RDU Meet-July 30, 2022

[74/171FAN]

As most of us know, the East End Connector project is currently scheduled to be completed in June 2021. 

Having stated that (and with the postponement of the Outer Banks Meet for another year), I have decided to put together a meet in the Raleigh-Durham area this summer to focus on the East End Connector (obviously including a clinch of the newly designated I-885 of course).  I am also looking into other road-related sights in the areas of Durham and the Research Triangle Park (RTP) worth seeing.

As with other meets during the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be another BYOL affair.  Right now, I am expecting the meeting place to be at Northgate Park (across from Keystone Church at (2500 Arcadia St, Durham, NC, 27704)).

Anyway, there will be more details to follow.  I will edit this post as time gets closer.

[Alps]

Right now calendar is wide open and I'll need to burn a week of vacation time anyway.

[A.J. Bertin]

I am interested, but with the other road meets that are on tentatively on the calendar for 2021, I'm not sure how likely it is that I'd be able to attend this one.  I'd love to explore that part of North Carolina, though.

[Takumi]

No preference. I’m only 2 hours away so as long as I’m off work I should be in. If I can parlay that with a Triad-area Cars & Coffee, even better. (As best I can tell, Cars & Coffee Raleigh is the second Saturday of each month, which in this case would be the 10th, but is currently on hiatus due to the plague. We’ll see if that changes by July.)

[1995hoo]

I'd love to get back to Durham, though it would be weird driving along Erwin Road and seeing where my apartment used to be since the building was demolished. I don't know whether this summer will work at this point because it depends on a possible trip to Florida, which in turn depends on vaccines.

[CanesFan27]

I would suggest 885 (really the connector is going to be blink and you miss it) and drive down to Fuquay and tour the 540 construction between there and 40 in Garner.

[Alps]

I would suggest 885 (really the connector is going to be blink and you miss it) and drive down to Fuquay and tour the 540 construction between there and 40 in Garner.

You had mentioned something to me about 440 as well. Not familiar with what's still ongoing, thought they finished those improvements.

[CanesFan27]

I would suggest 885 (really the connector is going to be blink and you miss it) and drive down to Fuquay and tour the 540 construction between there and 40 in Garner.

You had mentioned something to me about 440 as well. Not familiar with what's still ongoing, thought they finished those improvements.

440 is being widened from Wade Ave to 40.  I'm not sure if there are any good vantage points of it versus just a drive-thru (Granted I'm in Charlotte now so I haven't been on it in two years)  There's the pedestrian bridge/bike trail that is over 440 at Wade Avenue but it's not that easily accessible for a meet.  Have to walk a bit from either the Museum of Art or Meredith College to get there.

[froggie]

440 is being widened from Wade Ave to 40.  I'm not sure if there are any good vantage points of it versus just a drive-thru (Granted I'm in Charlotte now so I haven't been on it in two years)  There's the pedestrian bridge/bike trail that is over 440 at Wade Avenue but it's not that easily accessible for a meet.  Have to walk a bit from either the Museum of Art or Meredith College to get there.

There's a trail parking lot a half-mile from the bridge on Horton St.  We've had past precedent for such walks at meets.

One could also probably park at the Whole Foods at Wade & Ridge.  Similar distance as the trail parking lot and there's a trail connection from that intersection.

[74/171FAN]

I would suggest 885 (really the connector is going to be blink and you miss it) and drive down to Fuquay and tour the 540 construction between there and 40 in Garner.

My issue with heading towards Garner is how long it would take, but since it is summer, we will have plenty of daylight.  When I had my internship at NCDOT in Morrisville, I stayed south of Garner (along NC 50), and it took a good 40 minutes to get to/from the office every day.

I will definitely look further into it.

440 is being widened from Wade Ave to 40.  I'm not sure if there are any good vantage points of it versus just a drive-thru (Granted I'm in Charlotte now so I haven't been on it in two years)  There's the pedestrian bridge/bike trail that is over 440 at Wade Avenue but it's not that easily accessible for a meet.  Have to walk a bit from either the Museum of Art or Meredith College to get there.

There's a trail parking lot a half-mile from the bridge on Horton St.  We've had past precedent for such walks at meets.

One could also probably park at the Whole Foods at Wade & Ridge.  Similar distance as the trail parking lot and there's a trail connection from that intersection.

This may seal the addition of I-440.

[dgolub]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

[Brandon]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

Really?  We've been promised that every adult who wants a vaccine will have one by the end of May.  This is in July.

[Alps]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

Really?  We've been promised that every adult who wants a vaccine will have one by the end of May.  This is in July.

I think July 4 is realistic for everyone to be vaccinated. I just wish everyone who could be vaccinated would get one so we could squash this bug.

[Brandon]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

Really?  We've been promised that every adult who wants a vaccine will have one by the end of May.  This is in July.

I think July 4 is realistic for everyone to be vaccinated. I just wish everyone who could be vaccinated would get one so we could squash this bug.

Either way, this meet is after those dates.

[Alps]

I decided to set my FB page cover photo to the current state of I-885: walkable

[vdeane]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

Really?  We've been promised that every adult who wants a vaccine will have one by the end of May.  This is in July.

We've been promised that everyone will be eligible May 1.  That means they can get in line then.  In NY, it's generally a couple months between when you can get in line and when you can get your first shot.  Then add a few more weeks for your second and a couple more for it to take effect, and I don't see how we'll have the entire nation immune by Memorial Day.

Now, Biden did talk about SMALL gatherings for July 4, but not large ones, and nobody's said anything about travel.

[Alps]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

Really?  We've been promised that every adult who wants a vaccine will have one by the end of May.  This is in July.

We've been promised that everyone will be eligible May 1.  That means they can get in line then.  In NY, it's generally a couple months between when you can get in line and when you can get your first shot.  Then add a few more weeks for your second and a couple more for it to take effect, and I don't see how we'll have the entire nation immune by Memorial Day.

Now, Biden did talk about SMALL gatherings for July 4, but not large ones, and nobody's said anything about travel.

A road meet is a small gathering. No sense in belaboring this discussion. Let's see where things stand a month out.

[hbelkins]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

I still don't understand the fear of hotels.

[vdeane]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

I still don't understand the fear of hotels.

There are enough posts about people not being masked in lobbies, hallways, and other common areas to give me pause.  And the uneven implementation of COVID protocols making it so you don't know what you're going to get until you get there unless you use a more expensive chain.

[SSOWorld]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

I still don't understand the fear of hotels.

Nor do you need to.

[74/171FAN]

I'm definitely interested, but I'm not staying in hotels until I'm vaccinated, so this might be a little too early.

I still don't understand the fear of hotels.

There are enough posts about people not being masked in lobbies, hallways, and other common areas to give me pause.  And the uneven implementation of COVID protocols making it so you don't know what you're going to get until you get there unless you use a more expensive chain.

I would think that Yelp reviews should be able to help you out on this by now.  Personally, I am still more concerned about restaurants (and even going to church) over anything outdoors.  My family and I have had arguments over eating out at restaurants.

I would suggest 885 (really the connector is going to be blink and you miss it) and drive down to Fuquay and tour the 540 construction between there and 40 in Garner.

My issue with heading towards Garner is how long it would take, but since it is summer, we will have plenty of daylight.  When I had my internship at NCDOT in Morrisville, I stayed south of Garner (along NC 50), and it took a good 40 minutes to get to/from the office every day.

I will definitely look further into it.

440 is being widened from Wade Ave to 40.  I'm not sure if there are any good vantage points of it versus just a drive-thru (Granted I'm in Charlotte now so I haven't been on it in two years)  There's the pedestrian bridge/bike trail that is over 440 at Wade Avenue but it's not that easily accessible for a meet.  Have to walk a bit from either the Museum of Art or Meredith College to get there.

There's a trail parking lot a half-mile from the bridge on Horton St.  We've had past precedent for such walks at meets.

One could also probably park at the Whole Foods at Wade & Ridge.  Similar distance as the trail parking lot and there's a trail connection from that intersection.

This may seal the addition of I-440.

My very rough draft intinerary includes the NC 540 construction, I-40 construction, and I-440.  I want to clarfiy how I want to handle the stuff I want to look at in the Morrisville area before linking it here.

EDIT:My rough draft itinerary at the moment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X5BT-hS7LiwmQqh5Svzu0jE7Zx3JZtON/view?usp=sharing

I am sure that this will change many times up to the chosen date for the meet.

[Brandon]

Any obligatory stop at 11 foot 8 plus 8?

[74/171FAN]

Any obligatory stop at 11 foot 8 plus 8?

I did not even know that existed until you posted it.  It is probably worth mentioning in the itinerary whether I can easily include it or not.

[Brandon]

[CanesFan27]

The Peace Street Bridge in downtown Raleigh is better than the 11'8" bridge.  If only because Doug Kerr has posed in front of it with a 'SEND HELP' sign.

Untitled by Adam Prince, on Flickr