North Carolina

[architect77]

Where in the past the highway trust fund was raided to balance the state budget, today it's nice to see a small portion (5%) of collected sales tax revenue being used to supplement the state's many transportation needs.

[Rothman]

Your lack of comprehension does not make what I said nonsense.  You've yet to directly dispute my assertions and continue to show that you have only a partial understanding of transportation funding and how federal funding truly comes to play in such.

The fact that you are dismissing what I say out of hand without engaging for clarification is more telling than anything.

Come to think of it, I don't know what points you're trying to make any longer.

[Strider]

Regarding US-70 signage in Greensboro area, I can confirm there are some US-70 signage popping up on Wendover Ave. mostly between I-785/I-840 on the east side towards I-73/US-421 on the west side.

Some US-70 shields looked like it were taken from the old routing (Along US-29 and former Business I-85) and sign them along Wendover Ave. The only newest and slightly larger US-70 shields were located at the I-73/US-421 interchange off ramps (Exit 102). There are no US-70 shields at each off ramps from I-40 (Exit 214).

However, US-70 is still unsigned past Guilford College Rd Interchange (just to the west of I-73) going into High Point along NC-68 and beyond.

At least NCDOT is actively signing US-70 on Wendover... it may take a while for us to see US-70 signage in High Point.

[route17fan]

<so sorry - off topic for a brief moment>

Does anyone know if NCDOT has an archive of highway plans?

I am looking for I-87 (NC) signing plans

Does anyone know?

<thank you. Back to regular programming?

[jdunlop]

<so sorry - off topic for a brief moment>

Does anyone know if NCDOT has an archive of highway plans?

I am looking for I-87 (NC) signing plans

Does anyone know?

<thank you. Back to regular programming?

Use the Public Records Request at NCDOT Contact Us.

https://www.ncdot.gov/contact/Pages/default.aspx

There is an archive of plans dating back to the State Highway Commission; I was amazed what they could find when reviewing right-of-way or control-of-access cases.  Almost all items from around 2005 on should be digital.

As a retired NCDOT engineer, I can say that frequent (or abusive) use of these requests gets annoying ,and pulls the people (in this case, the Signing and Deliniation Unit)+away from their usual tasks.  So please don't abuse this.  Yes, they are "public records" and as such the public has a right to see them, but frequent requests tie up manpower and (in my opinion) waste state resources for what is trivial purposes.

(Note that by state law, NCDOT can charge a fee for collecting public documents.  That fee is usually waved for simple requests, such as the I-87 signing plans, which should be digitally available) but frequent requests will likely be flagged and man hours charged to collect them.

[Mapmikey]

Almost all items from around 2005 on should be digital.

2004-present located here:  https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/

[jdunlop]

Almost all items from around 2005 on should be digital.

2004-present located here:  https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/

That's letting information, which certainly is valuable.  There's a lot more involved than just what goes into a letting package, including "as-built" plans, and on the other size of the schedule, a lot of preliminary information not included in the bid package.  Assuming it was properly archived, all files for a project should be there, including correspondence and analysis.  (I don't know the specific procedures for archiving completed projects; I always assumed it saved the entire electronic project folder.)

Regarding the I-87 signing plans, I don't know if it went through the bid process, or was done separately.  While I don't think it was design-build, these project's plan definitely would not be in the bid package folder.

[route17fan]

Many many thanks to you all. I appreciate it.

[MBHockey13]

Regarding US-70 signage in Greensboro area, I can confirm there are some US-70 signage popping up on Wendover Ave. mostly between I-785/I-840 on the east side towards I-73/US-421 on the west side.

Some US-70 shields looked like it were taken from the old routing (Along US-29 and former Business I-85) and sign them along Wendover Ave. The only newest and slightly larger US-70 shields were located at the I-73/US-421 interchange off ramps (Exit 102). There are no US-70 shields at each off ramps from I-40 (Exit 214).

However, US-70 is still unsigned past Guilford College Rd Interchange (just to the west of I-73) going into High Point along NC-68 and beyond.

At least NCDOT is actively signing US-70 on Wendover... it may take a while for us to see US-70 signage in High Point.

I actually wrote NCDOT and got an e-mail and then a week later got a call - they said they were working on the US-70 signage now.

I live near the Wendover / Market St. interchange and I'm tempted to make my own US-70 Shield stickers and stick them on the on ramp signs on Market.

[Strider]

US-70 signs did in fact showed up along NC-68 in High Point area when I revisited the area last week. They just put US-70 sign on top of NC-68 sign in some areas in High Point.

[CanesFan27]

Tracy Snead sent along some photos of the recent routing changes in Pittsboro.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/06/us-15501-rerouted-from-downtown.html

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't get the former NC 87/NC 902 duplex. 902 should have ended at 87 to begin with. Unless it was a leftover from a former NC 87 alignment.

[Mapmikey]

I don't get the former NC 87/NC 902 duplex. 902 should have ended at 87 to begin with. Unless it was a leftover from a former NC 87 alignment.

When NC 87 was routed around Pittsboro it utilized the last bit of NC 902 to now US 64 Business.

[bob7374]

Tracy Snead sent along some photos of the recent routing changes in Pittsboro.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/06/us-15501-rerouted-from-downtown.html

This was a rather quick, for NCDOT, sign changing after the approval of the ordinance officially moving US 15/501 along NC 87 and US 64, which was passed only on May 19:
https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Ordinance%20Packages/2025/2025_05_19.pdf

The contract to complete the Chatham Bypass was let in May. Sign plans can be found at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2025%20Highway%20Letting/05-20-25/Plans%20and%20Proposals/CHATHAM_R-5963A_C205032/Standard%20PDF%20Files/250%20Signing%20Plans.pdf

[CanesFan27]

Finally, I took the Piedmont train.  A one-way trip from Kannapolis to Durham.  I found myself wondering why I hadn't taken the train sooner, yet also seeing where there's still a lot of room for improvement and potential.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/06/nc-by-train-of-course.html

[fillup420]

Finally, I took the Piedmont train.  A one-way trip from Kannapolis to Durham.  I found myself wondering why I hadn't taken the train sooner, yet also seeing where there's still a lot of room for improvement and potential.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/06/nc-by-train-of-course.html

I agree that there is so much room for improvement! Personally, I would love to see some more regional trains between Durham and Raleigh, and/or Durham and Greensboro. The line between Charlotte and Greensboro is already a top-notch double track setup, we just need the same upgrades all the way to Raleigh.

[architect77]

Finally, I took the Piedmont train.  A one-way trip from Kannapolis to Durham.  I found myself wondering why I hadn't taken the train sooner, yet also seeing where there's still a lot of room for improvement and potential.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2025/06/nc-by-train-of-course.html

What are some specific improvements you'd like to see? Do they have the new rail cars yet?

Nevermind. I read your review of the train service. I know they are getting new passenger cars, but I don't know when.

High Point, named so because it's the highest elevation of the rail line which avoided the Uwharries thus giving the crescent shape string of towns.