Chatham and Lee County Trip

Billy Riddle is in the area this weekend visiting relatives with his fiancee. He stopped down to Raleigh and we headed on a brief afternoon trip. And came across two pleasant surprises.

Route: I-440, US 1, NC 42, NC 902, NC 87, US 64, US 1, I-440.

Accomplishments: Billy gained three counties (Lee, Chatham, and Moore). I added mileage to NC 42 and 87 along with clinching NC 902.

Notes:
The US 421 Sanford Bypass is still under construction and I now know that the US 421 interchange with the US 1/15/501/NC 87 freeway will be a cloverleaf with collector/distributor ramps along US 421. US 421 will run over US 1.

We soon got onto NC 42 West which is a rolling highway through fields, farms, and forests towards Pottery Country. Not that far along, we were very surprised to see a covered bridge built just north of where NC 42 crosses Pocket Creek. This is a recently built covered bridge on a small offshoot of former NC 42. It appears some final landscaping and clean-up is needed. I am guessing that the bridge is to be part of Old Gilliam Mill Park.



The next surprise on NC 42 at the Lee/Chatham County Line. Here, where the highway crosses the Deep River are remnants of the former Carbonton Dam. The former hydroelectric dam was built in 1921. Demolition of the dam began in 2005.


There is something about finding old abandoned structures like these in the summer time. Especially right after a thunderstorm or with looming clouds nearby. I think I may convert these to black and white when I add them to Carolina Lost.


Finally, there is the aging bridge that carries NC 42 over the Deep River. There is something about the two photos from today that captures the spirit and the surroundings of today's roadtrip.


That's it for the photos. I took 22 in total and these are some of the ones I enjoyed the most. I was kinda surprised at the amount of great subjects that I found on this route and a few weeks ago in the Uwharries. In addition, in doing some background research for this post there are a number of old truss bridges still standing in Chatham and Lee Counties. It just goes to show that there is still plenty of items to find and stories to be told just within North Carolina.

Wilmington Officials to Lobby State for Skyway Money

Officials from Wilmington's Transportation Advisory Committee are headed to Raleigh hoping to make the Cape Fear Skyway a step closer to a reality. The goal: persuading the North Carolina General Assembly to fund some if not all of the projected $439 million funding shortfall for the proposed $1 billion project.

The funding gap could be solved with a 40 year annual allocation of $39 million from the state's budget.

Backers of the Cape Fear Skyway aren't the only toll road proponents hoping to get some help from the General Assembly. The Raleigh-area Triangle Expressway needs an estimated $18 million annual investment from the state.

Currently, the General Assembly and the NC Senate have not agreed on let alone pass a new budget. A stop-gap funding bill has been passed allowing the government to continue to operate until July 31.

Funding for the Skyway may not occur in this session. However, if the budget includes funding for the Triangle Expressway, supporters of the Skyway will see that as a positive by the fact that the state legislature supports funding toll roads within the budget.

Lanny Wilson, who holds a number of titles, including: Chairman of the Wilmington Transportation Advisory Committee, Vice-Chairman of the NC Turnpike Authority, and is the area's representative on the NC Board of Transportation, has said that he expects the General Assembly to look at both the Triangle Expressway and the Skyway the same in regards to funding.

Supporters fear that a lack of a funding commitment now could kill the Skyway project.

Some proponents are already looking at other funding options to get the Skyway built. At a recent meeting, a motion was made to ask the NCTA to consider tolling part of the I-140 Wilmington Bypass to assist in funding the Skyway. Wilson, who called the idea "premature", tabled it.

Story:
Officials hope state aid Skyway plan ---Wilmington Star News

For More:
Consultants to NCTA - Cape Fear Skyway better than other proposals
Cape Fear Skyway Bridge tolls would only cover half the cost

Commentary:
Well, as expected, the Skyway group is going to ask the General Assembly for funding. The legislature has been very quiet on this matter in regards to the Triangle Expressway. With the General Assembly and the Senate in a heated budget battle -- questions on what to do over two temporary taxes which were enacted in 2001 and were agreed to be taken off the books this year -- the funding for the two toll projects have not received much attention.

Opponents of the toll roads see the silence from the legislature as a good sign. However, toll supporters may finally have the necessary information on feasibility and needs now that the Wilbur Smith Associates study for the NCTA has been completed.

The General Assembly and the Senate will take those findings in consideration. Along with the heavy lobbying from toll supporters and opponents alike.

The Cape Fear Skyway and Triangle Expressway appear to be along with the Monroe Bypass/Connector the top three priorities of the NCTA along with being recommended as the most feasible in the study. The need and the fact that the number one toll priority is in the State Capital's backyard will most like see funding for the top three materialize. However, projects like the I-74 Brunswick County toll road will most likely never see the light of day.

Durham Bulls Game - 05/08/2007

We're not always going to have roadtrips or transportation commentary here at the blog.

In May, a group of us from the office went over to the DBAP (formally known as the Durham Bulls Athletic Park) for a game between the Durham Bulls and the Tidewater Tides. The DBAP has been open for over ten years, and is one of the finest ballparks in the minor leagues. I've gone to a number of games in Durham when I lived in Raleigh a few years ago. This was my first game at the ballpark since 2004.

Now unfortunately, the day had threatened rain but it wasn't until the game started that a steady shower began. So the pictures aren't the greatest. But it was great to be back at the ballpark, and it was just another thing that makes me glad to be back in North Carolina.

This is looking back at the main grandstand from the leftfield corner. Most of the park is not under cover.



A number of views of the "Blue Monster" and a replica of the famous bull that was in the movie "Bull Durham." It reads, "Hit Bull - Win Steak. Hit Grass - Win Salad." When the Bulls' hit a home run, smoke rises from the bull's nostrils, its eyes turn red, and its tail wags. The Bull would be animated three times from Durham home runs that night. The Bull that was used in the movie hangs on the yard's wall out on the concourse.

The "Blue Monster" is a minor league replica of Fenway's Green Monster. The wall's height is 32 feet and the left field foul pole is 305' from home plate.

I'm really not sure what to think of the new building going up behind centerfield. Obviously, a steel framework is not going to fit in. So I'll wait until the building is completed to see how the ballpark's feel has changed. One thing, the new building will pretty much remove the Durham County Jail from the skyline view behind home plate.

The building behind the right field bleachers and center field lawn seats (not used this night because of the rain, but a popular and inexpensive ($2) spot to watch the game) is the home to Fox 50 and the sorely missed Fox 50 Cash Cow. (The Fox 50 Cash Cow has cultural icon status in Raleigh) Oh, and it seems that SunTrust now has offices there (or uses it for advertising space) since 2004.

The Bulls....

...and the Tides during pre-game warm-ups.

For some reason at minor league ball parks, I take a photo of the foul pole. I guess it's to show how close you can get to the field at these parks.

Of course, you can't forget a photo of WOOL E. BULL!

I-785 first "signed" nine years ago Friday.

This is where Google news alerts really come in handy. It appears that nine years ago tomorrow, there was a ceremony 'dedicating' US 29 from Greensboro to Danville as Interstate 785.

From the opening of a 1998 Greensboro News & Record Article:

"Say goodbye to U.S. 29. Say hello to Interstate 785.

In a name change billed as an enhancement of "economic development," Reps. Virgil Goode of Virginia and Richard Burr of North Carolina will speak today at a ceremony marking the designation of U.S. 29 as part of the interstate highway system.

It begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Piedmont Triad Visitors..."

A few things have changed in the nine years. I'd love to say US 29 has now become fully integrated as Interstate 785, but that's not the item that is different today than nine years ago. Here's the change....North Carolina U.S. Representative Richard Burr is now North Carolina U.S. Senator Richard Burr.

Other than that, there are a few "Future Interstate 785 Corridor" signs and nothing else. And it'll be that way for at least oh 10, 20, maybe 30 more years. I'd love to see the economic impact and development that has resulted from this designation.

Can "Future" Interstates be canceled?

Source: Excerpt from Ceremony will mark US 29's designation as Interstate 785 ---Greensboro News & Record

Is the Brunswick County I-74 toll proposal dead in the water?

Along with the recent news on the Cape Fear Skyway, it appears that other possible toll projects in North Carolina are in the news. The proposal to build an 18 mile toll segment of I-74 in Brunswick County was also studied by Wilbur Smith Associates. And like the Cape Fear Skyway, there's not much good news.

David Joyner, who is the executive director of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA), told the Brunswick Beacon that tolls would only generate revenue for 42% of the highway's projected $378 million cost. If the highway would be open by 2015, the tolls for the entire 18 miles could be $2.15. In 2030, it is believed that the toll would be $3.15. The tolls are considered the amount that would generate the most possible revenue.

The remaining money would have to come from other funding sources.

Why the skepticism on the proposal? Well, the study points to a toll free US 17 which would parallel the Interstate to the east. The study, which isn't as detailed as more formal and more expensive studies that may occur in the future, said that "...a high-speed toll road does not appear to offer significant advantages over the U.S. 17 toll-free alternative." And that is in addition to having I-74 being open and carrying traffic on both ends of the toll road.

But there's more. SC 9 which will run parallel to the south of free and toll sections of the proposed path of I-74 is another "free alternative." And South Carolina has approved and may toll most of the length of I-73. If I-73 is faster or even cheaper than I-74 with 18 tolled miles at $2.15, the highway becomes even less of an option to motorists.

Finally, as noted in yesterday's entry about the Wilmington Star News' editorial on the Cape Fear Skyway, the WSA study also ranked all the possible NC Toll Projects. I have a strong feeling that the Brunswick County I-74 proposal is not very high on that list.

Story:
I-74 Study: What's missing are the cars to generate the money ---Brunswick Beacon

For more:
I-74 Segment 18 ---Bob Malme

South Independence Blvd. in Charlotte Renamed

A section of Charlotte's South Independence Blvd. has recently been renamed to Charlottetown Avenue. The section of road from Kenilworth Ave. to East 7th Street will bear the new name.

Originally the state's first urban highway, Independence Blvd. has seen numerous alterations to its routing over the past two decades. What was once West, South, and East Independence Boulevard has been broken into and renamed Carson Blvd., Stonewall St., and now Charlottetown Ave. The only part of the highway to retain the 'Independence' name is the section of US 74 east of Uptown.

The name change was requested by the Charlotte Department of Transportation to eliminate confusion with differing directions with the Independence Freeway. Local property owners submitted the Charlottetown Ave. name.

Source: Charlotte Observer

Roundabouts drive Malta, NY traffic debate

One of the more highly debated road construction projects in New York State's Capital Region over recent years was the construction of five roundabouts along NY State Route 67 near the I-87 Northway in Malta. In an effort to improve traffic flow in this growing section of Saratoga County, and in anticipation of future growth (such as the AMD chip fab plant that is supposed to be built nearby), NYSDOT had decided to replace existing traffic lights with a series of roundabouts. It is designed to be faster and safer, and the results in the 10 months since the roundabout construction was completed echoes those principles. According to a June 27, 2007 article in the Albany Times Union, traffic times have cut down to an average of 2 minutes per trip as compared to an average of 6 minutes per trip before the roundabouts were put into place. Accidents are also down.

The complaint that many have with roundabouts has to do with navigation. People driving around the roundabouts in Malta have complained about how to drive on them. With some adaptation (or getting used to), roundabouts will actually show their usefulness. And they are becoming more popular, especially in the Capital Region of New York State. Completed projects in Glens Falls and Valatie, along with construction on the expansion of the Slingerlands Bypass (NY State Route 85) show the increase of roundabouts in the area. And I think that it is a good idea, and expect to see more roundabout construction in the area, typically at more complicated intersections.

Roundabouts drive Malta traffic debate - Albany Times Union

I-88 Collapse One Year Later

To read our entire coverage of the I-88 collapse, use this link.

Slightly after daybreak on the rainy morning of June 28, 2006, from opposite directions David Swingle and Patrick O'Connell headed towards mile 37 on Interstate 88 not knowing that their paths would cross in the most unfortunate of situations. For two days, heavy and consistent rains had fallen across much of Upstate New York with some locations receiving over a foot. The rains had already caused heavy flooding in many towns that bordered the Delaware River. Throughout the area, waters were rising on the Delaware and surrounding streams that would bring record crests in places like Binghamton, Unadilla, Walton, and Oneonta.

The heavy rains had saturated the ground and runoff along with the persistent rain had swollen numerous streams, rivers and creeks in the area, including Carrs Creek that feeds into the Delaware near Unadilla. Carrs Creek crosses under Interstate 88 just south of the Exit 10 interchange.

Swingle and O'Connell would approach Carrs Creek around 6 am that morning. They never made it across. Sometime around 6 am, the swollen creek had overwhelmed the culvert and surrounding area causing the structure to fail and all four lanes of the highway to collapse into creek.

The first call reporting the collapse came in at 6:02. By then, it is believed that Swingle had already driven into the chasm. The impact of the cab into the ground killed him instantly. Motorists, mainly other truck drivers, saw O'Connells truck -- headed westbound -- and tried to alert him. It was too late, he also crashed into the floodwaters. He had been ejected from his cab and was lying unconscious on the ground when a rescue squad began a rescue attempt at around 6:20. Unfortunately, more of the highway collapsed and O'Connell was soon washed away with the rapids. His body would be found in a nearby field eleven days later.

As the day went on, more of the land surrounding the highway collapsed. The gorge would even swallow the Exit 10 guide sign. The chasm would be nearly 150 feet at its widest point and nearly 60 feet deep. For most of the summer, traffic on Interstate 88 would be detoured onto two lane NY Route 7 between Sidney and Unadilla.

It was later learned that the 33 year old culvert had in a 2004 inspection received a 5 out of a possible 7 rating, considered good. However, numerous structural concerns involving erosion and corrosion were noted. Ironically, a few weeks prior to the collapse, the State had awarded a contract that included the rehabilitation of the culvert which would include a new concrete floor.

After the collapse, an emergency contract to replace the culvert was let. Crews assigned to the project worked nearly non-stop building the culvert on site. Around Labor Day, traffic was returned to Interstate 88 on the Westbound lanes. Traffic was limited to one lane in each direction. Later that fall, the entire roadway was reopened.

However, the completion of a new culvert did not end the problems for I-88 at Carrs Creek. Earlier this year, NYSDOT had to let a contract to replace 8500 cubic yards of polystyrene fill that was used in the construction of the new structure. The fill was structurally failing as the new roadway began to sag. The fill is to be replaced by "expanded shale" at a cost of $1.1 million. Questions have been razed on why the polystyrene fill was used in the first place in addition to environmental concerns as to using what is basically Styrofoam as fill around a body of water. The project is to end in July.

The tragedy of June 29, 2006 gripped numerous communities throughout Upstate New York. Flooding shut off towns from the outside world, numerous homes were gutted and would need to be rebuilt from scratch, and a number of other rural roads would have to be rebuilt from washouts or landslides.

But most importantly, two families lost loved ones that they never had the chance to say goodbye to.

Consultants to NCTA - Cape Fear Skyway better than other proposals

In a recent editorial of the Wilmington Star News, there was this little tidbit.

But consultants told the Turnpike Authority Wednesday that, compared with other proposals it's considering, the Cape Fear Skyway "looks like a pretty good project."

That's very interesting. The editorial discussed what they perceive as a need for the bridge to handle the rapidly growing area. (Which I do agree with.) They do express the disappointment that the suggested $1.75 toll will cover about 55 percent of the costs.

I wonder if the report from Wilbur Smith Associates to the NCTA will be made public that would be an interesting read.

Western extension of I-540 delayed by a couple weeks

Bruce Siceloff says there are a few more weeks of delays at the west end of I-540 in the pipeline:

Scratch those holiday plans. The next 4-mile leg of I-540 will not open for the benefit of Research Triangle Park commuters until some time after Independence Day. Phillip Johnson, the DOT engineer overseeing the $102 million project, now hopes to get traffic rolling by July 11 or 12.

Johnson had said earlier that the freeway would open for traffic before next week's July 4 holiday. He said Wednesday that the contractor still has too much work to do -- guardrails, trafic signals at the interchanges, pavement markings -- to meet that schedule.

"I feel very confident we'll open it during that second week in July," Johnson said.
That would still bring the project in on schedule, more or less. Part of it was supposed to be finished July 1, and the other part August 1.

The 2007 Down East RPO

The Down East (NC) Rural Transportation Planning Organization recently published their 2009-2015 TIP Draft Prioritization Submittal.

You can see it here.

Couple of things I saw of interest:

1. A request for a feasibility study of an NC 306 bridge over the Neuse River. This would replace an existing ferry.
2. A request for a feasibility study for a mid-island bridge to the Bouge Banks. This would connect NC 24 to NC 58 (between Emerald Isle to Atlantic Beach). There are already two crossings from the mainland to the Bouge Banks.
3. Widen and resurface NC 307 in Vandemere - One word "Why?"
   
4. They also back the proposed and planned US 17 New Bern Bypass and the US 70 bypasses of Northern Carteret and Havelock.

Cape Fear Skyway Bridge tolls would only cover half the cost

It appears that tolls collected on the Cape Fear Skyway, a high rise bridge carrying traffic over the Cape Fear River between the Fort Fisher Ferry and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, will cover for slightly half of the bridge's estimated $1 billion cost. The other source of funding would come from an annual $39 million in some form of state, federal, or otherwise funding for 40 years.

The 9.4 mile bridge project if opened in 2015 would cost motorists a $1.75 toll to cross the bridge. The Skyway would connect US 17 in Brunswick County to Wilmington at Independence Blvd. and Carolina Beach Road. Proponents of the project suggest that the Skyway will be an alternative to the existing Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, a drawbridge that carries much of the area's traffic from Brunswick County in and out of Wilmington.

A traffic and revenue study by Wilbur Smith and Associates indicates that because the Skyway would not include a large time savings compared to the existing Cape Fear Memorial Bridge the tolls for the Skyway will need to be low to attract motorists. The study suggests that the bridge will be most used by local commuters because the Skyway ends at two of Wilmington's busiest surface streets.

Story:
Tolls would fund half of the $1 billion Cape Fear Skyway bridge ---Wilmington Star

Commentary:

Could the wheels of the NC Turnpike Authority becoming off on some of their early projects? Or is this just a temporary obstacle until more funding is available?

What interests me in the article is that backers of the bridge in Wilmington say that approval of funding for the tolled I-540 Triangle Expressway will be very important to the future of this bridge. If the legislature decides not to include funding for the I-540 toll road, then backers of the Skyway believe that the future of their project, in addition to the other possible NC Toll Projects, could be in jeopardy.

With a possible seven original NC Turnpike Authority projects becoming a possibility in the next decade. Funding from outside the toll structure is becoming increasingly obvious. The uncertainty of that funding for one project, the Triangle Expressway here in Raleigh, may set the precedent for funding other toll projects within the state.

Obviously with what is facing the NC Legislature, there's a lot more in the balance for the future of North Carolina Transportation's system than should the Triangle Expressway receive any non-toll funding from the state.

The week that was...June 18th-23rd

It's been a quiet week here at the blog, Brian's in Columbus covering the NHL Draft, Doug's in Rochester, NY for various functions; however, I'm here at home.

So here are just a few personal items and news snippets from this past week.

First...and you may have to read it a few times...but Brian UPDATED! Yes, Brian has added an I-85 Exit List and revised the I-540 History Page on Wake County Roads.

I've sat stuck on a South Carolina Update as I have been helping Mike Roberson with his latest NCRoads.com Annex update.

Now for the news:

There was a meeting in Mecklenburg County on the planned 2013 widening of I-485 in Pineville and Ballentyne. The widening will be to six lanes vs. the current four lane configuration. However, the DOT concedes that they are going to have to add additional lanes not long after that.

WVDOH finally awarded the bid on the King Coal Highway Extension in Bluefield. The project had been slightly delayed due to a comedy of errors in the bidding process.

Seagrove and the Uwharries

Took a drive to the heart of the state Saturday to Pottery Country to get birthday gifts for Mom and Erin.

Route:
I-540, I-40, NC 147, I-85, US 220, US 220 Business, US 220, NC 705, US 220A, NC 24/27, NC 109, Various Secondary Roads through Uwharrie National Forest until I arrived at NC 49 near Denton, NC 49, US 220, I-85, I-40, I-540.

Notes:
It's hard to believe that a road like this was built as a "Super-Two" fifty years ago.

Now only to get photos of how what is now I-40/85 looked as a two lane limited access US 70 in the 1950s.

Seagrove is the heart of Pottery Country. And within a mile drive from the US 220 freeway to the NC Pottery Center and Museum there had to be at least a dozen different pottery shops. The NC Pottery Center features the work of various local potteries and others throughout the state. There is also a $2 admission to tour the museum which shows numerous samples of work. It is amazing to see some of the creations and how they are made.


After seeing a few other shops, I headed south on US 220 Alternate. Came across the first of a few surprises just south of Seagrove. First an old alignment of US 220, known as Asbury Church Road, that has been severed by an access road (Black Ankle Road) to the US 220 Freeway. It appears that there are quite a few of former US 220 alignments in the area to explore.

Below, you can see the other segment of Asbury Church Road (Old US 220) across the barrier and Black Ankle Road.

US 220 Alternate is a trip through the past. Tiny crossroads -- like Ether shown below -- are throughout.

Or the shell of former towns, like Star. While driving through and seeing the number of abandoned brick storefronts through the heart of this tiny town, I wish I could have had the opportunity to drive through fifty or more years ago when things were much more active.

Another idea came through this trip and it is a project I may take up. But I've always wanted to document the small towns and rural crossroads within North Carolina. I took other photos in case I ever start that endeavor.

There's a By-Pass NC 109 in Troy. Although it's not much of one. It's just a two lane surface road with a number of homes that NC 109 was put on to avoid downtown Troy.

I took NC 109 as far as Eldorado where I then took some backroads through the Uwharrie Mountains (they aren't real mountains now but years ago they were over 20,000' tall). Following Low Water Bridge Road (a dirt and gravel one lane road that winds its way down to the Uwharrie River), I came across what the road was named after. A one lane wooden bridge that couldn't be more than two feet over the surface of the river.

Many of the secondary roads I took through the National Forest had great scenery. Here are a few examples.



It took me a little bit of time to locate the Pisgah Covered Bridge. (I was reversing a course of a scenic driving book, and there was one error in the book. She had the wrong secondary route number 1110 vs. 1310. But anyways...) I did make it to the Pisgah Covered Bridge and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a small park Complete with a small nature trail that gave various views of the bridge.




Of course what did I accomplish? I added new mileage to US 220 Business and US 220 Alternate and NC 109. But the idea on the crossroads and small towns is something I think I would enjoy greatly. Let me know what you think on that!

South Central Virginia Trip

Took a nice drive into South Central Virginia to get a few missing counties and found a few surprises.

Route: US Bike 1, US 158 Business (Oxford), US 158, US 158 Business (Henderson), NC 39, VA SR 719, VA SR 825, secondary NC Route, US 15, US 58/VA 49, US 15/VA 49, VA 49, VA 47, US 460 Business (Pamplin City), US 460, VA 122 Business (Bedford), VA 43, US 29 Business (Altavista), VA SR 668, VA SR 640, VA 40, VA SR 603, US 501, I-85, US 70, NC 98, NC 50.

Accomplishments: Clinched Appomattox and Bedford Independent City. Completed US 501 in NC, Clinched NC 39, along with adding new mileage for VA 49, VA 47, US 460, VA 43, and US 501 in VA.

Notes:

I've mentioned before that I would enjoy biking or in this case driving the various bike routes in North Carolina. The thought is that many of these routes follow secondary roads and there may be a lot of good finds along there. In Southern Vance County, that idea was justified. The tiny crossroads of Grissom has example of location signage that I had not seen before within the state. Green on white.

My first glance was that this was another old black on white location sign. (like the one I found recently for Rogers Store.)

Later along US 158 Business approaching Henderson, I came across this piece of roadside history.



I was amazed at the excellent condition of this former service center. It looks like this place probably had a little bit of everything: gas station, food counter, and service garage. I was amazed at the excellent condition of the wood shingles and the condition of the paint. (Possibly redone in recent years.) I would guess that the term 'Midway' means between Oxford and Henderson. Also, this alignment has been bypassed for at least 50 years. First by a two lane bypass of US 158 to the north, and later by I-85.

I was surprised at the amount of traffic on NC 39 north of Henderson. However, the traffic died down considerably on NC 39 north of Townsville. From Townsville to the Virginia Line a lot of NC 39 looked like the photo below.


The Clarksville Bypass is complete, and surprisingly US 15 remains routed through town. US 58 and VA 49 are routed on the new freeway south of the town. I was kinda surprised to see the end of the bypass controlled by a flashing signal (too difficult to get a shot), and I can foresee a number of accidents there.

Just north of the bypass on US 15/VA 49 North I came across what I call a Uni-Guide. It is the traditional Virginia destination guide found on highways after major intersections. The difference is that the shields and the guide sign are all one one sign. An interesting combination indeed.


VA 47 meets VA 40 in Charlotte Court House which was a charming small town. I walked around there a good 20-30 minutes taking some pictures.



VA 47 was a rural drive that mixed hollows with rolling farmland. Here is a pair of my favorite shots from the highway.


VA 43 starts as a pleasant rolling route south of Bedford to a curvy narrow highway in Southern Bedford County to Altavista.

All in all an enjoyable drive. 47 photos taken with two definite features out of it. Small towns of Virginia Series will cover Charlotte Court House and The Midway Service Center will find a home on Carolina Lost.-

Seneca Nation seeks $2.16 million for Thruway use

According to a recent article in the Albany Times Union, the Seneca Nation is seeking $2.16 million from New York State for the section of the New York Thruway that runs through the Senecas' Cattaraugus Reservation, near Silver Creek, NY. This is due to an ongoing dispute between the government of the State of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians over taxation to non-Indians over products (such as gasoline and cigarettes) purchased within reservation lands.

The bill, which covers the time period between April 14 and June 30, was sent to Thruway Authority Chairman John Buono with a demand for payment in ten days. Whether the Thruway Authority will pay the bill or not is yet to be determined. The $2.16 million figure is based per vehicle and calculated using the authority's official figures on its Web site, with the total number of cars being 28,000 per day.

The first bill does not include historic penalties or costs for damages to native lands. The tribe plans in the next two weeks to erect signs informing motorists of the fee and telling them it is to be paid by the state. State officials currently have no comment on the matter.

Tribe seeks $2.1M for road use - Albany Times Union
Senecas bill state for motorists’ use of Thruway section - Buffalo News

Local Sign Find - 6

A few Saturdays ago, I found a few displaced I-90 and I-787 button copy shields in front of someone's home on NY 157 near Thacher State Park, which is a few miles southeast of Altamont. I was in the area so I could hike the Indian Ladder Trail, which runs along the crest of the Helderberg Escarpment at Thacher State Park. Here are the shields, which I believe to have once been part of overhead guide signs.

I-85 to get a makeover

Finally, a section of I-85 with pavement that's nearly fifty years old is going to get a new coat of asphalt later this year, according to this story from WRAL.

The 25 mile I-85 corridor that runs from the Vance/Granville line to the North Carolina/Virginia border has received no money for a major pavement overhaul since it was built. The DOT says the mostly rural section of highway never made it to the top of a priority list.

Help is on the way, however.

Planners just put together a $40 million spending plan. Of that, $30 million will pay for a complete pavement replacement for five miles near Henderson, and the remaining 20 miles to the border will get a new top layer that should give about 10 years of smoother sailing.

NCDOT engineers say they could start the repairs as soon as October. The work will take at least two years.

This section of I-85 has been at or near the top of every "worst roads in the area" list for at least ten years, so it's about time it was fixed. Nothing like welcoming people to North Carolina by destroying their shocks...

Down to Fayetteville to check on NC 162

Brian and I took a nice trip down to Fayetteville with the hope to see the new NC 162. Well more on that later.

Route: I-440, I-40, US 421, NC 82, US 13, I-295, US 401, US 401 Business, NC 87, US 301/Business I-95, Elk Road, NC 162 (for the 1/8th a mile it was open), more Fayetteville surface streets to NC 59, NC 162 to Camden Road then turned around again on NC 162 to Bingham Road, US 401, US 401 Business, Owen Drive, NC 87, I-95, US 301, NC 50, NC 210, I-40, I-440.

Accomplishments: NC 82 clinched and clinched what pretty much is opened of NC 162 along with what will become NC 162.

Notes: Past signage in Erwin lead to speculation whether or not NC 82 ended at NC 217 or was multiplexed with it to NC 217's Northern Terminus at US 421/NC 55. Well NC 82 West does end with NC 217 North at US 421/NC 55. New signs put up since I last went through the area in May 2006 reflect this.


NC 82 actually has a unique alignment. It has a handful of turns onto different roads making the drive not as boring as one would think. NC 82 also travels through the Averasboro Battlefield. The battlefield museum is located right one NC 82. This stretch of NC 82 is part of the NC Scenic Byways and also NC 82 may have the most historical markers per mile of highway for a primary route. The battlefield grounds are small and being the history buff that I am, I plan on doing a Averasboro and Bentonville Battlefield tour sometime in the future.

Near the eastern end of NC 82 there are two NC 82 shields that are recycled shields of another route. On one, the number '2' covers up another designation. And on US 13 South, the '82' completely covers up a different number. Here's a close up of the '82' cover up.

We both noticed something on NC 82 and later on NC 71 that we've never seen before. At intersections with secondary routes, there were actually numbers for the primary route on the small blocks of wood that are frequently found on the back of Stop Signs.

Now for NC 162, NC 162 will not start as I-95 Business/US 301 as previously thought. First, Elk Street which the Hope Mills Bypass ties into runs about 200 feet shy of I-95 Business/US 301 ending at a frontage road. However, there is grading for an eventual tie into Green 95/US 301 at some future date.

As of today, the Hope Mills Bypass is not completely open. At Legion Road and Elk Street, NC 162 begins. But right now it runs about an 1/8th of a mile to a subdivision entrance.

NC 162 begins again at Camden Road. It is fully signed. It is also signed where it crosses NC 59 and beyond that. However, there are no signs beyond Fisher Road where a new four lane bridge is being constructed over Beaver Creek. From then NC 162 will go on what is currently Bingham Drive, which is currently being widened.

About a 1/3 to 1/2 a mile south of US 401, Bingham Drive leaves 'Future' NC 162. NC 162 will end about 1/4 mile west of where Bingham Drive intersects US 401. (It will end opposite of where Bunce Road ends at US 401.) The new alignment end of NC 162 still has a little bit to go as it is not painted and appears one more layer of asphalt is necessary.