The Diverging Diamond Interchange - started in France - imported to Missouri - and slowly appearing in North Carolina - is being proposed at one of the busiest interchanges in the Asheville area. If built, the Interstate 26 interchange with NC 280 will be home of the seventh type interchange within the state.
This interchange also serves Asheville Regional Airport and the area has seen significant growth over the last two decades. Construction on the new DDI interchange should begin in the fall of 2013 at a cost of $6.4 million.
For more: DOT previews interchange design for N.C. 280 ---Hendersonville Lightning
Monday, June 25, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
US 301 in NC - Virginia State Line to Halifax
(Editors Note: This is a first in a series documenting US 301 in North Carolina. This first installment covers US 301 from the Virginia State Line southwards to Halifax.)
When entering North Carolina from Virginia, US 301's past as a major north/south route greets you immediately.
What was once Coker's Motor Court sits on both sides of the state line. The old Stateline Junction Restaurant is closed but the gas station is still open and includes a convenience store where the state line is noted by a painted yellow line.
The owners of the convenience store hope to restore a number of the old rooms and allow small local businesses and artists to have store fronts here. They were kind enough to allow me to have an old linen postcard of Coker's to give an idea what the old motor court looked like in the 1940s and 50s.
US 301 southwards to Weldon has a number of old abandoned groceries and gas stations - some with intricate detail that you don't see at the corner gas station today.
Sadly, this station at the junction of US 301 and US 158 in Garysburg no longer stands.
Today, US 301 bypasses the town of Weldon to the East. However, a quick detour into town unveils a large piece of North Carolina's transportation history.
For much of the 1800's and the first half of the 20th Century, Weldon was a major railroad hub. In fact, when the Wilmington and Weldon railroad reached Weldon in 1841, it was the longest continuous railroad in the world. Walking through town, you can see how influential the railroad was within the town.
This 'back alley' had a number of rail tracks that came close to the back ends of the buildings shown above. Nearby, what was once the two-story Weldon Union Station, shared by the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line sits. The historic station is now a one story building and is home to a library.
Continuing South, the first Business US 301 appears as it heads into Halifax. Halifax has signficant historical importance within North Carolina. It was here on April 12, 1776 during the meeting of the Fourth Provincial Congress that the "Halifax Resolves" were agreed upon. This was the first official action of an entire colony to recommend independence from Great Britain.
Today, the town of Halifax is home to Historic Halifax State Historic Site where you can walk through numerous historic buildings from the 1700 and 1800s and learn about colonial and early American life .
Halifax itself is a pleasant small town and on most days it is extremely quiet. Business US 301 doesn't carry much traffic through town and it almost seems like an after thought. However, a brief detour on this route is definitely worthwhile.
If you'd like to see more photos from this segment of US 301, please my flickr site.
We'll continue south toward Rocky Mount and Wilson soon.
When entering North Carolina from Virginia, US 301's past as a major north/south route greets you immediately.
What was once Coker's Motor Court sits on both sides of the state line. The old Stateline Junction Restaurant is closed but the gas station is still open and includes a convenience store where the state line is noted by a painted yellow line.
The owners of the convenience store hope to restore a number of the old rooms and allow small local businesses and artists to have store fronts here. They were kind enough to allow me to have an old linen postcard of Coker's to give an idea what the old motor court looked like in the 1940s and 50s.
US 301 southwards to Weldon has a number of old abandoned groceries and gas stations - some with intricate detail that you don't see at the corner gas station today.
Sadly, this station at the junction of US 301 and US 158 in Garysburg no longer stands.
Today, US 301 bypasses the town of Weldon to the East. However, a quick detour into town unveils a large piece of North Carolina's transportation history.
For much of the 1800's and the first half of the 20th Century, Weldon was a major railroad hub. In fact, when the Wilmington and Weldon railroad reached Weldon in 1841, it was the longest continuous railroad in the world. Walking through town, you can see how influential the railroad was within the town.
This 'back alley' had a number of rail tracks that came close to the back ends of the buildings shown above. Nearby, what was once the two-story Weldon Union Station, shared by the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line sits. The historic station is now a one story building and is home to a library.
Continuing South, the first Business US 301 appears as it heads into Halifax. Halifax has signficant historical importance within North Carolina. It was here on April 12, 1776 during the meeting of the Fourth Provincial Congress that the "Halifax Resolves" were agreed upon. This was the first official action of an entire colony to recommend independence from Great Britain.
Today, the town of Halifax is home to Historic Halifax State Historic Site where you can walk through numerous historic buildings from the 1700 and 1800s and learn about colonial and early American life .
Halifax itself is a pleasant small town and on most days it is extremely quiet. Business US 301 doesn't carry much traffic through town and it almost seems like an after thought. However, a brief detour on this route is definitely worthwhile.
If you'd like to see more photos from this segment of US 301, please my flickr site.
We'll continue south toward Rocky Mount and Wilson soon.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
New England Road Trip Day 4 - Return to the Mohawk Trail
Back in October 2006, I took a vacation daytrip along the Mohawk Trail. It was one of my favorite autumn drives. So on our return trip back from Maine on our way to Schenectady, we took MA 2 and the Mohawk Trail, did some return visits to many of the attractions on the way, but also saw a few new items or two.
For the entire photo set from this trip, head over to flickr.
The French King Bridge over the Connecticut River pretty much marks the Eastern Terminus of the Mohawk Trail. East of here MA 2 begins to transition into a freeway connecting to Boston. West of here the road takes on a more rural and scenic drive. The bridge has spanned over the Connecticut River since 1932.
Our next stop was Shelburne Falls and the well known Bridge of Flowers.
The Bridge of Flowers is a concrete arch bridge that originally served as a trolley bridge over the Deerfield River. Opened in 1909, the bridge carried freight and passengers for the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway for nearly 20 years until the railway company went bankrupt. It was in 1928, when members of the local Women's Club, petitioned and fund raised to convert the old trolley bridge to an open air garden.
Shelburne Falls is actually the combination of the towns of Shelburne and Buckland which sit on opposite sides of the Deerfield River. Both towns have a number of cafes, galleries, and other local businesses that keep the central areas very lively and full of local and nearby residents plus tourists from near and far.
We continue east on MA 2 to Charlemont and with a turn on Mass 8A North - we come across the Bissell Bridge. When I first visited the bridge in February 2005, it was closed to traffic with a temporary bridge in place. Seven years later, the Bissell Bridge, built in 1951 as the second covered bridge at this site, handled vehicular traffic once again.
A little further east, and where the Mohawk Trail begins to exit the Pioneer Valley, sits the Hail to the Sunrise Monument. Honoring the tribes of the Five Nations, the statue has been a popular stop along the Mohawk Trail since 1932.
Further east, at Whitcomb Summit, sits the Elks Monument. Dedicated in 1923, to honor members of the Elks Fraternal Order that served in World War I. Whitcomb Summit sits at 2800 feet above sea level and the views are amazing!
Our final and maybe the most known segment and popular stop on the Mohawk Trail is the Hairpin Curve.
The views of the Hoosic Valley are impressive year round, but most spectacularly in the fall. The Golden Eagle Restaurant and Lounge is a popular spot - and is one of a number of buildings and attractions that has occupied the Hairpin Curve since the road first opened in 1914.
If you are ever in Massachusetts and want an alternative to driving the Mass Pike from Boston to Albany, I highly recommend the Mohawk Trail and all of MA 2. It's certainly worth the extra time.
For the entire photo set from this trip, head over to flickr.
The French King Bridge over the Connecticut River pretty much marks the Eastern Terminus of the Mohawk Trail. East of here MA 2 begins to transition into a freeway connecting to Boston. West of here the road takes on a more rural and scenic drive. The bridge has spanned over the Connecticut River since 1932.
Our next stop was Shelburne Falls and the well known Bridge of Flowers.
The Bridge of Flowers is a concrete arch bridge that originally served as a trolley bridge over the Deerfield River. Opened in 1909, the bridge carried freight and passengers for the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway for nearly 20 years until the railway company went bankrupt. It was in 1928, when members of the local Women's Club, petitioned and fund raised to convert the old trolley bridge to an open air garden.
Shelburne Falls is actually the combination of the towns of Shelburne and Buckland which sit on opposite sides of the Deerfield River. Both towns have a number of cafes, galleries, and other local businesses that keep the central areas very lively and full of local and nearby residents plus tourists from near and far.
We continue east on MA 2 to Charlemont and with a turn on Mass 8A North - we come across the Bissell Bridge. When I first visited the bridge in February 2005, it was closed to traffic with a temporary bridge in place. Seven years later, the Bissell Bridge, built in 1951 as the second covered bridge at this site, handled vehicular traffic once again.
A little further east, and where the Mohawk Trail begins to exit the Pioneer Valley, sits the Hail to the Sunrise Monument. Honoring the tribes of the Five Nations, the statue has been a popular stop along the Mohawk Trail since 1932.
Further east, at Whitcomb Summit, sits the Elks Monument. Dedicated in 1923, to honor members of the Elks Fraternal Order that served in World War I. Whitcomb Summit sits at 2800 feet above sea level and the views are amazing!
Our final and maybe the most known segment and popular stop on the Mohawk Trail is the Hairpin Curve.
The views of the Hoosic Valley are impressive year round, but most spectacularly in the fall. The Golden Eagle Restaurant and Lounge is a popular spot - and is one of a number of buildings and attractions that has occupied the Hairpin Curve since the road first opened in 1914.
If you are ever in Massachusetts and want an alternative to driving the Mass Pike from Boston to Albany, I highly recommend the Mohawk Trail and all of MA 2. It's certainly worth the extra time.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
New England Road Trip Day 4 - Pemaquid Point
Perhaps my favorite spot in all of Maine is Pemaquid Point and the lighthouse there. I first visited the lighthouse in the fall of 2003 and fell in love with surroundings. The deepest blue water I had ever seen - a cloudless autumn sky - rocky cliffs that you could climb and the reflection of the lighthouse in tidal pools are some of the items I remember from here.
I returned to Pemaquid Point early on a Sunday Morning. The fog and overcast from the past two days finally behind us. A cloudless sky again was the backdrop. The deep blue water was just as vivid if not more. The rocky cliffs were just as I recalled, and this time I got to explore more.
A lighthouse has stood at Pemaquid Point since 1827, and the current light has watched over the rocky cliffs since 1835. The lighthouse was also featured on the back of the Maine State Quarter - minted in 2003.
This was Joe and Doug's first visit to Pemaquid Point and they certainly enjoyed walking around the ground and getting the photos. We had the entire grounds to ourselves and were able to work our way up and down the rocks for some great photos. For my entire set on flickr, head here.
I really could spend almost all day here. It's a location that the images, sounds, and smells you don't forget and stay with you forever. Fortunately, I was able to make that return visit this year, and I anxiously await the chance to see it again.
I returned to Pemaquid Point early on a Sunday Morning. The fog and overcast from the past two days finally behind us. A cloudless sky again was the backdrop. The deep blue water was just as vivid if not more. The rocky cliffs were just as I recalled, and this time I got to explore more.
A lighthouse has stood at Pemaquid Point since 1827, and the current light has watched over the rocky cliffs since 1835. The lighthouse was also featured on the back of the Maine State Quarter - minted in 2003.
This was Joe and Doug's first visit to Pemaquid Point and they certainly enjoyed walking around the ground and getting the photos. We had the entire grounds to ourselves and were able to work our way up and down the rocks for some great photos. For my entire set on flickr, head here.
I really could spend almost all day here. It's a location that the images, sounds, and smells you don't forget and stay with you forever. Fortunately, I was able to make that return visit this year, and I anxiously await the chance to see it again.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Road Trip Along I-73/I-74 Corridor
Last Sunday Adam Prince, Chris Allen, and myself took an extended road trip taking in the Future I-73 Corridor from southern VA to Greensboro, Future I-74 SE of High Point and I-73/I-74 south of Randleman to Ellerbe. I will post some comments and photos from the I-74 and I-73/74 around Asheboro portions of our trip and will post the rest of the information on a revised, and revived, version of my I-73/I-74 pages to appear in the near future on Gribblenation.com.
1. I-74 Construction between Cedar Square Rd and US 220--
As most of you know, construction on the last piece of I-74 to be built
along the 'US 311 Bypass' is set to be completed in October.
Observations taken from the road trip suggest this may now be an
optimistic date. Work has moved along at the northern section of the
construction area. The roadbed is paved south from Cedar Square Rd to at
least a mile south. This was the case when I visited the area last
October. Things aren't as complete further south--
As you can see, not only is the area not paved, the grading has not been completed. That is because the current roadbed of Branson Davis Rd is still in the way--
The roadbed cannot be demolished until the bridge is complete and traffic can be re-routed. Some good news here, this now looks like it may happen this weekend, based on an e-mail from a local source I got this afternoon. A closer look at the area west of the bridge shows a lot of work still needs to be done--
This is a view under the bridge towards the other bridge under construction at Walker Mill Rd. (more below). The Branson Davis bridge appeared close to completion, confirmed if it is to open this weekend:
We didn't know it at the time, but apparently we were apparently one of the last to travel across the now former Walker Mill Rd. bridge.:
The completed bridge is to the right with only some minor issues remaining. From Walker Mill the I-74 roadbed is paved heading south toward the future US 311 interchange. Here's a view back to the north showing that view:
The unpaved roadbed the photo was taken from is the future ramps to and from West I-74. A closer look at the unfinished ramps:
The bridge carrying US 311 was finished in 2010, work has been proceeding on a replacement railroad bridge that is using the old US 311 right of way. There was plenty of traffic at this future interchange location, prompting speculation whether traffic signals are a part of the design.
South of the US 311 interchange we began to get more optimistic again. This is the scene at the Plainfield Rd. bridge looking southeast:
Asphalt picks up again and continues to the end of the project at US 220. The view to the northwest, though not as good, still holds promise:
While the roadbed is still not paved, it should be able to have pavement placed soon, perhaps when all the work at US 311 is completed. Here's the view looking back north from the next completed bridge at Heath Dairy Rd:
Here the roadbed is paved and work to landscape the median appears to be underway. What was most exciting was the view to the SE and the US 220 interchange. What are those things in the distance--
Signs! Or at least the future supports for signs going up at the end of the 311 freeway. What will be on those signs? A trip down through Asheboro provides some clues.
2. US 220 Through Asheboro
US 220 thru Asheboro has been under construction since 2010 to bring the highway up to interstate standards, or more accurately, what the FHWA has deemed close enough to allow the route (and the remaining future I-73/I-74 sections between Greensboro and Ellerbe) to be signed as full interstates. Unlike with I-74, there is optimism here this project can be completed on-time, by this November.
As can be seen in the photo above most of the work between the northern end of the work zone and NC 42 ( a couple miles south) has been completed. The remaining work in this area relates to signage--
Above are the supports for the future NC 42 interchange related signs that should look like this:
From the NCDOT signage plans. The left exit will be eventually removed in an additional project, currently unfunded, to improve safety through the Asheboro corridor. The only real work continuing is around the NC 42 exit. Here's a view approaching the off ramp:
And there's some work needed between the off and on-ramps as well:
The empty sign posts up ahead are for the next exit, US 64/NC 49. A view of that interchange:
Work is not completed on creating the center Jersey-barrier median that will be used in most of the corridor. The last section under construction is just south of the interchange:
Work has only just started on the median here. The bridge in the distance is for McDowell Rd. Just beyond construction is complete and you are now on I-73-74!
Or is it I-74/I-73, and why is I-74 heading the wrong direction. Oops. Here's what the new assemblies are supposed to look like, this one at the former start of the interstates beyond NC 134:
Yes, the shields are really huge, NCDOT spared no expense. Let's hope the rest that go up resemble these and not the first one. To totally convince you that you are on an interstate, mile markers begin--
And the milemarkers match the numbers on the new exit signs--
This is now formerly Exit 51. The rest of the exit signs south of here to Ellerbe should have their numbers switched by the end of the summer of 2013. Signs between I-74 in Randleman and the Asheboro construction area may get the new numbers when I-74 is completed. I will post additional photos and updates when my pages go back online.
UPDATE: Adam's photos from this trip can be found here.
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