I-40 in North Carolina

[TheStranger]

Asheville would like to decommission 240, similar to how Durham would like to decommission NC 147 and convert from a freeway to a boulevard.  More likely in the downtown area (26 to the cut); there's work that'll eventually be needed as those bridges reach their life expectancy.

Are there definitive plans for both freeway-to-surface road conversions?  Or is this essentially something planned for after 2040 or so?

(As opposed to the in-progress changes for I-375 in Detroit and parts of I-81 in Syracuse)

[jdunlop]

Asheville would like to decommission 240, similar to how Durham would like to decommission NC 147 and convert from a freeway to a boulevard.  More likely in the downtown area (26 to the cut); there's work that'll eventually be needed as those bridges reach their life expectancy.

Are there definitive plans for both freeway-to-surface road conversions?  Or is this essentially something planned for after 2040 or so?

(As opposed to the in-progress changes for I-375 in Detroit and parts of I-81 in Syracuse)

Asheville has suggested it, but nothing definitive, and NCDOT has not agreed to go along with it at this point.  I don't think they'll consider it until the I-26 corridor is finished.

I see some merit to the idea, as mentioned specifically in the downtown area where the road/RW is tight.  When it comes time to replace the bridges in that area, the discussion will ramp up.

[froggie]

Asheville would like to decommission 240, similar to how Durham would like to decommission NC 147 and convert from a freeway to a boulevard.  More likely in the downtown area (26 to the cut); there's work that'll eventually be needed as those bridges reach their life expectancy.

Are there definitive plans for both freeway-to-surface road conversions?  Or is this essentially something planned for after 2040 or so?

(As opposed to the in-progress changes for I-375 in Detroit and parts of I-81 in Syracuse)

Asheville has suggested it, but nothing definitive, and NCDOT has not agreed to go along with it at this point.  I don't think they'll consider it until the I-26 corridor is finished.

I see some merit to the idea, as mentioned specifically in the downtown area where the road/RW is tight.  When it comes time to replace the bridges in that area, the discussion will ramp up.

Not shocked at the lack of "definitive plans", but has the city looked into any potential concepts?

[Henry]

Even if Interstate 240 signage is removed from Interstate 40's guide signs, I doubt any portion of 240's 9.14-mile length will be truncated. Maybe once the Interstates 26/240 duplex is upgraded and expanded, a plan could be developed to upgrade the rest of 240 to Interstate Standards, since all of 240 is a very substandard freeway.

It took a while during the planning (I started on the project 24 years ago; that was about seven years into the work) but the final concept had 240 ending at 26.  That made 26 the continuous freeway instead of 240 and helped lead some design decisions about that interchange.

Asheville would like to decommission 240, similar to how Durham would like to decommission NC 147 and convert from a freeway to a boulevard.  More likely in the downtown area (26 to the cut); there's work that'll eventually be needed as those bridges reach their life expectancy.

Leaving I-240 off the signs makes a lot of sense, given that I-26 will exit the loop to the left going towards Johnson City, but I feel it would be even better if I-240 had been retained and marked with the word "TO" as a way of letting the motorist know that it's still there.

[The Ghostbuster]

If the 240 designation is dropped from the 26/240 duplex, the existing exit numbers would have to be renumbered to correspond with 26's mileage. I think the 26/240 duplex should remain, although 26 probably should have been signed north-south to eliminate the wrong-way duplex along 26/240.

[jdunlop]

Asheville would like to decommission 240, similar to how Durham would like to decommission NC 147 and convert from a freeway to a boulevard.  More likely in the downtown area (26 to the cut); there's work that'll eventually be needed as those bridges reach their life expectancy.

Are there definitive plans for both freeway-to-surface road conversions?  Or is this essentially something planned for after 2040 or so?

(As opposed to the in-progress changes for I-375 in Detroit and parts of I-81 in Syracuse)

Asheville has suggested it, but nothing definitive, and NCDOT has not agreed to go along with it at this point.  I don't think they'll consider it until the I-26 corridor is finished.

I see some merit to the idea, as mentioned specifically in the downtown area where the road/RW is tight.  When it comes time to replace the bridges in that area, the discussion will ramp up.

Not shocked at the lack of "definitive plans", but has the city looked into any potential concepts?

Hey Froggie!

The comment is more of the "we have to deemphasize cars, let's get rid of freeways" idea from (some anti-car people in Asheville) than a well thought-out idea.

As I mentioned, the section from 26 to Charlotte Street could be looked at once I-26 is completed, and the next "big" project in the region is replacing the bridges on that segment.  (I'm not discounting widening 40; those are already in the SPOT system IIRC.)  It would take a major diversion of traffic on 240, but since the necessary connections from 26/240 to 40 haven't been there, it's a possibility.  That's why it would need to wait until the completion of the project and settling of traffic patterns. 

[jdunlop]

If the 240 designation is dropped from the 26/240 duplex, the existing exit numbers would have to be renumbered to correspond with 26's mileage. I think the 26/240 duplex should remain, although 26 probably should have been signed north-south to eliminate the wrong-way duplex along 26/240.

I-26, for better or worse, is an east-west interstate.  Not changing it to N-S.  I would expect that the exit numbers would follow the 2-digit interstate over the 2-digit one. 

However, you point out a reason to leave the duplex, so as to not renumber the exits on the remainder of 240 east to 40.

[roadman65]

I was always told that DDI's were for when cross road traffic was heavily turning left to get on the freeway ramps.

In Orlando I-4 and Sand Lake Road have DDI now, and more through traffic than turning.

[LM117]

Part of I-40 East in Asheville will be closed this weekend.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-06-05-i-40-weekend-asheville.aspx

[LM117]

NCDOT awarded a contract for replacing the bridges over Beaverdam Road in Haywood County. Construction can begin on July 8, and completion is expected in April 2028.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-06-14-haywood-bridges-beaverdam-awarded.aspx

[LM117]

Upcoming closure on I-40 East in Asheville.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-07-10-i-40-east-asheville-closure.aspx

[bob7374]

NCDOT announces completion of I-40 widening project southeast of Raleigh:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-06-i-40-widening-raleigh.aspx

Remaining sign placement projects indicated in the text include those needed when the NC 540/Triangle Expressway interchange opens on Sept. 25.

[WashuOtaku]

If the 240 designation is dropped from the 26/240 duplex, the existing exit numbers would have to be renumbered to correspond with 26's mileage. I think the 26/240 duplex should remain, although 26 probably should have been signed north-south to eliminate the wrong-way duplex along 26/240.

So here is the fun bit of information, there is no I-26/I-240 duplex, it's just I-240 currently through Asheville. If you pull any NCDOT map, that can be easily confirmed.

The reason you see I-26 signage is because they needed to add them for people not realizing it continues just north of Asheville. But this is a unique case and not replicated anywhere else in the state where Interstates are future designated.

[Rothman]

If the 240 designation is dropped from the 26/240 duplex, the existing exit numbers would have to be renumbered to correspond with 26's mileage. I think the 26/240 duplex should remain, although 26 probably should have been signed north-south to eliminate the wrong-way duplex along 26/240.

So here is the fun bit of information, there is no I-26/I-240 duplex, it's just I-240 currently through Asheville. If you pull any NCDOT map, that can be easily confirmed.

I pulled the .pdf of the map and this is not easily confirmed from the Asheville inset that I see on it.

[wdcrft63]

If the 240 designation is dropped from the 26/240 duplex, the existing exit numbers would have to be renumbered to correspond with 26's mileage. I think the 26/240 duplex should remain, although 26 probably should have been signed north-south to eliminate the wrong-way duplex along 26/240.

So here is the fun bit of information, there is no I-26/I-240 duplex, it's just I-240 currently through Asheville. If you pull any NCDOT map, that can be easily confirmed.

I pulled the .pdf of the map and this is not easily confirmed from the Asheville inset that I see on it.

Google Maps has recent street views of the I-40/I-26 interchange showING the I-26/I-240 overlap still indicated on the overhead BGS.

[fillup420]

If the 240 designation is dropped from the 26/240 duplex, the existing exit numbers would have to be renumbered to correspond with 26's mileage. I think the 26/240 duplex should remain, although 26 probably should have been signed north-south to eliminate the wrong-way duplex along 26/240.

So here is the fun bit of information, there is no I-26/I-240 duplex, it's just I-240 currently through Asheville. If you pull any NCDOT map, that can be easily confirmed.

I pulled the .pdf of the map and this is not easily confirmed from the Asheville inset that I see on it.

nor is it easily confirmed on google maps, which shows both 26 and 240 shields along the roadway..

[Dirt Roads]

Sometime in the past 2 weeks, NCDOT opened up the first two new lanes associated with I-40 widening in Orange County.  The westbound lanes of I-40 at Exit 261 near Hillsborough were relocated onto a new bridge section over Old N.C. 86, raising the roadway about 8 feet or so.  The new bridge removes the abutment slopes beneath the Interstate, which will allow Old N.C. 86 to be widened to a multilane divided section.  The next stage is to replace the old westbound bridge over Old N.C. 86.

My impression is that these newly opened lanes will end up "right down the middle" when the project is complete, which (if true) would mean that it would host part of the new westbound lane and part of the new eastbound lane, plus the tall Jersey barrier down the middle.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Sometime in the past 2 weeks, NCDOT opened up the first two new lanes associated with I-40 widening in Orange County.  The westbound lanes of I-40 at Exit 261 near Hillsborough were relocated onto a new bridge section over Old N.C. 86, raising the roadway about 8 feet or so.

The westbound lanes have been on the new bridge for at least half a year. The previous westbound bridge was being demolished in March.

[Dirt Roads]

Sometime in the past 2 weeks, NCDOT opened up the first two new lanes associated with I-40 widening in Orange County.  The westbound lanes of I-40 at Exit 261 near Hillsborough were relocated onto a new bridge section over Old N.C. 86, raising the roadway about 8 feet or so.

The westbound lanes have been on the new bridge for at least half a year. The previous westbound bridge was being demolished in March.

Ouch, it's even shown on GSV back in July.  I travel this section eastbound frequently, but avoid it westbound most of the time.  The last few times would have been in the dark (as it was last night), but I still should have remembered.

[LM117]

Upcoming lane and ramp closures in Morrisville.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-09-19-interstate-40-lanes-closed.aspx

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/arP8cdQxiGyLNmF58
I see the new Exit 301 guides do carry the I-87 designation, but (still) lack control cities.

Yet EB they at least list Rocky Mount.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EMmBmh5FbSNx9Htt7

[WashuOtaku]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/arP8cdQxiGyLNmF58
I see the new Exit 301 guides do carry the I-87 designation, but (still) lack control cities.

Yet EB they at least list Rocky Mount.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EMmBmh5FbSNx9Htt7

If you are going west, it is less likely you want to go to Rocky Mount. But whatever, that is just what NCDOT sometimes do.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/arP8cdQxiGyLNmF58
I see the new Exit 301 guides do carry the I-87 designation, but (still) lack control cities.

Yet EB they at least list Rocky Mount.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EMmBmh5FbSNx9Htt7

If you are going west, it is less likely you want to go to Rocky Mount. But whatever, that is just what NCDOT sometimes do.

That's my guess, but still should have even Wake Forest, that is the US 64 Business control for WB I-440.

[roadman65]

I was noticing that on Historic Aerials it shows the original Cliff Benson Beltline was built already in 1965.  It ended at the current Parclo at New Bern Avenue ( Exit 13)  with stubs at the end. I also remember that US 64 on old maps showed that US 64 originally used the north and west end of the loop with US 1 always using the alignment of today.

That means plans for a full beltway around Raleigh were on engineers minds even back then, even though I-40's extension to Raleigh came much later. So there must of been other route numbers planned to be given to what is now I-40 on the south side.

It would have been interesting to know now what then were aspiring not that I'm sorry that the current Raleigh freeways are as they are, but how needs change over years and mind sets of the different generations.  It just would be wonderful to feel those needs then.

I do know that when I-40 was extended further east of Greensboro the original plan was for it to end at I-95 at Selma/ Smithfield using today's US 70/ I-42 alignment.  In fact early 70's General Drafting maps show proposed I-40 over the current US 70 between Garner and Selma.  So the extension to Wilmington was a much later thought which explains why all of I-40 east of Benson was opened circa 1990.

[wdcrft63]

I-40 is closed in six places in western North Carolina due to flooding by Hurricane Helene. NCDOT claims it will reopen by 5 pm tomorrow but that seems unlikely in the Pigeon River gorge where at least one lane has collapsed into the river.
https://wlos.com/news/local/interstate-26-40-closed-flooding-mudslide-slide-helene-upward-road-asheville-buncombe-county