New Interstate 885 in Durham

[WashuOtaku]

NCDOT is behaving as if 885 is already approved. Maybe by FHWA if not by AASHTO.

AASHTO could throw a wrench in their plans, and it has happened in the past with I-140 from Raleigh to Sanford not getting approved, but this does not appear likely to happen. The freeway will be to modern interstate standards and it is a clear connection route that is clearly beneficial for those that do not want to go through the urban core of Durham.

[tolbs17]

^^

Fully agree.

[froggie]

NCDOT is behaving as if 885 is already approved. Maybe by FHWA if not by AASHTO.

AASHTO could throw a wrench in their plans, and it has happened in the past with I-140 from Raleigh to Sanford not getting approved, but this does not appear likely to happen.

If FHWA has already approved (and indications are that they have...pretty sure this project used Federal funding so FHWA would have HAD to view and sign off on the design plans), there isn't much AASHTO can do.  I-140 was a different case...there were no large or active projects on the books for US 1.

[Dirt Roads]

NCDOT is behaving as if 885 is already approved. Maybe by FHWA if not by AASHTO.

AASHTO could throw a wrench in their plans, and it has happened in the past with I-140 from Raleigh to Sanford not getting approved, but this does not appear likely to happen.

If FHWA has already approved (and indications are that they have...pretty sure this project used Federal funding so FHWA would have HAD to view and sign off on the design plans), there isn't much AASHTO can do.  I-140 was a different case...there were no large or active projects on the books for US 1.

When I worked on the ill-fated Raleigh-Durham Regional Rail System for Triangle Transit Authority (now Triangle Transit, dba Go Triangle) we had a rail flyover that needed to "land" short of the planned I-885 bridge over the East Durham Yards (Norfolk Southern).  Even back then, the planning and design for that project was ahead of ours.  It was my understanding that FWHA had already approved the I-885 routing.  This whole discussion shows the difference in how FHWA and AASHTO play different roles for new routes versus upgrades and bypasses to existing routes.

[bob7374]

This article about the bridge demolition quotes NCDOT indicating I-885 will be completed now 'by the summer':
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article258464638.html

[tolbs17]

Are these temporary? Because it should say I-885 WB/EB ramp not US-70.

https://goo.gl/maps/RkkEs3KYBQJpTBkx6

https://goo.gl/maps/6otxAeUVyJr2ygkJ7

[kendallhart808]

Are these temporary? Because it should say I-885 WB/EB ramp not US-70.

https://goo.gl/maps/RkkEs3KYBQJpTBkx6

https://goo.gl/maps/6otxAeUVyJr2ygkJ7

Perhaps, they've been there for a few years now. They may stay a little while as I would imagine most people are going to continue considering US 70 as the primary association of the road and eventually get around to considering it 885. I don't even think 87 has kicked in for many people in Raleigh, it's still 64/264.

[bob7374]

Are these temporary? Because it should say I-885 WB/EB ramp not US-70.

https://goo.gl/maps/RkkEs3KYBQJpTBkx6

https://goo.gl/maps/6otxAeUVyJr2ygkJ7

Perhaps, they've been there for a few years now. They may stay a little while as I would imagine most people are going to continue considering US 70 as the primary association of the road and eventually get around to considering it 885. I don't even think 87 has kicked in for many people in Raleigh, it's still 64/264.

Hope they are updated. Meanwhile, the intersection is closed tonight for I-885 related construction, perhaps to put in overhead signs headed east on NC 98 to match these covered up ones (why cover up the middle one?) that were put up heading west several months ago:
https://goo.gl/maps/w52cMdJ3XzMm4fyLA

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Bridge demo progress as of last Thursday, 3/10.

[fillup420]

as of this morning, all columns from the old bridge have been torn down. Progress!

Also, I want to point out that the sign seen in the previous picture is very poorly placed, as the new railroad bridge completely blocks it from view until the last possible second

[Alps]

All I see right now is "opens in Spring, completed in Summer". I'm assuming it won't be ready anytime soon without a date there.

[Henry]

I assume that there are greenouts for the placement of an I-885 shield at I-85 Exit 178 and I-40 Exit 279, if those signs have been modified already.

[bob7374]

I assume that there are greenouts for the placement of an I-885 shield at I-85 Exit 178 and I-40 Exit 279, if those signs have been modified already.

According to the most recent sign plans, while the I-40 West signs will simply swap out an I-885 shield for the existing NC 147 ones, the signs on I-40 East will apparently be replaced with the ones like on the left below having both I-885 and NC 147 shields:


The I-85 signs will probably be replaced as well as there is currently little room to add South I-885 to them, as seen on this Street View link image taken in November:
https://goo.gl/maps/vjDu546PhPsrFqNS9

[snowc]

Bridge demo progress as of last Thursday, 3/10.

About time! 

[fillup420]

as of Thursday 4/28, bridge demolition is complete, and a new lane has opened up to the left going westbound. The right lane becomes exit only for NC 98/US 70B exit

[bob7374]

Still no opening date, but NCDOT says signing of I-885 (I assume where it already hasn't been and covered up) will begin next week (after AASHTO approves the route on Monday the 9th?):
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2022/2022-05-04-final-paving-east-end-connector-i-885.aspx

[fillup420]

night-time paving work has commenced between the NC 98 exit and I-85. The third lane westbound is slowly getting longer.

[bob7374]

Taking a look at the traffic cameras in the vicinity of the Durham Freeway the last couple of days I could not spot any sign changes taking place. This did not prevent NCDOT from updating their traffic map, however:

[fillup420]

I-885 is now signed alongside US 70 at I-85

I will see if it is signed from I-40 tomorrow, though I doubt it is

[bob7374]

I-885 is now signed alongside US 70 at I-85

I will see if it is signed from I-40 tomorrow, though I doubt it is

Some progress to report, thanks. From looking at the I-40 West traffic camera at Davis Drive Wed. night, it appears (in the distance) that the Durham Freeway is still signed as NC 147. Another camera showed that the pull through sign for Toll NC 147 South at NC 54 had not been changed as of the afternoon of May 19, same for the advance sign for (now) NC 147 Toll at the NC 55 exit on NC 540 East. So it sounds like the sign updating is going from north to south, slowly.

[Mr. ENC]

I-885 is now signed alongside US 70 at I-85

I will see if it is signed from I-40 tomorrow, though I doubt it is

It's not. When through there yesterday, area still reads NC 147.

[bob7374]

While waiting for NCDOT to actually attach a map of upcoming I-885 route and exit number changes that was indicated as attached in their press release of May 4, found out that the News & Observer published a cropped version on May 7:

[Dirt Roads]

While waiting for NCDOT to actually attach a map of upcoming I-885 route and exit number changes that was indicated as attached in their press release of May 4, found out that the News & Observer published a cropped version on May 7:

Many of the exits on the downtown section of the Durham Freeway (NC-147) have not had exit numbers since I arrived here over 20 years ago. 

[wdcrft63]

Many of the exits on the downtown section of the Durham Freeway (NC-147) have not had exit numbers since I arrived here over 20 years ago.

Some do, at least. Here is the EB Swift Avenue exit (currently Exit 14):
https://goo.gl/maps/KGxQKbprN5iMuqSd7
And Chapel Hill Street, Exit 13:
https://goo.gl/maps/jqzkpkYEM4Y8UBHt6

[Dirt Roads]

Many of the exits on the downtown section of the Durham Freeway (NC-147) have not had exit numbers since I arrived here over 20 years ago.

Some do, at least. Here is the EB Swift Avenue exit (currently Exit 14):
https://goo.gl/maps/KGxQKbprN5iMuqSd7
And Chapel Hill Street, Exit 13:
https://goo.gl/maps/jqzkpkYEM4Y8UBHt6

If I recall correctly, even one of those did not have exit numbers before the Durham Freeway mileposts were renumbered just prior to the Triangle Expressway extension in 2011.