cowboy_wilhelm

I'm assuming they're putting the second platform directly on track 2 and low-level? This would be a good opportunity to add one or two sidings for the platforms to allow for future triple or quadruple tracking and to not foul the main line, plus the opportunity for high platforms and level-boarding. Could build and open the new platform then rebuild the second a little closer to the station. Oh well.

I'm not aware of any planned double tracking or sidings between Greensboro and Durham, at least in the current STIP. All I can find are a few grade separations near Greensboro and the new station in Hillsborough. A list of draft "statewide mobility" projects for the next STIP should be released at the end of this month, so we'll see if anything new comes up. Still, you're stuck with years of planning and design before anything will happen and NCDOT screws up their budget again and delays their projects another 5-10 years . This stretch is a major bottleneck that is going to delay additional service between Charlotte and Raleigh for another decade or more at the rate we're going.

The wye is tentatively scheduled to be let in August of this year, along with the Kannapolis second platform. The second platform in Salisbury is scheduled for a November let. Can't remember where I read it, but yes, NS needs the wye to eliminate backing into their intermodal yard from the Columbia line, so I'm sure they were more eager to cooperate on this project than some others. https://connect.ncdot.gov/letting/12 Month Tentative Letting Library/12 MONTH LET LIST (JUNE 2021 - MAY 2022).pdf

Search "K5LA" on YouTube. *cough, cough* Who said that? I don't know what that is.

Apparently the contractor on this project (Dragados USA) is the same contractor that caused $800 million in cost overruns on the California High Speed Rail project. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-22/california-bullet-train-dragados-design-changes

https://www.amtrak.com/track-your-train.html

It took NCDOT five years to replace two bridges on I-26 over Pond Rd. near Asheville. They're already five years into replacing the Brevard Rd. bridge and widening just over 1 mile of I-26 and they still aren't done with that. I was hoping the "project prioritization," acceleration, etc. they started pushing a decade or so ago for funding projects would make its way over to the construction side, but it hasn't.

That interchange has turned into such a cluster. It seems like any time of the day it is backed up now. There's no way NCDOT can wait until 2027 to start that project (I-6016). It's a shame that the Sam Wilson Rd. overpass is too narrow to accommodate any additional lanes since the structure looks to be in pretty good condition. Are there any plans to relocate the southbound weigh station?

Gotcha. I was aware of the recent downgrading and won't be surprised if/when it is for sale/sold. Just didn't know if it was official yet.

Is the line for sale? Haven't heard or seen that.

Here's a simple solution to make a difference now: raise the flippin' federal gas tax that hasn't been increased in nearly 30 years to compensate for inflation and improved fuel economy. It already exists, you pay for what you use, and WHOA, billions of dollars in additional revenue every year, just-like-that. No new convoluted system that will require years and millions of dollars to study and implement.

If you don't like that, you REALLY won't like that NCDOT spent $6 million to build bridges on a freeway so a one-lane, private gravel road could travel underneath and connect private land to a private equestrian facility (and there's already an overpass a quarter of a mile away). "Economic development" can get you from unfunded to added to the STIP and under construction in less than two months. Yet "there's no money" for other projects.

I can't believe they charge you to drive in a single lane. I guess it works out sometimes, but that has to be incredibly annoying. Wonder how it will be once traffic starts returning to closer to normal? Really think there should be a General Statute or something after this debacle that an existing highway must have three free travel lanes before toll lanes can be considered, and there must be a minimum of two tolled travel lanes, because I don't see this working out in another decade.

Does said I-85 sign pre-date Google Street View imagery? In 2007, the I-85 sign included Durham and Atlanta, and the I-95 sign included Rocky Mount and Miami. They were updated in 2014 or 2015 to only reference Rocky Mount and Durham. Or am I looking at the wrong sign? Miami is a bit of a stretch, but I think VDOT was intentionally trying to emphasize two similarly numbered highways going two very different directions. Everyone knows Miami and Atlanta. Durham and Rocky Mount aren't going to mean anything to snow birds traveling from New York to Florida. I think North Carolina uses too many small, unknown towns as control "cities" on their signs. I was just checking U.S. 74 from Wilmington and west for any reference to Charlotte, and everything is Leland, Whiteville, Lumberton, Rockingham, and Wadesboro. I got turned around once in Greenville at the 264 interchange because the exit says it's for Wilson. Where is Wilson?! I'm trying to get to Raleigh. In my defense, I came out 64 and was going back on 264, so I really had no idea where Wilson was.

NCDOT also handed out $39 million more than expected in employee raises last year, and as of May had paid $600 million in settlements/claims as a result of the unconstitutional Map Act. Total settlements could eventually approach $1 billion. State audit concludes NCDOT improperly spent millions on raises; the agency disagrees Audit: NCDOT overspent hundreds of millions because of poor budgeting and oversight Supreme Court: NCDOT must compensate Map Act property owners for lost market value I can't find the article, but NCDOT has confirmed there will be less maintenance. Grass mowing on major thoroughfares was decreased from six(?) times a year to three(?). They haven't awarded a major highway contract since March since they dropped below their minimum "cash floor."

Not enough Troopers, and the few that are around are usually too busy filling out crash reports to enforce traffic laws. The announcement even said as much and that the Troopers for this crackdown were from neighboring counties. I suspect they may do something similar in Wake soon. A moron going 100+ mph on 64 coming into Raleigh killed himself and two others last week.

Nothing "major," but there are several grade separation projects funded in the State Transportation Improvement Program between Charlotte and Raleigh. Those are likely facing delays due to NCDOT's sharp losses in revenue. You can view a map of STIP projects here to get a better idea of where they are (look for the rail icons). We may see 90 mph one day, but I don't think we'll ever get to 110 mph as long as Norfolk Southern shares the same tracks. As mentioned, high-level boarding would cut a ton of time. As more frequencies are added, it will be interesting to see if an express/limited service is considered. I don't know what the numbers indicate for origins and destinations, but something like Charlotte-Greensboro-Raleigh, or even just Charlotte to Raleigh. I imagine that would cut more time than other expensive upgrades.

Looking at the cars and tires in a Walmart parking lot, I'm amazed that most of them got there and can exceed 35 mph without something falling off.

Link?

The Carolinian is canceled until May 4. https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2020/2020-04-03-carolinian-service.aspx

The grant doesn't cover too much, mainly fiber optic installation along the corridor. It does add the final grade separation project in Mooresboro west of Shelby for a complete Charlotte-Asheville freeway. All the other highway projects were already scheduled for construction from state funding, but there will likely be major delays coming soon for all projects.

NCDOT appears to be looking for ways to acquire their portion of the S-Line. An Incremental Service Development Plan will be completed this Spring to identify grant opportunities and the phasing of future improvements. NCDOT Rail Division Update (March 4, 2020)

How Shelby bypass project could drive development in region - WSOC Full article from Charlotte Business Journal with potential pay wall: How the Shelby bypass project could affect development in Cleveland County Coincidence? Or is there a reporter amongst us...? <.< >.>

I always lose it at 1:22. Thank you for re-posting this.

Eastern North Carolina has historically had better representation in Raleigh than other areas of the state due to population and economics. That is of course changing. The 2020 Census will likely paint a grimmer picture for Eastern North Carolina and representation. Most people also don’t realize how large and spread out Eastern North Carolina is. The counties intersecting or east of I-95 (excluding Harnett) make up 43 percent of the state’s total land area. That’s a lot of area to serve with highways. But speaking of incentives, highways are also incentives. North Carolina (and other states) hand out hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tax incentives to private companies to get them to locate here. And it’s a competition now. If you don’t offer incentives, the company goes elsewhere. It’s the same with highways. If there isn’t a highway (often times an Interstate highway), the company looks elsewhere, whether that’s in another state or within the same state. At least highways are an incentive that serves the entire population versus tax breaks for massive corporations. Let's take U.S. 74 and Cleveland County for example. There is lots of new industrial development on the western end of the Shelby bypass that hasn’t even opened yet. The Walmart distribution center was built there in the mid-2000’s because of the promise of a bypass. Will these “save” the county’s economy? No. Would they have built there without the highway? Probably not. At least they're jobs. Then again, it’s amazing that any company takes North Carolina or the NCDOT seriously when it takes nearly 50 years to go from concept to completion of an 18-mile highway bypass. 1979: U.S. 74 bypass concept added to 1979 Thoroughfare Plan for Shelby 1991: Feasibility Study recommends southern bypass 1994: Shelby Thoroughfare Plan recommends northern bypass 1998: Draft Environmental Impact Statement 2008: Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision approved 2013: Construction begins on interchanges and realignment of existing U.S. 74 2014: Construction begins on bypass 2019: Two eastern sections delayed three years; preliminary engineering is suspended 2020: First sections scheduled to open 2022: Middle section scheduled to open 2024: Last sections begin construction 2027: Estimated completion