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[froggie]

Question is...is that the preferred alternative, or just an alternative being considered?  NCDOT's project website suggests the latter.

[CanesFan27]

In an effort to secure $300 million in stimulus/TIGER funding to build new
bridges over the Yadkin River on I-85, Governor Perdue has decided to rename the
Yadkin River Bridge to the 'I-85 Bridge' to stress the regional importance of
the project.

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/11/gov-perdue-brilliant-new-yadkin-river.html

[CanesFan27]

Tolls on the newly opened and free of charge Interstate 140 in Wilmington? The
Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce likes the idea. Why do they like the
idea, because it will assist in paying for the construction of the proposed toll
project the Cape Fear Skyway.

Story:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091118/ARTICLES/911184000?Title=Chamber-backs-toll-for-bypass-to-fund-Skyway&tc=autorefresh

[CanesFan27]

Great article in the Wilmington Star-News discussing the history of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. Check out the historic photos section also (73 photos in total!):

Story:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20091215/ARTICLES/912159986/1004?p=1&tc=pg

Photos:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=WM&Dato=20091215&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=121509999&Ref=PH&Profile=1004&show=galleries

[lamsalfl]

Not sure if my exhaustion from 5 hrs of sleep was doing the talking, but yesterday when I drove I-40 from Asheville to Statesville, it felt like the ugly stepchild road of North Carolina.  It seemed busy, questionable shoulders in spots?, and in need of a repave.  Also, I-77 was PACKED from Statesville to Charlotte at 6pm on a Saturday night.  What's the deal here?  Where are all these people coming from?  Accumulation of traffic from I-40w, Va/WVa, and W-S? 

I was driving from Nashville to Charlotte.  I-40e to Knoxville, US 11W to Kingsport, short ride up to VA state line, then I-26 to Asheville, then I-240 loop (which sucks by the way), I-40e to I-77s.


I-26 north of Asheville is an amazing drive.  The NC Welcome Center is a must-stop for anybody southbound.  The scenic view is awesome, and the building is nice.  The lady said they purposely blasted more mountain to make it as straight as possible, and an easier drive for the trucks.  There aren't any ridiculous hairpin turns or grades.  She basically said they wanted to make it much easier than I-40... modern engineering, and modern federal Interstate standards played a role in that. 

[OracleUsr]

Instead of I-26 to I-240, wouldn't I-26 to US 74 to I-85 be a more direct route?

[CanesFan27]

Not sure if my exhaustion from 5 hrs of sleep was doing the talking, but yesterday when I drove I-40 from Asheville to Statesville, it felt like the ugly stepchild road of North Carolina.  It seemed busy, questionable shoulders in spots?, and in need of a repave.  Also, I-77 was PACKED from Statesville to Charlotte at 6pm on a Saturday night.  What's the deal here?  Where are all these people coming from?  Accumulation of traffic from I-40w, Va/WVa, and W-S? 

I was driving from Nashville to Charlotte.  I-40e to Knoxville, US 11W to Kingsport, short ride up to VA state line, then I-26 to Asheville, then I-240 loop (which sucks by the way), I-40e to I-77s.


I-26 north of Asheville is an amazing drive.  The NC Welcome Center is a must-stop for anybody southbound.  The scenic view is awesome, and the building is nice.  The lady said they purposely blasted more mountain to make it as straight as possible, and an easier drive for the trucks.  There aren't any ridiculous hairpin turns or grades.  She basically said they wanted to make it much easier than I-40... modern engineering, and modern federal Interstate standards played a role in that. 

I-40 from Statesville to Conover is one of the oldest parts of the highway in the state as is the section from about Old Fort to just west of Hickory.

77 is always difficult from Statesville to Charlotte from the growth in the area.  The hope is to have it six lanes all the way down from I-40 one day.

Basically I-26, US 74, I-85 and I-40, US 321, I-85 are similar to I-40/I-77 to Charlotte.

US 74 can be slow with all the traffic lights in Shelby. 

[lamsalfl]

Instead of I-26 to I-240, wouldn't I-26 to US 74 to I-85 be a more direct route?

Wanted to get counties and I-40 mileage. 

[Hellfighter]

Is the I-74/I-95 Interchange almost finished? According to the street view image, MCDOT was in the process of building the I-74 overpass.

[CanesFan27]

It's been open for over a year.

http://web.duke.edu/~rmalme/i74seg16.html

[CanesFan27]

The Triangle Business Journal reports that NCDOT has awarded a contract to D.H. Griffin Infrastructure LLC of Greensboro to widen 2.1 miles of US 401 in Wake County.  The $8.6 million contract will widen US 401 from two lanes to four from Ligon Mill Road to Louisburg Road in the northern part of the county.

The project is one of 34 projects totaling over $107 million awarded by NCDOT on Monday, January 4.  The US 401 project is one of thirteen projects in the awards that are being funded by federal stimulus funds.

The project begins at Ligon Mill Road (where the six lane US 401 currently ends and narrows to two lanes) and will extend northward to Louisburg Road.  Work on the project may begin as early as this coming February and is slated to be completed before the end of 2011.

NCDOT's plan is to continue the widening of US 401 northwards roughly an additional 20 miles to Louisburg in Franklin County.

Story:
http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/01/04/daily5.html

[CanesFan27]

AAA Carolinas has recently released their list of the 20 most substandard bridges in North Carolina.

The I-85/Yadkin River Bridge moved up two spots to #6.  Meanwhile, the top five in the list remained the same.

The entire list can be read here:

http://www.digtriad.com/news/pdf/2010_Top_20.pdf

Additional stories here:
http://www.salisburypost.com/News/010810-yadkin-bridge-on-list
http://www.wbtv.com/global/story.asp?s=11791378

[shoptb1]

AAA Carolinas has recently released their list of the 20 most substandard bridges in North Carolina.

The I-85/Yadkin River Bridge moved up two spots to #6.  Meanwhile, the top five in the list remained the same.

I remember this bridge when I lived down in the Triad.  I'm wondering though...why aren't people making more of a fuss about the I-40/I-85 bridge over the South Buffalo Creek or the I-40 Business Loop bridge over Liberty Street?  Is the Yadkin River bridge just so much longer? 

[CanesFan27]

Well the Yadkin River Bridge is 1) longer as it crosses railroad tracks in addition to the river. 2) Narrower and the bridge is four lanes which is beginning to cause a choke point as I-85 is widened to six or eight lanes north and south of the bridge. 3) The other two bridges have been technically bypassed in both Winston and Greensboro.  AAA has yet to reduce the actual traffic count on the South Buffalo Creek bridge as a result of the southern half of the Greensboro Loop being built

[shoptb1]

Makes sense....thanks for the explanation

[CanesFan27]

If you're traveling through Wake Forest, North Carolina in the upcoming weeks, you may see some new signs.

The town is currently in the process of installing 15 new wayfinding signs. Road crews were setting anchors for the new signs today. The signs will be located on US 1A, NC 98 Business, along with local streets.

To see what the signs will look like head to the blog:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2010/01/wake-forest-nc-to-install-wayfinding.html

[OracleUsr]

Wow, that's kind of cool.

[CanesFan27]

Wow, that's kind of cool.

Raleigh already has wayfinding signs up.  Other towns in North Carolina are wanting to do the same.  It's a matter of raising funds or grants.

[CanesFan27]

Synopsis of articles on the resignation of Lanny Wilson from both the NC Transportation Board and his vice chairmanship on the NC Turnpike Authority Board.

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2010/01/lanny-wilson-resigns-from-nc-board-of.html

[CanesFan27]

Soon, perhaps within weeks, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority will release
the Environmental Impact Study on the Mid-Currituck Bridge. This is the next
big step needed to be completed before construction can begin on the
approximately $660 million project.

The study was to have been released last year, but the NCTA held back as they
wanted to include an 'Option B' design in the study. 'Option B', plans for
which was released to the public last October, would move toll booths closer to
US 158 and also change the location of Aydlett Road. Aydlett residents and
Currituck County Commissioners both oppose 'Option B'.

After the study is formally made public, the NCTA plans to hold another round of
public hearings on the results.

Story:
http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/currituck-mid-county-bridge-study-close-release-14351

[CanesFan27]

Within the next 30 days, we'll know if North Carolina and South Carolina will
receive all, some, or none of the maximum $300 million of $1.5 billion highway
grant money that can be awarded to states for large highway or bridge projects.
The money is part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

States were allowed to submit applications to the federal government for these
funds. North Carolina's application is for the replacement of the aging I-85
bridges over the Yadkin River. South Carolina's request is to help construction
the first six miles of Interstate 73 in the state. (I-95 to US 501 near Latta.)

The awarding of the grant money should occur by February 17th. It either state
receives funding, construction on either project should begin later this year.

http://hpe.com/view/full_story/5638292/article-Yadkin-River-bridge-decision-may-come-next-month

[froggie]

I-85 Yadkin River bridge is deserving.  I-73 isn't.

[CanesFan27]

The future of the 1922 Wil-Cox Bridge over the Yadkin River is tied to the upcoming and hopeful construction of the I-85 Yadkin River Bridge Replacement Project.

Story:
http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20100127/ARTICLES/100129923/1005/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg

Commentary:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2010/01/as-decision-on-yadkin-river-bridge.html

[CanesFan27]

We've been documenting some of the concerns the town of Leland, NC has had over one of the routings of the proposed Cape Fear Skyway.  The northern routing option of the highway runs the closest to the town.

Leland Mayor, Walter Futch, has publicly come out against the highway.  He's stated that if the northern routing was built it would separate his town.

Leland's view is contrary to Brunswick County Commissioners, who on January 19th passed a resolution in support of the northern route.

The town has sent to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority 16 pages of questions in regards to the highway - from financing to routing to economic impacts.  Futch said he will not consider changing his mind until the NCTA answers the 16 page questionnaire.

The questionnaire can be found here:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/assets/pdf/WM19411122.PDF

The story is here:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100122/ARTICLES/100129884?p=2&tc=pg

My commentary on some of the more odd questions is here:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2010/01/town-of-leland-has-numerous.html

[CanesFan27]

There are new I-85 NC shields at the ramps for Exit 212 in Henderson.  Didn't get to taking a photo of them on the way to Wintergreen, VA this weekend, but I may try later this month.