I-285 North Carolina

[andy3175]

I couldn't find a topic related to this so I thought I'd create this thread for future I-285 in North Carolina, which shares pavements with Business Loop I-85 and US 52.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20140325/News/303259989 (March 25, 2014)
http://www.hpe.com/news/x2025291255/Crews-upgrading-part-of-Interstate-85-Business-Loop

Work is now under way on an N.C. Department of Transportation project to improve Interstate 85 Business Loop from just north of I-85 (Exit 87) to just south of Salisbury Road (Exit 86) in Davidson County.

The 2.5-mile section of I-85 Business Loop will be improved to interstate standards for the future I-285 corridor. The project will involve reconstructing shoulders, improving drainage systems, resurfacing travel lanes and realigning Marco Boulevard to accommodate a new southbound exit ramp alignment at Green Needles Road. In addition, crews will resurface and preserve the bridges carrying I-85 Business Loop over Swearing Creek.

The $7.6 million contract was awarded in September 2013 to J.T. Russell and Sons Inc. of Albemarle and is expected to be complete by June 16, 2015.

[WashuOtaku]

One of the things I noticed along I-85 is that on the signage, I-85 Business is on a separate sign from the three U.S. Routes listed on the main signs for exit 87.  Maybe, just maybe, I-85 Business will be decomm when I-285 is established.  It's redundant existence is practically useless.

Geez, another year for this to be ready, the route was promised done last year. Such delays...  I wonder what they will do with US 52/NC 8, though I suspect they will leave them be.

[jcarte29]

One of the things I noticed along I-85 is that on the signage, I-85 Business is on a separate sign from the three U.S. Routes listed on the main signs for exit 87.  Maybe, just maybe, I-85 Business will be decomm when I-285 is established.  It's redundant existence is practically useless.

Geez, another year for this to be ready, the route was promised done last year. Such delays...  I wonder what they will do with US 52/NC 8, though I suspect they will leave them be.

Most likely will stay signed with 285 upto I-40. North of this project it's interstate standard now (minus a small stretch in South Winston just inside forsyth co)

[Henry]

One of the things I noticed along I-85 is that on the signage, I-85 Business is on a separate sign from the three U.S. Routes listed on the main signs for exit 87.  Maybe, just maybe, I-85 Business will be decomm when I-285 is established.  It's redundant existence is practically useless.

Geez, another year for this to be ready, the route was promised done last year. Such delays...  I wonder what they will do with US 52/NC 8, though I suspect they will leave them be.

Most likely will stay signed with 285 upto I-40. North of this project it's interstate standard now (minus a small stretch in South Winston just inside forsyth co)

Sure, I would expect I-85 Business to be decommissioned, because it's already US 29/US 70. But then, that would create the rare (in fact, the only) instance of all-freeway Business Loops existing for the same route in consecutive states (Spartanburg, SC and Greensboro, NC). We'll just have to wait and see.

[Strider]

I think I-85 Business Loop will be decommissioned. No reason to multiplex I-285 with I-85 Business Loop and US 29-52-70. But, this is NCDOT. We never know.

[Strider]

Just drove southbound on US 52 (Business 85 loop, US 29-70) there is one lane closure near the Green Needles Road interchange and at the Linwood interchange as well. They are constructing a new road to the right of the Green Needles Rd interchange. So, the upgrade begins.

[bob7374]

The 2.4 mile project was all of 2.8% complete, according to NCDOT, at the end of March.

[Strider]

Update: the shoulders are being widened, but since they will resurface the entire 2.8 miles of Business 85, I assume they're going to redo the median as well? anyone know what the finished project should look like?

[bob7374]

Update: the shoulders are being widened, but since they will resurface the entire 2.8 miles of Business 85, I assume they're going to redo the median as well? anyone know what the finished project should look like?

Perusing the project proposal, I didn't see anything referring to work on the median. The contractor has to reseed any area that is used for the bridge work after the reconstruction is completed, which could mean the shoulder or median area. The project is now about 42% complete.
Unrelated, but looking back at the signing plans, they have kept the US 52 milepost exit numbers for the new signs. Does it make sense to replace them with I-285 numbers when all the work is completed to upgrade it to I-285, or should they keep the numbers as is? (Based on the exit number plans for the proposed I-885 in Durham, I would expect the numbers to be changed).

[WashuOtaku]

Unrelated, but looking back at the signing plans, they have kept the US 52 milepost exit numbers for the new signs. Does it make sense to replace them with I-285 numbers when all the work is completed to upgrade it to I-285, or should they keep the numbers as is? (Based on the exit number plans for the proposed I-885 in Durham, I would expect the numbers to be changed).

I would expect they would change the numbers, they probably not doing it right away, similar to how they dealt with I-73.  However, it wouldn't be the first time an interstate used another highway mileage scheme (i.e. I-585 in Spartanburg, SC).

[Strider]

Update: the shoulders are being widened, but since they will resurface the entire 2.8 miles of Business 85, I assume they're going to redo the median as well? anyone know what the finished project should look like?

Perusing the project proposal, I didn't see anything referring to work on the median. The contractor has to reseed any area that is used for the bridge work after the reconstruction is completed, which could mean the shoulder or median area. The project is now about 42% complete.
Unrelated, but looking back at the signing plans, they have kept the US 52 milepost exit numbers for the new signs. Does it make sense to replace them with I-285 numbers when all the work is completed to upgrade it to I-285, or should they keep the numbers as is? (Based on the exit number plans for the proposed I-885 in Durham, I would expect the numbers to be changed).

Do you have a link to the signage plans for this project?

[bob7374]

Update: the shoulders are being widened, but since they will resurface the entire 2.8 miles of Business 85, I assume they're going to redo the median as well? anyone know what the finished project should look like?

Perusing the project proposal, I didn't see anything referring to work on the median. The contractor has to reseed any area that is used for the bridge work after the reconstruction is completed, which could mean the shoulder or median area. The project is now about 42% complete.
Unrelated, but looking back at the signing plans, they have kept the US 52 milepost exit numbers for the new signs. Does it make sense to replace them with I-285 numbers when all the work is completed to upgrade it to I-285, or should they keep the numbers as is? (Based on the exit number plans for the proposed I-885 in Durham, I would expect the numbers to be changed).

Do you have a link to the signage plans for this project?

The plans for the contract, including signage, are on this page:
http://dotw-xfer01.dot.state.nc.us/DSPlan/2013%20Highway%20Letting/09-17-13/Plans%20and%20Proposals/Davidson%20R-4750_41665.6B%20C202664/

[TheStranger]

But then, that would create the rare (in fact, the only) instance of all-freeway Business Loops existing for the same route in consecutive states (Spartanburg, SC and Greensboro, NC). We'll just have to wait and see.

Business 85 through Lexington would still not be all-freeway after all this is done: just the portion shared with 285, and several other disparate sections (but not continuous) heading northeast.

[jcarte29]

No matter what happens with Green 85 in Lexington and HP (partial freeway, partial graded), the Greensboro Green 85 is all freeway (some would argue interstate standard).

[Thing 342]

... the Greensboro Green 85 is all freeway (some would argue interstate standard).

It is (at least theoretically, I haven't driven that portion in many years) interstate standard. It was I-85 until the Greensboro Urban Loop portion opened in 2008.

[NE2]

Many Interstates are not standard. Biz 40 in Winston-Salem was signed as I-40 but has tight curves and ramps.

[Strider]

... the Greensboro Green 85 is all freeway (some would argue interstate standard).

It is (at least theoretically, I haven't driven that portion in many years) interstate standard. It was I-85 until the Greensboro Urban Loop portion opened in 2008.

Yes, I live in Greensboro, and the Green 85 in Greensboro is interstate standard. half of it is multiplexed with I-40.

[kendancy66]

Is there a controversy over the number of Business 85's in NC? Is there one or two?  Would there only be one if there was an implied concurrency of Business 85 on I-85?  Or is there two, because of the I-85 relocation around Greensboro?  Feel free to discuss.

[NE2]

Is there a controversy over the number of Business 85's in NC? Is there one or two?  Would there only be one if there was an implied concurrency of Business 85 on I-85?  Or is there two, because of the I-85 relocation around Greensboro?  Feel free to discuss.

Obviously one. Check the exit numbers.

Which is very important because if there were two all-freeway business loops on the same Interstate in adjacent states, that Interstate would be eligible for a $100 per axle toll at the state line.

[WashuOtaku]

Is there a controversy over the number of Business 85's in NC? Is there one or two?  Would there only be one if there was an implied concurrency of Business 85 on I-85?  Or is there two, because of the I-85 relocation around Greensboro?  Feel free to discuss.

Obviously one. Check the exit numbers.

Which is very important because if there were two all-freeway business loops on the same Interstate in adjacent states, that Interstate would be eligible for a $100 per axle toll at the state line.

Agreed, it's considered one.  The only good thing is that new signage of to I-85 Business have been downgraded to secondary signage as US 29/US 70 take top billing.  Even future signage planned in Greensboro at the I-40/I-85 split will soon no longer feature I-85 Business.  My hope is that NCDOT will eventually decommission the entire route, its unnecessary.

[Strider]

Is there a controversy over the number of Business 85's in NC? Is there one or two?  Would there only be one if there was an implied concurrency of Business 85 on I-85?  Or is there two, because of the I-85 relocation around Greensboro?  Feel free to discuss.

Obviously one. Check the exit numbers.

Which is very important because if there were two all-freeway business loops on the same Interstate in adjacent states, that Interstate would be eligible for a $100 per axle toll at the state line.

Agreed, it's considered one.  The only good thing is that new signage of to I-85 Business have been downgraded to secondary signage as US 29/US 70 take top billing.  Even future signage planned in Greensboro at the I-40/I-85 split will soon no longer feature I-85 Business.  My hope is that NCDOT will eventually decommission the entire route, its unnecessary.

Update: The southbound lanes are reduced to just one and moved to the right lane (new shoulders, sort of) since they are tearing down the old pavement on the left lane. Northbound lanes is also reduced to one lane as well.

[InterstatesRules445]

Is there a controversy over the number of Business 85's in NC? Is there one or two?  Would there only be one if there was an implied concurrency of Business 85 on I-85?  Or is there two, because of the I-85 relocation around Greensboro?  Feel free to discuss.

Obviously one. Check the exit numbers.

Which is very important because if there were two all-freeway business loops on the same Interstate in adjacent states, that Interstate would be eligible for a $100 per axle toll at the state line.

Agreed, it's considered one.  The only good thing is that new signage of to I-85 Business have been downgraded to secondary signage as US 29/US 70 take top billing.  Even future signage planned in Greensboro at the I-40/I-85 split will soon no longer feature I-85 Business.  My hope is that NCDOT will eventually decommission the entire route, its unnecessary.

Update: The southbound lanes are reduced to just one and moved to the right lane (new shoulders, sort of) since they are tearing down the old pavement on the left lane. Northbound lanes is also reduced to one lane as well.

When will the signed Interstate 285.

[WashuOtaku]

When will the signed Interstate 285.

Likely when it is all finished and linked twice to I-95.  Basically, not anytime soon.

[bob7374]

When will the signed Interstate 285.

It doesn't appear to be any time soon. The above post about progress on construction along US 52 is on one of the two projects needed to be completed before I-285 can be signed between I-85 and I-40. The other project, further north in Forsyth County, was not included as a funded project in the 2016-2025 State Transportation Improvement Project (STIP) list. This means, unless its status is changed, construction would not start until after 2025. This doesn't include the proposal to extend the designation further north to the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway (I-74) which would require an upgrade of US 52 through Winston-Salem itself.

More information on my Future I-285 Website: http://www.gribblenation.net/ncfutints/fut285.html

[Henry]

When will the signed Interstate 285.

Likely when it is all finished and linked twice to I-85.  Basically, not anytime soon.

FTFY

And BTW, I'm suspecting that it will be a secret designation, similar to how I-595 east of Washington is treated on US 50.