North Carolina

[sprjus4]

Ok. I thought that maybe a real continuous loop might be the ideal use of an even number designation.

It is a loop, and connects to I-40 on either end.

I'm still hoping one day for I-640 to become a reality since that was the original plan way back in 1992.

It's not going to happen. The original plan may have been I-640, but it has since changed to I-540, and only a few road geeks are going to be obsessed with changing a 50+ year old designation (by the time NC-540 is untolled) by changing the first number only to even.

[wdcrft63]

NCDOT awards an $11.7 million contract to replace the narrow 1951 bridges over Irish Buffalo Creek on US 29/601 in Concord. This will be a complex project working on a heavily traveled street in an urban area with strict restrictions. It won't be completed before fall 2026. Someone from Concord can maybe explain the name of the creek.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

There's also a Dutch Buffalo Creek.

[architect77]

Ok. I thought that maybe a real continuous loop might be the ideal use of an even number designation.

It is a loop, and connects to I-40 on either end.

I'm still hoping one day for I-640 to become a reality since that was the original plan way back in 1992.

It's not going to happen. The original plan may have been I-640, but it has since changed to I-540, and only a few road geeks are going to be obsessed with changing a 50+ year old designation (by the time NC-540 is untolled) by changing the first number only to even.

OK. Please list some other loops around the country with odd 1st digit numbering. I'm genuinely curious.

540 by Stephen Edwards, on Flickr

[wdcrft63]

Presently I-540 is in compliance with these rules, because it does not return to I-40; it ends at I-87. If (1) NC 540 is completed, (2) the tolls are removed, (3) NCDOT asks for an interstate designation, and (4) these rules are still in effect (this is now pretty far in the future, after 2050), then the Feds might demand that it be renumbered.

[wriddle082]

NCDOT awards an $11.7 million contract to replace the narrow 1951 bridges over Irish Buffalo Creek on US 29/601 in Concord. This will be a complex project working on a heavily traveled street in an urban area with strict restrictions. It won't be completed before fall 2026. Someone from Concord can maybe explain the name of the creek.

I recall a few years ago during a couple of other nearby bridge replacements along US 29 (over the Rocky River near Charlotte Motor Speedway, and over the railroad tracks near the NC 73 West intersection), they employed the use of a temporary span in order to maintain at least two lanes in each direction at all times.  I'm sure they'll use this method again.

[CanesFan27]

NCDOT awards an $11.7 million contract to replace the narrow 1951 bridges over Irish Buffalo Creek on US 29/601 in Concord. This will be a complex project working on a heavily traveled street in an urban area with strict restrictions. It won't be completed before fall 2026. Someone from Concord can maybe explain the name of the creek.

The Irish Buffalo Creek is named after nearby scotch-Irish settlers.  Same with the also mentioned Dutch Buffalo Creek - after Dutch settlers.

I highly recommended anyone interested in how or the stories behind how some NC towns and creeks were named to consider buying the NC Gazetteer of Place Names. 

[roadman65]

I was looking at the latest RM map. The 2023 addition shows that US 70 was realigned in Greensboro where it always remained with BL I-85. Older maps show a US 29/ 70 ALT through the city where US 70:runs now.

NC sure loves to flip flop routes.

[sprjus4]

I was looking at the latest RM map. The 2023 addition shows that US 70 was realigned in Greensboro where it always remained with BL I-85. Older maps show a US 29/ 70 ALT through the city where US 70:runs now.

NC sure loves to flip flop routes.

I could be mistaken, but I believe this was discussed extensively over the past couple of years as a bunch of rerouting was happening and approved by the AASHTO.

[roadman65]

Yeah but that area seems to often flip flop. I-85 and I-40 where the latter got moved and back later.

Typical NC.

[Strider]

Yeah but that area seems to often flip flop. I-85 and I-40 where the latter got moved and back later.

Typical NC.

Typical? naw. You read too much on it. It was being discussed years ago.

[Mapmikey]

I was looking at the latest RM map. The 2023 addition shows that US 70 was realigned in Greensboro where it always remained with BL I-85. Older maps show a US 29/ 70 ALT through the city where US 70:runs now.

NC sure loves to flip flop routes.

Most of the revised US 70 routing from High Point to Greensboro has never been US 70-anything.  Only the first 5.5 miles of the overlay with NC 68 has been US 70 or 70A in the past.

[roadman65]

Yeah but that area seems to often flip flop. I-85 and I-40 where the latter got moved and back later.

Typical NC.

Typical? naw. You read too much on it. It was being discussed years ago.

Look at Wilmington also part of the state. US 17 flip flopped back and forth there. US 117 is an example. US 220 is another.

I'm not talking specifically about US 70.  I'm talking about the state as a whole.  It's news to me the US 70 thing cause I didn't pay close attention earlier to the maps. I just noticed it at recent look as it suddenly hit me at that look as I've seen the maps before, but it didn't hit me then. It happens and as far as recent or past discussions go, I'm sure ( and hope) it happened, but NC is not a state I follow much like Florida and NJ.

I'm not implying it's news or a current event, just that I noticed it and think it's interesting despite the sarcastic typical remark.

[wdcrft63]

I was looking at the latest RM map. The 2023 addition shows that US 70 was realigned in Greensboro where it always remained with BL I-85. Older maps show a US 29/ 70 ALT through the city where US 70:runs now.

NC sure loves to flip flop routes.

I could be mistaken, but I believe this was discussed extensively over the past couple of years as a bunch of rerouting was happening and approved by the AASHTO.

Is there signage yet on the relocated US 70? It is not shown yet on Google Maps.

[74/171FAN]

I was looking at the latest RM map. The 2023 addition shows that US 70 was realigned in Greensboro where it always remained with BL I-85. Older maps show a US 29/ 70 ALT through the city where US 70:runs now.

NC sure loves to flip flop routes.

I could be mistaken, but I believe this was discussed extensively over the past couple of years as a bunch of rerouting was happening and approved by the AASHTO.

Is there signage yet on the relocated US 70? It is not shown yet on Google Maps.

I drove some of Wendover in February and did not see any US 70 signage, but I did see some old signage that will probably be replaced when it is signed (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10218355652723179&set=a.10218355707644552).

[WashuOtaku]

Presently I-540 is in compliance with these rules, because it does not return to I-40; it ends at I-87. If (1) NC 540 is completed, (2) the tolls are removed, (3) NCDOT asks for an interstate designation, and (4) these rules are still in effect (this is now pretty far in the future, after 2050), then the Feds might demand that it be renumbered.

The rule is that an interstate that connects to another interstate has an even first-digit, so its not in compliance. That said, they got a waiver from AASHTO back when I-495 was first setup and that waiver still exists to this day. It is not likely for the AASHTO or FHWA to demand a designation change in the future.

[wdcrft63]

Presently I-540 is in compliance with these rules, because it does not return to I-40; it ends at I-87. If (1) NC 540 is completed, (2) the tolls are removed, (3) NCDOT asks for an interstate designation, and (4) these rules are still in effect (this is now pretty far in the future, after 2050), then the Feds might demand that it be renumbered.

The rule is that an interstate that connects to another interstate has an even first-digit, so its not in compliance. That said, they got a waiver from AASHTO back when I-495 was first setup and that waiver still exists to this day. It is not likely for the AASHTO or FHWA to demand a designation change in the future.

No. The rule is, if a spur interstate leaves its parent and does not return (to its parent) then it has an odd number first digit. There is a long list of 3di's that do not return to their parent but do connect to a different interstate. These include I-335 Kansas, I-335 Illinois, I-170 Missouri, I-196 Michigan, I-165 Kentucky, I-390 New York, and I-395 Connecticut/Massachusetts.

[Mapmikey]

Presently I-540 is in compliance with these rules, because it does not return to I-40; it ends at I-87. If (1) NC 540 is completed, (2) the tolls are removed, (3) NCDOT asks for an interstate designation, and (4) these rules are still in effect (this is now pretty far in the future, after 2050), then the Feds might demand that it be renumbered.

The rule is that an interstate that connects to another interstate has an even first-digit, so its not in compliance. That said, they got a waiver from AASHTO back when I-495 was first setup and that waiver still exists to this day. It is not likely for the AASHTO or FHWA to demand a designation change in the future.

No. The rule is, if a spur interstate leaves its parent and does not return (to its parent) then it has an odd number first digit. There is a long list of 3di's that do not return to their parent but do connect to a different interstate. These include I-335 Kansas, I-335 Illinois, I-170 Missouri, I-196 Michigan, I-165 Kentucky, I-390 New York, and I-395 Connecticut/Massachusetts.

There are also many examples where there are even digits on 3di's that do not return to the parent.  NC alone has 4: I-285, I-495, I-685, I-274

AASHO made Virginia renumber I-364 to I-464 specifically because it connected to 2 interstates.

[froggie]

Presently I-540 is in compliance with these rules, because it does not return to I-40; it ends at I-87. If (1) NC 540 is completed, (2) the tolls are removed, (3) NCDOT asks for an interstate designation, and (4) these rules are still in effect (this is now pretty far in the future, after 2050), then the Feds might demand that it be renumbered.

The rule is that an interstate that connects to another interstate has an even first-digit, so its not in compliance. That said, they got a waiver from AASHTO back when I-495 was first setup and that waiver still exists to this day. It is not likely for the AASHTO or FHWA to demand a designation change in the future.

No. The rule is, if a spur interstate leaves its parent and does not return (to its parent) then it has an odd number first digit. There is a long list of 3di's that do not return to their parent but do connect to a different interstate. These include I-335 Kansas, I-335 Illinois, I-170 Missouri, I-196 Michigan, I-165 Kentucky, I-390 New York, and I-395 Connecticut/Massachusetts.

Plenty of counter-examples that support the "rule" Washu noted...I-271 OH, I-270 MO/IL, I-476 PA, I-225 CO to name a few.

[ran4sh]

In other words:

These states are wrong: CT IL KS KY MA MI MO NY

And these states are right: CO IL MO NC OH PA VA and I'll add GA due to I-675 having an even first digit.

[MBHockey13]

Some more information regarding the I-95 / I-85 / I-295 numbering in Virginia from Roads to the Future listed below.

Virginia got federal approval in the late 1970s to build a new Interstate corridor to parallel the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (RPT). The RPT was designated with I-95 for most of its length, and with I-85 on the southern 4 miles. The RPT was a state-built tollroad, opened in 1958; no federal funds were used. The new Interstate would provide a new I-85 and new I-95, south and east of Petersburg. The RPT would have had the Interstate signing removed, and become a state route. Two sections of federally-funded Interstate leading to the RPT would have been bypassed also; about 3 miles of I-85 west of Petersburg would have become I-385, and about 4 miles of I-95 south of Petersburg would have become I-795. I-295 northeast of Richmond would have become I-95, and I-95 from I-295 (north junction) to I-195 would have become I-195. In other words, what today is the I-295 bypass of I-95, would have been I-95.

The new I-85 section south of Petersburg was never built. The new I-95 east of Petersburg and Richmond was built from 1984 to 1992. The state and federal project numbers on the design documents were for I-95. As sections opened to traffic, southward from US-60 east of Richmond, they extended the I-295 corridor southward and carried the I-295 signage. When the road was completed, it all carried the I-295 signage. The decision was made to leave the I-95 and I-85 signage on the RPT, and to sign the new road as I-295. Incidentally, when the new road opened, the tolls ceased on the RPT, and the toll booths were removed within six months.

http://www.roadstothefuture.com/RPT_I295.html

Thanks for this explanation. As a Tar Heel now for many years my comment is that it's unfortunate that the southern bypass of Petersburg wasn't built; it would give us NC folks an easy way to use I-295 to avoid the former RPT.

Agreed. I actually will take I-85 north to I-95 south to I-295 north around back to I-95 just because it's a more pleasant drive and the speed limit on I-295 is 70 MPH throughout.

[MBHockey13]

I was looking at the latest RM map. The 2023 addition shows that US 70 was realigned in Greensboro where it always remained with BL I-85. Older maps show a US 29/ 70 ALT through the city where US 70:runs now.

NC sure loves to flip flop routes.

I could be mistaken, but I believe this was discussed extensively over the past couple of years as a bunch of rerouting was happening and approved by the AASHTO.

Is there signage yet on the relocated US 70? It is not shown yet on Google Maps.

I drove some of Wendover in February and did not see any US 70 signage, but I did see some old signage that will probably be replaced when it is signed (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10218355652723179&set=a.10218355707644552).

No signage yet and I live almost right next to Wendover. I did notice they removed both the US-70 shield and the Business I-85 shield on a couple of new BGS's on I-40 so now that section of old I-85 between I-40 and the loop is now just US-29. It's been slow going on the shield changes. They still have the loop off I-40 marked as I-785 only and haven't added the I-840 shields.

[CanesFan27]

North Carolina's plans to expand passenger rail to Asheville is slowly coming into focus.  A feasibility study for the western expansion sees three daily round trips, 100,000 annual riders, a 3 hour 25 ride, and four stops between Salisbury and Asheville.  Service would begin around 2035 at a cost of over $650 million.

Additional info and some questions at the blog.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2023/05/north-carolinas-amtrak-expansion-to.html

[ARMOURERERIC]

Wish it could happen sooner.  I live in Morganton, and would love to hit Raleigh or Ashville via train,  sad that it may happen in my early 70's.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/efW12JdBED5JwcVA6
Question. The freeway that spurs off the I-40 freeway in the GSV image was the original alignment of I-40 in the 1980's.

I have a state map from 1987 showing one E-W freeway only through Winston- Salem with US 311 ( now I-74) terminating at  US 52 ( nowI-285 ).   If I'm correct I-40 between I-285/ US 52 and I-74 existed in the 1980's as US 311 into Downtown.