I-40 in North Carolina

[sprjus4]

This is just a curiosity question what would be the economics of two single direction lanes alternating with a more normal speed limit?

It would require a trail car. Trail as opposed to pilot. There would be a flagger at each end (probably more gate attendants) They would open the gate at one end and close it when it was empty or after a set time. The trail car follows the last car and stays in the back of all the cars. When it reaches the other end repeat the process the opposite direction.

What exactly is the benefit of doing this?

[PColumbus73]

This is just a curiosity question what would be the economics of two single direction lanes alternating with a more normal speed limit?

It would require a trail car. Trail as opposed to pilot. There would be a flagger at each end (probably more gate attendants) They would open the gate at one end and close it when it was empty or after a set time. The trail car follows the last car and stays in the back of all the cars. When it reaches the other end repeat the process the opposite direction.

What exactly is the benefit of doing this?

Agreed with @I-55, One lane is in both directions is better than alternating two lanes. It won't save much time when you have to hold one direction of traffic for however long. Both I-26 and 40 would basically be a long-term construction zone.

[LM117]

Looks like the new DDI at Airport Blvd. near RDU will open next week.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-03-06-airport-boulevard-i-40.aspx

[jdunlop]

Looks like the new DDI at Airport Blvd. near RDU will open next week.

I didn't venture out that way today, but news reports said that the Conversion was delayed due to problems with potholes on-I-40.  IIRC, that section was resurfaced by the contractor as part of the interchange project.  No word on a new date for the conversion.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/diverging-diamond-interchange-near-rdu-delayed-after-major-pothole-conundrum-on-i-40/

[LM117]

Looks like the new DDI at Airport Blvd. near RDU will open next week.

I didn't venture out that way today, but news reports said that the Conversion was delayed due to problems with potholes on-I-40.  IIRC, that section was resurfaced by the contractor as part of the interchange project.  No word on a new date for the conversion.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/diverging-diamond-interchange-near-rdu-delayed-after-major-pothole-conundrum-on-i-40/

An update on that press release I posted says that the DDI will open Monday.

[bob7374]

As part of the I-40 widening project in Orange County, NCDOT is closing the ramp from I-85 South to I-40 East for 3 months starting this Sunday, June 1:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-05-29-ramp-closure-orange-county.aspx

[bob7374]

NCDOT has announced they have found sites that will be used to provide rock for the reconstruction of I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-06-03-ncdot-selects-sites-rebuild-I-40-helene.aspx

Guess that ends any official thoughts of relocating the interstate through the area, for now.

[wriddle082]

NCDOT has announced they have found sites that will be used to provide rock for the reconstruction of I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-06-03-ncdot-selects-sites-rebuild-I-40-helene.aspx

Guess that ends any official thoughts of relocating the interstate through the area, for now.

Wonder if they checked the top of Douglas Lake, which the Pigeon River eventually flows into just below Newport, TN.  Could probably use a good dredging in that area to remove the rubble that used to be in the gorge in the first place.

[ARMOURERERIC]

The migration of I 40 WB traffic to the new bridges over 74 begins Friday at 9PM

[74/171FAN]

This is really a TN item, but it closes the Helene damaged section in NC again. 

I-40 rockslide may take at least 2 weeks to repair, Tennessee officials say

[ElishaGOtis]

This is really a TN item, but it closes the Helene damaged section in NC again. 

I-40 rockslide may take at least 2 weeks to repair, Tennessee officials say

Just in time for Summer... lovely 

[bob7374]

This is really a TN item, but it closes the Helene damaged section in NC again. 

I-40 rockslide may take at least 2 weeks to repair, Tennessee officials say

Just in time for Summer... lovely 

And NCDOT is not communicating with itself again in regards to detour information. They tell drivers east of Winston-Salem heading for Tennessee to use US 421 North to US 52 North to Exit 140, I-74 West apparently forgetting about the NC 74 Winston-Salem Northern Beltway and that they recently renumbered all the exits on US 52, so that I-74 is now Exit 18.

[Beltway]

I-40 needed to have a segment between Knoxville TN and Asheville NC. There was no easy way to build that. Now that the segment has been in service for over 50 years, we need to think about what is needed for the next 50 years.

The Pigeon River alignment is not a good place for a highway, as we have seen.

I would suggest a 10- to 20-mile relocation out of that valley and onto higher ground on a straighter alignment. Like this one, and it would likely require two or three tunnels about a mile long each.