Interstate 42 (E)

[jcil4ever]

Noticed some further updates tonight along 40 east.


Signs for Exit 309 have been updated from US-70 to I-42, but signs for Exit 306 have not been updated yet to remove US-70 from I-40 or change US-70 Business East to US-70.

oops, just realized I already captured that update... 🤦�♂️ Sorry for the double post.

[fillup420]

Noticed some further updates tonight along 40 east.


Signs for Exit 309 have been updated from US-70 to I-42, but signs for Exit 306 have not been updated yet to remove US-70 from I-40 or change US-70 Business East to US-70.

I noticed that when traveling westbound, Exit 309 comes before 310. That seems like it would be confusing.....

[sprjus4]

Why are they separate exits to begin with, and not A-B? They're all one interchange.

[The Ghostbuster]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

[sprjus4]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

But why? Keep it consistent.

[architect77]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

But why? Keep it consistent.

Could the fact than NC540's final section to be a full loop opening in 2028 mean that another exit designation will be needed here in 2028 that will utilize one of the A-B designations?

[freebrickproductions]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

But why? Keep it consistent.

Could the fact than NC540's final section to be a full loop opening in 2028 mean that another exit designation will be needed here in 2028 that will utilize one of the A-B designations?

They could probably do what ALDOT did over here in Huntsville and do A, B, and C.

[sprjus4]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

But why? Keep it consistent.

Could the fact than NC540's final section to be a full loop opening in 2028 mean that another exit designation will be needed here in 2028 that will utilize one of the A-B designations?

How about 309A-C?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1462939,-80.3425562,3a,46.4y,243.63h,104.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shyC0yLT2LEhT_w8RRVxi5Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-14.329434954217163%26panoid%3DhyC0yLT2LEhT_w8RRVxi5Q%26yaw%3D243.6285526423785!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[ElishaGOtis]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

But why? Keep it consistent.

Could the fact than NC540's final section to be a full loop opening in 2028 mean that another exit designation will be needed here in 2028 that will utilize one of the A-B designations?

How about 309A-C?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1462939,-80.3425562,3a,46.4y,243.63h,104.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shyC0yLT2LEhT_w8RRVxi5Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-14.329434954217163%26panoid%3DhyC0yLT2LEhT_w8RRVxi5Q%26yaw%3D243.6285526423785!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

This feels like a repeat of the Wekieva Pkwy exit numbers debacle at I-4/FL-417... originally planned to be 54-55-54, then 55C-55B/A-54, then the signs were changed to 55B-55A-54 before the announcement could be officially made...

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EmXaNz35raakFJwq9

This time, however, the debacle is happening AFTER opening 

[wriddle082]

Has there been any thought in making US 17 from Pollocksville to future I-42/US 70 west of New Bern into an I-142?  Including any proposed northern extension back up to Ernul?  Right now it has full paved shoulders and seems to be up to full interstate standards.

[jcil4ever]

Has there been any thought in making US 17 from Pollocksville to future I-42/US 70 west of New Bern into an I-142?  Including any proposed northern extension back up to Ernul?  Right now it has full paved shoulders and seems to be up to full interstate standards.

I've wondered that too. The Interstate-width shoulders even continue past the end of the freeway all the way to the southern side of the Maysville Bypass. I'm sure an Interstate designation between NB and Jacksonville is on an NCDOT planner's dream wall.

As for a further northern extension, it didn't score high enough on the STIP to be funded (Project R-2301B). I wonder how many people are driving up the coast on 17. I drive a decent amount on 43 and 17 north of New Bern, and traffic seems to flow ok. Congestion is worse along 43 after Vanceboro heading toward Greenville. There are also some maps and discussion in the 2023 Craven County Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

As I mentioned earlier, I also wonder how long until NC-148 in Kinston is also upgraded to a 42 spur. No evidence of that in the STIP, so less likely for now. Personally, I think it'd be interesting to see it one day connect to I-87 (aka US-64) via NC-11, NC-11 BYP, US-264, and US-13. But...that may be a while...

[LM117]

As I mentioned earlier, I also wonder how long until NC-148 in Kinston is also upgraded to a 42 spur. No evidence of that in the STIP, so less likely for now. Personally, I think it'd be interesting to see it one day connect to I-87 (aka US-64) via NC-11, NC-11 BYP, US-264, and US-13. But...that may be a while...

Kinston & Greenville pushed hard for that in the early 2010's, but they suddenly stopped talking about it after 2016.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18287.msg2981838#msg2981838

I thought for sure they would push for it again as soon as Greenville's Southwest Bypass opened, but nope. Not a peep.

[architect77]

They could have made the two exits 309A and 309B, but since NC 540 wasn't completed until very recently, it was probably better to round up to 310 for 540.

But why? Keep it consistent.

Could the fact than NC540's final section to be a full loop opening in 2028 mean that another exit designation will be needed here in 2028 that will utilize one of the A-B designations?

How about 309A-C?

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1462939,-80.3425562,3a,46.4y,243.63h,104.33t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shyC0yLT2LEhT_w8RRVxi5Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-14.329434954217163%26panoid%3DhyC0yLT2LEhT_w8RRVxi5Q%26yaw%3D243.6285526423785!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I think maybe it's because it's the beginning of I-42, or that even though this is one big 500 acre turbine interchange, it's accessing 2 completely separate highways. The letters will be added to the NC540 exit once both directions are open.

I looked at that link in VA, and in addition to it being a long collector/distributor (?) I find the 3 letter names confusing and showing them on some signs as just CBA without hyphens I don't interpret that as exits but rather a word or acronym for something.

This turbine interchange is so large that it doesn't seem impressive at all. NC build very few flyovers anymore, meanwhile Atlanta's upcoming Express Lanes for 35 miles of I-285 will all be elevated and every interchange will be be dozens of flyovers on top of existing flyovers. Although they won't be sinuous curved box girders like I-85's spaghetti junction and instead will be precast straight segments.

[Dirt Roads]

Has there been any thought in making US 17 from Pollocksville to future I-42/US 70 west of New Bern into an I-142?  Including any proposed northern extension back up to Ernul?  Right now it has full paved shoulders and seems to be up to full interstate standards.

I've wondered that too. The Interstate-width shoulders even continue past the end of the freeway all the way to the southern side of the Maysville Bypass. I'm sure an Interstate designation between NB and Jacksonville is on an NCDOT planner's dream wall.

This is a curiosity route, as the primary driver for a freeway between New Bern -and- Jacksonville is the Marine Corp aviation traffic between Camp LeJeune (pronounced "luh-Zhurne") and MCAS Cherry Point.  Most of the traffic from points north/west/south to Jacksonville are better served by other routes such as I-795/US-117/I-40/NC-24 or NC-24 itself.  Note that the Pollocksville Bypass has served as a good route for me personally from the Rocky Mount/Tarboro area -to- Jacksonville, but most folks would still want to stick to the freeways.

All that being said, it is amusing that Nine Mile Road between Bogue -and- Newport was renamed "Nine Foot Road" on the northern end to discourage Marine Corps traffic between Bogue Landing Field and  MCAS Cherry Point (and subsequent truck traffic from Camp LeJeune). 

[sprjus4]

I looked at that link in VA, and in addition to it being a long collector/distributor (?) I find the 3 letter names confusing and showing them on some signs as just CBA without hyphens I don't interpret that as exits but rather a word or acronym for something.

The link I posted was hyphenated.

Here is a D-C-B-A example for two completely separate interchanges shared by the same C/D road, all one exit number for two highways (US-1 then I-95).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uGMwwFkpVwmtiqHbA

This turbine interchange is so large that it doesn't seem impressive at all. NC build very few flyovers anymore, meanwhile Atlanta's upcoming Express Lanes for 35 miles of I-285 will all be elevated and every interchange will be be dozens of flyovers on top of existing flyovers. Although they won't be sinuous curved box girders like I-85's spaghetti junction and instead will be precast straight segments.

No need for massive flyovers here since there was land available for a more spread out interchange that can handle faster speed and capacity.