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Interstate 73/74

Started by Voyager, January 18, 2009, 08:09:48 AM

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tolbs17

This part does not meet interstate standards and that's probably why they didn't want to make it an I-x74. The shoulders are only 4 ft wide.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Highway_192



tolbs17


sprjus4

Quote from: tolbs17 on April 07, 2021, 09:09:17 PM
Seems like NCDOT did a mistake and forgot to raise the speed limit from 65 to 70 on this segment...  :D

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0454483,-79.905108,3a,74.2y,99.36h,91.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sQvSw9J7SAXzLiAbaGTct9Q!2e0!5s20190701T000000!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en
The southwestern segment of the loop, it seems like it may be a little to curvy and urban to handle an official 70 mph limit. I'd much rather see I-73 north and south of Greensboro, I-40/85 east of Greensboro, and US-421 southeast of the city increased to 70 mph before something like that portion.

tolbs17

Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2021, 09:13:43 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on April 07, 2021, 09:09:17 PM
Seems like NCDOT did a mistake and forgot to raise the speed limit from 65 to 70 on this segment...  :D

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0454483,-79.905108,3a,74.2y,99.36h,91.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sQvSw9J7SAXzLiAbaGTct9Q!2e0!5s20190701T000000!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en
The southwestern segment of the loop, it seems like it may be a little to curvy and urban to handle an official 70 mph limit. I'd much rather see I-73 north and south of Greensboro, I-40/85 east of Greensboro, and US-421 southeast of the city increased to 70 mph before something like that portion.
well, look at I-540 in northeast Raleigh. That's also a little curvy.

sprjus4

Quote from: tolbs17 on April 07, 2021, 09:23:41 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 07, 2021, 09:13:43 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on April 07, 2021, 09:09:17 PM
Seems like NCDOT did a mistake and forgot to raise the speed limit from 65 to 70 on this segment...  :D

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0454483,-79.905108,3a,74.2y,99.36h,91.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sQvSw9J7SAXzLiAbaGTct9Q!2e0!5s20190701T000000!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en
The southwestern segment of the loop, it seems like it may be a little to curvy and urban to handle an official 70 mph limit. I'd much rather see I-73 north and south of Greensboro, I-40/85 east of Greensboro, and US-421 southeast of the city increased to 70 mph before something like that portion.
well, look at I-540 in northeast Raleigh. That's also a little curvy.
I'd say that road is much straighter overall, and more rural in nature. I've had no issues hitting 80 mph or greater there, compared to the I-73 segment where it started feeling tight in some areas above 75 mph.

Not saying it couldn't be 70 mph, but not my first candidate compared to other roads. The part of the urban loop that was increased to 70 mph - I-85 - much straighter, more gentle curvature, rural, etc. overall.

tolbs17

So, after 2 years this section gets repaved again. xD Why though?

Dirt Roads

Quote from: tolbs17 on April 11, 2021, 12:16:29 PM
So, after 2 years this section gets repaved again. xD Why though?

IIRC, that section was constructed back in 2014-15.  The pavement already looked quite worn when I-73 was first posted on that section in early 2018.

tolbs17

Quote from: Dirt Roads on April 11, 2021, 02:49:33 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on April 11, 2021, 12:16:29 PM
So, after 2 years this section gets repaved again. xD Why though?

IIRC, that section was constructed back in 2014-15.  The pavement already looked quite worn when I-73 was first posted on that section in early 2018.
It opened in 2017. And it got repaved in 2019. Maybe the asphalt they used on it was too thin

Dirt Roads

Quote from: tolbs17 on April 11, 2021, 12:16:29 PM
So, after 2 years this section gets repaved again. xD Why though?

Quote from: Dirt Roads on April 11, 2021, 02:49:33 PM
IIRC, that section was constructed back in 2014-15.  The pavement already looked quite worn when I-73 was first posted on that section in early 2018.

Quote from: tolbs17 on April 11, 2021, 03:02:55 PM
It opened in 2017. And it got repaved in 2019. Maybe the asphalt they used on it was too thin

Indeed, this section north of NC-68 first opened in late 2017 and your particular exit was completed even earlier that same year.  But NCDOT did not post I-73 on this stretch until March 2018.  You might be correct about new pavement in 2019.  The most recent photos from David Johnson (posted on Bob Malme's website) still showed old pavement as of May 2019.  I haven't driven this segment since sometime around then.

bob7374

I've posted photos of I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass construction courtesy of Nick Schaut, including:


on my I-73 Segment 11 page: https://malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg11.html

bob7374

NCDOT announces a temporary redesign of two Columbus County intersections (Chauncey Town Road and Old Lake Road) on US 74/76 (Future I-74) east of Whiteville to reduced-conflict intersections starting in June. They will be upgraded to an interstate standard interchange and bridge starting in July 2022:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/2021-04-23-columbus-county-intersections.aspx

sparker

Quote from: bob7374 on April 23, 2021, 12:02:59 PM
NCDOT announces a temporary redesign of two Columbus County intersections (Chauncey Town Road and Old Lake Road) on US 74/76 (Future I-74) east of Whiteville to reduced-conflict intersections starting in June. They will be upgraded to an interstate standard interchange and bridge starting in July 2022:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/2021-04-23-columbus-county-intersections.aspx

Now that's refreshing -- usually these "temporary/interim" installations grow cobwebs while the final (in this case, Interstate-grade) configuration is procrastinated out to what seems forever -- good to see NCDOT has a near-term plan and this "J-turn" variant has a limited timespan.   Step in the right direction!

LM117

#1387
NCDOT has awarded a contract to build a new interchange on US-74 in Boardman. This project will convert the Old Boardman Road/Macedonia Church Road intersection into an interchange. Completion is expected by the fall of 2024.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2021/2021-05-04-columbus-county-us-74-interchange.aspx
“I don’t know whether to wind my ass or scratch my watch!” - Jim Cornette

MillTheRoadgeek

I'm not very experienced with this area, but how are they to tie NC-74 and I-74 together in between US 421 and I-40? I have seen plans that suggest the highway will continue directly south to join somewhere along the existing I-74, although I don't know what exactly they built the stubs on the current 74/40 interchange for. I'm sure connecting through both ways will change the landscape and take over quite a bit of property, just doesn't seem like the area's built for it to my observations.

Strider

NC 74 (Future I-74) will connect to the existing I-74 between Union Cross Rd and Ridgewood Rd with interchanges at Kernersville Rd and I-40 along the way.

As of the current I-74/I-40 interchange (Exit 196), that section of the road will eventually be extended up to where US 421 and US 158 split, but as a surface street. However, it may not be built in our lifetime, but that is their current plan. The road will be designed as NC 192 once the I-74 beltway is connected to the existing I-74.

MillTheRoadgeek

Quote from: Strider on May 19, 2021, 02:06:46 PM
NC 74 (Future I-74) will connect to the existing I-74 between Union Cross Rd and Ridgewood Rd with interchanges at Kernersville Rd and I-40 along the way.

As of the current I-74/I-40 interchange (Exit 196), that section of the road will eventually be extended up to where US 421 and US 158 split, but as a surface street. However, it may not be built in our lifetime, but that is their current plan. The road will be designed as NC 192 once the I-74 beltway is connected to the existing I-74.

I still imagine it will take quite a toll on whatever's between 421 and 40. I do hope to see detailed plans someday, and I wonder if any similar NC highways have undergone these type of obstacles.

Also wow... I can't believe that Exit 196 extension isn't to open for a while. They should definitely make the northbound 74 ramps as well.

sprjus4


tolbs17

Quote from: sprjus4 on May 19, 2021, 03:44:02 PM
https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/wsnb/Pages/eastern-section-maps.aspx

Maps 6 and 7 are the segment between I-74 and I-40.
The real question is where did NC-192 come from?

The Ghostbuster


ARMOURERERIC

Thought I recently read that the 40 to 421 section was going to bid by the end of the year.

bob7374

#1395
Quote from: ARMOURERERIC on May 19, 2021, 08:55:31 PM
Thought I recently read that the 40 to 421 section was going to bid by the end of the year.
Yes, the latest NCDOT Tentative 12-month letting list still indicates the winning bidder for the project will be announced on December 21. The project will be advertised 8 weeks before in October.

The final Beltway Eastern Section segment from I-74 to I-40 currently is to be let on October 18, 2022.

ARMOURERERIC

Quote from: bob7374 on May 19, 2021, 11:04:42 PM
Quote from: ARMOURERERIC on May 19, 2021, 08:55:31 PM
Thought I recently read that the 40 to 421 section was going to bid by the end of the year.
Yes, the latest NCDOT Tentative 12-month letting list still indicates the winning bidder for the project will be announced on December 21. The project will be advertised 8 weeks before in October.

The final Beltway Eastern Section segment from I-74 to I-40 currently is to be let on October 18, 2022.

I thought that was the date:  I just started watching the NCDot bid list to stay informed of the delayed Sugar Loaf Rd Bridge that has been let in the last few weeks, it is about 1.5 miles from my house.

Strider

Keep in mind that the section of W-S Eastern Beltway between I-40 and current I-74 may not be the final plans. Since NCDOT is cash-strapped (as far as we know right now, they are), plans can change at anytime.

IMO, the flyovers between the planned I-74/I-40 interchange is a little too much. Besides there is also a planned full interchange between the current I-74 and the future WSEB which also includes flyovers. Don't be surprised if they change that into something else.

tolbs17

Quote from: Strider on May 20, 2021, 05:25:06 PM
Keep in mind that the section of W-S Eastern Beltway between I-40 and current I-74 may not be the final plans. Since NCDOT is cash-strapped (as far as we know right now, they are), plans can change at anytime.

IMO, the flyovers between the planned I-74/I-40 interchange is a little too much. Besides there is also a planned full interchange between the current I-74 and the future WSEB which also includes flyovers. Don't be surprised if they change that into something else.
Could be modified into a cloverleaf interchange with collector/distributor roads. And I agree. A 3-level stack seems a little overbuilt.

sprjus4

Agreed, I can't think of any movements at the I-74 / I-40 interchange that will warrant flyovers, except MAYBE I-40 East to I-74 North. They are all served by other connecting freeways, the only use would be local traffic.



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