boone Parkway built would make it a candidate to be part of this I-777 (which SHOULD be I-340)......while Wilkesboro is a regionally important place to northwest NC, it doesn't hold a candle to the importance of Boone and ASU. Though the terrain between the Wilkesboros and Boone would be a whole other kettle of fish in its own right.

If you really wanted an I-x77 route in NC, take I-74 here out of the system and re-designate the I-77 to Winston-Salem portion as I-177

I-777 is proposed to run between I-40 on the west side of Winston-Salem to Wilksboro... basically where the existing highway is already a freeway.

They're not talking about upgrading other parts that have intersections, etc.

I agree though - the only thing of significance is Boone. US-421 is adequate and already is a freeway.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Mabey once they get to the top of the ridgeline west of Wilkesboro on 421, they can upgrade the Blue Ridge Parkway to an interstate to Boone as a southern bypass

[The Ghostbuster]

Maybe the proposed Interstate 685 and Interstate 777 corridors should be combined and numbered as a 2di, like Interstate 38.