Raleigh

[LM117]

Beginning April 21, Beryl Road will be closed at I-440 for bridge demolition as part of the I-440 improvements project. Reopening is expected by May 19.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2025/2025-04-18-beryl-road-closed.aspx

[Evan_Th]

Why can't they just add a third lane in each direction in the four lane stretch between Durant/Perry Creek and Falls Of Neuse?  Seems to me that the major problems are the lane drops past Falls Of Neuse heading south and at Perry Creek heading north.

The biggest problem is the intersections, and probably the worst one is Durant/Perry Creek.  Major side streets suck out 60-70% of the capacity on the main road, US 1.  (By "sucking out the capacity, I mean the traffic signals that give the major movement about 30% of the green time.  That's what you're left with given  the heavy side streets at a traditional four-leg full movement intersection.

Then are there any plans to make it grade-separated?  Looks like there's a lot of room on the west side if you demolish the Dunkins.

[NJRoadfan]

If they don't freeway it, put in jughandles. :ducks:

Honestly, eliminating left turns on US-1 itself and having a single phase would go a long way at keeping traffic moving. The setup of the existing I-540 interchange is a mess. It really should have been built without any movements requiring lights.

[architect77]

Why can't they just add a third lane in each direction in the four lane stretch between Durant/Perry Creek and Falls Of Neuse?  Seems to me that the major problems are the lane drops past Falls Of Neuse heading south and at Perry Creek heading north.

The biggest problem is the intersections, and probably the worst one is Durant/Perry Creek.  Major side streets suck out 60-70% of the capacity on the main road, US 1.  (By "sucking out the capacity, I mean the traffic signals that give the major movement about 30% of the green time.  That's what you're left with given  the heavy side streets at a traditional four-leg full movement intersection.

Then are there any plans to make it grade-separated?  Looks like there's a lot of room on the west side if you demolish the Dunkins.

That is one of the biggest components to the rebuild. 3 or 4 intersections grade separated turning them into interchanges. Some partial access roads. US is built up to rise over certain cross streets like Perry Creek.

That project right now delayed to start 2031 unless Raleigh City council can get state legislature to agree to toll the road moving up construction start to 2027.

I agree, add 3rd lane to Franklin county and add some michigan lefts. That would help and be easy and cheaper.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://abc11.com/post/toll-debate-center-capital-boulevard-expansion-project-dueling-votes/16500230/

To toll Capital Blvd, or not? That is the question...

TLDR- CAMPO recommended to toll Capital Blvd., BUT a state lawmaker wants to do the opposite...

[brian440i]

As Someone from Raleigh and uses the Route a few times a Week:  I would not be in favor of the Toll Road for the 2 Billion in improvements.  I would do this piece-meal.

I would ignore the I540 East Flyover and use that initial 500 Million Budget (Perry Creek and a Big Flyover to I-540 East) to build 10 Interchanges along US1 from Perry Creek through Wake Forest and those not yet plan in Youngsville before the Development closes off low cost solutions between Youngsville and Franklinton.

The I540 East Flyover is a vanity project at this time and currently takes no extra time than the Light at Old Wake Forest Road beside it being fairly well timed for US1 North Traffic.

BUT
If they want to Toll.  I would want Perry Creek to be Non-Tolled (Giving Drivers a last chance to jump to US401 or Falls of Neuse Rd from Durant/Perry Creek) and the Toll to Go North from US1. Not in favor of a Tolled Vanity Lane along Free Lanes. 

US401 Runs Parallel to US1 (And is the given reason to allow Tolling US1 Completely).

US 401 has been expanded recently passed NC96 and the "Michigan Lefts" Intersections at Perry Creek, Ligon Mill and Mitchell Mill will be completed in 2027 furthers speeding up the corridor.

Already US1 to US401 to NC96 to US1  is equivalent to US1 Directly during Rush Hour. (Being 4 miles longer and 4 minutes longer)

Though in a Non-Commercial Vehicle going to Virgina.
The slightly longer US401 to NC39 to get to I85 for Virginia is the low stress route. (Being 6 miles and 7 minutes longer but a hell of a better route at rush hour)...  Though you have to drive down Main Street Louisburg.  (I assume if they Toll US1 Completely than a Louisburg ByPass might be part of the deal)

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Sixth and final(?) summer photographing progress on the I-440/Wade interchange?

[architect77]

Sixth and final(?) summer photographing progress on the I-440/Wade interchange?

Wow. I see a few highway lights by the brick sound walls. I think it's time for the Beltline to be lit at night.

Also that Wade Ave flyover features some skinny columns and slim girders of different sizes. Raleigh gets slighted to give the rest of the state bigger infrastructure.

[fillup420]

I cannot believe that the signaled junction from I-440 East to Wade Ave West on the middle of a ramp was approved. I have witnessed several cars just casually roll through the red light. What a stupid and dangerous design for a supposed "freeway to freeway" interchange.

[AvDave829]

Sixth and final(?) summer photographing progress on the I-440/Wade interchange?

Wow. I see a few highway lights by the brick sound walls. I think it's time for the Beltline to be lit at night.

Also that Wade Ave flyover features some skinny columns and slim girders of different sizes. Raleigh gets slighted to give the rest of the state bigger infrastructure.

Don't get me started on this topic. The triangle area on its major highways are so dark at night. For some reason the Triad, CLT and Asheville area gets lights on its highways not here.  I mean not just at the interchanges like Aviation Pkwy and Airport Blvd and the newest section of I 40 in South Raleigh. 
I 40 needs to be lit from the jct I 85/40 all the way Smithfield at I 95, I 85 is well it in Durham area from its last rebuild.  I 540 should be lit all the way around, and I 440 too.  Throw in I 885 and NC 147 as well.

[wriddle082]

^ In Charlotte's defense, a vast majority of the freeway lighting does not work.  I heard once that they had issues with copper thieves, but thought they had overcome this.  I do remember one time when the Panthers played at home on either Sunday or Monday Night Football several years ago, all of the lighting suddenly worked for the national TV cameras.  So I'm starting to think it's either stinginess or gross incompetence.

[fillup420]

speaking of the 440/Wade junction, i cannot believe that the ramp for 440 East to Wade West has that damn stoplight on it! I have seen so many cars just casually roll through the red light. Seems like an awful design....

[architect77]

^ In Charlotte's defense, a vast majority of the freeway lighting does not work.  I heard once that they had issues with copper thieves, but thought they had overcome this.  I do remember one time when the Panthers played at home on either Sunday or Monday Night Football several years ago, all of the lighting suddenly worked for the national TV cameras.  So I'm starting to think it's either stinginess or gross incompetence.

I have emailed NCDOT about I-85 lighting not working in Charlotte but that was before the conversion to LED. This highway lighting can use aluminum wiring and i encourage you to contact NCDOT and demand the lights be fixed. Tonight I emailed 20 NCDOT employees in Division 12 asking them to replace and repair the missing and degraded signs on i-85 Northbound entering NC. It's embarrassing when SC and GA's interstates look much better than NC.

[El-Caz]

^ In Charlotte's defense, a vast majority of the freeway lighting does not work.  I heard once that they had issues with copper thieves, but thought they had overcome this.  I do remember one time when the Panthers played at home on either Sunday or Monday Night Football several years ago, all of the lighting suddenly worked for the national TV cameras.  So I'm starting to think it's either stinginess or gross incompetence.

I have emailed NCDOT about I-85 lighting not working in Charlotte but that was before the conversion to LED. This highway lighting can use aluminum wiring and i encourage you to contact NCDOT and demand the lights be fixed. Tonight I emailed 20 NCDOT employees in Division 12 asking them to replace and repair the missing and degraded signs on i-85 Northbound entering NC. It's embarrassing when SC and GA's interstates look much better than NC.

You actually E-mailed twenty people from NCDOT in one night? I get being persistent, but that's doing way too much and could probably even count as harassment, not gonna lie. Like, do you really not have anything else better to do with your time than to spam public employees over some trivial shit? Get a life, dude.

[jdunlop]

^ In Charlotte's defense, a vast majority of the freeway lighting does not work.  I heard once that they had issues with copper thieves, but thought they had overcome this.  I do remember one time when the Panthers played at home on either Sunday or Monday Night Football several years ago, all of the lighting suddenly worked for the national TV cameras.  So I'm starting to think it's either stinginess or gross incompetence.

I have emailed NCDOT about I-85 lighting not working in Charlotte but that was before the conversion to LED. This highway lighting can use aluminum wiring and i encourage you to contact NCDOT and demand the lights be fixed. Tonight I emailed 20 NCDOT employees in Division 12 asking them to replace and repair the missing and degraded signs on i-85 Northbound entering NC. It's embarrassing when SC and GA's interstates look much better than NC.

You actually E-mailed twenty people from NCDOT in one night? I get being persistent, but that's doing way too much and could probably even count as harassment, not gonna lie. Like, do you really not have anything else better to do with your time than to spam public employees over some trivial shit? Get a life, dude.

There's a good chance 20 messages were considered spam and didn't reach the addressee.  The best way to reach someone, and the only way to definitely receive a response, is to use the "Contact Us" link on the NCDOT home page.  Those were tracked and the person receiving the message (sent by the communications office) had a deadline to respond.  I tried to respond the same day, because the system would send a reminder twice a day until cleared.  (I didn't get that many; some in the Divisions probably got a dozen or more a day.)

[Rothman]

Even if received, I'd imagine there'd be all sorts of assumptions made about the character of the sender...

(personal opinion emphasized)

[architect77]

^ In Charlotte's defense, a vast majority of the freeway lighting does not work.  I heard once that they had issues with copper thieves, but thought they had overcome this.  I do remember one time when the Panthers played at home on either Sunday or Monday Night Football several years ago, all of the lighting suddenly worked for the national TV cameras.  So I'm starting to think it's either stinginess or gross incompetence.

I have emailed NCDOT about I-85 lighting not working in Charlotte but that was before the conversion to LED. This highway lighting can use aluminum wiring and i encourage you to contact NCDOT and demand the lights be fixed. Tonight I emailed 20 NCDOT employees in Division 12 asking them to replace and repair the missing and degraded signs on i-85 Northbound entering NC. It's embarrassing when SC and GA's interstates look much better than NC.

You actually E-mailed twenty people from NCDOT in one night? I get being persistent, but that's doing way too much and could probably even count as harassment, not gonna lie. Like, do you really not have anything else better to do with your time than to spam public employees over some trivial shit? Get a life, dude.

At least I spend time trying to be constructive and get problems solved, unlike your worthless comment.

Most of the people on this forum talk endlessly about the minutia of consistent highway naming, or arguing about updated shields or typography, etc.

Everything I do is for a repair or improvement to be noticed, addressed and completed.

This past trip to NC spending time in the fastest growing counties, I often wonder what newcomers think about the State of NC and how much respect they are forming. For all the accolades and rankings on dozens of "Best of" lists I as a native feel a little embarrassed for decades living in other states bragging on my home state.

I'll figure out how to get the people in charge of maintenance to hear my requests.

The contact us portal on NCDOT's website which I have used for years, has a new heading in large letters warning that any disrespectful comments won't get a response, so evidently the public is not happy with things right now. They don't have adequate funding to maintain the nation's 2nd largest highway system and cope with all of the hurricane damage. 5% of state sales tax is now being redirected to NCDOT but that is not enough.

They should aim for Florida's commitment to its highways of over $20 billion per year. With 1/2 of FL's population NC should be allocating $10 billion a year up from current $8 billion now.

[architect77]

Even if received, I'd imagine there'd be all sorts of assumptions made about the character of the sender...

(personal opinion emphasized)

From your vague profile, location and negative posts lacking facts over many months, there's no need for assumption on author's character.

[Rothman]

Even if received, I'd imagine there'd be all sorts of assumptions made about the character of the sender...

(personal opinion emphasized)

From your vague profile, location and negative posts lacking facts over many months, there's no need for assumption on author's character.

I'm just saying that someone who would blast twenty DOT employees with an e-mail would probably cause a lot of raised eyebrows.  It's sufficient enough just to contact a relevant unit or even to call the main number.

And, I'd be happy to discuss any of my points where you think my facts are lacking.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Seeing, and now having driven it multiple times this year, were there any plans for a freeway or other highway type going northward of I-40 and Wade Ave exit?

[elsmere241]

Seeing, and now having driven it multiple times this year, were there any plans for a freeway or other highway type going northward of I-40 and Wade Ave exit?

There was the Duraleigh Connector, which was scratched in 2006.  I don't remember the details.

[jdunlop]

Seeing, and now having driven it multiple times this year, were there any plans for a freeway or other highway type going northward of I-40 and Wade Ave exit?

There was the Duraleigh Connector, which was scratched in 2006.  I don't remember the details.

IIRC, that new road would have extended Harrison Avenue towards (duh!) Duraleigh Road.  It would have bisected Umstead State Park, and (IMO) was justifiably squashed.  Edwards Mill Road was widened and took some of the load from the proposed connector.  (I think the section from Wade to Duraleigh was a new connector.  I remember working on the configuration of the interchange; it would have been best as a SPUI, but the design was too far along to stop and redo it and have things ready for the arena opening.). That was late -90s, right when the arena was built.  I think the Duraleigh connector was killed well before 2006, that might just be the date the road was officially removed from the thoroughfare maps.  (My memory is a bit hazy on that date.)

I do not recall any plans to extend a road from the Wade/40 interchange (or more precisely, the WB Wade to EB 40 ramp.)