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[LM117]

Images of the US-70 (Future I-42) Goldsboro Bypass ribbon-cutting ceremony courtesy of WNCN. They wasted no time with I-42.







[Split from the North Carolina thread. -S.]

[WillWeaverRVA]

Images of the US-70 (Future I-42) Goldsboro Bypass ribbon-cutting ceremony courtesy of WNCN. They wasted no time with I-42.

So are they just going ahead and signing it as I-42, then?

[Henry]

So are they just going ahead and signing it as I-42, then?

From the looks of it, yeah. They might do the same thing with I-87, albeit with the I-49/I-540 treatment (in AR), where both routes would be signed concurrently, and one is eventually dropped (in this case, I-495). FWIW, I-87 will most likely be in the same boat as I-74, in that it will not connect to New York anytime soon, but we'd sure love to see that!

[LM117]

Images of the US-70 (Future I-42) Goldsboro Bypass ribbon-cutting ceremony courtesy of WNCN. They wasted no time with I-42.

So are they just going ahead and signing it as I-42, then?

I wish. No, they have AASHTO approval only for "Future I-42". FHWA still has to sign off on it, but FHWA usually goes along with what AASHTO approves, so it's just as good as official. You can bet NCDOT will be sending applications at AASHTO's next meeting in the fall to have I-42 shields go up on the Goldsboro and Clayton bypasses and for I-87 to be signed along I-440 and the Knightdale Bypass (currently I-495). NCDOT will also likely seek to have I-495 and the section of I-440 from I-40 in southeast Raleigh to the Knightdale Bypass decommissioned.

[orulz]

I doubt NCDOT will be in a hurry to decommission the segment of I-440 but I suppose I could be proven wrong?

I wonder what NCDOT will do with the I-95 interchange? Will new ramps be built or will the breezewood-ish status quo be maintained? There are better alternatives in three quadrants, all of which are (or will be) interstates, that cut off the corner for long distance traffic. The quadrant with the missing connection is I-95N to I-42E (and the reverse, I-42W to I-95S.) Is that one movement important enough to merit an eight figure interchange project? Probably not in our lifetimes. Maybe that little stretch of US 70 could get an alternate designation of Business (Green) I-42.

LGL33L

[ARMOURERERIC]

I was waiting for an image of the 42 sign behind the podium making a speech.

[LM117]

I wonder what NCDOT will do with the I-95 interchange? Will new ramps be built or will the breezewood-ish status quo be maintained? There are better alternatives in three quadrants, all of which are (or will be) interstates, that cut off the corner for long distance traffic. The quadrant with the missing connection is I-95N to I-42E (and the reverse, I-42W to I-95S.) Is that one movement important enough to merit an eight figure interchange project? Probably not in our lifetimes. Maybe that little stretch of US 70 could get an alternate designation of Business (Green) I-42.

LGL33L

As far as I know, it will be a Breezewood. There's been no mention of a direct I-42/I-95 connection. Personally, I'd like to see a direct interchange with I-42 and I-95 built to keep thru traffic off of US-70, but from the looks of it, it would be a LOT of work to make it happen.

[Strider]

I wonder what NCDOT will do with the I-95 interchange? Will new ramps be built or will the breezewood-ish status quo be maintained? There are better alternatives in three quadrants, all of which are (or will be) interstates, that cut off the corner for long distance traffic. The quadrant with the missing connection is I-95N to I-42E (and the reverse, I-42W to I-95S.) Is that one movement important enough to merit an eight figure interchange project? Probably not in our lifetimes. Maybe that little stretch of US 70 could get an alternate designation of Business (Green) I-42.

LGL33L

As far as I know, it will be a Breezewood. There's been no mention of a direct I-42/I-95 connection. Personally, I'd like to see a direct interchange with I-42 and I-95 built to keep thru traffic off of US-70, but from the looks of it, it would be a LOT of work to make it happen.

Looking at Google Maps, there won't be enough room to put an interchange there because there are businesses near the interstate.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/DeWayne's/@35.5168823,-78.2977414,681m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x1b67d7e4ccbee91e!8m2!3d35.516594!4d-78.2984374

[orulz]

A minimal solution would be to connect only the directions where no freeway alternate  exists, although I'm not sure incomplete interchanges are allowed anymore. A direct ramp from I-95N to I-42E would be easy to build and there would be no weave issues, but the reverse I-42W to I-95S would be more difficult given the frontage road and hotels west of I-95 and north of future I-42.

LGL33L

[amroad17]

Wait, What?  I thought NC applied for it to be I-36 and now they are planning on signing it I-42?  I believe that is the better number choice but is NC going to change the application or are they going to do whatever the hell they please? 

OK.  I had not read the I-36/I-89 posts since Monday the 23rd.  I read that the numbers are I-42 and I-87.  I guess they are not going to do whatever the hell they please.  Agree with 42, disagree with 87.  The general direction is mostly east/west until Williamson, then it begins to go north/northeast.  I still believe it should be I-46, however, if there is a north/south number used, it should be I-97.  Just get rid of the one in Maryland and make it an I-70 extension.  Or...do not get rid of it and have it act like an I-69 (one here in Kentucky, one in Mississippi, one in Texas).  There would be one in NC and one in Maryland.  Which begs the question, "Are the pieces ever going to connect?"

I started a post in Fictional Highways about an I-46 that started on the east side of Raleigh, followed the US 64 freeway to near Bethel, NC, followed US 13 around Ahoskie, NC to Suffolk, VA, and then used the existing Suffolk bypass to Bowers Hill in Cheaspeake, VA.  My fictional I-46 would most likely be better suited for an odd north/south number than the one currently proposed.

[LM117]

I wonder what NCDOT will do with the I-95 interchange? Will new ramps be built or will the breezewood-ish status quo be maintained? There are better alternatives in three quadrants, all of which are (or will be) interstates, that cut off the corner for long distance traffic. The quadrant with the missing connection is I-95N to I-42E (and the reverse, I-42W to I-95S.) Is that one movement important enough to merit an eight figure interchange project? Probably not in our lifetimes. Maybe that little stretch of US 70 could get an alternate designation of Business (Green) I-42.

LGL33L

As far as I know, it will be a Breezewood. There's been no mention of a direct I-42/I-95 connection. Personally, I'd like to see a direct interchange with I-42 and I-95 built to keep thru traffic off of US-70, but from the looks of it, it would be a LOT of work to make it happen.

Looking at Google Maps, there won't be enough room to put an interchange there because there are businesses near the interstate.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/DeWayne's/@35.5168823,-78.2977414,681m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x1b67d7e4ccbee91e!8m2!3d35.516594!4d-78.2984374

Yep. It would be impossible to put a full interchange there without leveling the businesses in the vicinity. Still, the thought of separating thru traffic from local traffic is nice. I used to go through there a lot and traffic used to get heavy on US-70 between both ends of the US-70/US-70 Bypass split. There are 5 traffic lights on US-70 between both ends of the bypass and they used to back up frequently. A direct I-42/I-95 interchange would definitely help.

[wdcrft63]

I wonder what NCDOT will do with the I-95 interchange? Will new ramps be built or will the breezewood-ish status quo be maintained? There are better alternatives in three quadrants, all of which are (or will be) interstates, that cut off the corner for long distance traffic. The quadrant with the missing connection is I-95N to I-42E (and the reverse, I-42W to I-95S.) Is that one movement important enough to merit an eight figure interchange project? Probably not in our lifetimes. Maybe that little stretch of US 70 could get an alternate designation of Business (Green) I-42.

LGL33L

My guess is that NCDOT is aware of this problem, but it's waaay down near the bottom of their to-do list for this highway. So it's Breezewood for the next 25 years or so.

[CanesFan27]

I wonder what NCDOT will do with the I-95 interchange? Will new ramps be built or will the breezewood-ish status quo be maintained? There are better alternatives in three quadrants, all of which are (or will be) interstates, that cut off the corner for long distance traffic. The quadrant with the missing connection is I-95N to I-42E (and the reverse, I-42W to I-95S.) Is that one movement important enough to merit an eight figure interchange project? Probably not in our lifetimes. Maybe that little stretch of US 70 could get an alternate designation of Business (Green) I-42.

LGL33L

My guess is that NCDOT is aware of this problem, but it's waaay down near the bottom of their to-do list for this highway. So it's Breezewood for the next 25 years or so.

and lets keep in mind 42 will not be routed onto 'Vanilla 70' so it won't be a complete breezewood situation of 70 being routed on a surface highway.   The exits will remain as 'TO" i-95 and theUS 70 exit will most likely include 'TO' I-42.  As it is, the Bypass US 70 through here will need to be upgraded (shoulders) to Interstate standards as it is. 

[LM117]

Another piece of the I-42 puzzle will soon be underway. NCDOT is currently buying the right-of-way for the 10-mile Havelock Bypass. It will be built to Interstate standards. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2018 and is supposed to be finished by 2021.

http://www.witn.com/content/news/Planning-continues-for-Havelock-bypass-381178011.html

[bob7374]

I wonder if NCDOT will get rid of the "US-70 Bypass" designation for the Goldsboro Bypass once NCDOT applies for and gets permission to put up I-42 signs and just have the bypass solely as I-42. Similar to NCDOT taking US-117 off of I-795. There were already two different 70's in Goldsboro (US-70 and Business US-70) and now a third. Personally, I'd rather they do that, not just in Goldsboro, but for all the future bypasses. Leave US-70 for local traffic where possible, just like US-117.

It may be a while before we find out whether the Bypass 70 signs are taken down. This article in the News & Observer, and at least one other news story I read, implies NCDOT will not seek to designate any section of US 70 an interstate until the whole corridor is brought up to interstate standards:
[url]http://www.newsobserver.com/news/traffic/article80405172.html[url]

[LM117]

I wonder if NCDOT will get rid of the "US-70 Bypass" designation for the Goldsboro Bypass once NCDOT applies for and gets permission to put up I-42 signs and just have the bypass solely as I-42. Similar to NCDOT taking US-117 off of I-795. There were already two different 70's in Goldsboro (US-70 and Business US-70) and now a third. Personally, I'd rather they do that, not just in Goldsboro, but for all the future bypasses. Leave US-70 for local traffic where possible, just like US-117.

It may be a while before we find out whether the Bypass 70 signs are taken down. This article in the News & Observer, and at least one other news story I read, implies NCDOT will not seek to designate any section of US 70 an interstate until the whole corridor is brought up to interstate standards:

Either the media is clueless or NCDOT changed their mind (I'll take "clueless media" for $500, Alex). On NCDOT's application to AASHTO on page 22 of this PDF, they specifically said that they would send more applications to AASHTO for sections of US-70 to be added to the Interstate system as it's being upgraded. Plus, the Super 70 Corridor Commission will most likely remind NCDOT of that fact in case they forget. I'm almost positive NCDOT will be asking to have the Clayton and Goldsboro Bypasses signed as I-42 during AASHTO's next meeting in the fall and hopefully decommission US-70 Bypass. Two 70's is enough. Three is overkill, IMO.

As individual portions of the proposed alignment are constructed or upgraded to
interstate standards, separate AASHTO applications requesting the addition of those portions to the interstate system will
be submitted for review.

http://route.transportation.org/Documents/2016%20SM%20Des%20Moines%2c%20IA/Interstate_Routes_Binder.pdf

[LM117]

Another piece of the I-42 puzzle (albeit small) will soon be in place.

http://www.witn.com/content/news/Improvements-detours-coming-to-US-70-in-Lenoir-County-382205501.html

Two sections of U.S. 70 in Lenoir County will soon undergo a $3 million overhaul.

The N.C. Department of Transportation says crews will mill, resurface and reconstruct shoulders along 8.5 miles of roadway. The two areas are the highway between the bridge over Bear Creek to the bridge over Falling Creek, and between east of Sanderson Way and Mt. Vernon Park Drive.

Work will begin as early as July 5, and is scheduled to be completed by next March. Drivers should expect some lane closures, but no detours are planned.

This will bring the La Grange freeway section of US-70 from Washington Street east of the town to the Goldsboro Bypass up to Interstate standards.  I didn't expect this to happen so soon. Now, if only the Kinston Bypass can get put back on the list...

[slorydn1]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

[LM117]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

I thought NCDOT had to get Future I-42 approved by FHWA before they could put up "Future I-42" signs...or did FHWA approve it already? 

[slorydn1]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

I thought NCDOT had to get Future I-42 approved by FHWA before they could put up "Future I-42" signs...or did FHWA approve it already? 

I'm not sure if the FHWA did or not, to be honest. I haven' seen anything on here saying they did.

[LM117]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

I thought NCDOT had to get Future I-42 approved by FHWA before they could put up "Future I-42" signs...or did FHWA approve it already? 

I'm not sure if the FHWA did or not, to be honest. I haven' seen anything on here saying they did.

I just did a Google search and even checked NCDOT's website and I couldn't find any mention of FHWA approval for Future I-42. Either NCDOT jumped the gun (which would be odd since they admitted they need FHWA approval first) or it was quietly approved with no announcement yet, which would be pretty fast by FHWA standards. When AASHTO approved I-495/Future I-495 in the spring of 2013, FHWA approval wasn't announced until December of that year. But I'm not complaining. The sooner, the better, IMO.

[slorydn1]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

I thought NCDOT had to get Future I-42 approved by FHWA before they could put up "Future I-42" signs...or did FHWA approve it already? 

I'm not sure if the FHWA did or not, to be honest. I haven' seen anything on here saying they did.

I just did a Google search and even checked NCDOT's website and I couldn't find any mention of FHWA approval for Future I-42. Either NCDOT jumped the gun (which would be odd since they admitted they need FHWA approval first) or it was quietly approved with no announcement yet, which would be pretty fast by FHWA standards. When AASHTO approved I-495/Future I-495 in the spring of 2013, FHWA approval wasn't announced until December of that year. But I'm not complaining. The sooner, the better, IMO.

Wouldn't be the first time NCDOT has done that. I guess they are in the same boat I am, thinking that there is no way that FHWA wouldn't approve this one.

[LM117]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

I thought NCDOT had to get Future I-42 approved by FHWA before they could put up "Future I-42" signs...or did FHWA approve it already? 

I'm not sure if the FHWA did or not, to be honest. I haven' seen anything on here saying they did.

I just did a Google search and even checked NCDOT's website and I couldn't find any mention of FHWA approval for Future I-42. Either NCDOT jumped the gun (which would be odd since they admitted they need FHWA approval first) or it was quietly approved with no announcement yet, which would be pretty fast by FHWA standards. When AASHTO approved I-495/Future I-495 in the spring of 2013, FHWA approval wasn't announced until December of that year. But I'm not complaining. The sooner, the better, IMO.

Wouldn't be the first time NCDOT has done that. I guess they are in the same boat I am, thinking that there is no way that FHWA wouldn't approve this one.

Agreed. The corridor was signed into law and the number perfectly fits the grid. FHWA wouldn't have any grounds to reject it. It's a done deal.

[LM117]

See 4th reply -

https://www.facebook.com/groups/seroads/permalink/1066708250085511/

Cool! I gotta admit though, it seems a little redundant having "Interstate" printed twice, both on the I-42 shield and on the green sign. I guess the sign was put up before the shield went on it. Either way, it's nice to see I-42 showing up on US-70, even if it is "Future" for now.

[wdcrft63]

One of my co-workers who lives in Cove City advised me that she spotted a "Future I-42" sign on the eastbound side of the US-70 freeway between the Cove City exit and the Tuscarora exit. I'm going to try to get up there and snap a picture of it when I get off this evening.

I thought NCDOT had to get Future I-42 approved by FHWA before they could put up "Future I-42" signs...or did FHWA approve it already? 

That's right, and FHWA hasn't had time to approve it. NCDOT posted "Future Interstate" signs with a large blank area left for a shield; now they're slapping 42 shields on the signs. And no, they really shouldn't do that, although in honesty there's not a lot of harm in it; FHWA approval for I-42 seems certain.