Sure, Why Not?

Exploring MD 254 and 257

2012-01-19T22:51:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Southern Maryland for work. On the way home, I took a quick trip down MD 257 and 254 to Cobb Island. It's a quick little ride off of US 301 just north of the Nice Bridge.

The entire Flickr Set is here.

I drove MD 257 all the way to where MD 254 branches off towards Cobb Island. Cobb Island has an important place in the history of radio.

I was actually surprised that there wasn't more in Cobb Island. The entire island is home to numerous residential homes (it appears the people actually live here vs. vacation here) with no room for an easy pull of to take photos of the Potomac. Oh well, the surprises were soon to begin.

Back at MD 257, I took a right to head towards Rock Point. The views also were not available. But there's a neat narrow concrete road once MD 257 ends.

When you head away from Rock Point on MD 257 to head back towards MD 254, you come across this old sign gem.

Heading back to US 301, there are a few older building that tell of a busier past. In the community of Issue, there's this old corner country store that I have a feeling did a lot of seafood business.

In addition to selling Coca-Cola.

Near US 301, there's a historic Lutheran Church in Wayside.

Christ Church Wayside - William and Mary Parish - has been in existence since 1692. Interestingly enough, an old embossed AAA cast iron sign is also located here.

Some pretty good finds on an otherwise quiet drive.

Thursday Jersey: Palisades Interstate Parkway

2012-01-12T20:00:00.002-05:00

This week's installment of Thursday Jersday takes us to North Jersey, to the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The Palisades Interstate Parkway is one of the major thoroughfares in Bergen County, New Jersey, and runs from the George Washington Bridge up to Rockland County, New York, alongside the Palisades of the Hudson River.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/sets/72157622941819060/ - Doug Kerr's photos

Thursday Jersday: Beesleys Point Bridge

2012-01-05T18:27:00.003-05:00

Here's a feature that I plan on doing every Thursday for the next few months. I'll be posting a link to a New Jersey collection of photos I've taken and posted onto Flickr, for your enjoyment.

The first week's installment will take us to the controversial Beesleys Point Bridge, which crosses over the Great Egg Harbor in South Jersey. Enjoy!

Beesleys Point Bridge (December 2011 photos)

Beesleys Point Bridge (February 2005 photos, as a bonus)

Christmas Eve trip through the Laurel Highlands

2011-12-31T18:18:00.000-05:00

On Christmas Eve, I traditionally take a brief four or five hour loop trip to an area of Southwestern PA I haven't been to before. This Christmas Eve was no different as I headed east into the Laurel Highlands.

Route: PA 48, PA 51, I-70, PA 31, US 119, PA 982, US 22, PA 217, US 30, PA 711, PA 31, PA Tpk, I-70, PA 51, and PA 48.

The entire photo set on flickr is here.

When I got on PA 982 North, I immediately came upon this sign.

Obviously, I was curious about the Iron Furnace (more on that later); however, the sign style intrigued me. The sign's font, besides being the same font from Law & Order, is what is used for the destination signs throughout the Laurel Highlands. These signs come from the Laurel Highlands Visitor Bureau. The style is slightly similar to the Keystone Town Markers we all know and love, but aren't exact.

So I did travel the four or so miles up PA 982 and then took a quick right turn onto Oremine Hill Road and came to the Mount Vernon Iron Furnace.

Amazingly, this stone furnace has been standing here since the early 1800s! It was first built my Isaac Mason in 1798 and operated until 1830. It is amazing that something over 200 years old and exposed to the elements like this furnace is pretty good condition.

Further north on PA 982 is the town of Youngstown. The town recently had a replica Keystone Town Marker made - but it's nowhere near as nice as the originals.

The brief amount of time I was on US 22 between PA 982 and PA 217 in Blairsville. I noticed that there were a lot of jughandle turnaroundd on this recently rebuilt section. Many of the jughandles also had guide signs for advance warning. Like the one shown below.

At Blairsville, I exited US 22 to head south on PA 217. However, I did briefly stop in Blairsville, and I am glad I did. First, US 22 had ran through downtown Blairsville until the 1950s when US 22 was moved to the north on a new bypass. US 22 ran through downtown Blairsville on Market Street. But to get to Blairsville from Westmoreland County you had to cross the Conemaugh River over this bridge.

I stopped and did a quick photowalk through Blairsville, and it didn't disappoint.

From there, it was a rather uneventful drive down PA 217 to US 30 and then PA 711. However, I did find one decent road item in Donegal. A Pennsylvania Turnpike cutout that has seen better days.

From there it was onto the Turnpike and back to my parent's home to watch the football game and begin the Christmas celebrations. Overall, this was a nice little trip, I do think that the scenery would be enhanced if there was some snowfall, but I did pick up some new mileage on PA 982, 217 and 711, so I can't complain. Happy New Year Everyone!

Butler, PA Walkabout

2011-12-31T17:33:00.001-05:00

Over the Christmas holiday, I was able to explore parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania. On December 23rd, we took a drive up to and walked around the town of Butler.

To visit the entire photo set on flickr, head here.

Butler is a unique town of 15,000 located about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh. It is the county seat of Butler County. The County Courthouse (shown below) was built in 1885 and is still in use today.

One of more unique buildings in Bulter is the Butler County Motor Company Ford Dealership.

This is the first time I had seen an automotive dealer be housed in a multi-story building like this. The Butler County Motor Company (aka Butler County Ford) has been around since 1918 and was one of the first Ford automotive dealerships authorized by Henry Ford.

Walking down Main Street in Butler - there are a number of great older building, storefronts, and ghost signs.

One of the buildings that caught my eye at the end was the home of the Penn Theatre. Even though looking up the theatre online says that it is being renovated, it looks in pretty bad shape, and most of those articles date to 2005 and the theatre looks a lot better then.

The theatre was built in 1938 and was sold in 2001. Currently, the Butler Penn Theatre Community Trust hopes to renovate the Penn Theatre but the last information I found was a presentation from 2009. I certainly hope that this theatre can be renovated and that various events small, large, local, and otherwise can occur there.

Finally, it was a cold day and even some snow flurries briefly fell through the air. Maggie and I stopped at a Downtown Butler tradition, Cummings Candy and Coffee Shop to warm up and get something to eat.

The Cummings family have owned and operated the shop since 1905 - making it the oldest family owned business in Butler! Inside definitely has an old fashioned soda shop feel, and it's a great place to have some coffee or tea or a quick snack.

There's a lot more to Butler than the quick 30 or so minute walk that Friday before Christmas. It was certainly worth the drive to check out for the first time.

Triangle Expressway Construction, October 2011

2011-12-29T16:17:00.023-05:00

While in the Raleigh/Durham area in October, I had a few hours to check out progress on building the Western Wake Freeway (NC 540) portion of the Triangle Expressway (TriEx). Work had largely been completed along the Triangle Parkway (NC 147) portion, but I was about 6 weeks too early to be able to drive on it. I did get to drive over and around it though on my way to NC 540. Here's the approach to the Hopson Road interchange area:
They were still working closer to the intersection at Davis Drive on a Saturday:
Turning right on Davis I proceeded to the Davis Drive interchange, a C/D ramp and signalized intersections connect the two interchanges together:
Note the fancy brick face on the bridge approaches. Here's the approach on Davis from the other direction:
Since I could not use the Parkway, I had to approach NC 540 using I-40. Approaching the former Davis Drive exit on West 540 I got to see the future Triangle Expressway/Parkway interchange signs covered up:
The content of these signs can be seen on Adam's post regarding the opening of the Triangle Parkway. Note the fancier sign support posts. I was glad they kept the revised exit numbers I helped NCDOT 'discover' when they opened NC 540. This was confirmed on my trip by seeing this new, but uncovered, sign for the NC 55 exit:

You can see one of the toll gantries for eastbound NC 540 traffic on the left.

Proceeding now to the unopened section on what will be South and North NC 540. From McCrimmon Parkway one can see the NC 55 interchange in the distance from the bridge opened in the Spring of 2011:
Panther Creek HS is to the right, along with their football stadium whose high bleachers would probably allow someone to make traffic reports on the TriEx next fall. With the exception of signage and line markings this section appears near completion. As does the section south of McCrimmon towards Carpenter Fire Station Road:
Some shoulder maintenance work was going on while I took these photos. The next image shows the view back towards McCrimmon Parkway from the bridge in the distance above:
The view south from the Carpenter Fire Station bridge shows a similar stage of Tri-Ex completion down to Green Level School Road:
The next stop was the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, in particular the parking lot which borders the Tri-Ex southbound. Here's a view north toward the Green Level School Bridge:
The construction contractors have kept the shoulder and median grasses mowed, wish I could say the same for the baseball folks. Had to do a little jungle fighting to get the photo below which looks further south. Same stage of completion here as farther north:
The Green Level West bridge and future interchange are in the distance and the next stop. They were still working on the road in this location:
Looking south it appeared some more concrete work needed to be done on the northbound lanes. They also were working on the on and off ramps north of the bridge:
The bridge had only recently been opened and was wide enough to carry four lanes of through traffic and at least one lane for left-hand turns onto the TriEx ramps:
This is a closeup view of the future northbound NC 540 onramp:
The concrete stopped along the roadbed between this future interchange and the Jenks Road bridge just north of US 64. This bridge had just been opened the week before. Unfortunately, this is the best view of the roadway construction I could get. This road connects Jenks to the Mall near the corner of NC 55 and US 64:
The lanes here just have a preliminary asphalt covering heading south toward the US 64 bridge. This the view approaching the bridge on US 64 West:
Approach lanes to the off ramps have been created, but the ramps are still awaiting pavement. Here's the view from south of the US 64 bridge:
A closer look at the future NB NC 540 on ramp to US 64:
I had a wedding to prepare for, so I could not check out the rest of the TriEx corridor down to the NC 55 Bypass in Apex. The rest of the highway corridor has been cleared and work is proceeding on grading, if not paving, some of the sections of the future roadway. There have been occasional lane closings on US 1 and a detour on Old US 1 implying work on bridges to cross these roadways is proceeding. Grading has been completed at the NC 55 Bypass.

From what I saw, it appears that the NCTA will be able to open NC 540 as far as US 64 by next summer as planned, the rest is due to be opened by the end of 2012. I hope to get down again to the area hopefully as early as after the first section is open.

Meanwhile, maps, updates and photos of construction progress can be found, if not at Gribblenation, then at the NCTA Western Wake Freeway site.

Latest on MassDOT Sign Replacement Projects

2011-12-28T11:33:00.025-05:00

Having been back in Mass. for more than a year now, I've gotten a chance to check the progress of the various MassDOT freeway sign replacement projects (more photos below). Over the last 4-5 years there has been a binge in new sign replacement projects. Whether this is due to deferred maintenance catching up, stimulus funds, new department priorities, or a combination of any of these, signs have been updated on most of the interstates, such as I-195, I-495, the Mass Pike and along with many state limited access highways-MA 2, MA 3, MA 25, and others. The most recent contracts have been along I-95 (MA 128) and I-93. Under 3 current contracts almost all signage along I-93 (with the exception of the Big Dig portion) should be replaced in the next 1 1/2 years. The last major contract for I-95, from MA 9 in Wellesley to MA 4/225 in Lexington was advertised last week. Work has been completed north of there, including the MA 128 only section from Peabody to Gloucester (with new mileposts that recognize MA 128 ends in Canton, ending efforts at truncation, for now?).

Being Massachusetts, the efforts at sign replacement have been complicated by the state's refusal to accept the current 2009 MUTCD, most likely due to the now required use of milepost based exit numbers. When the revised version came out, MassHighway (MassDOT's predecessor) withdrew advertisements for several sign replacement contracts and terminated a contract already in process for I-93 from Randolph to Boston. The major problem, it appeared, was the contract language in these proposals that called for using 'the latest revision of the MUTCD.' MassHighway withdrew these projects and re-advertised them in the last couple years with contracts specifying contractors use the 2003 MUTCD and 2007 Massachusetts amendments. This means consecutive exit numbers and no Clearview font. A MassDOT spokesman indicated in a 2010 e-mail that they were, with several other states, fighting the milepost number requirement and were proceeding with consecutive numbering on new signage with a system in place to allow for rapid conversion to mile-based numbers, if they were forced to change. This was a response to an e-mail I sent which had suggested with all the recent sign replacement contracts, why not use this as an opportunity to switch to mileage based numbers? The response was the continuing debate over the MUTCD with the FHWA and that signs on all the highways would have to be switched almost all at the same time, making it very costly. What about the cost of having to convert the numbers later on? From the FHWA website, it seems Massachusetts is the only state not to have signed on to the 2009 MUTCD. Does this mean they are now the only state fighting exit number conversion?

As for recent sign replacement projects, I was able to travel both MA Route 2 west of I-95 and I-93 and I-95 north of Boston in the last couple months. The latest I-95 and MA 2 projects are basically complete, the I-93 contracts are proceeding but are only at the stage of placing posts for new exit signage along the roadway north of Boston. In a preview of signs to come, MassDOT has replaced some of the signage in Waltham as part of the Winter Street Bridge replacement project. The photo below compares the new signage, identical in style to that replaced further north, with the currently existing signage south of MA 4/225:
Here's a view of the new bridge that was formally dedicated yesterday (12/27):
(these have previously been posted on my Facebook page, if they look familiar to some). Taking a look at the new signage along MA 2. The new signs use the previously existing consecutive numbering system which is based on the route being limited access along its total route from I-91 east. No freeway exists for parts of this route so there are gaps in the exit numbers, this route more than others would benefit from a mileage based system. Instead of numbers running from 14 to 43 and 52 to 61, they would run from upward from 67 to 135 (numbers based on MassDOT GIS files listing exit numbers and milepost location). I've previously posted new signage east of I-95 (which would be exit 128, ironically, under a mile-based system) and east. Heading west the first real exit signs are for the re-start of the freeway at the split with MA 111 in Acton:
The new signs have the yellow tab above left exits and yellow exit only tabs on right hand exits, not typically seen on previous signs. Here's more from approaching the interchange:
The arrows below the MA 2 west sign reflect a curve 1/4 mile beyond the exit, not at the exit itself. Here's signage approaching I-495:
No more button copy for the numbers on interstate signs. Signage approaching I-190:
Notice the new 2010 mile marker on the right. Following this system MA 70 would be Exit 103 and I-190 Exit 101. I took a photo of this sign because I remember getting off here on a bus in high school with the rest of the band to participate in the state music competition...
We finished in first place my senior year. The new exit signs continue almost out to US 202 where the highway becomes a Super-2 expressway. The last signs beforehand...
These were taken on the way out to the Road Meet in Bennington VT. The following Sunday I surveyed the new signage on I-95 (128) between Exit 31 in Lexington and I-93 (Exit 37).
This is new for MassDOT, what I call a 2-tiered sign, both A and B ramps in one sign instead of the traditional 2. This photo shows the new overhead and ground based sign assembly:
The I-95 and MA 128 shields are both on one pole. This is a return to earlier designs, starting in the 1980s you tended to each route on two different assemblies. Is this to comply with standards or a cost cutting action? This apparently doesn't apply when three routes are involved as when US 3 joins in Burlington:
The North US 3 sign is on a separate sign. It will be interesting to see what is done with ground mounted route signs along the I-93/US 1/MA 3 Southeast Expressway.
The new diagrammatic signs are not too different from what was there previously:
There's room for a control city on the left side, but MUTCD prefers one city which is a problem when the two routes soon go in different directions. Another diagrammatic display for the same exit, headed southbound this time:
The former 2-tiered signs are split up at the exits for US 3 and MA 3A itself:
The overhead signage traveling further northbound:
The placement of a sign for the next exit, even if it is more than a mile away, is also somewhat new for MassDOT. Now we are approaching the end of the new signage at I-93:
It appears all major interchanges now will have a full exit sign 2 miles before the exit. Previously if one appeared at all, it was very small.

Here we see a sign for I-93 South, but nothing for I-93 north, more or less confusing?
Then this sign for the next exit for MA 28 shows up before I-93:
Before you finally get to the I-93 interchange itself. Hopefully, all the stakeholders will eventually agree on how to rebuild this interchange. Meanwhile, now exiting to I-93 South:
Notice the exit only tab at the bottom, it's quite small, guess they figure you should know your going onto I-93 by now. Like I indicated previously, with the exception of some new signage at some on some of the intersecting roadways, the contractors have not gotten to placing new signs along the I-93 mainline as of yet. This may not happen until the spring.

Lastly, what would be a Mass. signage (or lack of) post be without a personal rant:
Where are we? If you recognize the Cigo sign and the Prudential building you know that this is Kenmore Square in Boston. It is also the end of transcontinental US 20 where it intersects (for the second time in the past mile or so) MA 2 at the light up ahead. You would never know this if you were depending on route signs. The last US 20 East shield is 1/2 mile back, the first US 20 West assembly is maybe a couple blocks closer to the Square. Any Begin or End signs, references to any numbered routes, or indicators of which route goes where as you proceed either way? Nope. There used to be an End US 20 sign but that came down with the last Square reconstruction with no sign (sorry) of return. Unless you know that Comm. Ave is MA 2 east of the Square and US 20 to the west, you wouldn't know where to turn at this multi-street intersection. But you should know where you are going before coming to Massachusetts anyway, correct?

My next post will bring me back, briefly, to North Carolina.

I-73/I-74 in NC: The Year in Review, Part 2

2011-12-27T11:19:00.024-05:00

Part 2 will focus on I-74. Besides the construction projects indicated in Part 1, there are also 2 others currently on US 74 that will be useful when signed as an interstate. In Columbus County NCDOT contractors are working on upgrading the current at-grade intersections with NC 242 north of Whiteville, and NC 211 just east of Whiteville bypass freeway into interchanges. Work began on both projects in the summer of 2010 and are scheduled for completion in 2012. Currently the NC 242 project is farther along, at about 75% complete compared to about 50% for NC 211, and should open first. These two projects, along with a bridge replacement just south of the current end of I-74, that extends the de facto I-74 freeway another 4 miles, suggest a piece-meal approach to bringing US 74 between Whiteville and Lumberton up to interstate standards. While there is a project on the books, still unfunded, to upgrade US 74/76 from Whiteville to Wilmington to Interstate standards, there's no comparable one to fill in this gap. Whether this stretch continues to be improved one intersection at a time, or all at once, this is not likely to happen until after 2020. The call to build a freeway between Whiteville and US 17 for connecting I-74 to Myrtle Beach has not been publicly expressed since the Easley administration left office and NCDOT completed studies showing its high cost. Perhaps the funding of the upgrade of US 74/76 will renew the calls to end I-74 in Wilmington.

There was movement on another future I-74 project during 2011, the long-promised Winston Salem Northern Beltway. When NCDOT completed a ranking list of all its urban loop projects in 2010 and Winston-Salem finished last, meaning no construction for at least another ten years, the citizen outcry was so high, especially from property owners along the projected beltway's path, that NCDOT went back and reformulated its loop priority list. While this improved the projects' rank, it still put the Beltway out of the top 10 priority projects on the list. With a threatened lawsuit by city of Winston-Salem and/or its residents a possibility, NCDOT and Governor Perdue stepped in during 2011 and created a new 'urban loop acceleration plan' that moved up the dates of several projects, including Winston-Salem's. Using GARVEE bonds as a funding source, property acquisition will begin next year and construction of the first segment of what will be I-74 between US 158 and Business 40/US 421 will start in 2015. For a more complete description of the project visit NCDOT's Winston-Salem Beltway page.

As for construction occurring in 2011, the I-74 (US 311 Bypass) freeway project is about 75% complete. Though technically behind (NCDOT projects it should be 87% complete at this time), the completion date for the project was moved up from November to October 2012. As can be seen in the photos below, taken this past October, much of the bridge work is complete, while further work needs to take place on the roadbed and the interchanges. This has been photographed before, but this is the current end of I-74 at Cedar Square Road:
The view from the Cedar Square bridge eastward shows progress in extending the freeway toward Spencer Road:
While the prior contract put down the graded roadbed south of the Cedar Square exit, the current contract was responsible for paving the road. The new road cuts off Spencer Road with the road to the east of the freeway now getting the name of Old Spencer Road. Here's a view from the roadbed itself looking back at the Cedar Square interchange:
This visit cost my shoes and car a good layer of North Carolina mud. The mud didn't completely come off my car until about a month ago. Proceeding south, according to NCDOT, the bridge for the next crossroad, Banner Whitehead Road, was completed in early December. While I didn't make it down to this area, I did visit the next major crossroad, Branson Davis Road:
Here the bridge and road are being built on a new alignment to the south/east of the current road. The roadbed for the bridge has been completed but work remains on the sides and connecting the new road to the bridge and the new road to the old one. To the north/west of the bridge progress can be seen on building a new connector road to Nelson Park Road which will be cut by the new freeway:
Work on the roadbed itself, as seen above and below, had not progressed all that far:
To the east work has been completed on a bridge carrying Walker Mill Road over the future freeway. This is the view from just east of the new bridge south toward the future interchange with current US 311:
Definite progress on constructing the freeway roadbed here. The bridge carrying current US 311 over the new freeway was completed in the spring of 2011. Here's a view approaching on US 311 South:
The new road has three lanes in anticipation for turn lanes for the new interchange still under construction. To the right, the old roadway now serves as the future rail corridor and work is continuing on building a new railroad bridge.

South and east of the future US 311 interchange, the next major crossroads is Plainfield Road. Here a new bridge has been completed along with a road to connect to the farm further south on Old Courthouse Road that will be cutoff from the rest of the road east of the freeway that connects to current US 311:
The new road, called Cooper Farm Road, I assume after the owners, connects to Plainfield just west of the new bridge, which can be seen here:
Completion of this bridge had been held up to wet weather which has made much of a lake of the original roadbed under which the bridge would cross. Another bridge that has been completed this past year is the final crossroad before US 220, Heath Dairy Road:
This view is from the western side of the bridge. Looking north from the bridge itself one can
see progress on constructing the road back to Plainfield Road:
While looking south one can view the completed ramps for the US 220 interchange:
The bridge that can be seen is not over US 220 but takes the future I-74 East ramp to US 220 (I-73) north over the I-74 West roadway. Asphalt has been placed at least up to the split of the eastbound freeway into north and southbound ramps. To look at the ramps over US 220 one has to travel on that highway itself. Here is the approach southbound of the complete interchange:
The future off ramp to I-74 east is blocked by orange barrels. The first bridge approached:
Is the future ramp from I-74 East to US 220 (I-73) north. This ramp was to originally been a flyover design but was changed to a much simpler (and cheaper) bridge and cloverleaf ramp during final design. The next bridge is the flyover ramp bridge to carry I-74 West:
Work appears nearly to be complete on the bridge, while there appears more to do:
On the future ramp for I-74 West. Here's another view of the bridges from US 220 North:
As indicated above, this project is now scheduled to be completed in October 2012. Whether it's opening will be coordinated with the finish of the Asheboro project and whether US 220 will be signed as a full interstate between Randleman and Asheboro is unknown. NCDOT has kept as unfunded plans to upgrade US 220 to an interstate between Greensboro and Asheboro. They may be hoping for a waiver on this section of US 220, which is close to interstate standards, to allow interstate signage as far north as the future I-74/US 220 interchange. The other upgrade projects for US 52 north of Winston-Salem and US 74 between the Laurinburg and Rockingham Bypasses were also left unfunded in the latest state TIP, meaning construction is not scheduled until after 2020.

I plan to include this information and more photos in an updated version of my I-73/74 web pages currently still on the Duke server. I hope to find another host and time to revise and move the pages within the next month. My next post will be from the new (old) home, Massachusetts, then more construction progress photos of the Triangle Expressway.

I-73/I-74 in NC: The Year in Review, Part 1

2011-12-26T17:27:00.011-05:00

It's been about a year since my last post and moving up to MA. Thought I'd reintroduce myself by posting on familiar topics from NC and then perhaps some new posts about recent road trips in the Boston area.

When I left NC in Nov. 2010, NCDOT was about to open the next segment of I-74/US 311 freeway near High Point. Adam provided a good summary of the road after it opened on November 2010. It hadn't changed much in my trip on the road in October. The last year has seen NCDOT contractors quietly continue progress on two I-73 and I-74 related projects in Randolph County. First is the extension of I-74 to US 220 (I-73) near Randleman. The second is the reconstruction of US 220 through the Asheboro area so it can be signed officially as I-73/74. Both these projects are to be completed in the fall of 2012, perhaps allowing I-73 and I-74 to be signed between Randleman and Asheboro.

Two more contracts are to be let this upcoming year for projects at either end of the current corridor. In February, the first segment of the US 220-NC 68 Connector project is going out to bid. This part (part C) will involve widening the current US 220 from the future Connector route at the Haw River north to NC 68 into an interstate highway. As part of the project, but unrelated to I-73, US 220 south toward Greensboro will be made into a 4-lane Expressway. The I-73 work will involve preliminary engineering at either end of the construction area to reroute US 220 onto ramps over the future Connector at the Haw River and to re-do the current intersection with NC 68 at the north end so that US 220 (future I-73) traffic is the through route. Currently if one wants to stay on US 220 South they must make a left turn off the 4-lane roadway which becomes NC 68. There will be no interchange built for NC 68 at this time, traffic entering from NC 68 will be controlled through a traffic light. Interchanges for US 158 and NC 65 will be built as well as part of the future US 220 interchange with I-73, as indicated above. There currently is a US 158 interchange, but it will have to be mostly rebuilt. Here's a photo of what the current US 220 roadway looked like in 2008 near NC 65:
According to the project signage plans, the exit signs will not receive exit numbers until the rest of the connector is built and I-73 is officially extended north. The US 158 control cities will be Stokesdale and Reidsville. NC 65 will not have any cities listed on its exit sign, while the US 220 South exit sign will indicate Greensboro. This will be a right lane exit with US 220 south taking a ramp over the future I-73 roadbed while northbound US 220 will merge on the right to meet the I-73 highway heading north. The work on this section is to be completed by 2016 when work is to commence on parts A and B of the contract to build the Connector to NC 68. When that is complete, or concurrently, a connector route between NC 68 and Bryan Blvd will be built to finish the connection to the Greensboro Urban Loop, currently Future I-73/I-840.

The other contract also involves US 220. In this case the building of the US 220 Rockingham Bypass. Like the contract above, this project is split into 3 parts, the first, to upgrade US 220 from about five miles south of the current end of the I-73/74 US 220 freeway to where the Bypass will be built is currently planned to be let in November 2012. Plans have not been posted, but I believe at least one interchange is to be built between US 220 Business and the future bypass. Work is to start in early 2013 and should be complete by 2015.

The last new contract, to be let in early 2013, will upgrade the signing along the existing I-73/74 freeway north of Ellerbe to what is now Exit 51, the current end of Interstate 73. The only signage that truly substandard and needs to be replaced is on the old section of US 220 freeway south of Exit 39. The rest will be updated with new exit numbers to match I-73 mileage. The numbers need to be changed to match the I-73 milepost numbers that will be on the new signs in the Asheboro section when that project is completed. Where there are exit numbers, they will have to go up by 17 to account for the planned I-73 start at the SC border south of Hamlet. What is now Exit 51 will become Exit 68. For a complete list of new exit numbers in the Asheboro segment now under construction go to my I-73 Segment 8 page.

As for construction projects in 2011, the Asheboro segment construction is running ahead of schedule. From NCDOT's Construction Progress Report, as of the end of November the work was about 55% complete, they had projected about 45%. It is unknown whether the completion of the work while be coordinated with the I-74/US 311 project so that both are finished about the same time so that I-74 signage can be put up along the segment in between. Most of the work south of US 64 appeared to be done when I traveled through in mid-October. As shown in the photos below:
This is the view heading south on US 220 between McDowell Rd and Exit 51. There may be more work to be done with the median.
This is a view about a mile further south getting closer to Exit 51. Turning around...
The lane was closed for some additional bridge work. NCDOT states in its TIMS traffic management system that work on this section could be completed in April of next year. Much more work though needs to be done north of US 64, though there were some signs of progress:
This is heading south on US 220 near the start of construction. Barriers have been placed down to allow for the widening of the right shoulder. Some portions have been completed with the addition of new guardrails:
Notice that posts for new signage have been put up but no new exit signs or supports for new overhead signage, as above for the NC 42 exit. The situation is the same near US 64:
At least some of the US 64 exit overhead assemblies have been taken down, but there was no sign work was going on to replace them at the time.

In Part 2 I will summarize progress on the I-74 freeway and update news about the building of the beltway around Winston-Salem.

Doug Kerr's Flickr Updates (December 2011)

2011-12-21T06:57:00.003-05:00

I was able to get through all of my New England photos from the past 6 months or so, spending the last few weeks uploading what I have for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Here's the links to those collections for your enjoyment.

CT - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157607561048312/
MA - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157607253434712/
NH - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157607251994954/
VT - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157607252483558/

I also uploaded some photos from my recent trip into Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia (for the 2nd ICC meet).

MD - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157622760590627/
NJ - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157622937824688/
PA - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157607613959654/
VA - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157622038789435/

Currently, I'm sorting through my backlog of New York road photos from the middle of May to the current date. I plan to start uploading these photos when all photos have been sorted, which I anticipate to be sometime in January.

Have a Happy Holiday (Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, etc.) and a Happy New Year!

NC 44 is back!

2011-12-16T12:27:00.001-05:00

It's been nearly 20 years since we've seen this number on a North Carolina highway.

The first leg of the 20 mile Goldsboro Bypass opened to traffic Friday Morning - with no fanfare at all. The 3.9 miles of freeway carries the designation of NC 44. This is the second incarnation of NC 44 - the first lasted from the 1930 until 1994 in the northeastern part of the state. In 1994, NC 44 was replaced by extensions to NC 33 and 111.

This version of NC 44 won't last more than a decade either. When the entire bypass is complete - most likely in 2016 - US 70 will move onto the new bypass. This might me a first, as I don't know of any other new highway in North Carolina receiving a temporary number - only to be redesignated another route number when the highway is completed.

For the entire photo set on flickr - head here.

NC 44 begins at Interstate 795.

I-795 North and South will have flyover ramps connecting to the bypass - while NC 44 will have conventional ramps to the Interstate.

The milemarkers and exit numbers for NC 44 follow US 70's mileage. Hey, it's one less thing to change when 70 moves onto the bypass.

This is looking east from Wayne Memorial Drive. Construction to continue the bypass east towards US 13 and then join back with the current US 70 near LaGrange should be gin late in 2012 or early 2013.

Here's NC 44 west at US 117.

And finally, the current west end of NC 44 at I-795.

Finally, on US 117 at NC 44 a few different type of signs that haven't been common in NC. First, this sign at the interchange. I really like this and hope more interchanges at the state will use these.

There are also - a first I think for the state - California style 'Freeway Entrance' signs at each ramp on US 117. I didn't notice this until driving home Friday night and it was dark so I am going to try and get a photo of it next week.

Damaged from Irene, Mohawk Trail Finally Reopens

2011-12-15T22:53:00.006-05:00

Due to significant damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene in late August, a portion of MA Route 2 connecting the towns of North Adams, Florida, Savoy, and Charlemont in northern Berkshire and Franklin counties was closed. Because MA 2 (Mohawk Trail) is a major connecting route between the communities in the area, it was imperative to reconstruct the damaged portion of the roadway in a quick fashion. Construction had to be done from the base up. As a result, this section of MA 2 has finally reopened to traffic, effective December 15, 2011. This is one of the final stretches of roadway that has reopened to traffic after being damaged from the remnants of Hurricane Irene.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/massdot/sets/72157627932012320/
MA 2 construction photos from MassDOT on Flickr.

2005 Doug Kerr photo from the aforementioned stretch of roadway.

Catching Up: US 401 north of Raleigh

2011-12-13T22:31:00.001-05:00

Early in May, I took a road trip up US 401 into Virginia. Later that day I took, US 301 south from Skippers to Halifax, NC (but that is a separate series and post that will come later).

Photo Set on flickr.

This trip generated a handful of locations for the Carolina Crossroads Project....

...but as I headed further away from Raleigh - there were some goodies.

I like the stenciled zero in this US 401 shield.

I need to go back and photograph the towns of Warrenton and Wise, but my focus that day was US 301, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

NCDOT: First Leg of Goldsboro Bypass should be open by the end of this week

2011-12-13T12:59:00.001-05:00

NCDOT confirmed to me on twitter today that the first leg of the Goldsboro Bypass will be open to traffic by week's end. The first leg of the new freeway runs from I-795 east to Wayne Memorial Drive.

The new highway will be designated NC 44. This is the re-commissioning of an Eastern North Carolina route that was removed in 1994. The designation, however, will not last long as when the bypass is completed, US 70 will be moved onto the freeway bypass.

I will have a photo tour posted on the blog once the highway opens.

Tour of the Triangle Expressway

2011-12-10T13:10:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, December 10th, I took a drive to check out the newly opened NC 147 Extension and what will become on Janurary 3rd - the state's first toll road.

Of course, the entire photoset from the trip is on flickr.

Right before Thanksgiving, a number of us got a sneak peak at the new highway during the Expressway Trot, a 5k that went from Hopson Road to Interstate 40 and back. Obviously, this time I was driving on it, and not running. So let's take a look at some of the signs approaching NC 147 from I-40 and NC 147 itself.

The VMS's on I-40 in both directions announced the new highway's opening.

The overheads on I-40 at I-540 have been updated for the eventual extension of the Triangle Expressway and NC 540. Some of the signs are quite gigantic.

The signs at NC 147 have been updated as well. Any of the signs for the entrance to the toll road read: "NC Quick Pass" or "Bill by Mail". Note the Exit 278 sign. It should read "NC 55 / TO NC 54"

The Exit Gore on I-40 for NC 147 South read "TOLL EXIT" which I had not seen before, but I am guessing is MUTCD standard.

And here we are on NC 147 South TOLL.

This overhead is quite the size. It's for the directional Y interchange where NC 147 meets NC 540. Note a few things on the sign. One NC 540 changes from East/West here (I-540 is also signed as East/West) to North/South. Also, there's space for when NC 540 becomes Toll and eventually for TO US 1 South and possibly US 64.

When you get to Exit 1 - you will notice ghost ramps stubs for a four lane highway. This will one day head to Cary and meet the McKrimmon Parkway.

Now we're headed North on NC 540 approaching the new Exit 67 for NC 147 and the Triangle Expressway.

Exit 67 had previously led to Davis Drive at Kit Creek Road. Now, Exit 67 is a high powered, free-flowing, fast moving, expressway to expressway interchange. (If I said freeway, it would be misleading since both roads will soon be tolled.)

Speaking of tolling, here's what the all electronic toll booths look like. This is where NC 540 will transition from free to toll and vice versa. These toll booths will remain inactive to later in 2012 when the TriEx and NC 540 is extended southwards towards Apex and eventually Holly Springs.

Now I am on NC 540 West/South approaching NC 147.

There wasn't a lot of traffic this Saturday afternoon. It was about 12:30 when I took this photo. It'll be interesting to see if this is what the highway will look like once the tolls begin on January 3rd.

An interesting oddity on NC 147, the Davis Drive/Hopson Road Interchange has a different exit number in each direction. Southbound it is Exit 3 - and Hopson Road is the first access point. Northbound is Exit 2 with Davis Drive it's first access point. Here is the Exit 2 off ramp at Hopson Road. Davis Drive traffic wanting to reach NC 147 North would also see this sign.

Here is an example of what the toll schedule signs look like.

Here's an example of the milemarkers that will be on the Triangle Expressway. Really nothing different than what is already used.

One of the nicer signs on the highway is this guide sign 'END TOLL 147'/'BEGIN NC 147' combination located where NC 147 meets I-40 (Exit 5).

Finally, when driving for the second time down NC 147 Toll, I took a quick glimpse at where NC 147 had jogged southwest towards TW Alexander Drive.

I had noticed the back of the old I-40 Exits 5A-B guide sign that stood at the then beginning of NC 147. The shot is zoomed in as the old road is fenced off. NC 147 had ended at a stoplight at TW Alexander, which is now removed. Here is what it looks like today.

I am sure it will be a matter of time until the guide sign and pavement is removed.

Overall, I like the new road. The signs are pretty sharp and have some new changes that we're not used to seeing here in North Carolina. I'm looking forward to seeing the NC 540 extension when it opens later in 2012.

Triangle Expressway - first piece now open

2011-12-09T08:35:00.001-05:00

I'll get to drive the new highway on Saturday, but my wife already has. And she called me right away to taunt me about it too. :-p

But she also had a good suggestion. Because of the typical backups at NC 147 and I-40, she noted that taking NC 147 to NC 540 to I-40 as a good alternative when traffic is backed up in I-40 through RTP, even with the tolls.

She might be on to something, your thoughts?

As noted I will take the new road tomorrow, I'll grab some photos and try to get them up by Sunday if not sooner!

Tolling WA 520

2011-12-07T22:22:00.003-05:00

WSDOT (Washington State DOT) announces that they will be tolling the WA 520 bridge as of December 29th, urging travelers to sign up for a "Good to Go!" account. The best I can surmise is that Good to Go is like E-ZPass here in the Northeast, but the transponders are much, much slimmer.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Revenue from the WA 520 tolling will be used for other projects around Washington State.

Photos and press release found via the link below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157628326401769/

And since WSDOT seems to be the one of the more forward thinking DOTs I've encountered when it comes to technology and social media, they have a handy dandy video explaining their Good to Go! program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biu_eHLYpV4

Catching Up: March 2011 ICC Meet

2011-12-06T22:01:00.001-05:00

So the last update I did was in March when we went up to Washington DC for the Intercounty Connector Meet. I blogged about our Stroll along the National Mall, but I never got around to blogging about the meet. So now nine month later and after the second and much longer section of the highway has opened, I preset an overview of the First ICC Meet.

The entire meet set is located on flickr, here.

Unfortunately, I don't recall the details of the location of the photos, but I figured i would share some of the photo highlights from the soggy Sunday morning.

And of course the group photo:

Replica highway signs at Disney

2011-12-01T23:05:00.001-05:00

When you are in Disney on our honeymoon, you wouldn't expect to notice roadgeek items. But at both Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Some very oddly placed highway sign replicas and creations can be found.

Like this I-95 New York Shield

Or this US 66 California Shield

Or ones that have no relation at all like this one in Animal Kingdom.

I'll let the sign experts decide how good of a replica and creation in the case of Diggs County 498 are.

2011 Charleston Roadmeet

2011-11-30T22:15:00.001-05:00

On November 5th, I headed down with Chris Allen to Charleston to the roadmeet hosted by Billy Riddle. We had lunch at the well known Hyman's Seafood on Meeting Street and the highlight of the tour was a close up view of the spectacular Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge.

The entire set can be found here.

But before we get to the meet what about the route down. Well it was US 64, I-440, I-40, I-95, SC 327, US 301, US 52 into Charleston.

On US 52 near St. Charles was this interesting set of signs. First, that may be the smallest Blue Star Memorial Highway sign I've seen, and secondly the Francis Marion tomb historical marker sign reads "All Rich in Iodine" what does that mean?

I would love to have seen this overhead in the original button copy.

Hyman's Seafood did not disappoint and i you like Shrimp 'n Grits as much as I do, I highly recommend the Carolina Delight.

It's delicious!

After lunch we headed over to Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park for some great views of the Ravenel Bridge. About two weeks earlier, I was fortunate to take some shots of the stunning structure at sunset from Patriot's Point. In this instance, we were able to park at a convenience store near the park and walk over to it. The convenience store allows Park/Bridge visitors two hours of free parking.

On the walk to the park, I came across this trailblazer for the East Coast Greenway.

The East Coast Greenway is a network of nearly 3000 miles of bike paths and rail trails in various forms of development stretching from Florida to Maine. This was the first I had ever seen anything for the Greenway. Oddly enough, the next day along Water Street in Wilmington, NC I would see another.

The bridge itself is amazing...and there are so many ways to shoot and frame it.

There is also plenty to do at the Memorial Park. Fishing of course is very popular, but the open areas seem very popular for events as even a wedding ceremony and reception was being set up while we were there. Not a bad backdrop for a special event and evening.

Next was a quick stop at the start of I-526 Business Spur West and a nearly 20 year old shield.

Someone suggested to check out the swing bridge on SC 703 over the Intracoastal. As luck would have it, we were able to get to the bridge right when it closed to allow boats to pass through. (Thank that red light at 526 Spur and 703 for that!)

From there we headed back towards US 17 where I headed to Wilmington via US 17, US 701, SC 90 and US 17. Fortunately, there were a few more sights on the trip home.

Like this guy, running for town council in Awendaw. No idea if he or his fellow candidates won.

Older shield overheads in Conway.

But finally, a contractor made set of US 17 shields that goes back to an older era.

These shields at a construction project in Brunswick County follow a design more popular 50-60 years ago. NC used this design once.

All in all a great road trip with some new roads and a great excuse to visit Charleston again. A nod to Billy Riddle for hosting a great meet!

Boardwalk Empires Train

2011-09-30T20:30:00.004-04:00

Boardwalk Empires Train pulling into the Times Square/42 St Station on the 2-3 express line

I haven't been doing a lot of road trips lately: My concerns have been elsewhere-I've been spending a great deal of time with a friend of mine who lives in Rego Park, Queens-Heather J. One thing she adores more than any other are the NYC Subways. I can't fault her for that, I like the Subways, as well. I sport a 7 train hat at all times(It's my favourite line).

Recently, the NYC MTA broke out a 1924 train to help promote the HBO television series Boardwalk Empires. I really don't care about television very much, but the opportunity to ride a vintage train is not to be missed. Heather had ridden this train a couple of weekends before(she couldn't wait for me to come round), and she informed me that this was different than the usual nostalgia train-which consists of various vintage cars put together. This was the standard setup for subway cars: a power unit and trailing cars, all of the same vintage.

Commuting 1924 style!

Despite the train being old-it's fully capable at travelling at modern speed-which is 55 mph on an express line. The experience is a wee bit different than travelling on a modern train, which is sealed, with air conditioning and sound abatement. It's rather like an amusement park ride-loud and fast: The glass windows were all open and the train rattled like a maraca-making the 55 MPH seem more like Warp 9. It was a blast.

What 55 MPH looks like from a 1924 train

The train ran on the 2-3 line(7th Avenue) from Times Square/42 st to 96 st: Plenty of time to take in the experience of riding an old train. The bonus part of the trip was getting to spend a little time in the 96 st. Station waiting for the return train. Subway stations-especially the underground ones are a hodgepodge of modern and ancient, and you can always watch the current trains coming and going. I don't know the specific train designations(yet), but there are trains built by Bombardier, Alston, and Kawasaki circulating in the system right now, so there's a variety of trains to be seen: Which keeps things interesting. The newest trainsets(R 160B) are manufactured in Yonkers-the factory can be seen from the Metro North Hudson line-along with the newest Subway and PATH cars.

Ancient and modern mix at the 96 st station on the 7th Ave line.

The usual denizens of the 7th Ave line

Even without the special trains, the NYC Subway system is an attraction in and of itself. Even at it's vexing worst, it still beats trying to drive(and especially park) in the 4 boroughs(Burritos!) it serves. It can certainly give you a perspective on NYC that the usual tourist itinerary doesn't.

Manhattan: Featuring the High Line

2011-08-24T09:07:00.001-04:00

Manhattan: Featuring the High Line, a set on Flickr.

Alps' Roads on the Road

2011-04-17T08:24:00.002-04:00

Steve Alpert, the webmaster of Alps' Roads and friend of the blog, has been blogging his own road trip vacation, which has taken him from San Diego to Texarkana, by way of old US Route 66. Feel free to check out his blog entries by following this link.

A Book Recommendation

2011-03-29T17:32:00.005-04:00

One of the things I like about this hobby is the selection of books that I can use as references, as a suggestion guide for scenic drives or places to stop by to check out, or even the history behind a road or a bridge. So, it was no surprise to me as I browsed the selection at the soon to be closed Borders Books and Music location in downtown Saratoga Springs, New York, that I would purchase a book about bridge and tunnel crossings over the Hudson River.

The book I purchased that late March evening was entitled Crossing the Hudson, which was written in 2010 by Donald E. Wolf. In Crossing the Hudson, the author explains the accomplishments in engineering, the social history and specific events leading up to the construction and opening of nineteen river crossings between Waterford / Lansingburgh (now part of Troy) and the Holland Tunnel, which connects lower Manhattan with Jersey City. In Wolf's writing, I was treated to a literary work that is chock full of interesting information that I was previously unaware of, regarding such bridges like the Tappan Zee Bridge and the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, which is now known as the Walkway Over the Hudson.

I would certainly recommend this book for anyone interested in the transportation history of New York City, the Hudson Valley and New York State's Capital Region.

A stroll along The Mall

2011-03-27T14:31:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, Maggie and I headed up to Washington, DC for a fun weekend. We met up with co-blogger Doug Kerr and Adam Froehlig for some sight seeing along The Mall. This was really both of ours first time to Washington. I had been there once before on a band trip in the mid-90s, but I didn't really see much, nor did I take any pictures.

For the entire photo set on flickr - head here.

After a quick lunch, we headed down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the Capitol. One of the most impressive things about the Capitol building is its size.

You really can't appreciate the size and the idea of 'Capitol Hill' until you see it in person.

Another amazingly impressive view is down the Mall towards the Washington Monument. It is one of many views along The Mall that are awe inspiring, even on a dreary overcast day.

Adam had suggested that we visit the National Botanic Garden which is located right next to the Capitol. This unplanned stop quickly became a favorite.

From there, it was a walk down to the Washington Monument along The Mall. I never realized how much of a public park The Mall is. Picnics, pick-up soccer and ultimate frisbee games, among other activities were going on throughout the length of the walk.

Even though the Cherry Blossom Festival was a few weeks away. A few blossoms were just starting to peek out.

The Washington Monument is impressive especially as a singular piece. We were unable to get a guided tour of the monument, as they sell out fast. You typically want to make a reservation online about a week or more in advance of your visit - they sell out that quickly.

The World War II Monument is very powerful. Dedicated in 2004, it salutes the millions of Americans that served during the war both home and abroad. It is an amazing dedication to all of the Americans that sacrificed so much - and for many their lives - during World War II.

To me, the most powerful and touching piece of the memorial is the Freedom Wall.

The wall consists of 4,048 gold stars. Each star represents 100 Americans who lost their lives during the war.

We next went to the Lincoln Memorial. Another structure that you can't imagine the size until you see it up close and personal.

Also, the views of across The Mall and the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial are just as impressive. On the west side of the monument - the view looking across the Potomac and over the Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery is quiet yet powerful.

Looking East towards the Capitol, it's breathtaking.

The Reflecting Pool is under renovations. Even though it is not there, you can see why that view from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial is one of the best in our nation's capital.

Time was starting to run short, so our final stop was at the Vietnam Memorial. To many, the memorial is one of the most powerful and personal of all the monuments in Washington.

Washington is an amazing place to visit. What we saw in three to four hours is only a small piece of the experience. However, this small visit was more than enough to make Maggie and I realize even more how amazing and special of a country we do live in. We hope to be back soon!

New Jersey Flickr Update

2011-03-21T23:22:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let anyone who's interested know that I've added scores of New Jersey photos to my Flickr account from a recent trip I made around the Garden State. There's some pictures from the recent Northern New Jersey road meet, a jaunt around South Jersey and more! Abandoned roads, cool old shields, even older bridges and even AAA signage adorn the photo collection.

Check it out at...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/collections/72157622664080587/

Next on the agenda, some photos from Central New York State, plus wherever the open road takes me this weekend.

A Weekend in Jersey

2011-03-14T18:16:00.005-04:00

I decided to attend the 2011 Northern New Jersey (Newark & Suburbs) Road Meet on March 12, 2011, and decided to visit the Garden State for the entire weekend. Besides the road meet, which encompassed two abandoned sections of the Eisenhower Parkway, the abandoned Nikesite Road off of I-78 and the abandoned NJ 58 freeway end in Newark, I also attended a hockey game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, a short drive around Rutherford, Clifton and Little Falls before the meet, and a nice day trip to Philadelphia and South Jersey the following day with Steve Alpert, the webmaster of Alps' Roads.

Here's some highlights of the weekend's trip...

- Starting off with the road meet, which was attended by 23 people, some of whom came from around the corner, whereas others drove from as far away as Québec and Kentucky. It was also nice to see some new people mixed in with familiar faces.
- The weather, which was nice for the middle of March in New Jersey.
- Abandoned sections of the Eisenhower Parkway. In the past, the northward extension in Roseland was fenced off, but over this past weekend, it was not, so the group got to explore this section. However, the abandoned interchange with NJ 24 was inaccessible from the place selected to start that section of the tour.
- Flooding was common in north New Jersey over the weekend. While it causes some detours, it did allow for some nice pictures of the Little Falls of the Passaic River.
- During Sunday's trip to South Jersey, we briefly visited Pennsylvania, so some old sign photos could be taken and so the Tacony Palmyra Bridge could be driven back over the Delaware River into New Jersey from Philadelphia.
- Haddonfield is certainly a nice town, with treasures and gems to be had by all. Oh yeah, and some old signs too.
- Drove around Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland Counties. The farther you get away from the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia, the more the surrounding countryside looks like Ohio farmland or small towns and swamps of Virginia and Maryland.
- There's an abundance of old AAA destination signage in Salem and Cumberland Counties, as well as some signs in Camden and (I think) Gloucester Counties as well.
- Saw a nifty old swing through truss bridge over the Alloway Creek in Salem County, which was closed to traffic and used mostly as a fishing bridge. However, I also spotted a number of newer bridges during the trip that were built by Salem County, so my feeling is this bridge may not be long for this world either.
- Stopped to walk around Greenwich, which is a small town in Cumberland County, and also was the site of the Greenwich Tea Party in 1774. Greenwich had the feel of a small town in Virginia or Maryland, as opposed to a small town in New Jersey, which typically feels more like a town in Pennsylvania or New York.
- Traveled two routes of one-way paired county routes in Cumberland County, CR 609S in Bridgeton and CR 615S/CR 615/CR 615N in Vineland.
- Checked out the Cross Keys Bypass, which is CR 689 in Gloucester County. The bypass was built to go around what was a 6 way intersection in Cross Keys.
- Towards the end of the trip, stopped in Hightstown to check out an old truss bridge built in 1896, and walked a little around a stone dam near downtown.

Henry County (VA) I-73 Alternative Route Environmental Study Complete - with positive reviews

2011-03-03T22:33:00.000-05:00

VDOT has completed the Environmental Assessment for the Henry County I-73 Alternative Route. This route was pushed forward by the Henry County Board of Supervisors in 2007, VDOT released a preliminary impact study of the route in 2009, and the Commonwealth Transportation Board directed VDOT to do an environmental assessment of the alternative routing that December.

Henry County Supervisors had urged the study and possible routing as it ran I-73 closer to Martinsville's eastern edge. The HCBoS plan would run about two miles longer and appears to cost more.

The alternative routing would utilize five miles of the existing US 58 bypass to the south and east of Martinsville. That portion of the freeway would need to be upgraded to Interstate standards. The initial planned alternative ran I-73 further to the east and parallel to US 220 and the southeast corner of the US 58 Bypass. Both routes would meet north of I-73's junction with VA 87 east of Ridgeway. The map at right drawn by the Martinsville Bulletin shows the two of the possible I-73 Henry County Routes. The HCBoS route is red, the original VDOT proposal is in grey. To my knowledge, this is the first clue of how I-73 will be routed south of Roanoke.

There is a third possible alternative route. A modified version of the Henry County Alternative would eliminate two grade separations with the Norfolk Southern Railway and be about two tenths of a mile shorter.

Henry County officials are pleased with the results of the study, and have been touting the minimal impact to Fisher Farm Park in Ridgeway. However, Virginians for Appropriate Roads (VAR) will be sure to have a voice in the matter once the official study is released and open for public comment. VAR is opposed to any new construction of Interstate 73, preferring upgrades to existing US 220. As part of their decision to drop an appeal on the planning process for I-73, VAR has the ability to challenge any future studies for I-73 "...that if a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement is done for the project, Virginians for Appropriate Roads may raise road improvements and access management alternatives with respect to U.S. 220 in any judicial review challenge that the group might bring..."

VDOT has announced a open forum public hearing on the Henry County Alternative Route Study at the end of the month. It will be held Tuesday, March 29 from 4-6 PM at the Laurel Park Middle School - 280 Laurel Park Ave. - in Martinsville.

Story Links:
I-73 assessment complete ---Martinsville Bulletin
I-73 study results are praised ---Martinsville Bulletin

Remaining stretch of I-485 will feature three unique types of interchanges

2011-03-02T19:18:00.000-05:00

The remaining 5.4 miles of I-485 currently under construction in Mecklenburg County will feature three unique interchanges. All three are in use elsewhere within the country, but would be the first ones built in the Tar Heel State.

At two of the interchanges, the new designs are considered upgrades (in traffic flow and cost savings) versus what had originally been planned.

The interchange design names are Split Diamond, Diverging Diamond, and Turbine.

Heading East from the current terminus at NC 115, the three new interchange designs run as follows:

The Split Diamond interchange will be located at Prosperity Church Road. This interchange will consist of two access roads and six roundabouts.

Split Diamond Interchange with Prosperity Church Road (NCDOT)

The Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), first used in Missouri, is starting to catch interest in North Carolina. The interchange design, actually reverses the lanes of traffic on the surface/cross street. This will be located at the Mallard Creek Road exit on I-485.

This design replaces a planned Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) for 485 and Mallard Creek.

We covered a Diverging Diamond Interchange back in October when NCDOT announced it is considering the design on NC 133 where it meets the US 74/76 freeway in Leland. These two intersections, along with two more on nearby Interstate 85 at NC 73 and Poplar Tent Road, are some of seven prospective locations for this new style of interchange.

Finally, the Turbine - an interchange that has all left turn movements circling around a central bridge in a clockwise direction, creating a seamless movement between the two highways. This replaces the previously planned four-level stack interchange. (Similar in design to where I-77 and 485 meet in Southern Mecklenburg County.)


The new "Turbine" interchange at 85/485. (NCDOT)

According to NCDOT, this type of interchange will cost less to build and maintain, take up less space, and allow for less interruptions to existing I-85 traffic during construction.

Story Links:
Last Outerbelt juntions to display unique functions ---Charlotte Observer
I-485 Charlotte Outer Loop ---NCDOT

NYC On Foot

2011-03-01T23:10:00.007-05:00

It's been awhile since I've been on here-What can I say, I've been a bit busy lately. Most of you may or may not know that I've been routinely going down to New York City to shoot Punk and Hardcore shows-and that's been the largest part of my photographic output over the last couple of years. But, shows don't run 24-7, and I don't sleep the whole time between any given two shows; so that leaves me with time on my hands, and I really don't dig spending that time sitting around looking at TV in the hostel that I usually stay in.

New York City is a fascinating place. I don't mean just the usual touristy stuff either. Every corner you turn, you can find something interesting and unique. It's almost like a state unto itself: particularly as far as the roads are concerned. The signage is much different than the rest of the state, and the iconic double-guyed traffic lights aren't found anywhere else. In fact, new traffic lights follow the same design used for years. There are street lamps about that have been around since nearly the turn of the last century. And there are bridges.

One of the things about NYC is that it's reasonably pedestrian friendly, and despite cutbacks, it still has one of the best transit systems going. It makes it easier to get up close and personal with the city. Over the New Year's holiday, I had a hankering to go to Rockaway Beach, to see at least a part of the Rockaway Freeway. No problem, I hopped on the Subway and away I went.

I spent a good couple of hours walking around the area, taking pictures. I was particularly interested in the elevated railway over the 'freeway' that carried the 'A' train.

Again, last weekend found me with a nice day and some spare time, so I decided it would be a nice day to take a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge. It's kind of an odd experience, because auto traffic flies across the bridge as if it were a freeway, yet the pedestrian deck is kind of like a linear park, even a bit festive with people selling T-shirts and souvenirs. Amazingly enough, there was hardly any graffiti-except on some temporary construction structures. Even the taggers respect the bridge.

Since the Brooklyn foot of the Manhattan Bridge was only a few blocks away, I decided to cross back into Manhattan that way. The Manhattan Bridge is not as easily photographed from it's pedestrian deck, though you get some decent views from it, just the same; and there's a nifty portal at the Manhattan foot of the bridge. It lets out in Chinatown at Bowery and Canal-which is not too far from yet another bridge-the Williamsburg which I've crossed over on a couple of times.

Next on my list is the Queensboro bridge-which should yield some interesting pictures. The 7 train emerges above ground at the bridge plaza, so I've had a chance to at least partially reconnoiter the area.

What would be the 'Route 66' of the East?

2011-03-01T20:08:00.001-05:00

After Saturday's trip into Southside Virginia - and all of the great pre-Interstate businesses we found, active and abandoned - I started to think about the Old US 66 trip I did last spring. There are plenty of sites (motor courts, restaurants, neon signs, small towns) and situations (bypassed by the interstate, abandoned businesses, empty two and sometimes four lane roads) similar to that of the revered "Mother Road".

So I have come up with five routes along with reasons for and against being the East Coast version of Route 66.

US 1: The Backbone US Route of the East Coast - Travels through major cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. Parallels Interstates 85 and 95 for significant portions of the route. However, runs as an independent route from Henderson, NC to Jacksonville, FL.

US 301: Bypassed and pretty much ignored by long distanced travelers by Interstate 95 from Richmond/Petersburg, VA to south of Florence, SC. Roadside America attraction; South of the Border. It wasn't a major route in the 40's or 50's. Traffic south to Florida went via US 1 or the Ocean Highway.

US 29: Major US Highway serving Washington, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Parallels and is bypassed by Interstate 85 from Greensboro, NC to Tuskegee, AL. Unfortunately, this route doesn't have the lore of a US 1 or Route 66.

Dixie Highway (Various US Routes): It was the main route to Florida from the Midwest and dates from the Auto Trails Era. Much of the Dixie Highway became US Routes that would in turn fall to nearby Interstates. The numerous branches of the Dixie Highway makes it difficult to trace a specific route.

Ocean Highway (US 13/US 17): Created to help promote tourism along the coast, the Ocean Highway was the closest to the coast of all N/S routes. Mainly serves small towns, cities, and resort areas. For the most part untouched by an Interstate.

So which of these five highways do you consider as the East Coast's "Route 66"? Or do you have another highway in mind? Let me know by leaving a comment!

A run into Southside Virginia

2011-02-28T22:30:00.001-05:00

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Joe and I took a brief six hour trip into Southside Virginia.

The Route: US 64, I-95, NC/VA 46, US 1, VA 40, US 301, NC 48, I-95, US 64.

Photo set on flickr - right here.

You know it's going to be a good trip when the first photo of the day is of an increasingly rare Interstate 95 North Carolina shield.

Funny thing is, this was the only photo I took in North Carolina on this trip.

About an hour later, we found ourselves in Lawrenceville, Virginia and decided to take a walk around.

Lawrenceville is the Brunswick County Seat, and the courthouse - named after Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. - is rather impressive.

Like many small rural towns, there were more abandoned storefronts than open. An old Star Value Grocery Store only sees use as a Haunted House in the fall, with the exception of the two newspaper boxes in front of the store.

The open grocery store in town is something you don't see every day, Red & White.

We stayed north on VA 46 to Alberta, where we turned onto US 1 North.

In March of 2010, Virginia designated all of US 1 as "Historic Route 1". This was done to promote travel tourism - similar to Route 66 or some of the designated scenic or historical byways in other states. New stand alone US 1 trailblazers have recently been erected throughout the state like the one we found in rural Brunswick County.

Personally, I like this idea. Though I don't think it will lead to the economic development that legislators desire, there are certainly people, like myself, who do enjoy driving - and plan day trips around - designated historic or scenic byways.

Unfortunately, the idea of US 1 travel tourism wasn't done in time to save the old Wimurt's Motel and Restaurant near McKenney.

If you have a chance, stop by this old motel and restaurant. It's a true roadside museum with relics such as old merchant stickers with names long gone like "Master Charge".

Other stickers date as recent as 2004-05. So it wasn't that long ago, that this old place was open. The motel lobby doesn't appear that dilapidated. Nor do the old motel rooms that you can pretty much walk right in.

From McKenney, we took VA 40 east to Stony Point where we hit US 301 and headed south. It was along US 301 where we came across two great finds.

The first - the long abandoned Jarratt Restaurant. Which I believe also had a motor lodge.

The interior of the building is pretty much beyond repair - and has been home to numerous squatters seeking some sort of refuge.

The old exit or entrance door is still operating and its creaking back and the forth broke an uneasy silence.

The neon tubing for the motor court office sign is pretty much all gone - with the exception of a still intact 'O' - which I found pretty interesting.

Further south on US 301 near Emporia, there was a triple abandoned treat. A closed motel (Dixie Motel), restaurant (Carol's Diner), and gas station (Emporia Travel Plaza).

The Dixie Motel has been recently been condemned. Or at least the most recent (January 2011) posting says so.

Over at the Emporia Travel Plaza. There were old analog gas pumps.

Including one that seemed to register its last sale. $26.02 for 18.9 gallons of Super Unleaded.

Inside the old travel plaza, there may have been one hint to when it closed. An old "We Card" sticker for cigarettes was on the checkout counter. It read, "1978".

Which could mean this old gas station has been closed since 1996.

Finally, I came across this interesting blog entry on the old Dixie Motel - it's worth the read, and the photos are great too.

Well that's it until the next trip.

In honor of Rod Brind'Amour Night - 30 days in Spring of 2001 (or how I became a Carolina Hurricanes fan)

2011-02-17T22:13:00.001-05:00

Editors Note: I apologize for going off-topic here, I intend to do a personal "world through my eyes" type blog but haven't yet. So I'm posting it here!

With Rod Brind'Amour's jersey retirement tomorrow night - I found this note I wrote during the 2009 Playoffs on how in 30 days in the Spring of 2001 I became a Hurricanes fan. Rod Brind'Amour may have scored some of the most important goals in team history and one of those goals in an important late regular season game the night before my 24th birthday started it all.

March 23, 2001 – April 22, 2001.

30 days. That’s all it took.

It began with a drive up from Charlotte for a Friday Night game against the Pens – the reason I bought the seven game stretch drive plan in the first place – and ended on a Sunday afternoon playoff game against New Jersey.

Those 30 days were when and how I switched my allegiances from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Carolina Hurricanes.

It wasn’t easy. I grew up watching the Pens in the 80s and 90s. I was the kid in 8th grade spending time making signs for the school making different signs for the Pens first Stanley Cup. I stayed up late listening to games with Mike Lange welcoming you to the “Night Owl Club” that’s back when teams would travel out west twice a year.

It continued into high school. How many times – once we all could drive – would Dave, Augie, Michelle, Joe and I go to Damon’s or whatever that place was in Greensburg to watch a Pens playoff game. Which usually was watching the Caps choke much to our enjoyment. (CAPS = Can’t Advance in a Playoff Series).

Then on to college. The early days of Student Rush. Yes, there was a time with Student Rush where you could walk up five minutes before face-off…show your id…and get in. Now, you have to get there five hours early or longer! But how many times did myself and college friends go down to the Arena from RMC to watch a Pens game for $20 and sit in Level B behind the goal.

Confession time...my first experience with the Canes was a December 31, 1997 game in Pittsburgh. We kept taunting "Go Back to Hartford!"

In 1999, when the Pens were that close to folding. I’ll never forget watching Game Six against the Devils and watching Jagr and Straka win it in overtime. I was so nervous that they would lose the game and no longer exist. The win meant one more game. To this day, it's my favorite Pens series of all time. Then going to Game 6 vs. Toronto with Brian, Rick and Joyce seeing the team lose, and wondering out loud if this could be the last Pens game ever played.

I moved to North Carolina in January 2000. And in February of that year, I would go to my first Canes home game. I was in Raleigh for ‘corporate training’ and there were some free tickets and went and watched them lose to Montreal. Hey, it was free. I moved to Fayetteville that spring, and knew the team was in a playoff run – but they didn’t make it – missing out on the last day.

I watched the Pens from Fayetteville in the 2000 playoffs...beat the Caps...(so what else is new)...and then stayed up the entire five overtime loss in Game Four to the Flyers only to see the life sucked out of them and lose in six games.

Mario Lemieux announced he was returning to the game in December 2000 and I along with every other Pittsburgh Penguins fan near and far was ecstatic. They hadn’t played in Raleigh yet…and I had to come up for a game to see him play. And I guess because of that is how I would become a Canes fan.

The Canes that January were playing well…they had won something like six or seven in a row. They were playing the Kings on a Saturday or was it a Sunday…so I drove up from Fayetteville…and sat eight rows behind the goal for $45. Damn, I couldn’t believe how inexpensive that was! During the game, they were advertising a seven game stretch mini-plan. Starting at like $79 or something like that. The two upcoming Pens games were on it. Knowing that the games would be sold out, and that it was cheap hockey, I purchased a plan. For February and March (and if the Canes made the playoffs) I would be in Section 333 Row H Seat 7. I was going to see Lemieux play and maybe get some playoff games.

So I went to some games cheered for the Canes…but was eagerly looking forward to a March 23rd when the Pens were in town. In the middle of this, I moved to Gastonia. Fortunatley, I only missed one week night game vs. Buffalo. So on that Friday afternoon, I left work early and made the three hour trek to Raleigh. It was a fun night – the place was packed a lot of excitement – and the Canes won. I had a Pens jersey on but was also glad the Canes won as they needed the win. I wasn’t wavering in my allegiances yet, but I certainly was starting to consider myself a fan of the team.

The following week when they played the Caps on March 30th (the day prior to my 24th birthday) would be a lot different. The Canes – who were desperately trying to make the playoffs – were humiliated the night before in Washington 8-0 or 8-1. The atmosphere was totally the opposite. Deflated, most thought they had no chance making the playoffs, and to add to that three busloads of Washington fans made the trek down I-95 for the game. Most of them were allegedly fans (bandwagoners) of Chris Simon. They were in the building loud, drunk, obnoxious and chanting “Simon’s Soldiers”. I can still hear that chant to this day.

It was a chippy game and went into overtime. The Canes desperately needed the win. The Canes were on the power play, and Brind’Amour’s deflection would win the game 3-2. The building cheered in elation as the team finally won a game they had to win. And the best part, those three busloads of Simon Soldiers that came down from Washington…they got into a wreck leaving the arena on Wade Avenue.

The Canes would go on a road trip, play well, and would ultimately clinch a spot a few days later. The night they clinched it, at home, the team showed the Bruins/Devils game on the jumbotron after the game with many fans staying to see the team…finally make the playoffs.

The Canes would face New Jersey that year…and I went home for Easter…I didn’t go to Game 3 or 4 since I was in PA..and I didn’t expect there even to be a sixth game. But Brind'Amour had other things in mind, the team had lost Ron Francis and promising winger Shane Willis for the series on two vicious open ice hits by Scott Stevens. (In fact, Willis' career would never be the same.) Game 4 on a night that the team needed goals, let alone win, Rod Brind'Amour scored maybe what was/is the most important goal of the franchise. In Overtime and in front of only 14,500 fans, Brind'Amour's overtime deflection of a Sammy Kapanen shot won the game 3-2. The team rallied for a win in New Jersey forcing a Game Six back in Raleigh. So on a gorgeous Sunday Afternoon, I left Gastonia and headed to Raleigh for this game. By now, I had bought a Canes jersey (no player), a flag for the car and had one of the window cling numbers (Jeff O’Neill’s) that they were giving away that season on my car. (You can still see one every now and then in Raleigh. Almost a badge of honor.)

The drive up was different...there were people going to the game. You'd see folks with Canes Car Flags on I-85 and 40. And you'd honk your horn, nod, smile, and give a thumbs up. Already, this day was going to be something different. I got there early enough to walk around - didn't really know anyone to tailgate then - but did talk to a number of fans as we entered into the arena. There was a buzz to the ESA that wasn't there before, Brind'Amour's goal and the team forcing a game six made this Sunday afternoon a sellout!

So a series that was supposed to be and started out as a cakewalk for the Devils…had suddenly become more competitive. The building was full…and LOUD...and even more intense energy than the Friday night Pittsburgh and Washington games a few weeks before. But the Canes after losing Shane Willis (who was a 20 + goal scorer that year) and Ron Francis to Scott Stevens…..well they just plain ran out of gas. With about five or six minutes to go in the game, they were down 5-1. Then something happened. I don’t know where it started, how it started, but it happened. And just thinking about it still gives me chills...and puts me back there for this game. For the last five minutes or so of this game, everyone stood…everyone cheered…everyone applauded…and it continued...into the post game handshake...and until the final Hurricane waved goodbye and off to the dressing room. It was something I had never seen, witnessed or participated in person or in watching a game.

It was at that moment, that you knew the game of hockey could make it down here, in spite of all the jokes from traditional hockey fans and locals too. (And there were a ton from locals then) Yes, there were moments before…but this one was different...this one was special. I knew…and everyone to a man knew that hockey was going to stick here. And everyone around me that day…were thinking the same thing. "I think we have a team we can pull for folks," I heard one fan say leaving the arena. in and outside of the arena…no one was sad…people were walking out…knowing from what they just witnessed…that they as fans had a team. I can’t put into words to people who aren’t Canes fans…or weren’t there that Sunday Afternoon….what that feeling was like. But as a fan of the game or of any team, it is something you always want to experience. And most of us never get to.

It was THAT game…that experience that made me a fan of this team. If I wasn’t at game six that year…would it have still happened…I am sure it would have. But it was that afternoon, that did it all. Seeing how the sport has grown and flourished in this area has been fun to watch. And I could go on and on about various moments since April 22, 2001. The 2002 Cup Run…watching the team win the Stanley Cup (from Albany in 2006), the second half of the 2009 season and the playoff that year, an unforgettable all-star weekend in 2011, the great folks and friends I have made, and meeting my best friend - my fiance Maggie tailgating in 2009. But for me…those 30 days in 2001 are an always will be my favorite Hurricanes moments…and how I really truly became a fan of this team.

Good News! Interstate 485 widening in South Meck to start in 2012

2011-02-16T22:55:00.000-05:00

After years of delays, funding shortfalls, and contractor disputes, Charlotte commuters have received more good news when it comes to Interstate 485.

The much needed widening of six miles of highway in the Pineville/Ballantyne area in Southern Mecklenburg County will begin in June 2012 vs. the planned start date of October 2013. The widening will increase I-485 from four to six lanes from Interstate 77 (Exit 67) east to Johnston Road (Exit 61).

The project has an estimated cost o $77 million. It will add a new travel lane in each direction - these lanes will be built within the median. In addition, improvements to the Johnston Road interchange will be part of the project. A flyover ramp will be constructed connecting Northbound traffic to the "Inner" Westbound lanes of Interstate 485. The project should be completed by the fall of 2015.

Story Links:
Relief in sight for drivers on I-485 near Pineville ---WSOC-TV

North Carolina I-95 Toll Plan may remove some interchanges

2011-02-16T22:27:00.000-05:00

North Carolina's plan to widen Interstate 95 to six lanes may result in closing interchanges, and of course tolls. The toll idea isn't really new - though a recent news story on WRAL-TV in Raleigh would lead you to believe that.

But one of the newest developments to the plan is that the widening may result in the removal of some interchanges specifically those in Harnett and Johnston Counties. According to the WRAL story, Exit 72 (Pope Road) is one of the interchanges that may be removed.

If you are familiar with Interstate 95 in North Carolina, you know that the 38 or so miles of I-95 in Harnett and Johnston Counties is home to maybe the most obsolete and crowded stretches of the Interstate. 19 exits and a rest area are along the stretch of four lane interstate. Resulting in an average of an interchange every 1.9 miles. Throw in low overpasses, narrow medians, bridges without shoulders, interchange ramps that double as a rural road/surface street, and you have headaches and hazards in every direction.

This stretch of Interstate 95 is also the oldest stretch of I-95 in North Carolina. All of this section of highway opened to traffic by 1961. The oldest stretch is in the Dunn/Benson area (miles 70-79) which opened as a US 301 bypass in the mid/late 1950s.

Widening the highway to six lanes is an obvious necessity, and the toll road idea has been kicked about for over a decade now. The idea to eliminate some existing interchanges seems to be common sense but this is the first time, to my knowledge, that it has been publicly mentioned. This tiny tidbit of information is a prelude to the release of an Interstate 95 Master Plan that NCDOT should release this coming November.

Early February Eastern NC Drive

2011-02-12T22:35:00.001-05:00

On Thursday, February 3rd, I had the day off and decided to take a drive east of Raleigh to do some roadgeeking. I picked up a number of crossroads, walked around a few Eastern NC smalltowns, and gained plenty of new mileage.

As always, you can view the entire set on flickr.

The route was. US 64, BUS US 64, NC 97, NC 122, NC 125, NC 11, US 70, US 258, NC 222, US 264, US 64.

Of course if you're driving on NC 97 in Wake County, you have to go through Lizard Lick.

I had to divert off of NC 97 in Zebulon to get gas - and I came across this signal where NC 96 meets US 64/264.

This is a three lens signal with flashing yellow. Most of the flashing yellow signals in North Carolina have four lens, with the bottom lens being a green arrow. Not seeing this before, I asked NCDOT what the deal was. Well, in select instances the state uses this type of signal. The signal is also allowed per the MUTCD Section 4D.18, para. 3 which allows such when there isn't a protected left phase. (H/T Brian Rawson-Ketchum)

Back on NC 97 now, and an older US 264 shield.

Throughout my journey on NC 97 in Nash County, I keep coming across these "No Slaughterhouse" signs.

Residents are protesting a proposed poultry plant at I-95 and NC 97.

The first of three towns I stopped and walked at was Hobgood.

There were a number of abandoned stores in Hobgood with scenes like this inside.

After taking NC 11 all the way down to Kinston. I headed north on US 258 to Snow Hill.

Snow Hill is the county seat of Greene County and there was a lot more activity here than there was in Hobgood. Legend has it that the town's name comes from "hills of white sand that looked like snow."

At the bottom of a painted billboard for Greene County's 1999 bicentennial, I saw this odd license plate like item attached to it. Does anyone know what it is?

In 2009, NCDOT received permission to route US 258 to the east of Farmville. This was quickly signed.

Yet the US 311 extension to Eden still is not signed and its been nearly a decade since that was ok'd.

One of my favorite crossroads of the trip is located on US 258 north of the US 264 freeway. The community of Toddy.

Toddy got it's name because you were able to get a shot of whiskey at a long abandoned general store.

The last town I stopped at is Fountain - where US 258 and NC 222 meet just north of Toddy.

Like Hobgood, Fountain was very quiet this overcast winter day. However, there were a few more signs of life here - at least photo wise.

I had one last stop. On the way out on NC 97, I stopped again at Lizard Lick. The first pass through I didn't get a photo of this sign post.

Any suggestions on where I should head next?

ODOT tags $809 million for possible I-74 extension in Cincinnati

2011-01-26T21:39:00.000-05:00

North Carolina may no longer be alone in building/extending I-74 to South Carolina. The Ohio Department of Transportation recently tagged $809 million for an Interstate 74 extension to the eastern suburbs of Cincinnati. The $809 million comes from ODOT's 2011-2015 Major New Construction Program List.

I-74 would be extended from its current eastern terminus along I-75 North to the Norwood Lateral (OH 562). I-74 would follow OH 562 eastwards to I-71 and head North to around Exit 9 (Red Bank Road). Red Bank Road to US 50 would be upgraded to Interstate standards. Then a new freeway would be built eastwardly over the Miami River to OH 32 near Bells Lane. OH 32 would be upgraded (via grade separations) to an Interstate to Old OH 74 east of I-275. (This would include a redesign of the current OH 32/I-275 Interchange.)

Map of I-74 Cincinnati extension (UrbanCincy.com)

Currently, ODOT is in the process of rebuilding I-75 in the vicinity of the I-74 and Norwood Lateral interchanges. The Mill Creek Expressway Project, a total rebuild of I-75, consists of eight different major projects and scheduled to be completed in 2020.

The $809 million that ODOT has targeted for the I-74 project is broken down into four sections. Section 1: $204.6 million to upgrade Red Bank Road to an Interstate from I-71 to US 50. Section 2: $366.2 million for a new highway from US 50, over the Miami River, to OH 32 near Bells Lane. Section 3: $178.9 million for upgrades to OH 32 from Bells Lane to I-275 including modifications to the OH 32/I-275 interchange. Section 4: $61.4 million to upgrade OH 32 to Interstate standards from Eastgate Blvd. to Old Ohio Route 74.

ODOT does not list any planned upgrades to the Norwood Lateral or Interstate 71. The Norwood Lateral would need a significant overhaul to meet modern Interstate standards.

The jury is out whether or not this extension will ever happen. But it is an interesting development in the I-73/74 saga.

Story Link: $809M tagged to extend I-74 through Hamilton County ---Cincinnati Business Courier

HT: Frank Brosnan

Is Virginia considering to extend I-785 further North?

2011-01-26T19:36:00.000-05:00

Though it's not even a signed route, Interstate 785 may be extended further north within Virginia. The 'Future' Interstate, which is to run from I-85 east of Greensboro, NC then follow US 29 to Danville, Virginia, was first came into existence in 1997 when AASHTO approved the designation. In 1998, Congress passed a bill authorizing the designation. Later that same year, a "public announcement" was held trumpeting the new Interstate.

Fast forward another 13 years to the present, and the Virginia State Assemblyman, Daniel W. Marshall, III (R), proposed a resolution (HB 2481) to extend Interstate 785 northwards along US 29 to Altavista.

The summary of the bill is as follows:

Designating a portion of U.S. Route 29 as Interstate 785. Designates U.S. Route 29 from the Virginia-North Carolina line to north of the Town of Altavista as Interstate 785. The bill provides that such designation shall not take effect until the Virginia Department of Transportation consults with the Federal Highway Administration to identify any steps that need to be taken along the designated route to meet federal interstate standards, and VDOT shall report to the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability the steps that need to be taken for such designation by December 1, 2011.

The bill is currently in the Virgina House Transportation Sub-committee.

For Interstate 785 to even exist to Altavista, the non-access controlled segments of US 29 between the Danville and Chatham bypasses, the Chatham and Gretna bypasses, and the Gretna and Hurt/Altavista bypasses would have to be upgraded. That is about 22 miles of roadway.

In addition, upgrades to the Chatham (1965), Gretna (1975), and Hurt/Altavsta (1974) would be necessary. These would be just the key points the FHWA would suggest to VDOT for any Interstate designation to take place.

Furthermore, Altavista doesn't seem to make sense as the northern terminus for the Interstate. Lynchburg, a much larger city, is located approximately 18 miles further north on US 29. Virginia has plans to build the South Lynchburg Bypass from where US 29 (Madison Heights Bypass) meets US 460 southeast of Lynchburg to near where current US 29 meets VA 24 today. The City of Lynchburg is currently not served by an Interstate; and if Interstates mean "economic development" then the route should ultimately reach Lynchburg. Which, personally, I believe is the ultimate goal for I-785.

Interstate 785 shield courtesy Shields Up!

James Madison's Montpelier

2011-01-12T23:14:00.001-05:00

Over the Christmas Holiday, Maggie and I had a chance to tour James Madison's Montpelier. Montpelier is located on VA 20 just south of Orange, VA. Like Jefferson's Monticello outside of Charlottesville, Montpelier is open to the public and offers various tours and activities. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children.

Montpelier has a unique history of its own, something that the both of us grew to learn and appreciate from our touring the estate. The grounds that is the birth place of James Madison has a colorful and unique history. Montpelier's history dates to the 1720's when Madison's grandfather moved them to 'Mount Pleasant'. Mount Pleasant would evolve into Montpelier upon the construction of a two story brick home in the mid-1760's by Madison's father. Madison himself would oversee the construction of two additions to the home (in 1797-1800 and 1809-1812).

Madison would remain at Montpelier until his death in 1836. His widow, Dolley, would sell the home in 1844. The remainder of the 19th century would see seven owners of the estate until the duPont family purchased the grounds in 1901. Montpelier would remain property of the duPont's until the passing of Marion duPont Scott in 1983. Following her wishes, Scott's heirs transferred Montpelier to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1984.

Montpelier was first opened to the public in 1987. However, the home had seen numerous changes and additions built by the duPont's. It wasn't until 2003 that renovations began to return the home to its 1836 design. The deconstruction of the additions and restoration of the home lasted until 2008. Since then, an ongoing restoration of the interior to Madison's era has begun. This never ending sleuth and scavenger hunt has led to numerous discoveries about the interior of the home, location of various roads, fence posts, and other items on the grounds, and also the location of various slave quarters.

When you visit Montpelier, there is plenty to see and do. First, at the visitor's center, there is a brief movie about Madison and Montpelier to view prior to touring the home. The tour of the home discusses how archeologists and other researchers are looking for and have found clues about the interior of the home that has led them to slowly piece together a furnished interior of the house. The tour also includes an opportunity to take in the fabulous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west.

On the second floor of the home, there is a more interactive and detailed story of the restoration process in what they call a "Presidential Detective Story". The cellar is also open for a self-guided look. The archeological laboratory is open to the public as well as active open-air digs - weather permitting. The Madison and duPont gardens are also open to the public, in addition to numerous walking trails. Within the visitor's center, there are two galleries - the Grills, which features the found treasures of Montpelier - and the duPont which features numerous artifacts and heirlooms of the duPont family.

If you have the time, a must-see is located just off the grounds of Montpelier. A total restoration of Montpelier Junction Train Depot - a former Southern Railway station - is a fascinating look at America during the time of segregation. The depot has been restored to how it appeared when it opened in 1910 - complete with segregated waiting rooms, "white" and "colored". Within each waiting room, modern visitors can see the difference of accommodations during the time of "separate but equal".

It is a powerful reminder of how much African-Americans had to overcome, and the powerful realization that it wasn't that long ago that segregation was an unfortunate part of our lives.

The old freight room is home to the local post office but part of it has been open for the self-guided tour. Inside are numerous technological items from the early 20th century. Telegraph, telephone, and typewriters from the era have been restored and are included in the exhibit.

James Madison's Montpelier is an excellent stop for learning and being a part of history. Interactive tours and activities for all ages can make a memorable visit to this scenic and historic part of Central Virginia.

My entire photo set from Madison's Montpelier can be found on flickr.

A skate at the Winter Classic Community Rink

2010-12-30T17:56:00.001-05:00

In what has become a Christmas tradition for Maggie and I, we've gone outdoor skating in Pittsburgh. Last year, we skated at the public rink in PPG Plaza. But this year was different, and on a Christmas Eve that is typical of a Pittsburgh winter gray, overcast, and just cold enough to support a fresh layer of snow in the morning, we had a memorable experience at the 2011 Winter Classic Community Rink. The rink, which was constructed as part of the festivities for the 2011 Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, is located just outside of Heinz Field.

In the time span of five days, the parking lot that sits between Stage AE and Heinz Field was transformed into a regulation ice rink where public skating, youth, high school, and college hockey games will take place. Sure it's not a Rockfeller Center, but you really can't beat skating outside with an entire city skyline as a backdrop!

If you follow this blog or know me, you know that I am a big hockey fan. So being able to skate at the Winter Classic Community Rink was an amazing experience. The Winter Classic has in four short years become hockey's Super Bowl, an event that captures the interest of the hardcore and the casual fan. What started out as a novelty on January 1, 2008 in Buffalo has become a staple of the hockey calendar and New Year's Day.

The goosebumps I felt while out on the ice and seeing and sharing the smiles and excitement of all that were on the ice that afternoon is something you don't see or get everyday. Kids in their favorite Pittsburgh Penguin jerseys racing down the ice. One child, who was a far superior skater than I, was making - or at least trying to - snow angels at center ice. Fans and families who may not have tickets to the game taking photos on the rink as a souvenir from just being there.

After spending some money on Winter Classic Memorabilia, which has been proudly added to our growing sports loft, we entered the rink when it opened to the public at 3 pm. Maggie decked out head to toe in her Hurricanes gear attracted the attention of Pens fans and of the media. We were both interviewed by KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh making the evening news. We were also interviewed by Dan Rosen at NHL.Com.

As for skating, things started out rough. We were on rental skates, but once we sat down again and tightened the skates, there was no trouble at all! The atmosphere was entirely festive as more and more people began to make it onto the ice. Even Santa stopped by - arriving on a zamboni!

As for the Winter Classic, I am extremely excited about the event. Throw in that it's in Pittsburgh and it adds that much more. The game has become a celebration of hockey and its fans. In an age where most big sporting events are more oriented to the corporate sponsors. The NHL Winter Classic truly celebrates the roots of a sport that not only the fans love and enjoy the players do as well.

My entire Winter Classic Community Set can be found on flickr.

Western Tennessee/Kentucky Roadtrip

2010-12-30T11:47:00.002-05:00

Earlier this month, I took a trip along the various backroads of Western Tennessee and Kentucky with Billy Riddle.

The loop route went as follows: US 70, TN 47, TN 49, TN 147, TN 69A, US 641, TN 54, TN 22, US 51, Purchase Parkway, US 45, KY 121, KY 80/(US 68) , and I-24 into Nashville.

For the entire flickr photo set - head here.

Our first stop was a walk around Billy's hometown of Kingston Springs, Tennessee. The small Cheatham county town along the Harpeth River has slowly become one of Nashville's more popular bedroom communities.

Kingston Springs' downtown is a mix of small cafes, restaurants, even a bar or two...

...with traditional Southern small town features.

There are also some older items in town that caught my eye. Like this old fire call box - only a few blocks from the fire station.

The former train depot in town sits perpendicular to the train tracks. I wonder if it had been moved. It appears that it has been in various stages of restoration and uses.

Just east of town is an abandoned truss bridge over the Harpeth River.

The bridge is in disrepair and is blocked off so no one can cross it.

From there is was towards Charlotte - and a glimpse of a rare Tennessee signed multiplex of two state routes.

Then through Erin and Tennessee Ridge to the Houston-Benton ferry that carries TN 147 over the Tennessee River/Kentucky Lake.

The ferry only costs $1, as Billy shows with his receipt below, and appears to have a fair volume of traffic.

There is some character to the surroundings of the ferry. As an abandoned rail bridge...

..and what appears to be an abandoned warehouse or boat launch, sit south of the ferry landings.

from there it was towards Paris and west to Dresden where we would pick up TN 22. Along the way, in the town of Como, we came across an old general store with a Pepsi ghost sign.

From Dresden we took TN 22 to Union City. TN 22 with a little help could possibly become Interstate 169. For now, it's just a nice interstate grade freeway from Union City to Martin.

Why TN 22 may have some trouble ever becoming I-169 is that the freeway ends with a diamond interchange with US 51. Also, Interstate 69 will run slightly north and west of where TN 22 meets US 51 today, so building an extension of the TN 22 freeway would have to be built as well.

Speaking of Interstate 69, we did check out some of the I-69 construction north and west of Union City. Most of the photos taken were near the Goodyear Plant.

Some shots at what will be an interchange with TN 5.

And outside of Union City - in this case on US 51 North headed towards Kentucky - there is a Future I-69 Corridor sign. They would be very common along the corridor route in both Tennessee and Kentucky.

Once in Kentucky, we took the Purchase Parkway to Mayfield - where this interchange with US 45 will need an upgrade when I-69 rolls around.

From Mayfield, we took the new four lane KY 80 east. Here's an example of what the new highway looks like.

To get to Land Between the Lakes on US 68/KY 80, you have to cross great old truss bridges on either side. The first, for eastbound travelers, is this bridge over the Tennessee River.

A recent widening project has made US 68/KY 80 to four lanes throughout the Land Between the Lakes. It is an easy and, even on a dreary, blustery, and bone chilling cold December afternoon, scenic drive.

Though these Hellvetica US 68/KY 80 shields need to go.

..and exiting Land Between the Lakes on another old truss bridge, this time over Lake Barkley.

Now on I-24, we came to where the Pennyrile Parkway extension south from Hopkinsville meets I-24. Though the new road and interchange weren't open. The signs for the new exit (81) were installed and uncovered.

Now some in the hobby will be unhappy that the new sign is in clearview. I do have commentary on that, and you can read it here.

We took I-24 southeast into Nashville, where a blanket of grey flannel skies really took away from a spectacular approach and view of the city's skyline. (That and all of the trucks on I-24/65).

Billy, myself, and Seth Dunn then met up to watch the Nashville Predators defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2. To see photos from that set, go here.

Some Massachusetts Construction Photos

2010-12-20T16:26:00.016-05:00

Since I've moved here to Mass. from NC, things are less exciting on the highway construction front. No one is building new interstates or toll roads, for better or worse. Most of the projects have to do with reconstruction of bridges and adding lanes to existing highways. Of the latter, the major project closest to me is the adding of an additional lane along 'Route 128' from I-93 Exit 4, MA 24 in Randolph north to I-95 Exit 20, MA 9 in Wellesley. The project began several years ago with the replacing and/or widening of bridges to cross 8-lanes of traffic, instead of 6. After bridges in a certain area were replaced, work began on widening the highway and placing new signage, some vastly improved over what previously existed. Bridge work and widening has largely concluded between the end of I-93 to US 1 in Dedham. Bridge work also has been completed along I-93 between exits 4 and 2 and work on widening by replacing the grass median by concrete barriers is continuing. When the barrier work is done, new signs tend to spring up. This is the latest sign to appear:
This is an improvement over the former small sign that just had a I-95 shield and '2 Miles' below it. However, it has some problems at the moment. I-93 Exit 1 is for I-95 South to Providence. You don't have to exit for I-95 North. I suspect, given the large space after the 1 on the exit tab, that like the MA 3 north merge onto I-93 North in Braintree which was unlabeled but is now designated as Exit 20A, and with the beginning of I-93 a non-ramp 3 lane 'Exit 12,' that eventually this exit sign will say Exits 1A and B and by not exiting onto current Exit 1 you'll be taking 'Exit 1A' onto I-95 North.

Here are the next set of new signs southbound, which went up about a month ago:
These are fine, except they have not put up new MA 138 exit signs before these at the 1 mile mark as of yet. You can see the concrete median barrier that will replace the grass median on the left. Below is a closer shot of the progress they are making in clearing the median for paving and installing the barrier, they are almost to the MA 138 bridge:
The barriers continue almost to the I-95 interchange, but placing asphalt for lanes probably won't restart until March or April. Here's the start of the median project heading north on I-93/US 1 with the MA 138 interchange in the distance:
You can see the pavement needs to be replaced badly, there are several potholes and winter hasn't even begun yet. Heading further north one can see the first sign replacement from last summer for the exit to MA 24, changing from a typical BGS to a diagrammatic sign:
The area to the left is one of the entrance areas for construction vehicles working on the median barrier, once a 1/2 mile or so section is complete the jersey barriers are taken down and replaced by orange barrels. Two newer signs have appeared for the next exit in the past month:
There's one previous sign that has not been changed. The new sign at the ramp is the last new sign heading northbound on I-93 (a sign replacement project, a separate contract is supposed to take care of replacing the signs north of MA 24 to Boston, but it has not started yet even though it was let in late 2008).

The new lanes have mostly been placed on I-95 from where I-93 ends past US 1, but it is still a 3 lane highway each way due to construction of sound barriers:
The orange barrels are in the future breakdown lane, they get moved out at least 1 lane when construction is going on. The sound barriers go north from after Exit 13 all the way up the ramp for Exit 14, as seen here:
The sign for Exit 15B is in somewhat a violation of MUTCD, since it calls for a sign for the next exit, Exit 15A (To MA 1A). Since US 1, however (unmarked along its routing with I-95 north as it is) is leaving the interstate at this point, I guess it takes precedence. The last section of bridge widening work is now starting on north of MA 109 (Exit 16). The entire project is supposed to wrap up in about 3 more years.

Photo Extra--
Some Springfield Meet photos. Here's a view of the Connecticut River and bridge from Springfield's riverfront park:
A view across I-91 of the Springfield cityscape:
And since it wouldn't be a road meet without a sign photo, here's a view of a sign for the MA 83 Exit off of I-91:
I will continue to take photos of newer signs along I-93 (hopefully including the Southeast Expressway section) as they appear.

Photos from the new High Point section of I-74

2010-11-28T20:13:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I hit the road to check out the newly opened section of I-74 in High Point.

Route: NC 98, US 70, I-85, I-40, NC 66, US 311/I-74, NC 62, NC 22, NC 902, Pittsboro-Moncure Rd., US 1, I-40, I-440, US 64/264 home.

The entire roadtrip is on flickr - 93 photos in total - and can be accessed here.

The newest segment of Interstate 74 begins at the Main Street Interchange (Exit 65). This was where Business US 311 split off into downtown High Point, but it's been recently decommissioned.

As you can see I-74 is shown on the overhead. There is not a 'BEGIN' I-74 shield - so I-74 East just comes out from out of nowhere.

The I-74 East shield is also on an overhead at the next exit for Johnson St.

However, at this time there are not any I-74 shields on the ground or at the interchange ramps until Exit 71B - Business I-85. If you are headed Eastbound, the first I-74 East shield stands after the I-85 interchange (Exit 75).

At Cedar Square Road, one of I-74 East's four 'END' signs in North Carolina appear.

The other 'END' signs are located at the end of the I-74 segment in Mount Airy, this shield, one with I-73 South in Candor, and just east of NC 41 in Robeson County. This doesn't count the 'END' Future 73/74 Corridor at US 1 and US 74 in Rockingham or for Future I-74 in Ellerbe.

The new, albeit temporary, routing for US 311 is well signed at Cedar Square Road.

This is a look from the end of the freeway, as Bob reports, this won't be done until 2012.

As soon as you get on the freeway, you're greeted by this.

The newly opened road is rather quiet from Cedar Square Road to I-85. And I must admit, fresh asphalt on a clear blue sky day looks pretty good.

Though you can't access NC 62 from I-74/US 311 you can via I-85 South (more on that later).

A narrow US 311 shield is posted just west of the I-85 interchange.

The overheads on westbound I-74 at Kivett Drive is the last mention of I-74 through Main St. - Exit 65.

At Main St., it's just plain old US 311 North.

Immediately after the Main St. Interchange - a Future I-74 Corridor sign is posted.

I-74 is signed at Business 85.

Here are some of the signs for I-74 & US 311 on I-85.

From there, it was a leisurely drive back to Knightdale, with most of my photo time spend in Randolph County.

Road Signs and Hockey Players

2010-11-28T08:35:00.006-05:00

I visit my old haunts of Oswego County, New York a few times a year. When I'm in Oswego, I tend to see a road sign honoring Oswego native Erik Cole, a National Hockey League player that many readers of this blog are aware plays for the Carolina Hurricanes. This sign rests next to a sign honoring my alma mater, SUNY Oswego, in their 2007 national championship in Division III men's ice hockey. It is certainly more noteworthy than the Shelby Lyons (who?) sign that used to adorn the entrances into the Port City of Central New York.

About ten miles to the south, in the city of Fulton, there is a new road sign honoring their hometown NHL player, Rob Schremp. Being someone who bleeds the blue and orange of the New York Islanders, this is especially nice to see, as the player affectionately nicknamed "Rob Schremp Hockey" has played for the Islanders for a couple of seasons now.

Tri-Ex Progress Photos

2010-11-26T16:40:00.038-05:00

Given that this day is often devoted to leftovers, I thought I'd add at least one leftover post from NC. This from the trip Adam Prince and I took on October 17 to note progress on the two portions of the Triangle Parkway which took over 4 hours and stretched from the end of NC 147 in Durham to US 1 in Apex. Needless to say, a lot there to see for roads that won't be completed until at least the end of next year. I'll post photos and comments heading north to south.

I Triangle Parkway
A. Hopson Road Bridge and Interchange-
Not much had changed at NC 54, so we moved onto Hopson Road. Here, the temporary road to take traffic around the future bridge construction appeared complete:
It better be, because it is made up of three layers of asphalt to support construction vehicle traffic, as can be seen below:

B. Davis Drive-Work had begun on the northern support structure for the Triangle Parkway bridge:
If you remember the previous post of the southern part of this bridge, the architectural extras will include brick portions as well as concrete.

C. Kit Creek Parkway Bridge
Progress was seen in placing the bridge decks across a couple of the support beams:
This being the part of the bridge that will go over the southbound parkway as it starts to merge with NC 540. The supports were up on the other side to accept a bridge deck in the near future:
Beyond is the old Davis Drive exit ramp which will be transformed to connect into the Parkway. The center span, as of now, will only be serving construction trucks on the way to and from the temporary cement plant:
The purpose of a roadway here when construction is finished is unknown. Maybe it will be used to service the toll devices to be used by traffic on NC 540 West taking the Parkway (see below).
The bridges themselves are to receive architectural flourishes of their own. One of them can be seen here:
I wonder where they got the idea for a flower design accent for the bridge?:
No similar features are seen on the bridge ends, in this case the western end:
Besides the bridges, work is proceeding to grade the parkway back to Davis Drive:
D. Triangle Parkway Toll Structures
Cashless toll systems will be installed along the TriEx. One of the areas where they've started to make their appearance is the large former Davis Drive Interchange:
The ramp to the right is the future on ramp to Toll NC 147, the Triangle Parkway north. Closer to the construction area, one can see the future cashless toll structures being put up:
The left side structures appear near completion, while work had just started on the right-side.

II. The Western Wake Freeway
A. End of NC 540
As can be seen from the photos below, a lot of progress had been made since September as seen from the current end of NC 540 West. First, the former slope has been filled in, producing a slow downward grade toward the bridges under construction:
Second, asphalt has been placed on the freeway beyond the bridge decks under construction. Here's a closer look at the bridges and beyond:
The north/east bound deck appears complete while concrete pouring has not been completed on the other side.

B. McCrimmon Parkway Bridge
The asphalt layer continues past Panther Creek High School:
And under the nearly completed span of the McCrimmon Parkway Bridge:
Here's a view of what the bridge deck looked like in mid-October:
C. Carpenter Fire Station Road
The asphalt layer continues south from McCrimmon Parkway to the site of the future bridge for Carpenter Fire Station Road, here seen in the distance:
For now a ramp has been constructed to take construction equipment up across the road and back down to the freeway, the completion of a temporary road will allow for bridge construction to begin.

D. Green Level School Road
Bridge work has not started here either as can be seen from the south at the site of the USA Baseball Complex:
In this case the existing road will serve as the route around the bridge construction. Here's the view looking further south toward Green Level West and the site of the next interchange:
The expanded clearing in the distance are for the future southbound off and northbound on ramps.

E. Green Level West Road
The site of the future interchange is also the site of the contractor offices and, due to the proximity, a lot of grading and bridge work:
There's a large clear space across the freeway ROW, unknown if this is for the future off ramp or a relocation of the contractor offices:
Here's a view looking north back at Green Level Church Road:
F. Jenks Road
Adam and I took a turn off NC 55 here to see what was being done to this road which had eventually intersected with US 64, the next interchange on the Freeway. Turns out the road had just been closed since the Freeway ROW and US 64 interchanges crossed it. We walked the 1/4 of closed road but could not tell if this is a permanent cut-off or temporary. As for the view, the contractors had graded and dug up material which they placed in a pile:
It is unknown if what's in the pile will serve any purpose in construction, for now it is useful as a good vantage point to check freeway progress to the north:
While the trees have been cleared, it is unknown whether the road to the right will serve as part of the freeway or the US 64 off ramp. Taking a look to the south, one can see how close you are to US 64 and the interchange/bridge construction going on there:
The cranes in the distance are on the opposite side of the future bridge over US 64.

G. US 64 Interchange
This interchange will serve US 64 and also have a ramp for nearby Kelly Road. Here's looking at the bridge traveling on West 64:
The northside bridge work is mostly complete, as seen here in close up:
As are the median supports, much work has to be done on the south side. Here's the progress in clearing for the freeway and interchange as seen from 64 eastbound:
H. Apex Barbecue Road
The freeway will cross over Apex Barbecue Road about a mile south of US 64. Here's a view of progress in clearing looking back toward US 64:
There is less progress looking south from the same location:
Many trucks, but just clearing, little grading up and over the hill. One curiosity at this spot was the presence of many 'tree protection area' signs which seemed to not have done much good, unless bulldozers are counted as trees:
I. Old US 1
About 2 miles further south is to be the location of the next interchange at Old US 1. It is here the continuous clearing for the freeway ends, due to railroad tracks that exist south of Old US 1. The view north does show some progress in clearing the land:
As you can see, little grading had occurred yet, and there were several ponds that will need to be drained. We were also curious as to what would become of the house below on the edge of the clearing area:
It appeared to be in the way of the future northbound on ramp.

J. Beyond Old US 1
We finished our trip heading down to US 1 and proceeding back toward Raleigh. Though there was no evidence of construction on US 1 itself, some clearing could be seen as having taken place just north of the roadway. Maybe by this time construction is more evident. Hopefully, there will be more updates in the future from the remaining Raleigh Roads Crew.

Some updates last week...

2010-11-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

Nothing major...just working in photos as I have time. Starting to get through photos that have been sent to me in 2010 and I am sure I have some older ones hanging around somewhere.

Pennsylvania:

Keystone Town Markers - Seven more keystones added: Antes Creek, Beallsville, Cowansville, Georgetown, Industry, McEwensville, and Templeton. Many thanks to Mike Natale and Jim Carn for their photos.

West Virginia:

Some Corridor H construction photos from the Scherr area sent in by Sherman Cahal.

Mike Natale finds a Pennsylvania Sign Relic

2010-11-18T20:39:00.001-05:00

Mike Natale, who hosted one of the first Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike pages and his discovery of a 1963 Pittsburgh Freeway Planning map sent Jeff Kitsko and I to the libraries in the early 2000s researching dead Pittsburgh Expressway plans, recently sent me some PA Keystone Town Markers.

But he also sent me the sign photo below from West Mayfield, PA.

This is the first I have seen of this type of decorative geographical sign in blue on white. These signs were typically Yellow on Blue, as this example for the Village of Huntington Mills from Doug Kerr shows.

I believe these signs were phased out sometime in the 60s. But the discovery on a blue on white decorative geographical sign may mean they were posted into the 1970s

New Interstate 485/Garrison Road interchange to open in June 2011

2010-11-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

When the Southwestern corner of Interstate 485 in Mecklenburg County was opened in October 2004, some wondered what was going on with the unbuilt interchange between Wilkinson Blvd (US 29/74 - Exit 9) and NC 160 (Exit 4).

The diamond interchange with Garrison Road was clearly graded, but there was no asphalt, no concrete, no signs, nothing. Well six years after the six lane I-485 was opened to traffic, there's construction activity going on at this 'ghost interchange'.

NCDOT has recently awarded a $1.2 contract to Boggs Paving to complete the grade work and pave the interchange ramps for what will be Exit 6 or 7. The new interchange which will give additional access to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport will be a 'ghost' no more in June 2011.

Story: Work begins on I-485/Garrison Road interchange ---Mecklenburg Times

SC uses $10M in TIGER Grant Money for I-73 preliminary work

2010-11-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

Last February, South Carolina received $10 million in TIGER Grant money for Interstate 73. They had asked for $300 million. But the grant money will not be wasted, as South Carolina has finalized plans for some preliminary construction work for when the Interstate highway will eventually be built.

The grant money will be used to widen nearly one mile each of US 301 and 501 at where the Interstate will cross both roads south of Latta. Also, the current intersection of US 301/501 just outside of Latta will be improved. US 301 and 501 will be widened from two lanes to three.

In addition, the Catfish Church Road bridge over I-95 and frontage roads in the general area will be replaced and moved. Catfish Church Road crosses Interstate 95 just south of where the I-73/I-95 interchange will be located.

To see the Latta section of Interstate 73, head here.

Construction should start in 2011 and be completed in about a year's time.

Story Links:
Plans for $10M I-73 federal grant approved ---SCNow
Money on way for piece of I-73 ---Myrtle Beach Sun News

NCTA narrows possible alignments on TriEx; but an endangered mussel may change route in Garner

2010-11-17T21:32:00.001-05:00

Last week, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority eliminated three of the possible alternative routings for the southeastern extension of the Triangle Expressway. The elimination of the Yellow, Purple, and Blue options come as a relief to residents of Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. However, the dwarf wedge mussel - an endangered species - may alter the TriEx through Garner compared to the widely supported route proposal of 20 years.

Where the Orange Corridor, which has been on the books as the planned routing of the Southern Wake Expressway since the 1990's, crosses Swift Creek is near locations where the endangered mussel has been found. The second option, known as the Red Corridor, crosses Swift Creek further north and the dwarf wedge mussel has not been known to habitat that section of the creek.

Even though the Orange Corridor has been the "protected corridor" for nearly 20 years, protected meaning that commercial and residential development has been limited on the prospective right of way, federal regulations require that other corridors be studied.

The Red Corridor would run further to the north and have a greater impact on existing homes, businesses, and planned development. Garner leaders fear that the Red Corridor would cut the town in half.

This isn't the first time that the dwarf red mussel has impacted highways in North Carolina, specifically in the greater Raleigh area. The US 70 Clayton Bypass was redesigned over Swift Creek and delayed a number of years on mitigation issues for the endangered mussel. 100 foot buffer zones were created to prevent environmental damage from chemical and oil sediment runoff into Swift Creek.

The concern over the Red Corridor and its possible impact on the town prompted Garner officials to hold a town hall meeting this evening in which a capacity crowd was expected.

The NCTA expects a route to be finalized by 2012.

Story Links:
Highway may divide Garner to protect mussels ---Raleigh News & Observer
Expressway route options narrow ---Raleigh News & Observer

NCDOT - TriEx won't have purple signs

2010-11-15T23:11:00.001-05:00

Well, I guess we won't have - as a friend of mine calls them - "Barney the Purple Dinosaur" shields and signs for the Triangle Expressway. In a tweet update for the Westpark Tollway signs (Are you following Gribblenation on Twitter? You should!), I asked NCDOT if the TriEx will have similar purple guide signs.

In an example of today's social media, I received a response last Friday, "@gribblenation no -purple is reserved ONLY 4 transponder electronic tolling. TriX will utilize that plus another type of toll collection."

So there you have it - we won't have purple shields on the TriEx. Most likely it will be a standard NC 540 shield with a Black on Yellow "TOLL" banner above it.

Note: NCDOT has been awesome in their responses to tweets we've made asking questions on the TriEx. This is the second time we've tweeted them a question/comment and they've replied both times!

Greensboro News-Record reports - US 311 (I-74) High Point Bypass to open Nov. 22

2010-11-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

Here's the story link. I hope to get out there the 26th or 27th for photos.

Did the Florida Turnpike have orange ramps?

2010-11-15T22:54:00.003-05:00

Last week, I received this e-mail:

I was 10 when we moved here in 1961 and I remember the exit ramps on the Turnpike were painted orange. Can you confirm this is true and do you have any pictures? Or was it my imagination????

I highly doubt they were....but maybe someone out there would know!

Some Texas sign finds

2010-11-10T21:12:00.001-05:00

As from the prior post, I was in Houston last week. I didn't get to take more than a half dozen photos, including the purple Westpark Tollway guide in the post below, but three of them are interesting (though not of the best quality).

First, there are still a number of button copy guide signs on the Sam Houston Tollway - mainly at the larger interchanges (I-10 and US 290) for example. And here is one older button copy overhead at US 290.

At lunch one afternoon, I found this older US 75 shield. US 75 hasn't been in Houston since 1987. Thank goodness for cell phone cameras!

Finally, the biggest find - but the worst in quality - along one of the access roads at Bush Intercontinental Airport - I found this older Interstate 45 Texas shield.

I didn't have the ability to get out of the car and take the photo, and on this trip I took a Kodak EasyShare point and shoot. So sorry about the quality, but at least it was taken!

Will Triangle Parkway guide signs look like this?

2010-11-10T20:38:00.002-05:00

100_0051
Originally uploaded by Adam's Journey

As you know, we've discussed the possibility of purple shields and signs being used on the tolled part of NC 540/NC 147 - Triangle Expressway. Well I was in Houston for business last week, and came across this overhead on the Sam Houston Tollway for the All-Electronic Toll Westpark Tollway.

AASHTO has assigned the color purple for electronic toll facilities, which the Westpark Tollway - and soon the Triangle Expressway is. So, will we be seeing these type signs on the TriEx? In about a year we'll find out!

NCDOT Updates Urban Loop Priority Page

2010-11-09T14:40:00.003-05:00

NCDOT has revised its Urban Loop Priority page (here-http://www.ncdot.org/performance/reform/prioritization/#ulpp) or click on the blog title). They added new updated (draft) priority lists in September. They also have maps of each of the Loops available.

For both Fayetteville and Wilmington they plan to build parts of the Loop not connected to the current open sections first, and leave them unpaved. Once the connecting section is done, they'll pave all the sections and open the route to traffic. The Durham East End Connector is not listed with a route number on their map and on the Raleigh map the toll portions of NC 540 do not have purple shields anymore. Also despite including its shield on the website logo, I-785 is not included on the Greensboro Loop map.

Showing I can post NC news from MA

2010-11-03T23:59:00.003-04:00

Here's a WRAL.com on 'new' left turn signals: http://www.wral.com/traffic/story/8564043/

Maybe new to Raleigh, but as the story says, NCDOT's has been putting them up since 2005.

I-70 Overpass to be replaced by July of 2011 - is a six lane I-70 possible?

2010-10-28T00:25:00.002-04:00

PennDot quickly announced it's plans to rebuilt the Kammerer Interchange overpass that was destroyed by an over-height vehicle last week. The new bridge that will carry McIlvanie Road over Interstate 70 should be re-opened in July of next year.

The new bridge will also be longer, wider, and higher. The old bridge was built in the 1950s with a 14'9" clearance. The new bridge will be built to modern interstate standards, and that means a higher vertical clearance of 16'6". The cost will be between $4-$8 million. The design-build contract will go out to bid on November 4th.

In the comments section of the original blog entry, Steve Williams suggested that PennDOT should bill the trucking company, driver, and insurance company for the cost to replace the bridge. And according to PennDOT's Joe Szczur, they will be doing exactly that. In the meantime, PennDOT is using emergency funds for the bridge replacement.

The new bridge will also be longer. It will be built to accommodate a six lane I-70. However, PennDOT doesn't have any concrete plans at the moment for widening the nearly sixty year old highway. No word either if the replacement bridge will include a slight reconfiguration (wider) of the Kammerer Interchange.

Story Link:
Razed bridge's replacement set for July ---Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Commentary:

My biggest takeaway from the article wasn't that PennDOT plans on billing the trucking company for the replacement bridge - or that it would be to modern interstate standards. Common sense pretty much dictates that. It was that the bridge will be built to accommodate a six lane I-70 that stuck out to me.

A six lane I-70 was first brought up in the 1970s. This new I-70 would be built on a parallel alignment to the North. However, the PennDOT fiscal crisis of the mid-70s killed any movement on that project.

So are there plans on the table for widening I-70 to six lanes? No, there is not. Jon Schmitz of the Post-Gazette wrote me back and confirmed that there are not any immediate plans to widen the highway to six lanes. The new bridge will have a 100 year life span, so hey why not build it to six lanes just in case that ever happens - and if the state ever has the money for it.

Right now PennDOT does have plans to do some safety improvements for I-70 which includes having a wider median, shoulders, and extending ramps where possible. An example of this is currently underway at the Eight Four interchange with PA 519. The interchange is being rebuilt and redesigned, and the highway is being widened to include a 10' median w/concrete barrier and 12' wide shoulders. But nothing about six lanes.

In order for a six lane I-70 to be possible, it's going to have to be tolled. The right-of-way acquisition, interchange rebuilds, and more importantly the replacement of two lengthy bridges. The Speers over the Monongahela and the Smithton High Level over the Youghbare going to put a six lane widening of I-70 from washing to New Stanton well into the billions of dollars. and there's no real possibility of funding coming from traditional sources at this time.

So will we ever see a six lane I-70, I doubt it. But that one line means PennDOT somewhere has an idea for it.

Edmond, OK Road Signs - 1978

2010-10-26T23:42:00.003-04:00

Just this evening, Bill Manning sent me over a photo of this classic overhead sign scene in Edmond, OK. (You are able to click the photo to enlarge to a full size view)

This button copy overhead complete with US 66 shield would have been located on US 66 W (East 2nd St) at I-35 Ext 141 in Edmond. It was taken in August 1978. Thanks again for sending this shot along, Bill!

Could a Diverging Diamond Interchange be coming to Southeastern North Carolina?

2010-10-26T21:35:00.000-04:00

It's not every day that a driver gets to legally drive on the "wrong side of the road". But if a recent NCDOT proposal for the US 74/76 interchange with NC 133 in Leland is approved, Brunswick County motorists will be able to do just that.

The DOT is considering building a "Diverging Diamond Interchange", also known as a DDI, as a replacement of the current and heavily congested diamond interchange when the US 74/76 causeway is widened in 2013. The DDI is one of a few possible plans for the interchange when the $19 million project begins.

A diverging diamond is unique as the travel lanes on the surface road- in this case NC 133 - are flipped to the opposite side before and after the interchange. This flip is controlled by a traffic light at each end. Traffic to and from the interchange ramps also intersect at the signals.

The result is left turns onto and off of the interchange ramps now go unimpeded - that is the driver does not have to worry about crossing traffic in the opposite direction when making the turn. Also, the only traffic signals needed are the two at the location of the 'flips'.

In 2009, Missouri was the first state to install the 'diverging diamond'at MO 13 and Interstate 44 in Springfield. A photo of the completed project is below. (Source: Missouri Department of Transportation)

Missouri installed this interchange as it saved nearly $4 million compared to building a higher powered traditional diamond with additional turning lanes. With NCDOT putting together every possible penny that they can find, the DDI will be a very high possibility. Missouri also boasts a lower accident rate at the MO 13/I-44 interchange, a reduction of 50 percent.

In addition to cost advantages, the DDI allows for interchanges to remain below capacity longer. They are maximized if there is a high volume of left turns on a lower speed surface road with space limitations.

There are drawbacks, however. On the surface route, both sets of signals cannot be green at the same time for both directions. The flow of traffic will be more controlled and through traffic - in this case on NC 133 - will have to come to at least one stop when going through the interchange. And of course the obvious concern - motorists who would be confused and unfamiliar with the new traffic pattern.

Since construction of the diverging diamond in Springfield in 2009, a handful of DDI's have been constructed throughout the country. If this DDI is built in Leland, it will be North Carolina's second constructed DDI. The first, located on I-77 at Exit 28 in Mecklenburg County, is scheduled to open in 2012.

Story Link:
New interchange design considered on NC 133 in Leland ---Wilmington Star-News

(HT: Joe Babyak)

Mon-Fayette Expressway News

2010-10-25T22:48:00.000-04:00

The Washington (PA) Herald-Standard has some new reports on the progress of the Mon-Fayette Expressway in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

First, West Virginia has approved the plans on the toll plaza for WV 43 and construction is underway. WVDOH plans to open the highway in the Spring of 2011. As a result, PA 43 will now have a straight shot from Uniontown to Interstate 68.

On the Pennsylvania side, construction on the highway sections of the remainder of the Uniontown-to-Brownsville Link are well underway and ahead of schedule. The Mon-Fayette highway bridge over the Monongahela River near Brownsville is schedule to be completed in 2012.

If the fast pace of the highway work continues, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission may consider opening parts of the highway prior to the Mon River bridge completion in the Spring of 2012. This would most likely include: the opening of the high speed interchange with US 119 in Uniontown - creating a continuous freeway link in the area - and continuing the highway north another four miles beyond US 40 (Exit 22) to Bull Run Road (Exit 26) south of Brownsville.

Yes, I've updated again!

2010-10-24T15:49:00.000-04:00

They're small updates but I've been able to add some new website material this week. And considering the last time I updated was in January, updates twice in a month is an earth shattering event.

Pennsylvania:

Two more Keystones added to the PA Keystone Town Marker project. Ron Stafford sent in shots of Dixonville and Rossiter in Indiana County

West Virginia:

New Corridor H information (pretty much from items discussed here on the blog)
New information and a photo from Jennings Starcher on former WV Route 56.

Without TIGER II funding, I-77 HOT lanes in jeopardy

2010-10-24T11:58:00.001-04:00

NCDOT's plan to convert the existing I-77 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes and extend them suffered a major setback earlier this month when the Federal Highway Administration did not award any TIGER II grant money for the project.

NCDOT had asked for a maximum of $30 million in grant money for the project. 2,500 applications were made for the $400 million in grant money. Only 42 projects were awarded grant money.

The project would convert the existing I-77 HOV lanes to toll lanes and extended the single restricted lane northwards to Davidson (Exit 30). The toll lanes would work similarly to HOV lanes as vehicles with two or more passengers, buses, and vanpools would be able to access the lanes for free. Vehicles with one passenger would have to pay a toll.

The project is slated to be completed by 2014.

As a result of not receiving the funding NCDOT will have to come up with another plan to convert and extended the restricted lanes. The currently under construction Yadkin River bridge replacement and widening project received less than expected TIGER funds last winter, and NCDOT was able to adjust funding schedules to start that project. Something that local Charlotte leaders hope will also occur for the HOT lane project.

The state has not announced a timetable on when they will source the additional funding for the $50 million project. Currently, the project has been granted $5 million in federal CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement) funding.

Story links:
I-77 HOT lanes lose funding ---Charlotte Observer

14 new miles of Corridor H to open soon

2010-10-23T19:44:00.000-04:00

The West Virginia Department of Transportation will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday to mark the completion of another 14 miles of Corridor H. Though the ribbon cutting is on Wednesday, a definite date that the new four lane highway will be open to traffic is unknown.

When opened, Corridor H will extended another 14 miles eastward from US 220 in Moorefield to County Route 3 (Knobley Road). Through traffic will be asked to leave the new highway three and a half miles earlier at an interchange with County Route 5 (Patterson Creek Road). The remaining three and a half miles to Knobley Road will be open to "Local" traffic only. Mainline traffic will be able to continue to Knobley Road and beyond in 2013 when an additional 11 miles of Corridor H is expected to open - completing the highway to WV 93 in Bismark.

Details and directions for the ribbon cutting are as follows:

The ceremony has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 27, at 1:30 p.m. The event staging site will be on the new section of Corridor H in the west bound lane at the Patterson Creek exit. Traveling west on Corridor H from Moorefield the site is approximately 10 miles from Moorefield. Traveling from Petersburg to the site, event attendees should take County Route 5 (Patterson Creek Road) and enter the Corridor parking in the east bound lanes. Division of Highways personnel will be on site to direct parking.

Adam Froehlig may be attending the ribbon cutting ceremony if he does, we'll provide a link to his blog entry.

Story Links:
W.Va. to open another section of Corridor H ---Charleston Daily Mail
Governor Announces Completion of Another Section of Corridor H ---Office of Gov. Joe Manchin

I-74/US 311 Randolph County Progress Report

2010-10-22T11:27:00.027-04:00

While on the trip taking photos previously posted of the near finished I-74/US 311 freeway, I also took some photos of the Design/Build Section between Spencer Road and US 220. Currently behind schedule at 41% complete (ideally 50% would be completed by now), there has been some progress, particularly in the southern part of the project since I last visited.

A. Spencer Road and Banner Whitehead Road
Not much progress hear except the moving around of some construction equipment. As can be seen in the photo south of Spencer Road, no grading of the future roadway has begun yet:
B. Branson Davis Road
This road features both a new alignment and bridge and the creation of an access road back to a farm on Nelson Park Road which is being cutoff by the freeway. Here's a photo looking north back at Nelson Park, the new access road is to the right paralleling the westbound lanes:
Across the road the alternate alignment and bridge are being built. Here looking south is where the bridge for the new road will go:
A better view can be seen from Walker Mill Road in the distance.

C. Walker Mill Road
Looking north, here's the view of construction on Branson Davis Road:
Here you can see the mound being built to take the freeway over Branson Davis. Looking South one can see progress in clearing and almost up to the current US 311 construction area, around the curve.
D. Current US 311 Interchange
The big news here is that the concrete deck for the main bridge over the freeway has been poured:
It was still being protected by the elements by a plastic covering, some of which had blown off. There hasn't been much progress on completing the roadway to the west, or east, below:
There has been more progress, however, on creating the eastbound on and off ramps:
The construction of the roadway stops currently at the train tracks to the south of current US 311, but picks up afterwords. The consensus is the 311 traffic will be moved to the new road and the old alignment will serve as a temporary railroad bed as a bridge is built on the current rail bed to carry trains over the freeway.

E. Plainfield Road
More progress on the bridge to carry the road over the freeway, but some work has been delayed by recent rain (workers were out at this location apparently trying to catch up when I was there). Notice the water under the freeway bridge support:
Work has progressed much faster on building the west end of the bridge:
The workers there on Sunday were working on the access road to the farm on Old Courthouse Road that will be cutoff from the freeway. Looking into the distance one can see the road where it will be cutoff and further to the bridge on Heath Dairy Road.
Less progress can be seen looking north across Plainfield Road which is acting as a bypass to the bridge construction:
Though there were construction vehicles present, no one was using them at the time.

F. Heath Dairy Road
Progress has been made on the bridge and the grading of the roadway underneath. Here is a view of the entire bridge:
Sorry, if anyone has a sudden urge to go. Notice the disparate design elements on either side. On the east side the wall is vertical on the side and under the bridge, the side includes the wall pieces seen on many new NC bridges. To the west, the cement wall under the bridge is inclined with no element to meet the new roadway. Grading continues on the freeway toward US 220. The work seems to be mostly on the future westbound lanes:
This may be due to ramp construction on US 220, see below. The eastbound lanes as a comparison:
The roadbed here needs more work, at the top of the hill is where the US 220 (I-73) South ramp is to begin. Looking north from Heath Dairy ones sees the opposite of the view from Plainfield Road:
One can see the start of drainage work has begun, along with landscaping near Old Courthouse.
Finally, it's hard to tell if much work has been done on the new road alignment west of the bridge in the past month:
G. US 220 Interchange
While some progress can be seen on the flyover ramps, the most obvious change is work being done on the southbound 220 on and off ramps:
This is the future on ramp to I-74 West with both road grading and landscape work being done.
From 220 Northbound one can get a good look at the future I-74 East on ramp:

Heading southbound again, both the ramp bridges appear similar to photos from the month before, the eastbound US 220 north on ramp:
Heading South again And the future flyover ramp bridge for I-74 West:
Work on the bridge deck is apparently proceeding as shown by the spread of wood sheeting under the bridge, southbound anyway, to protect cars from falling debris. There doesn't seem to be much progress on the flyover ramp heading back northbound:
You may also notice something has disappeared, the previous Future I-73 and I-74 signs.
Closer to the ramp bridges, one can see progress in landscaping:
Closing in on the future ramp bridge carrying traffic to US 220 Northbound one can also see progress on landscaping:
The future 'loop ramp' carrying traffic from I-74 eastbound to North 220 (I-73) can be seen under construction on the right beyond the cement barriers.

I plan to visit the area for one last look on Sunday, October 24 before I move to Massachusetts. I will post any photos showing any significant progress on the blog next week.

Wake County Commissioners support original routing of the SouthEast corner of the 540 loop

2010-10-20T20:15:00.002-04:00

Wake County's Board of Commissioners unanimously resolved to support the original planned routing of the southeastern extension of the Triangle Expressway - once called the Southern Wake Expressway. The commissioners have agreed to support the original "protected corridor" for the future toll road. The "protected corridor" for the highway dates back to 1996. As a result of being "protected", commercial and residential development has been limited within its boundaries.

That said, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority is studying three other alternative alignments. A number of residents and municipal leaders in the towns of Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina have begun to voice their concerns.

Though the NCTA admits there is strong support and reasons for the nearly 15 year old "protected corridor", the Federal Highway Administration requires them to look at other possible alternatives.

The NCTA has an overview video of the project, shown below:

The NCTA also has a "flyover" video of the Phase 1 "protected corridor" and a possible Phase II alignment, here.

Story Links:
Uproar rises on siting of turnpike ---Raleigh News & Observer
Route of southeast 540 highway extension still uncertain ---Garner News

Interstate 70 overpass in Kammerer, PA hit by 'Hit & Run' overheight tractor trailer - bridge damaged and later demolished

2010-10-19T22:10:00.000-04:00

An overheight tractor trailer load, which had special hauling permits, damaged the McIlvanie Road overpass at the Kammerer Exit (Exit 31) on Interstate 70 in Washington County, PA on October 18. The resulting damage forced PennDot to issue an emergency contract to demolish the nearly 55 year old overpass.

The emergency demolition forced the closure of Interstate 70 in both directions. (Traffic was detoured along the Exit 31 interchange ramps.) Interstate 70 was re-opened in both directions by 6 pm this evening.

The driver, Tony Kyle, had a special hauling permit to operate his tractor trailer with the overheight load. The driver had specific instructions to exit the Interstate at Exit 31 to avoid the 14' 9" bridge. Mr. Kyle did not exit the highway - and the overheight load struck and damaged the bridge.

Kyle continued on his way after the collision. Pennsylvania State Law requires that a motorist report significant damage. Kyle did not, and the incident was treated as a 'hit & run'.

PennDot will replace the bridge. However, it is not known at this time if the replacement bridge will be closer to modern standards or not. To meet modern standards, the bridge would need a higher clearance, and additional shoulder and interchange improvements would be needed as well.

Story - Truck damages bridge over I-70; lanes reopened ---Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sign Find or A Major Sign Foul?

2010-10-17T21:11:00.000-04:00

While touring the construction progress of the Triangle Expressway with Bob Malme today, we came across this well - NC 540 detour shield.

Not sure where to begin with this: a rare orange NC shield? the hand drawn diamond? the lack of an official detour posting? The reason for the orange shield is a detour for Davis Drive and Kit Creek Road to NC 540. Currently, the interchange with 540 and Davis/Kit Creek is closed for construction of the Triangle Expressway.

And here we thought the possibility of the Toll NC 540 shields being purple was out there.

What's this?? We've updated?

2010-10-17T20:04:00.000-04:00

Yes, a website update. Certainly a rare occurrence these days. But I've been working on the PA Keystone Town Markers Project over the weekend and added over 24 new photos (even some from myself!)

Thanks to Jim Carn, Bennett Buchanan, and Brian Reynolds for their photos.

Keystone Town Marker Restorer featured in local publication

2010-10-16T13:21:00.003-04:00

This past summer, Jim Carn, who as a one-man restoration team has restored numerous Pennsylvania Keystone Markers in North Central Pennsylvania, was featured in the Webb Weekly, a local publication in the Williamsport Area.

In just over a year, Carn has restored over one dozen of the historical highway markers. He has a flickr site detailing some of his work, located here.

Carn's work has also been recognized by the Keystone Marker Trust, and his work has inspired other Pennsylvanians to do the same.

A belated congratulations to Jim for being recognized for his unselfish hard work!

Latest on I-74/US 311 Freeway Opening Date

2010-10-16T00:02:00.004-04:00

A TV station has a website article and video confirming earlier newspaper reports that NCDOT expects the section of I-74/US 311 between Business 85 in High Point and Cedar Square Road in Randolph County to be open by Thanksgiving. Click on the Blog title to access the URL.

Hmm, guess NCDOT wants me to return to NC to drive the new freeway when it's open. Maybe, stay tuned.

Vintage New York

2010-10-15T21:00:00.003-04:00

After checking out the Thruway and Binghamton film as mentioned in the Binghamton in 1951 post, I browsed the collection of the New York State Archives on YouTube and found a couple more videos from the 1950s.

Erie Canal Relocation (1952) - Video shows the relocation of the Erie Canal in Herkimer in order to make way for the New York State Thruway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rJKcmS8rPY

Tappan Zee Bridge Opening (1955) - Video explains the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which carries Interstate 87 and the New York State Thruway over the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland Counties.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaReVTZkNNg

Binghamton in 1951

2010-10-15T19:52:00.010-04:00

As a former resident of the Binghamton, NY area (I lived in neighboring Johnson City for about a year and a half), I was curious to check out a 1951 film on YouTube from the New York State Archives that promoted the benefits of the New York State Thruway to Binghamton and Endicott. But wait a minute, you may say. The Thruway doesn't and never went to Binghamton. True, but this video touts the economic, industrial, agricultural and recreational opportunities that come with the construction of the Thruway. Plus, fans of old signs will enjoy some of the gems seen in this video.

I was also interested in seeing the Washington Street Bridge carrying vehicular traffic over the Susquehanna River, as this bridge is now a pedestrian bridge. You can check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3XzrLAG-4. Thanks to area resident Dylan Lainhart for advising me to check out the video.

The New York State Archives is posting a number of videos on YouTube, and if you want to see more videos, you can go to http://www.youtube.com/user/nysarchives.

Also in 1951, the Vestal Parkway (now NY 434) was under construction in the Town of Vestal. I've had the following photo, courtesy of Chris Curley, in my queue to be added for quite a while, and this is a good chance to show the photo.

Chris had also sent me a description about the photo. "From Jensen Rd looking east towards Binghamton. The first building on the left is the Vestal Steak House. The road on the far left is Old Vestal Rd and you can see Vestal Hills Cemetery to the left of that. The field at the top right is where SUNY Binghamton is."

Vestal Parkway is now a hodgepodge of shopping centers and other businesses in the area where the photo was taken, and is one of the main commercial thoroughfares in Broome County.

Travels without Charley

2010-10-14T21:45:00.000-04:00

One of the most well known American travelogues is John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America. The story of the author's nearly 10,000 mile cross-country roadtrip with his dog Charley in the fall of 1960.

Well a half-century later, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Bill Steigerwald is retracing Steinbeck's epic journey, and he's keeping his own travelogue in a daily updated blog called, Travels without Charley.

Be sure to check it out!

After decades of frustration...PA 51 and PA 88 intersection finally to be redesigned

2010-10-14T21:28:00.000-04:00

For decades, residents and commuters in Pittsburgh's South Hills have waited for drastic and much needed improvements at the intersections of PA 51 and 88 in the city's Overbrook neighborhood. From failed expressway plans and intersection redesign plans, this was one bottleneck that many thought would never go away.

Well, by 2014, the notorious left lane back up on Northbound PA 51 with traffic wanting to turn onto Library Road (PA 88) , Glenbury St.,and buses wanting to access the South Busway will be no more. The daily mess will be replaced by a two-lane jughandle which will run from near Fairhaven Road, behind the existing Rite Aid Pharmacy, and then utilize Ivyglen St.

The jughandle will be the key feature to a project that will eliminate all left turns from PA 51 at the dangerous intersection.

Other improvements include a second jughandleon PA 51 South at Fairhaven Road. This jughandle will also utilize Stewart Ave. In addition, three structurally deficient bridges and two culverts will be rebuilt. A third, new culvert will be built over Weyman Run along the northbound jughandle route.

The project will cost between $14 and 15 million. Construction will begin in 2013 and finish the following year. A few businesses, including the Hillview Tavern, will be lost in right-of-way acquisition.

Story Links:
PennDOT to unveil planes for Routes 51, 88 in Overbrook ---Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PennDot: 'Jug Handle Will Alleviate Route 88-51 Bottleneck ---WTAE-TV

Commentary:
In the P-G article, it leads with a line from a Joe Grata story in 1993, "The public will get its first detailed look today at plans to untangle the intersection of Routes 51 and 88 in Overbrook." I remember that story, and a few others and prior to and after it on other plans and delays to revamp this intersection. I recall a billboard being a problem in a right-of-way squabble.

The WTAE story mentioned how this isn't the ultimate solution but the most cost-effective, and it most likely is. With any chance to build a urban expressway along the Saw Mill Run valley killed decades ago, the only way to improve any traffic flow patterns on PA 51 is do piecemeal minor improvements. Over 10 years ago, the much needed Liberty Tunnels, West Liberty Avenue, and PA 51 interchange was built. Later, improvements were made to the intersection of PA 51 and Woodruff Ave. Now, the much needed improvements to the 51 and 88 intersection.

Now only if the state would come up with the money to buy all of the blighted Levitske Brothers property along Saw Mill Run Blvd. and use that to widen Route 51.

FHWA Secretary Discusses I-73 in SC

2010-10-08T22:37:00.007-04:00

According to the article linked in the title from a news conference held today in Florence, SC, FHWA secretary Ray LaHood "was positive it (I-73) will get some federal funding. The interstate would start in Michigan, pass through Ohio and two other states.

Supporters of I-73 were thrilled to have LaHood in their backyard, discussing the virtues of their favorite road. But their enthusiasm depends on what Congress does with a new transportation funding bill that will come up next year."

"LaHood says, next year, President Barack Obama will put a 6-year, $500-billion transportation funding bill before Congress. He says I-73 is a perfect fit for that bill. "If this is South Carolina's priority, if this is the region's priority, I have no doubt it will be a part of the 6-year plan."

I-73 supporters have been waiting a long time. Chamber of Commerce leaders told LaHood, the interstate was first proposed in 1980, when textiles and tobacco were South Carolina's big industries."

"LaHood said one factor that will help ensure funding, is to push the multi-state coalition, getting states like Michigan and Ohio involved. He says there's more power when states work together.

Supporters say construction of I-73 would create 38,000 jobs over five years. The interstate would start in Michigan, pass through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina near Highway 52. The interstate would then intersect with I-95, head toward Myrtle Beach and connect with Highway 501 before merging with Highway 22, the Conway Bypass. Highway 22 would actually become I-73."

The article has a couple news video links with LaHood's remarks. The I-73/74 Association's idea to bring back Ohio and Michigan back to the table is to add I-75 to the Priority Corridor. What do you do though when you have a Washington Rally to discuss this with corridor politicians, most of whom had left town already (oops). You make news by renaming your association the I-73/74/75 Association. Don't look for this news on their web site, as usual it hasn't been updated in a couple months.

Meantime, here's the Michigan perspective on what happened in DC and SC:

http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\home\lists\search&id=523218

Final(?) I-74/US 311 High Point East Belt Progress Report

2010-10-05T17:03:00.028-04:00

NCDOT's Construction Progress Report produced a new estimate of completion for the I-74/US 311 freeway between Business 85 and Cedar Square Road on September 20, about 10 days earlier than usual. The report indicated the project was 94.2% complete. Assuming, even with the rainy weather, that this completion percentage was approaching 95% by the first Sunday in October, I took, what I hoped would be, a final trip to the corridor to confirm progress on building the freeway hoping it appeared almost completed (and hopefully to be opened before November, more on that later). What I found was most of the work on the road itself had been completed, with a few exceptions, all that's left to do is some final landscaping, placing covers on the remaining open median water drains, the placement of signs, both overhead and at ground level, and the putting down of lane markings (much of which had been preliminarily marked along the roadway). Here's a summary heading west to east or north to south, depending on whether you prefer to use I-74 or US 311 cardinal directions.

A. The Business 85 interchange
The ramps and roadway leading from the open freeway up to Baker Road have largely been cleaned off, though no interchange signage or lane markings have appeared. Here's the view for where traffic must exit now esatbound:
Here's the view looking at the future on ramp to I-74 East from the 'volleyball interchange'. They still need to work on the traffic signals and clean the roadway near the intersection:
B. Baker Road
The final coat of asphalt for Baker Road has still not been placed, but the landscaping around the bridge appears complete:
Looking southward, one can see the roadway is almost complete with a few landscaping and drain cover issues still needing to be addressed:
A closer look at the westbound roadway reveals an initial marking of where the shoulder and lane markings will be placed:
Note there is nothing for the left shoulder, this is the case on most of the freeway that's marked, though in some areas only the left and right shoulders are indicated.

C. Jackson Lake Road
This area appears near completion, sign structures are up and lanes are marked for striping, some landscaping and drainage covers still need work, both looking west/north:
And south/east toward Kersey Valley Road:
D. Kersey Valley Road
A similar story can be said here. More sign structures have been put up, but the recent rain hasn't helped with the large hill landscaping. First here's a view of the bridge:
A few more posts for the guardrails also need to be installed, after the construction road is no longer needed. Here's a similar view but including the signage structure for the future 2 mile advance sign for the Business 85 exit:
Notice also completion of the median guide wires. Here's the landscaping problem I mentioned:
While the drainage system seems to have worked well, most of the top soil put on the embankment has washed away, and will need to be replaced.

E. I-85 Interchange
The interchange as seen from Dresden Road appears completed, or close to being so:
A truck ramp to the eastbound exit off ramp will have to be closed. Meanwhile an overhead sign structure at the splitting of the I-85 north (flyover) and south ramps has been put up. On I-85 itself all the signage has been put up with the I-74/US 311 signs remaining covered:
The covered sign marks one mile before the beginning of the I-74 interchange C/D ramps. Below is the final sign covered over at the beginning of the C/D ramps northbound:
Photo taken from the NC 62 off ramp. There have been no additional signs or sign posts put up yet at the I-85 north on ramp from NC 62 which uses the C/D lanes.

F. NC 62 and Tuttle Road
With the exception of markings demarking future traffic lanes, nothing new was seen at these locations, both seemingly near completion. The landscaping has filled in nicely as seen from both directions on the Tuttle Road Bridge. First, north:
yes, those are bikers heading southbound, and looking to the south:
Hard, to spot but you can see median guide wires have been placed here as well. The sign structure seen last month around the corner is still the last one along the freeway heading south.

F. Poole Road
The only change is the completion of the bridge over a creek to the north, it also looks like they repaved this section:
Landscaping also may still be an issue to the north of these bridges. Looking south from the Poole Road bridge shows a scene similar to last month, no pavement markings, or sign structures for the Cedar Square exit seen here, though more guardrails have been installed:
Looking along the freeway that parallels Poole Road, the only real change is the absence of machinery:
The truck access route from Poole has been closed, so trucks are using the median to turn around to get off the freeway at the Cedar Square interchange.

G. Cedar Square Road Interchange (Temporary End of Freeway)
There has been progress in placing final pavement down for the sections that will be opened to traffic, though as stated before, no signage structures have been put up, nor evidence of signage along Cedar Square at the future I-74 west interchange. Here's a view of the on ramp from the end of Poole Road:
The on ramp is straight ahead. The future off ramp from I-74 East, not paved beyond the cement median, is to the left. Here's a view of the progress in constructing the eastbound off ramp which all traffic will use until late 2012:
Notice they are still working on landscaping and containing water runoff before the ramp. The view of the ramp from Cedar Square Road shows further need for landscaping:
Not to mention replacement of traffic barrels. The view from Poole Road looking south toward the bridge shows the extent of progress in paving the ramps and future westbound I-74 roadway:
While a view from the bridge looking southward, shows the progress of the westbound offramp and the unpaved sections which are now the responsibility of the Poole Rd to US 220 contractor:
A view from the future Eastbound on ramp shows the extent of the ramp and borrow pit construction:
Yes, those are the same bikers again. The official opening date for this segment is still November. Hopefully, though the weather will cooperate, especially when it comes to placing the line markings down. I am moving back to my native Massachusetts at the end of October and it would figure that NCDOT would wait until a couple days into November before opening the road. Especially after all the effort I've made in pointing out their mistakes.

I took photos along the next section of construction from Spencer Road to US 220 and will put those up on another post. I'll certainly have to return someday to take a ride after that section's open. Meanwhile, if there are any others interested in following the progress of the final section of the 311 Bypass, feel free to take rod trips to document it.

Group pushes for completion of Winston-Salem Northern Beltway

2010-10-03T12:44:00.000-04:00

There's a citizen's group in the Triad that is pushing for the completion of the Northern Beltway (Future I-74).

The group has a blogsite, twitter feed, and facebook fan page.

Feel free to check them out, I've added a link to their blog site on the side column links.

NC 90's West End now signed (and paved)

2010-10-03T12:23:00.001-04:00

NC 90 is one the more unique highways in the state. Mostly because of an isolated journey over nearly eight miles of unpaved roads to its Western Terminus in Edgemont. The Western Terminus of NC 90 was not completely clear to many roadgeeks for a number of years.

Well thanks to a recent bridge replacement project the Western Terminus has been marked. Bobby Schultz, who enjoys exploring the numerous mountain backroads of the area, was kind enough to send some photos of the recently signed terminus.

As you can see the terminus is now also paved. The pavement is a result of the completion of a new two lane bridge, which you can see in the photo below.

The pavement ends about 50 yards beyond both ends of the bridge. The pavement really feels out of place as it is surrounded by unpaved roads in all directions. Also, a nitpick, but you'll notice the pointed edges of the NC diamond shield vs. the traditional rounded corners of the diamond. These pointed diamonds are becoming more common place in contractor installed shields within the state.

Many thanks to Bobby for sending the photos, and hopefully I'll get back to updating the NC Ends website when everything slows down this winter.

On the move...

2010-10-02T18:19:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that the number of posts here at the blog have diminished since August. The reason? Well, I'm in the process of buying a new home, and the past four-six weeks have been rather hectic. (And it's been hectic in transportation news along the East Coast as well!)

We close on the 7th, so hopefully in a few weeks when we're settled and the study is completed, there will be more blog posts on the way!