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Interstate 73/74

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

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sprjus4

Quote from: bob7374 on December 08, 2018, 05:30:09 PM
I've posted recent photos by site contributor Strider of new signage that has gone up on I-40 in Greensboro (finally) acknowledging the existence of I-73 North and I-840 East on the Greensboro Loop, here at the exit westbound:


The rest of the photos can be found on my I-73 Segment 5 page:
http://www.malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg5.html#photos
Glad they finally posted the proper signage. Question, has the speed limit on the newly upgraded I-73 north of Summerfield gone up to 65-70 MPH? Last time I went through back in April, it was only 60 MPH, and I imagined it wasn't going to stay that way.

I find it funny how heading east on I-40 approaching the loop, the new overhead signs "Durham" as a control city for the southern bypass. Wasn't the whole point of routing I-40 back through Greensboro as opposed to the bypass because of shorter distance? This sign just contradicts that.

In Charlotte, Greensboro is a control city for I-85 through the city, as opposed to the bypass, I-485.

Personally, I think I-85 (just like I-40 was) should be routed back on the old routes, and the entire beltway fully signed as I-840 with a little I-73 overlap. A mainline interstate should only be routed on a beltway if there's no through-city option (like I-73), however I-85 has a through-city option. I-95 goes through Richmond, I-295 goes around, I-85 goes through Charlotte, I-485 goes around, I-85 goes through Atlanta, I-285 goes around, I-40 goes through Nashville, I-840 goes around, I-40 goes through Raleigh, I-540/NC 540 goes around, I-95 goes through Jacksonville, I-295 goes around, etc.



RoadPelican

I just drove on I-73 in Summerfield last week and the Speed Limit is 65 MPH.  I can't believe it used to be 60, that's ridiculous!!! 

Revive 755

How come NB I-73 gets routed through a loop ramp at the eastern I-85 interchange, in an urban area, yet FHWA is making Kentucky build high speed direct ramps for I-69 in lower volume rural areas (Example 1, Example 2?  SB I-73 also appears to be built to a lower standard than Kentucky was forced to use for I-69, with a one lane ramp there, plus a questionable weave for through traffic.

Tom958

Quote from: Revive 755 on December 10, 2018, 12:28:20 PM
How come NB I-73 gets routed through a loop ramp at the eastern I-85 interchange, in an urban area, yet FHWA is making Kentucky build high speed direct ramps for I-69 in lower volume rural areas (Example 1, Example 2?  SB I-73 also appears to be built to a lower standard than Kentucky was forced to use for I-69, with a one lane ramp there, plus a questionable weave for through traffic.

Good question. My guess, setting aside the obvious, is that at some point enough of I-69 will be complete that there'll be a sudden shift of long-distance traffic to the corridor, while there's no such shift in prospect for I-73 in Greensboro since most of the traffic is and will continue to be local in nature.

sprjus4

Quote from: Revive 755 on December 10, 2018, 12:28:20 PM
How come NB I-73 gets routed through a loop ramp at the eastern I-85 interchange, in an urban area, yet FHWA is making Kentucky build high speed direct ramps for I-69 in lower volume rural areas (Example 1, Example 2?  SB I-73 also appears to be built to a lower standard than Kentucky was forced to use for I-69, with a one lane ramp there, plus a questionable weave for through traffic.
I don't know why, I've always wondered. I think the interchange should be reconstructed as some point in the future (especially if VDOT or SCDOT build any of their parts) to have fully continuity to I-73 traffic, similar to how I-69 was done. Stay left to stay on I-73 and ramps from U.S. 220 and I-85 coming onto I-73 should come in on the right, also I-73 should have at least 2 lanes in each direction on these ramps. They did the I-73 and I-840 split okay, though there's still more continuity going southbound to Bryan Blvd rather than I-73. Both of these interchanges should've been built with full continity for I-73 (except I-73 exiting I-840 to continue north of the airport, in that case I-840 has it).

sprjus4

Quote from: RoadPelican on December 10, 2018, 11:41:45 AM
I just drove on I-73 in Summerfield last week and the Speed Limit is 65 MPH.  I can't believe it used to be 60, that's ridiculous!!!
Oh okay. I was concerned at first it would stay at 60 MPH. It felt like doing 45 MPH traveling that speed. At least 65 gives more flexibility to do closer to 70.

Roadsguy

I think I read that 73 was originally planned to be routed up 220 to I-40 inside the loop, west on 40 to NC 68, then up 68 to where it curves away now. Presumably the current routing came late enough that the loop wasn't designed for it. That doesn't answer why AASHTO allowed it anyway, though.
Mileage-based exit numbering implies the existence of mileage-cringe exit numbering.

Strider

Quote from: Tom958 on December 10, 2018, 09:13:41 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on December 10, 2018, 12:28:20 PM
How come NB I-73 gets routed through a loop ramp at the eastern I-85 interchange, in an urban area, yet FHWA is making Kentucky build high speed direct ramps for I-69 in lower volume rural areas (Example 1, Example 2?  SB I-73 also appears to be built to a lower standard than Kentucky was forced to use for I-69, with a one lane ramp there, plus a questionable weave for through traffic.

Good question. My guess, setting aside the obvious, is that at some point enough of I-69 will be complete that there'll be a sudden shift of long-distance traffic to the corridor, while there's no such shift in prospect for I-73 in Greensboro since most of the traffic is and will continue to be local in nature.


When the Loop was proposed, the interchange was planned like this. The plan was for I-73 to follow US 220 up to I-40, and then along I-40 to NC 68 interchange (in which the interchange will have to be upgraded and was very expensive to do so), and along NC 68 to the current I-73 routing. However, NCDOT and local officials in Greensboro wanted I-73 traffic off current I-40, hence why I-73 was put on the Loop along with US 421 (It was I-40 as well).

It is what was left of the interchange after I-73 routing changes, but I am sure NCDOT plans to address it in the future. That interchange is a mess, however.


bob7374

I've added new photos of I-74 Winston-Salem Northern Beltway construction, courtesy of of J. Austin Carter (here's the future I-74 bridge over Business 40/US 421):


To my I-74 Segment 4 website: http://www.malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos

sprjus4

Quote from: bob7374 on December 17, 2018, 05:45:59 PM
I've added new photos of I-74 Winston-Salem Northern Beltway construction, courtesy of of J. Austin Carter (here's the future I-74 bridge over Business 40/US 421):


To my I-74 Segment 4 website: http://www.malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i74seg4.html#photos
When is the first segment of the beltway supposed to be open to traffic?

mvak36

Quote from: sprjus4 on December 17, 2018, 06:43:32 PM

When is the first segment of the beltway supposed to be open to traffic?
Last I heard it was sometime in 2019. Idk if something's changed since then.
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bob7374

Quote from: mvak36 on December 18, 2018, 08:24:30 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on December 17, 2018, 06:43:32 PM

When is the first segment of the beltway supposed to be open to traffic?
Last I heard it was sometime in 2019. Idk if something's changed since then.
A Winston-Salem Journal article from September quotes an NCDOT official saying the first section should open in December 2019.

bob7374

Looks like NCDOT quietly gave a Christmas present to fans of I-73/I-74. They have added in their December 12-month tentative letting list the remainder of the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass project (which they refer erroneously, based on contract plans, as the US 220 Bypass) with a letting date in October 2019. This could mean that project could be completed around 2022/23.

The change document listing the addition is here: https://connect.ncdot.gov/letting/12%20Month%20Tentative%20Letting%20Library/DECEMBER%202018%20CHANGES%20REPORT.pdf

sprjus4

Quote from: bob7374 on January 01, 2019, 05:13:36 PM
Looks like NCDOT quietly gave a Christmas present to fans of I-73/I-74. They have added in their December 12-month tentative letting list the remainder of the I-73/I-74 Rockingham Bypass project (which they refer erroneously, based on contract plans, as the US 220 Bypass) with a letting date in October 2019. This could mean that project could be completed around 2022/23.

The change document listing the addition is here: https://connect.ncdot.gov/letting/12%20Month%20Tentative%20Letting%20Library/DECEMBER%202018%20CHANGES%20REPORT.pdf
Man, they really sped this thing up. Glad to see more I-73/74 get done. I assume no more projects after this will be done on I-73 will be started until VDOT or SCDOT start their portions. I-74 on the other hand will hopefully continue to advance forward. Wasn't this project before not going to start until after 2027?

jcarte29

Quote from: sprjus4 on January 01, 2019, 07:31:41 PM

Man, they really sped this thing up. Glad to see more I-73/74 get done. I assume no more projects after this will be done on I-73 will be started until VDOT or SCDOT start their portions. I-74 on the other hand will hopefully continue to advance forward. Wasn't this project before not going to start until after 2027?

Yes, that's correct.
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

Mileage Mike

Quote from: sprjus4 on December 09, 2018, 01:48:35 AM
Quote from: bob7374 on December 08, 2018, 05:30:09 PM
I've posted recent photos by site contributor Strider of new signage that has gone up on I-40 in Greensboro (finally) acknowledging the existence of I-73 North and I-840 East on the Greensboro Loop, here at the exit westbound:


The rest of the photos can be found on my I-73 Segment 5 page:
http://www.malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg5.html#photos
Glad they finally posted the proper signage. Question, has the speed limit on the newly upgraded I-73 north of Summerfield gone up to 65-70 MPH? Last time I went through back in April, it was only 60 MPH, and I imagined it wasn't going to stay that way.

I find it funny how heading east on I-40 approaching the loop, the new overhead signs "Durham" as a control city for the southern bypass. Wasn't the whole point of routing I-40 back through Greensboro as opposed to the bypass because of shorter distance? This sign just contradicts that.

In Charlotte, Greensboro is a control city for I-85 through the city, as opposed to the bypass, I-485.

Personally, I think I-85 (just like I-40 was) should be routed back on the old routes, and the entire beltway fully signed as I-840 with a little I-73 overlap. A mainline interstate should only be routed on a beltway if there's no through-city option (like I-73), however I-85 has a through-city option. I-95 goes through Richmond, I-295 goes around, I-85 goes through Charlotte, I-485 goes around, I-85 goes through Atlanta, I-285 goes around, I-40 goes through Nashville, I-840 goes around, I-40 goes through Raleigh, I-540/NC 540 goes around, I-95 goes through Jacksonville, I-295 goes around, etc.



I think it might be due to NCDOT not wanting a large amount of thru traffic going through the old 40/85 interchange in the city. Before the loop was built this was a notoriously dangerous interchange and they probably feel that the loop is better equipped to handle the large amount of traffic that would otherwise be using the old 85. Whereas in Charlotte I-85 is 8-10 lanes all the way through Mecklenburg County and easily able to deal with local as well as thru traffic so they kept it routed through the city instead of using the 485 loop.  I also noticed that on I-77 the signs now encourage drivers to use 485 to bypass the city, I recall there being an electronic sign on 77 north of Charlotte showing drivers the shorter time to get to the SC border by using 485 instead of 77 through the city. While on 85 there are no signs encouraging drivers to use 485 to bypass the city.

bob7374

I have posted my annual I-73/I-74 Year in Review, along with a summary of what's been happening with NC's other new and future interstates: http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2019/01/i-73i-74-and-other-future-interstates.html

GreenLanternCorps

#1117
Quote from: jcarte29 on January 01, 2019, 09:33:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 01, 2019, 07:31:41 PM

Man, they really sped this thing up. Glad to see more I-73/74 get done. I assume no more projects after this will be done on I-73 will be started until VDOT or SCDOT start their portions. I-74 on the other hand will hopefully continue to advance forward. Wasn't this project before not going to start until after 2027?

Yes, that's correct.

Our own bob7374 has this map of the bypass on his site:



http://www.malmeroads.net/i7374nc/i73seg11.html

Is there a more detailed image out there?  I'm curious as to how they are going to convert the existing interchange at the south end of the project to a full interchange.


jcarte29

Quote from: Cemajr on January 02, 2019, 10:49:31 AM
... I recall there being an electronic sign on 77 north of Charlotte showing drivers the shorter time to get to the SC border by using 485 instead of 77 through the city. While on 85 there are no signs encouraging drivers to use 485 to bypass the city.

Actually now there is, on I-85 S just prior to Exit 49 (Concord Mills)
Interstates I've driven on (Complete and/or partial, no particular order)
------------------
40, 85, 95, 77, 277(NC), 485(NC), 440(NC), 540(NC), 795(NC), 140(NC), 73, 74, 840(NC), 26, 20, 75, 285(GA), 81, 64, 71, 275(OH), 465(IN), 65, 264(VA), 240(NC), 295(VA), 526(SC), 985(GA), 395(FL), 195(FL)

bob7374

Two NCDOT announcements related to I-73:

First, NCDOT will be closing lanes northbound at I-40 this weekend to, hopefully, finish replacing the I-73 signage at that interchange:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-02-07-lane-closures-i-40-i-73-interchange.aspx

Second, there will be a public meeting in Mayodan on Feb. 21 to discuss improvements to the Future I-73/US 220 and US 311/NC 135 bridge and interchange:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/I-5898-2019-02-21.aspx

wdcrft63

Quote from: bob7374 on February 07, 2019, 05:54:03 PM
Two NCDOT announcements related to I-73:

First, NCDOT will be closing lanes northbound at I-40 this weekend to, hopefully, finish replacing the I-73 signage at that interchange:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-02-07-lane-closures-i-40-i-73-interchange.aspx

Second, there will be a public meeting in Mayodan on Feb. 21 to discuss improvements to the Future I-73/US 220 and US 311/NC 135 bridge and interchange:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/I-5898-2019-02-21.aspx
The existing narrow 2-lane overpass will be replaced with a 4-lane overpass and the ramps of the diamond interchange will be upgraded to modern standards. This is the first project announced for this northern extension of I-73.

sprjus4

#1121
Quote from: wdcrft63 on February 08, 2019, 06:30:15 PM
Quote from: bob7374 on February 07, 2019, 05:54:03 PM
Two NCDOT announcements related to I-73:

First, NCDOT will be closing lanes northbound at I-40 this weekend to, hopefully, finish replacing the I-73 signage at that interchange:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-02-07-lane-closures-i-40-i-73-interchange.aspx

Second, there will be a public meeting in Mayodan on Feb. 21 to discuss improvements to the Future I-73/US 220 and US 311/NC 135 bridge and interchange:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Pages/I-5898-2019-02-21.aspx
The existing narrow 2-lane overpass will be replaced with a 4-lane overpass and the ramps of the diamond interchange will be upgraded to modern standards. This is the first project announced for this northern extension of I-73.
The overpass would actually have 1 through lane in each direction, one northbound left turning lane, and 2 southbound left turning lanes.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings/Documents/february-2019-public-meeting-map.pdf

They need to complete a project to upgrade the 12 miles on the north end to freeway. That section already is limited-access with interchanges, there's occasionally driveways though that need to have frontage roads built, the property bought out fully, or a simple close access to US 220 (has another access point on a side road).

That would likely cost around $50 - 70 million. I'd say about 1 overpass, and about 3-5 miles of frontage road. When VDOT constructs the I-73 Martinsville Southern Connector freeway, this would be a good connection to it, then in the future, NCDOT could upgrade the 5 mile non-limited-access areas to meet up with the recently completed I-73 near Stokesdale.

bob7374

NCDOT has announced its plan for repairing the I-73 South bridge over I-85 in Greensboro that was damaged by a truck fire in December. It will require closing I-73 South for a five weeks in March and April and detouring traffic along (NCDOT's still calling it, despite its decommissioning) Business 85 North to US 220 South:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-02-22-i-73-bridge-repair-timeline.aspx

Roadsguy

Quote from: bob7374 on February 23, 2019, 05:24:33 PM
(NCDOT's still calling it, despite its decommissioning) Business 85

I'm detecting a pattern here with old designations in NCDOT's public materials and press releases...
Mileage-based exit numbering implies the existence of mileage-cringe exit numbering.

sprjus4

Quote from: bob7374 on January 02, 2019, 11:32:06 AM
I have posted my annual I-73/I-74 Year in Review, along with a summary of what's been happening with NC's other new and future interstates: http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2019/01/i-73i-74-and-other-future-interstates.html
I know I'm over a month late, but I gotta ask something about the article

It states "2019 also will see the first projects to bring parts of US 17, US 64, and US 70 (along with US 264 for I-587) up to Interstate Standards. Pavement rehabilitation projects that will widen shoulders to Interstate specifications..."

I don't think that the rehabilitation are going to necessarily widen the shoulders, simply overlay the existing lanes with new asphalt. Adding a shoulder would involve more work, and a higher price tag. Technical work underneath, grading, etc... it's not as easy as just laying pavement down on the grass and calling it a shoulder, at least to meet interstate standards it isn't. I could be wrong though... are these all projects like what's happening to US 70 outside of New Bern right now, where full shoulders are being constructed, or simple repaving of mainline lanes?




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