North Carolina

[froggie]

That NCDOT is responsible for the Secondary system definitely plays a factor in that bridge total.  But that's still a lot of bridges.

[epzik8]

Looks like with I-42 up and running in Goldsboro, I'll need to take another set of pictures going into the area on 795 when I go to Myrtle Beach next.

[74/171FAN]

Last photo tour from my 10-12-2024 NC Trip (not 10-5-2024 as I stated in other posts  ) is of NC 148 on the north side of Kinston.  (https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBPNQY)

[wriddle082]

BREAKING NEWS:  On I-95, the new third and fourth lanes in each direction are finally opened up in both directions from mm 58 to mm 71!  Finally, some real progress with this PITA slog of a work zone!  Traffic flowed very smoothly, even at the lane drops (though it was around 2:30 PM so not a typical heavy traffic time).  Southbound the far right lane dropped just past the I-295 off-ramp, and then the next lane dropped before the BL 95 split.

Right now the variable work zone speed limit signs were still set at 60 mph, and the permanent 70 mph signs were still covered up.  I wouldn't be surprised if they went ahead and at least changed the variable signs to 70 when no workers are nearby, like they often seem to do in the I-485 work zone on the south end of Greater Charlotte.

[brian440i]

Glad to here I95 MM 58 to MM 71 is Open!  Joining I40 Southeast of Raleigh in the 8 Lane Expansion.
Soon I26 8 Lanes South of Asheville and I85/I40 Split to Durham to Follow.  And I95 South of Fayetteville.

What will come next?  Other than I85 Charlotte to Gastonia that starts Construction in 2025.

ON the Board:
1. I85 Gastonia to US74 Split
2. I40/Salem Parkway Split to Winston Salem
3. I85 Hillsborough to Durham



Red Lines - New 8 Lane Expansion
Orange Lines - Preliminary Engineering
Green Lines - New 4 Lane Controlled Highway in NC STIP (though I am sure I missed a couple)

[sprjus4]

ON the Board:
2. I40/Salem Parkway Split to Winston Salem
3. I85 Hillsborough to Durham

These two, along with I-40 from Chapel Hill to I-85, are only 6 lane expansions I believe.

Also the US-1 freeway upgrade planned north of I-540 is to be six lanes, as opposed to four lanes.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Unfortunately, many of these are still a few years off, and we don't yet know how much of an impact the billions of dollars in repairs from Helene will have on future projects in the STIP.

The U.S. 1 upgrades north of Raleigh keep getting pushed back. The first section was recently bumped from 10/21/25 to 4/21/2026 due to funding. I believe the project was supposed to have been let several years ago.

I-26 will only be six lanes from U.S. 25 to U.S. 25, and the eastern/southern section from U.S. 64 to U.S. 25 is in the STIP, but not funded.

For I-85, only the first four miles will start widening next year (I-5719B). Section A to U.S. 321 won't start until late 2028 now. I'm guessing that's due to a combination of funding and construction phasing due to the numerous railroad structures that have to be replaced, which is being done in a separate project (C). The two sections to widen to U.S. 74 (I-5985B) and to the South Carolina line (A) are scheduled for 2033.

I-85 side note: I saw that the letting of the I-85 and I-485 improvement project (I-6016) was accelerated from next July to November (this month). There has already been some tree clearing within the project limits.

I-40 has a couple of other widening projects in the works in the western part of the state. The first one is from the U.S. 74 split in Haywood County to the current 8-lane section in Buncombe County. Only the Buncombe County portion is funded for preliminary engineering in the current STIP.

The second project is for six-lanes in Hickory between U.S. 321 and N.C. 16 in Conover. The western five miles are in the STIP for preliminary engineering, but the eastern section is not.

Then there is always I-77 in south Charlotte. Who knows for that project.

[brian440i]

ON the Board:
2. I40/Salem Parkway Split to Winston Salem
3. I85 Hillsborough to Durham

These two, along with I-40 from Chapel Hill to I-85, are only 6 lane expansions I believe.

Also the US-1 freeway upgrade planned north of I-540 is to be six lanes, as opposed to four lanes.

Absolutely Correct.
2. I40/Salem Parkway Split to Winston Salem  - Showing 6 Lanes per 2024 WS MPO
3. I85 Hillsborough to Durham -Showing 6 Lanes per Latest Durham MPO;  NC STIP shows only 1 of 2 Hillsborough Interchanges Funded However.
And I40/I85 is 6 Lanes

Looking at US1 Project Maps This Afternoon:
This  is 8 Lanes From Raleigh through Wake Forest only dropping to 6 Lanes at Business 98 and Down to 4 Lanes at end of Project.

[WashuOtaku]

As of November 1, 2024, NC 109 Business in Troy, NC is no more. I have already updated Wikipedia.

[rschen7754]

As of November 1, 2024, NC 109 Business in Troy, NC is no more. I have already updated Wikipedia.

Not to get off topic, but you might want to consider shifting to the AARoads Wiki instead. Going forward, Wikipedia is not going to be the safe place for road-related content that we once knew. https://wiki.aaroads.com/wiki/User:Rschen7754/The_time_is_now

[architect77]

Unfortunately, many of these are still a few years off, and we don't yet know how much of an impact the billions of dollars in repairs from Helene will have on future projects in the STIP.

The U.S. 1 upgrades north of Raleigh keep getting pushed back. The first section was recently bumped from 10/21/25 to 4/21/2026 due to funding. I believe the project was supposed to have been let several years ago.

I-26 will only be six lanes from U.S. 25 to U.S. 25, and the eastern/southern section from U.S. 64 to U.S. 25 is in the STIP, but not funded.

For I-85, only the first four miles will start widening next year (I-5719B). Section A to U.S. 321 won't start until late 2028 now. I'm guessing that's due to a combination of funding and construction phasing due to the numerous railroad structures that have to be replaced, which is being done in a separate project (C). The two sections to widen to U.S. 74 (I-5985B) and to the South Carolina line (A) are scheduled for 2033.

I-85 side note: I saw that the letting of the I-85 and I-485 improvement project (I-6016) was accelerated from next July to November (this month). There has already been some tree clearing within the project limits.

I-40 has a couple of other widening projects in the works in the western part of the state. The first one is from the U.S. 74 split in Haywood County to the current 8-lane section in Buncombe County. Only the Buncombe County portion is funded for preliminary engineering in the current STIP.

The second project is for six-lanes in Hickory between U.S. 321 and N.C. 16 in Conover. The western five miles are in the STIP for preliminary engineering, but the eastern section is not.

Then there is always I-77 in south Charlotte. Who knows for that project.

I saw on the Fed's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law project list that I-85 from Gastonia to the SC had been funded. It stated that 5 overpasses, 2 train overpasses, and adjacent walking trails were included in the 8-laning of I-85.

I don't know how much they were funding, but after Helene this is a valuable grant.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

The only grant I'm aware of is the $100 million INFRA grant from 2022 for project I-5719. The widening is east of U.S. 321, but includes funding to the South Carolina line for ITS infrastructure, electric vehicle chargers and flood monitoring systems.

Project ID	Project Description	Let Date	Right of Way	Utilities	Construction	Total Cost
I-5719C	Reconstruction of the Piedmont Northern Railroad Bridge, two Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridges, and SR 2213 (Grove Street) Bridge.	1/21/2025	$3,531,000	$9,076,000	$186,316,000	$198,923,000
I-5719B	I-85, from NC 7 (McAdenville Road/Main Street) to NC 273. Widen to eight lanes. (Comb w/U-5800)	6/17/2025	$23,732,000	$27,513,000	$360,526,000	$411,771,000
I-5719A	I-85, from US 321 to NC 7 (McAdenville Road/Main Street). Widen to eight lanes. (Comb w/U-6044)	8/15/2028	$23,732,000	N/A	$599,058,000	$622,790,000
I-5985B	I-85 from US 74 to US 321. Add additional lanes.	1/18/2033	$8,800,000	$4,900,000	$219,400,000	$233,100,000
I-5985A	I-85 from South Carolina state line to US 74. Add additional lanes.	1/18/2033	$3,200,000	$3,500,000	$150,300,000	$157,000,000
			$62,995,000	$44,989,000	$1,515,600,000	$1,623,584,000

[Mapmikey]

Right now the variable work zone speed limit signs were still set at 60 mph, and the permanent 70 mph signs were still covered up.  I wouldn't be surprised if they went ahead and at least changed the variable signs to 70 when no workers are nearby, like they often seem to do in the I-485 work zone on the south end of Greater Charlotte.

Drove this NB on Sunday...variable speed limit was still 60 throughout...

[sprjus4]

At some point in the last few months (latest Street View in April 2024 is still 60 mph), the speed limit on US-421 Salem Pkwy (old I-40) east of Winston-Salem, between the new I-74 beltway and I-40 east of Kernersville, was changed from 60 mph to 65 mph.

I don't know how far west of the new I-74 beltway that change goes.

[roadman65]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/54166451934


Is NCDOT phasing out the By- Pass Banners like this one on Mainline US 301 at Rocky Mount?

[Strider]

At some point in the last few months (latest Street View in April 2024 is still 60 mph), the speed limit on US-421 Salem Pkwy (old I-40) east of Winston-Salem, between the new I-74 beltway and I-40 east of Kernersville, was changed from 60 mph to 65 mph.

I don't know how far west of the new I-74 beltway that change goes.

It reduces to 55mph near US-158 partial "Y" interchange just east of Downtown W-S.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Google satellite has updated images of the US 221 Rutherfordton  bypass, looks less than 30 days old.

[LM117]

"NC Quick Pass now available at select 7-Eleven locations and on Amazon"

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-12-03-nc-quick-pass-7eleven-amazon.aspx