Interstate 87 (NC-VA)

[cowboy_wilhelm]

I'd like to see a hybrid approach implemented on some of these rural freeways without full-width shoulders where there's a few hundred feet of 10-ft outside shoulder every 1/4 mile. Much cheaper than a continuous shoulder, and probably enough to cover the majority of cases requiring the emergency use of a shoulder. That would at least improve safety without waiting decades to fund a full shoulder.

[jcil4ever]

Just saw this, but not seeing any real update on NCDOT's webpage or any reports from the "U.S. 17 / U.S. 64 Association Board." Y'all heard of them before or seen minutes posted?


Edit: Apparently, they're based in a law office in New Bern, just a mile or so from me. Still not seeing much public about them 🤷 They do have a public webpage, but it hasn't been updated in a few years.

[bob7374]

Apparently the re-bid of the US 64/US 264 pavement rehab project produced the same results in March as in February, no acceptable bids. NCDOT is therefore advertising the project again this month. Too bad they didn't use the opportunity to fix some of the problems with the sign plans which I listed previously such as only US 64 West reassurance markers, not US 264, heading west of Zebulon and no additional reassurance markers at all heading east between Wendell and Zebulon (there are currently none after any of the exits).
The 'new' contract plans are available at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2026%20Highway%20Letting/04-21-26/Plans%20and%20Proposals/WAKE_FRANKLIN_I-6001_C205088/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

[The Ghostbuster]

It will take decades to complete Interstate 87 from Raleigh to Norfolk. I wouldn't be surprised if Interstate 587 is signposted between US 64 and Interstate 95 well before more of Interstate 87 is signposted along its proposed route.

[ARMOURERERIC]

What is the nature of the "unacceptable " part of the bids?.......Price?

[sprjus4]

It will take decades to complete Interstate 87 from Raleigh to Norfolk. I wouldn't be surprised if Interstate 587 is signposted between US 64 and Interstate 95 well before more of Interstate 87 is signposted along its proposed route.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was signposted in the next 5 years.

[bob7374]

Looks like they finally awarded the pavement rehabilitation project for US 64 (and US 264 where concurrent) from Rolesville Road to Nash County. Notice the headline emphasizes I-87, which is at best along 1 mile of the project. They don't mention that the project will not be widening the shoulders so that the rest will not be signed as I-87 any time soon:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/Smoother-Drive-Coming-to-I-87-in-Eastern-Wake-County.aspx

[sprjus4]

Looks like they finally awarded the pavement rehabilitation project for US 64 (and US 264 where concurrent) from Rolesville Road to Nash County. Notice the headline emphasizes I-87, which is at best along 1 mile of the project. They don't mention that the project will not be widening the shoulders so that the rest will not be signed as I-87 any time soon:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/Smoother-Drive-Coming-to-I-87-in-Eastern-Wake-County.aspx

Do we know for certain the project doesn't include shoulder widening? They've been spotty about doing it on some projects, then not on others. If this ends up including shoulder widening, I could see them applying to extend the I-87 designation to the US-264 split... especially if I-587 is coming in the near future.

[bob7374]

Looks like they finally awarded the pavement rehabilitation project for US 64 (and US 264 where concurrent) from Rolesville Road to Nash County. Notice the headline emphasizes I-87, which is at best along 1 mile of the project. They don't mention that the project will not be widening the shoulders so that the rest will not be signed as I-87 any time soon:
https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2026/Smoother-Drive-Coming-to-I-87-in-Eastern-Wake-County.aspx

Do we know for certain the project doesn't include shoulder widening? They've been spotty about doing it on some projects, then not on others. If this ends up including shoulder widening, I could see them applying to extend the I-87 designation to the US-264 split... especially if I-587 is coming in the near future.

It will include widening (see post #1946), but only 8 feet and only half of that will be paved. They could have at least made it 10 feet, even if 1/2 gravel it would be easier to upgrade that to interstate standards when needed.