409 replies to this topic

[Roadgeek]

I know I've been hanging around the ccm topics, but I need to tickle my roadgeek gene a little on the information super highway. Does anyone have any updates on the Greensboro Urban Loop? I know that the rest of the southern part will be finnished in 2007 and my favorite road will migrate onto it. Interstate 40!

[StevenRocks]

No updates yet, but stay tuned.

[Roadgeek]

2 weeks ago, the Greensboro News & Record had an article about the Greensboro Urban Loop. It stated that a few traffic pattern changes will occur either permanently or temporarly. One thing is a new traffic pattern on I-40 east. The newspaper got thrown away so I can't really recall much. Will this cause many problems or changes?

[StevenRocks]

It will make travel smoother for thru traffic on I-40, but it's going to make the trip around Greensboro take longer from a mileage standpoint.  

Also, It's bound to be a little confusing as well, because I think old I-40's going to be green-signed like old I-85, which is going to make giving directions to out-of-towners very fun  

[Jerseyman4]

I can see NW Guilford/SW Rockingham/SE Stokes counties explode with growth once Painter gets through that area. Though this will not help traffic on Battleground but will make getting to PTI, Danville, Durham, High Point and Winston easier taking traffic off existening city roads and US 158.

The ripple effect will be Battleground for commuters going into DT Gboro.

[ezcheese]

does anybody have a map of what it will look like when it's done?

[Roadgeek]

Here's a map of Painter.

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[Roadgeek]

Here's a map of Painter.

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[MZT]

Even Painter Blvd may not change southeast Greensboro much. That's one of Burlington's watersheds. The developers are probably salivating over the prospects in north county, however.

[ezcheese]

Roadgeek, on Aug 15 2005, 01:51 PM, said:

Here's a map of Painter.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

awesome, thanks.

[ezcheese]

MZT, on Aug 15 2005, 02:44 PM, said:

Even Painter Blvd may not change southeast Greensboro much. That's one of Burlington's watersheds. The developers are probably salivating over the prospects in north county, however.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

a lot of the stretch between western burlington and eastern greensboro along highway 70 is being developed pretty quickly. there is tons of new construction going on all over the place.

[cityboi]

There is already a Shopping Center and hotel planned for the intersection of highway 70 (Wendover) and I-840 on the east side of the Greensboro. So there will be an explosion of growth in the east and northeast. The land near the intersection of the loop and Bryan Blvd is also going to see development. Despite the fact that residents fought off a planned mall in the area back in the 90s, I think we might see another mall proposal near this interchange when its complete. This time I think a mall would be built.

It looks like the interchange where the loop crosses current I-40 is going to be massive. They are currently constructing bridges and soaring ramps that crosses over bridges. It looks like its going to be the kind of interchange that you would see in Charlotte or Atlanta. That segment of I-40 has 10 lanes. The interchange near Grandover is also massive and if you are not careful you may take the wrong exit. Thats how complex its going to be when its totally complete. I saw a map of the loop on a wall and it looks like part of the loop (New I-40/I-73) on the southwest qaudrant will be crossing over a lake near Hester Park.

Edited by cityboi, 15 August 2005 - 07:18 PM.

[jasoniman24]

It looks like the interchange at the new I-85 bypass (Painter Blvd) and S. Elm-Eugene St is already exploding with growth. There are tons of new homes and a massive shopping center with a new Wal-Mart and Lowes going up on the NW side of the interchange. Also I have noticed the much of the land on the other sides of the interchange is for sale. I think this may be very similar to Wendover /I-40 in a few years. One side note, why don't they call it Painter Frwy instead of Painter Blvd? When I think of a boulevard, High Point Rd or Battleground Ave comes to mind.

Edited by jasoniman24, 15 August 2005 - 07:31 PM.

[MZT]

Maybe Burlington's watersheds are further south. I just remember it being an explanation for years, why Greensboro grew in every direction except southeast.

[cityboi]

I never could understand why Greensboro calls its freeways boulevards. Highway 29 through Greensboro is called O'Henry Blvd. I-40 through Greensboro is called Fordham Blvd. Then there is Bryan Blvd. Why not call it The Joseph M. Bryan Expressway? Bryan Blvd is highway/expressway standards. There are a few highways in Greensboro that are called expressways. Highway 421 into Greensboro and Highway 68 come to mind.When Wendover Avenue was first planned, it was suppose to be a freeway but for some reason that never happened. However there are parts of Wendover Ave that sprawl through the city that are expressway standards. When Wendover was proposed, it was almost voted down and never built. The Wendover Ave project won by 1 vote. CAn You imagine Greensboro without Wendover Ave today? It would be a traffic nightmare.

Edited by cityboi, 15 August 2005 - 08:10 PM.

[NcSc74]

I left Greensboro in 94 and have tried to keep up with developments. Reading things on this site I am anxious to go back and see the growth. I had always wanted this metro to step up and build like it should. My wife used to work at Lab staffers in High Point. We lived on Lawndale Apartments on Battleground Ave and I would take Wendover all the way to High Point when I didnt want to deal with High Point road. I really think people don't give Greensboro the credit due when it comes to amount of development and the urban feel it has. Greensboro has several areas that have a number of mid rises that although are not downtown its still is a compliment to the city as a whole. For example Battleground and Lawndale Dr-Friendly Center-Four Seasons area-Wendover and I-40-Lee street around NCA&T.

[NCMike1981]

I still have never been on the new 85. I used to hate the 2 lane part of 85/40 near the center of Greensboro. Isn't 40 still on the same route as b4 they built the bypass for 85?

[cityboi]

Currently, main I-40 is still on the (now business 85) route. That will change once the southwestern loop is complete. I-40 will then follow the loop and the old route will be buisness 40/85.

[ILoveCallingNCHome]

cityboi, on Aug 15 2005, 10:05 PM, said:

I never could understand why Greensboro calls its freeways boulevards. Highway 29 through Greensboro is called O'Henry Blvd.

Well O'Henry Blvd is an actual road on the north side of 29.  It borders the O'Henry Oaks neighborhood on that side of the highway.  It is a service road, if you will, but also is a residential road that leads into two parts of that neighborhood.

[cityboi]

http://www.wfmy.com/...x?storyid=55827

I think this is the last section that needs funding. The southeastern leg is complete and construction is underway on the southwest and west loop near Bryan Blvd and the airport. half the loop will be complete with in the next few years. There is a massive "maze like" urban interchange under construction now where the loop crosses I-40 in west Greensboro.

Edited by cityboi, 24 January 2006 - 07:38 AM.