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.

[VTGoose]

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.

This spills over into Virginia, but in a recent series on changes in Roanoke and the growth of the city as a medical center in Cardinal News, a bigwig was commenting on the connection between Roanoke, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Winston-Salem. He proposed (again) that U.S. 220 be upgraded or a new interstate built. In an op-ed piece, I suggested that Virginia work with North Carolina to create a passenger service between Roanoke and Winston-Salem on the former N&W line into Winston-Salem. With a minor rerouting, the existing trains between Raleigh and Charlotte could add a stop in Winston-Salem, making it even easier for regional travel between colleges and research centers in Virginia and North Carolina.

Bruce in Blacksburg

[Chris]

Is this vandalism on Openstreetmap? Or did North Carolina applied for yet another new Interstate Highway?

The map shows I-97 on the Wilmington bypass.

[sprjus4]

North Carolina has no official plans to upgrade US-17 beyond the Carolina Bays Parkway proposal, any planned bypasses, the I-87 segment, or any remaining 4 lane widening in rural areas.

I-97 in North Carolina is a fictional concept.

[The Ghostbuster]

If anything, the number should have been Interstate 99, like the one-time proposal for an East Coast Interstate between Wilmington, DE and Charleston, SC. Although that would put 99 on a grid-aligned path, it is as likely to be constructed as any highway proposal one would find in Fictional Highways.

[PColumbus73]

If anything, the number should have been Interstate 99, like the one-time proposal for an East Coast Interstate between Wilmington, DE and Charleston, SC. Although that would put 99 on a grid-aligned path, it is as likely to be constructed as any highway proposal one would find in Fictional Highways.

I vote for I-17E 

[The Ghostbuster]

There was also a proposal in the 1960s to run an Interstate Highway along the US 13 and US 17 corridors from Fayetteville, NC to Norfolk, VA. It was to be numbered Interstate 13: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aERjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OnQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3062%2C2936030. Of course, nothing ever came of that proposal.

[Mapmikey]

There was also a proposal in the 1960s to run an Interstate Highway along the US 13 and US 17 corridors from Fayetteville, NC to Norfolk, VA. It was to be numbered Interstate 13: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aERjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OnQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3062%2C2936030. Of course, nothing ever came of that proposal.

This is an excellent find! 

I note this is 6 months before AASHO officially extended US 13 from Goldsboro to Fayetteville...

[sprjus4]

There was also a proposal in the 1960s to run an Interstate Highway along the US 13 and US 17 corridors from Fayetteville, NC to Norfolk, VA. It was to be numbered Interstate 13: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aERjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OnQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3062%2C2936030. Of course, nothing ever came of that proposal.

https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.c100825510

Similarly, in 1962, Virginia studied constructing over 70 miles of new location, limited access freeway parallel to US-13 on the Eastern Shore, along with an I-64 to North Carolina connector, roughly following the general path that VA-168 follows today.

Once in North Carolina, it would extend to Elizabeth City.

While the study isn't directly about converting US-13 to an interstate highway, it would have relocated virtually all of the route in Virginia between the CBBT and Maryland onto a 70 mph limited access highway built to full interstate standards.

The study does mention a "likely" future addition to the interstate system via Savannah, Charleston, and Norfolk via the Eastern Shore.

In the design and location study of these two sections of high-
way, recognition should be given to the possibility that it may eventually be designated as an Interstate Highway. When the Bureau of Public Roads asked for recommendations for additions to the Interstate System to make up 1000 miles added by Congress in the 1956 Act, the States submitted recommendations totaling some 36, 000 miles. It seems probable, there-fore, that the Interstate System will ultimately be expanded, and a seaboard route from Savannah northward via Charleston, Norfolk and the Bridge-Tunnel would most likely be included. In view of the fact that it would be impossible to convert the improved existing U.S. 13 to a fully controlled toll facility, we have not given it further consideration as a toll road.

-

I'm guessing cost was the driving factor to abandon this plan and instead widen US-13 to the current 4 lane facility that exists today on the Eastern Shore. Had these improvements been constructed instead, the likelihood of an interstate highway along the Eastern Shore up to Delaware would be far more likely today, and been a reliever for I-95.