SCDOT to close 15 miles of northbound I-385 next week until August

SCDOT is preparing to close 15 miles of northbound Interstate 385 next week for the next eight months as part of a major rehab/upgrade project.

The project's site is here:
http://www.i385rehab.com/

"The second phase of the project will encompass the rehabilitation of I-385 northbound from mile post 0 to 14.9 and the bridge replacement of the flyover bridge that connects I-26 westbound to I-385 northbound. I-385 northbound will be closed from I-26 to SC Route 101, and will be detoured up I-26 to I-85, and all access to northbound I-385 from the crossing routes between I-26 and SC 101 will also be closed. This will allow the contractor to rehabilitate I-385 northbound quickly without the presence of traffic. Four crossovers will be constructed in the median prior to the completion of construction activities associated with the rehabilitation on I-385 northbound. Two will be at the US Route 221 interchange with the other two crossovers at opposite ends of the project on I-385. These crossovers will be utilized to relocate I-385 southbound traffic onto the newly rehabilitated I-385 northbound lanes.

The third phase of the project will encompass the rehabilitation of I-385 southbound from mile post 0 to 14.9 and the completion of the bridge replacement of the flyover bridge that connects I-26 westbound to I-385 northbound. Southbound traffic will be transferred to the newly rehabilitated I-385 northbound lanes using the crossovers outlined in the second phase. The only access to southbound I-385 will remain at the northern crossover and the US Route 221 crossover during rehabilitation of I-385 southbound. I-385 northbound will continue to be detoured up I-26 to I-85.

The interstate rehabilitation and flyover bridge replacement projects are scheduled to be let together as one project in August of 2009 with a target completion date in August of 2010. The contractor will not be allowed to close I-385 northbound and institute the detour up I-26 until January of 2010 and will have approximately eight months to complete construction activities."

This will be the first time SCDOT has closed an interstate entirely over an extended time period for a construction project.

The decision isn't without controversy - as many motorists, businesses, and of course politicians have voiced their displeasure. SCDOT maintains that the $60.9 million project would have cost nearly $35 million more and last months longer if they followed the more traditional single lane closure construction methods.

Additional stories:
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20091213/BUSINESS/912130318/Drivers-face-long-I-385-detour-in-new-year
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009912210313

Winter in the Laurel Highlands

When most think of roadtrips, most think of the long haul, multi-day, cross-country treks. But some of the best trips are right in your backyard. (Or in this case my parent's backyard.)

On Christmas Eve, I spent five hours on a loop through Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands. I never really had the chance to explore this area growing up. So at 11 am, off I went.

First, I spent some time in Perryopolis. Downtown Perryopolis sits about a half mile or so off of PA 51 in Fayette County. The wagon wheel street grid for Perryopolis was actually designed by George Washington, who actually purchased land here to develop a grist mill and town. The wagon wheel street grid is a feature unique within Western Pennsylvania.

One of the first things I noticed was this well preserved former theatre. The Karolick Theatre which opened in 1921.



It appears that the building housed other businesses as well.



In a lot of these older Western Pennsylvanian towns, you can find old signs. And Perryopolis is no exception, like this embossed Stop Sign in Washington Square.



Just outside of downtown is a beautiful Byzantine Church - St. Nicholas.



And while I was taking photos...guess who showed up to say hello...Why Santa himself!



To see more photos from Perryopolis, head here.

From Perryopolis, it was just a short drive down PA 51 to Route 201 and I followed that road east towards Connellsville. There PA 201 ends and PA 711 continues. I stayed on 711 to PA 653 in Normalville and would follow PA 653 (for the first time) east towards US 219.

I wasn't really sure what to expect...but down the road aways was two covered bridges. The first, Barronvale, is about a mile and a half off of PA 653. It was, and is, certainly worth the detour.



Covered bridges are made for snow scenes.



If you don't want to take the short trip to the Barronvale Bridge. You don't have to leave PA 653 to see the restored King's Bridge.





Once I got on US 219, I head south and took the business route through Meyersdale. In Salisbury, I turned right onto PA 669 to head into Maryland. However, signs directing you to Mt. Davis - the highest point in Pennsylvania - caught my eye, and I took a detour.

Now, Mt. Davis isn't high at all - and at 3,213 feet about sea level - it's quite honestly not that impressive.



But it was what I found on the side roads to and from Mt. Davis that made it worth while.



While taking the shot above, down came an amish buggy. The detour was well worth it.



A gorgeous church in St. Paul's:



From there it was briefly into Maryland...and a rarity...an 'END' sign for MD 669.



From there it was onto ALT US 40/US 40 and back into Pennsylvania. I took a quick detour into Addison to get photos of the National Pike Toll House.



From there it was back towards Uniontown on US 40 West and then up 51 north home.

To see the entire Laurel Highlands Roadtrip set...go here!

Merry Christmas!

Though the rain is melting away the snow here in Western Pennsylvania. Everyone here at the blog would like to wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas!

NCTA awards $37.6 million in toll collection contracts for Triangle Expressway

Two companies won the contracts of three separate toll collection contracts for the under-construction Triangle Expressway. The contracts totaled $37.6 million and came in $9 million under budget.

• Affiliated Computer Services Inc. won the $14.2 million toll-collection system contract. ACS will design, develop and install the automated system, including all toll-related hardware and software on the roadway, optical character recognition software and the main computer server and database.
• In addition, ACS won an $8 million contract to design and implement a system to process customer accounts, handle billing and produce a customer relations Web site.
• URS Corp. was awarded the $15.3 million contract to manage and staff all customer service facilities and related activities.

At this time, an exact toll schedule has yet to be published; however, the toll is estimated to be charged at a 10-20/cent per mile cost. Also, compatibility with existing toll collection systems like E-ZPass (used throughout the Northeast) has yet to be determined.

Story: Turnpike Authority awards toll system contracts ---WRAL-TV

Expecting I-73 Soon in Virginia? It's gonna be awhile.

Progress on Virginia's portion of Interstate 73 may have taken a few steps back this week - as two separate items may impact how long and where I-73 may ultimately be built.

First in Richmond, the US Fourth Circuit of Appeals has extended the window for Virginians for Appropriate Roads (VAR) by one month due January 25th. The original date was December 21st. VDOT and the FHWA will then have until March 1st to file their response.

From there, the appellate court could make a U.S. District Court ruling based on the legal briefs; or they can schedule a hearing. VAR is appealing a decision from earlier this year that VDOT did not adequately study improvements to the existing US 220 corridor from Roanoke to Martinsburg in their findings. District Court Judge James C. Turk ruled that VDOT did all that was necessarily required in their study.

Story: I-73 appeal ruling delayed ---Myrtle Beach Sun News

But what may have the most impact on the timing and even the eventual routing of Interstate 73 in South Central Virginia was the decision by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to further study an alternative routing of I-73 put forward by the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

After completing a preliminary study of the alternate route, VDOT requested that the CTB remove the Henry County alternative from further consideration.

By a unanimous vote, the CTB directed VDOT to work with the Federal Highway Administration to “conduct the necessary studies and take such steps as may be required by law to consider shifting the location of the alignment.”

There is no word on how long this study will take or how much it will cost. But it certainly throws a roadblock to the eventual construction of Interstate 73. Furthermore, after the study is completed, a decision will need to be made and that will take additional time. In addition, depending on where the route enters Henry County from the south, the study may impact the entire proposed route.

Finally, this may throw a lifeline to Virginians for Appropriate Roads. Because the CTB has authorized a further study of the Henry County Alternative, it does open the door for VDOT to be required to study an upgrade to existing US 220 as well.

It's going to be a long time until we see Interstate 73 in Virginia.

Story: CTB ok's study of alternate I-73 route ---Martinsville Bulletin

Cape Fear Memorial Bridge celebrates 40 years

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

Gastonia City Council waffles on Garden Parkway

The Gastonia City Council was expected to pass a formal resolution opposing the controversial Garden Parkway last night. But the announcement never came.

Over the weekend, members of Gastonia City Council began to talk about the prospects of the controversial toll road and offer alternatives.

“I think it’s dead,” said Gastonia City Manager Jim Palenick.

Palenick, with other Council members, put together alternative plans for the annual $35 million in gap funding that is allocated within the state budget for the Garden Parkway.

The alternative plan includes: completion of I-485 in Mecklenburg County, a drastic overhaul of the existing US 321/I-85 interchange, extending Hudson Blvd. west beyond US 321, and establishing commuter rail between Gastonia and Charlotte.

Palenick says that he would approach leaders in the Charlotte region with the plan and hopes that both communities can promote the idea as a region.

"We recognize your biggest problem," said Palenick. "How about if we help you solve it and in turn you help us solve some problems? If we join forces, maybe people will listen to us. Maybe the legislature will make a farsighted visionary approach to this."

But the General Assembly controls where and how that gap funding is allocated, and fears that the General Assembly would not agree with the alternative helped to shelve the resolution, for now.

Story Links:
Gastonia council expresses doubt over 'Garden Parkway', offers alternative ---Gaston Gazette
Gastonia leaders hold back on formally supporting Garden Parkway alternative ---Gaston Gazette
Gaston officials reject Garden Parkway ---WFAE-FM
E-mail: Parkway News - Highest Priority - Call to Action Tuesday, 6pm (Dec 15) - Stop The Toll Road

Commentary:
Opponents of the Parkway were optimistic going into Tuesday's meeting; and if the resolution against the highway passed, it would have been a serious blow to the Garden Parkway's chances.

However, though they were optimistic, the opponents feared that Parkway supporters would "...turn the screws on them." And well, their fears came to fruition. A member of the NCTA Board of Directors who was in attendance at the meeting mentioned how the General Assembly would most likely not re-allocate the funds into the alternative plans.

Bob Spencer, the NCTA board member, said that members of the General Assembly may take the alternative plan suggestion as a slight and did not personally think the alternative plan would be successful.

Nothing like holding $35 million in transportation funding over someone's head to push through a highway that continues to lose support with the local community.

It'll be interesting to see how this political game plays out in 2010.

Byrd scoring millions for King Coal, Coalfields Expwy, Corridor H in latest bill

Major West Virginia transportation projects are poised to gain an infusion of a few million dollars if President Obama signs the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill into law.

Senator Robert Byrd has included nearly $14 million in funding for various road projects throughout the state.

They include:

• $4.4 million for Corridor H (specifically for the highway between Bismarck and Foreman).
• $1.9 million for US 35 improvements
• $1.9 million for WV 10 upgrades
  
• $1.9 million for the Coalfields Expressway - specifically for work in Raleigh County in the Allen Creek to Slab Fork Section.
  
• $1.9 million for the King Coal Highway - to be used for extending the highway north towards the Mercer County Airport near Bluefield.
  

These funds will not make construction imminent on these projects, but they will be added to the pool of funds needed to start or continue work.

Story Links:
Road funds await Obama signature ---Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Federal bill includes millions for state roads ---The Charleston Gazette

Final Progress Report on I-74/US 311 Freeway for 2009

Made my last trip of 2009 to check out progress on the construction of the I-74/US 311 freeway from High Point to Randleman during midday today (12/12). Based on the NCDOT's Construction Progress Report there hasn't been much going on along the Business 85 to Cedar Square Road segment the last two months as far as percentage complete goes, now up to about 81% complete at the end of November compared to 78% in September. There has been, however, some noticeable progress on the two remaining bridge projects as well on some of the roadway itself.

Going West to East (or North to South depending on which route you prefer) the first stop is the Baker Road bridge. Work has been completed on the bridge decks as you can see here (yes, they were working on Saturday, making up for bad weather maybe):
The bridge is capable of supporting traffic, as the truck driving across it shows here:
You can see they still have to connect the bridge to the pre-exisiting alignment of Baker Road and build the bridge walls and railings before being open to traffic. This could happen before the end of the year if the weather cooperates.
They are still working on getting the road down to grade south of the bridge and will start north when the bridge is opened and the temporary roadway to the north can be demolished.

Jackson Lake Bridge. Not much progress here west of the bridge, as you can see they still don't have a westbound roadway here, still just piles of dirt:
The roadway to the east toward the Kersey Valley bridge, however, is basically complete and can support contractor traffic as you can see below:
Kersey Valley Road area. Again little progress here. Some more excavation has been done to the roadway west of the bridge:
Notice less construction equipment and machinery present than last month by the graded slopes going eastbound. The view of the roadway between Kersey Valley and I-85 shows more work is needed:
Most of the depressions are filled with water which, due to today's cold temperatures, had turned to ice. They are going to have to wait until this dries up to proceed.

The I-85 interchange. Some progress here, if you look behind the flyover bridge (the farthest) you'll notice the top of an overhead sign structure for the I-85 exit that has been put up. A cantilevered overhead sign structure was also put up just north of the NC 62 bridge.
Another photo of the same area showing progress around the interchange offramp, it appears more grading has been done down toward the future eastbound roadway. And if you didn't notice before, the west wall to the flyover bridge has been completed:
Tuttle Road. There has been more progress in placing guardrails along this section. Looking west you can see there are now guardrails on both directions of the highway:
There is also now guardrail looking east/southbound:
It appears that there is an asphalt layer capable of carrying traffic now from just east of the I-85 interchange heading east almost to Cedar Square Road, with a few exceptions. Notice the truck below is heading the wrong way, but demonstrates it is possible to get to near Cedar Square Road (that would be easiest way off the freeway).
A closer look at the Tuttle Road bridge heading east:
The Cedar Square Road bridge and Interchange. Most of the progress in the last month has been made here. First, the bridge has been opened:
To the right is the old road alignment which will be access to Poole Road. (The connection has been made but the road was blocked by road closed signs, this wasn't preventing locals from making there way around them to access Cedar Square). Now crossing the bridge:
The bridge has 3 lanes, the center reserved for those wanting to make a left turn onto I-74 East, Which occurs just before where this photo was taken looking at the new intersection with US 311:
Second, progress on the on and offramps. For eastbound traffic these are opposite each other while the westbound ramps are on the south side of Cedar Square. Here's the progress being made on the westbound on/off ramps:
Here's a look on the progress of building the eastbound off ramp:
They still need to remove the old alignment of Cedar Square in the freeway's path before final grading and paving can be made.
Meanwhile all the construction equipment is at the end of the current road awaiting construction on the second part to complete the freeway to US 220:
US 311. Some additional clearing in the construction area, and the start of one of the on or offramps, but little else:
US 220. Some progress here in the appearance of a second center support in the median for the other flyover ramp:
Here's progress on the first flyover support, plus clearing on the northbound side:
The wider view of the construction area, heading northbound:
Progress on the future I-74 West Flyover ramp:
They are working also on expanding US 220 to 3 lanes (seen beyond the barrier) between Pineview Street and the existing US 311 exit:
Notice the polls for a new exit sign. These also appear elsewhere along US 220, not just in the I-74 construction area implying another project installing new exit signs, hopefully before the I-74 project is finished and with I-73 mileage based numbers.

My next trip will be after they open the new rest areas/visitor's centers near Seagrove on I-73/74 sometime in January (current completion date is 1/21/10). I'll let everyone know when they are open, in case anyone else wants to come along and tour them.

Reason for Decommisioning US 311 Business in High Point

During the last AASHTO SCOH US Route Numbering Committee meeting in November, NCDOT had an application for decommissioning US 311 Business through High Point accepted. The application referred to the action 'being at the request of local officials.' I sent an e-mail to the contact person listed on the application about a month ago to see if I could get more details and finally got a response yesterday (12/10). According to this NCDOT staffperson, local officials requested the application to remove US 311 Business from the former US 311 route on Main Street to end confusion and reduce clutter.

The exact quote in his e-mail was "A resolution was passed March 19th 2007 from the High Point City Council requesting the deletion of US 311 Business indicating the following reasons: reduce the confusion between US 311 and Business; allow Main Street to be the primary designation along the old US 311 designation (reducing sign clutter); and providing flexibility in association with the High Point Core City Plan."

While I don't have the 'core plan', the emphasis on the use of NC 68, whose interchange with US 311 (I-74) is to be modified, to be the main entrance to High Point may be part it, the route to the city center is shorter. Notice the resolution was passed in 2007 but not forwarded to AASHTO until November of this year. This is not uncommon from looking a list that includes state routing changes approved by NCDOT discussed below. The official state route of the
Durham Freeway (NC 147), extending it from Erwin Road to I-85 was approved in 2001, 9 years after the road opened in 1992 to US 15/501 and 3 years after it made it to I-85.

I was also forwarded in the e-mail an interesting link on the NCDOT website. A page listing changes in routing to Interstates, US Routes, NC Routes, and SR Routes over the past 13 years or so (this is where I got the NC 147 info). The page is located here:
http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruct/traffic/safety/tsi/routes.html

There are many interesting things to be found on this list, The two entries for I-795, for example, reflect that the first application was rejected by AASHTO, while the second one was accepted. There are some discrepancies too. When the new US 64/264 freeway opened, the old US 64/264 became Business US 64. According to the documents submitted to AASHTO, the route goes along the old 64 route starting in Knightdale then goes onto I-440 and ends at the new US 64/264. However, the state routing documents have the business route only on the old 64 route and ending at I-440. This is what the signing unit uses to post route markers, and is one reason there are no Business 64 references on I-440. The signing unit isn't very fast either. NC 6 was officially decommissioned in 2004, yet signs with the route on I-40 existed until this year.

Feel free to look through the list. Others investigating it have found applications for routes yet to exist. Adam Prince found an application for NC 452 which would have been the designation for the Western Half of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway. The NC 452 designation was approved in 1999 just before construction was to begin. Work never began due to a lawsuit and who knows when, or if, it will be built. I suspect the 452 number was a placeholder, like NC 752 was before it was re-designated I-74 when it was completed from I-77 to first US 601 then US 52. Now that the I-74 eastern section is to be built first, it's possible to perhaps sign the western-half I-274 from the start.

The NC 452 route designation was also after NCDOT's request that US 52 north of where the Beltway would have tied in to Mt. Airy be signed I-74 was rejected. The FHWA requested upgrading of US 52 first, a project that still isn't funded. Thus NC 452 signs would have appeared on completed sections of the western route. Once the entire western half was completed, and the US 52 upgrading at least funded, NCDOT would probably have then requested the I-274 designation at least to I-40. The 274 number first appeared publicly in NCDOT's Strategic Highway Corridors Triad Vision map that came out in 2004.

Commentary:
If I were NCDOT, after I-74 is at least completed to I-85 (hopefully next year), I would do to US 52 what was done along the pre-existing US 311 freeway west of High Point last year. Put up signs marking the route Future I-74/US 52 and change the exit numbers to I-74 based mileposts. Routes filling in for the missing Beltway (US 52 to/from I-40 and I-40 to/from US 311) could be signed 'To I-74' as was approved by AASHTO back in 1997. This would at least 'complete' an I-74 route from the VA border to I-85 in High Point and in a couple years to I-73 in Randleman.

It seems like the NC Treasurer's Office has been against Perdue's I-485 plan since October

Though NCDOT asserts that the NC Treasurers Office was in support of Governor Perdue's design-build-finance plan to complete Interstate 485, recently released e-mails from the treasurer's office suggest otherwise.

In an article in the Charlotte Business Journal, a number of e-mails within the treasurer's office show a strong sense of skepticism to the non-traditional construction plan.

The strongest critic seems to be Deputy Treasurer Vance Holloman who considers the design-build-finance plan as 'wild'.

Holloman goes as far to say, "[NCDOT's plan] of paying interest and principal over 10 years is not permitted by GS (General Statute)."

The Governor's office has already stated that they have consulted with the State Attorney General's office and that the plan is legal.

It appears that the root of this squabble is how to finance the road. The treasurer's office prefers to use up to $400 million in GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles) funds to fund the project. GARVEE funds do not go against the state's bond capacity. Something that the debt owed to the contractor in the design-build-finance plan would do.

However, the drawback with using GARVEE funds, NCDOT would have to reprioritize other projects. With Governor Perdue's campaign promise to Charlotte to start construction on the missing link of Interstate 485 in the balance, in addition to having limited transportation funds and a number of cities clamoring for completion of unbuilt freeway loops, it appears the NCDOT didn't want to anger Charlotte let alone the other cities again.

So now we wait for Attorney General Roy Cooper's office to come out and say whether or not this finance plan for I-485 is or is not prohibited by North Carolina's General Statutes.

Well it looks like Bev Perdue was right about one thing....she was going to get all parts of government and Raleigh and Charlotte working together...somehow I'd say this isn't exactly what she had in mind.

Story Links:
Legal concerns raised over I-485 financing plan ---WRAL
Documents: Treasurer was skeptical of I-485 Plan ---Charlotte Observer
Cat fight in Raleigh over I-485 -The CLog