Traffic Congestion and Highway Construction

[drumsy]

I'm hearing that all lanes were opened on I-85 between Salisbury and Kannapolis yesterday.  A red-letter day for sure!

[drumsy]

Confirmed.  Northbound and southbound are all open.  Entrance and exit ramps to the Old Beatty Ford Rd overpass are still closed, but the overpass itself is open.

[rancenc]

A milestone in the I-85 widening saga!

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-11-08-i-85-rowan-county-lanes-open.aspx

[kermit]

Very interesting blog post discussing NCDOT’s dismay that urban areas are not enthusiastic about building superstreets. NCDOT is now soliciting research proposals that will identify ways to convince cities to feel better about superstreets in their midsts (despite the superstreets being incredibly unfriendly to pedestrians and bikers). The call for proposals specifically requests that research project teams include “placemaking professionals”

By imagining that these car sewers could be compatible with placemaking the agency has outed itself as being  firmly rooted in 20th century engineering expertise. I think we deserve better.
http://www.kostelecplanning.com/dont-want-superstreets-in-your-city-ncdot-will-educate-you-into-submission/

 

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by kermit

[Eightane]

22 minutes ago, kermit said:

By imagining that these car sewers could be compatible with placemaking the agency has outed itself as being  firmly rooted in 20th century engineering expertise. We deserve better.

 

Not only that, but - tinfoil hat alert - I feel it also indicates how politicians at state level are all ruled by the mindset that what works at the rural and/or outer suburban level will work everywhere. People from Metrolina have long held bitterness towards Raleigh's politicians saying that they overwhelmingly serve rural interests and have only contempt for cities that aren't in the Triangle, and seeing how agencies controlled by the state behave it's sort of hard to argue with those sentiments.

[KJHburg]

New digital signage at Concord Mills Blvd exit 49 part of this is for the new flyover ramp they will have for the mall.  Preliminary work is being done now for it shifting some lanes and so forth.  from this morning. 

[Eightane]

I meant to ask this earlier, but what is the progress of the resurfacing of 85 above China Grove? I remember there being one-lane closures promised in the stretches leading up towards the Triad.

[CTiger]

On 11/12/2019 at 10:18 PM, Eightane said:

I meant to ask this earlier, but what is the progress of the resurfacing of 85 above China Grove? I remember there being one-lane closures promised in the stretches leading up towards the Triad.

It was down to two lanes in each direction when I drove through this weekend.

 

Edited November 14, 2019 by CTiger

[KJHburg]

Concord Mills flyover into the mall will be on pause during the holidays resuming in Jan.

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2019/2019-11-13-concord-mills-project-suspension.aspx

and don't worry access to the Krispy Kreme bottom right will not be affected and easy ingress and egress. 

Edited November 13, 2019 by KJHburg

[Dale]

Could be wishful thinking, but looks like they’ve FINALLY started the 485 @ Weddington Rd interchange. 

They’ve taken down some trees and appeared to be clipping power lines.

 

 

 

[KJHburg]

13 minutes ago, Dale said:

Could be wishful thinking, but looks like they’ve FINALLY started the 485 @ Weddington Rd interchange. 

They’ve taken down some trees and appeared to be clipping power lines.

 

 

 

I think that exit will be 485 express lanes only exit and entrance.   LONG overdue. 

[Dale]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

I think that exit will be 485 express lanes only exit and entrance.   LONG overdue. 

Works for me. Now, if I want to go east, I can only go by way of a convoluted and often time-consuming route.

[KJHburg]

went back through the new interchange at Hwy 16 and Mt Holly Huntersville Road.  I got 2 red lights this time but they were very short and I got to see people making left turns, right turns and straight on Hwy 16 at the same time.  This time I had my camera with me and there were no backs up at 11 am today when I rolled back into town.

This interchange is easy to understand if you can read the signs.

 

[rancenc]

New exit on I-85 in Rowan County opens up.

http://www.kannapolisnc.gov/Community/News/ID/1619/I-85-Exit-65-Opens

 

[KJHburg]

Took these photos today of the southbound 77 express lanes and the lanes are supposed open TONIGHT.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/remainder-of-i-77-express-lanes-to-open/275-e99a1eec-4aed-43c6-b429-9c15bfcfd3df

 

[NCMike1990]

^Why is there such a difference in pavement thickness between the express lanes and normal travel lanes?

Should it not be level all the way across? I have heard drivers complain about that on local TV reports. It does seem dangerous for drivers when entering and exiting the express lanes.

[KJHburg]

43 minutes ago, NCMike1990 said:

^Why is there such a difference in pavement thickness between the express lanes and normal travel lanes?

Should it not be level all the way across? I have heard drivers complain about that on local TV reports. It does seem dangerous for drivers when entering and exiting the express lanes.

they have yet to repave the regular lanes and will have to do so. 

[tozmervo]

Indeed, they haven't even finished final pave on the sections that opened last summer

[jednc]

On 11/16/2019 at 6:24 PM, KJHburg said:

Took these photos today of the southbound 77 express lanes and the lanes are supposed open TONIGHT.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/remainder-of-i-77-express-lanes-to-open/275-e99a1eec-4aed-43c6-b429-9c15bfcfd3df

 

These Lanes did NOT open last night. They did open sometime today (at least northbound). There is still MUCH work that needs to be done on the extortion lanes and the general purpose inadequate lanes. I hope the state continues to fine the company $30K/Day until all work is completed.

[KJHburg]

11 minutes ago, jednc said:

These Lanes did NOT open last night. They did open sometime today (at least northbound). There is still MUCH work that needs to be done on the extortion lanes and the general purpose inadequate lanes. I hope the state continues to fine the company $30K/Day until all work is completed.

From what Channel 9 said today they are continuing to be fined every day since they are not completely complete with the project.  

[jednc]

1 minute ago, KJHburg said:

From what Channel 9 said today they are continuing to be fined every day since they are not completely complete with the project.  

That's great news!

[KJHburg]

20 minutes ago, jednc said:

That's great news!

Here is the report I saw and yes fines continue.   

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/all-sections-of-i-77-express-lanes-set-to-open-saturday-evening/1009340927

Speaking of toll express lanes they are moving fast on the ones on I-485 between 77 and US 74.  

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i-485-express-lanes/Pages/default.aspx

the Weddington Road exit near Matthews will be regular exit I think I said it was a toll express lanes only exit but there will be one of them at Westinghouse Blvd.

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/i-485-express-lanes/Documents/map-9-weddington-road.pdf

Edited November 18, 2019 by KJHburg

[Nolan]

The views from the express lanes are amazing, taken from my dash cam...The flyover ramp to Brookshire

 

[Hushpuppy321]

The Fines levied against Cintra will be Staggering at first.  They probably have Several Months of Paving and Punchlist work to finish in order to be completed with this entire I-77 Project.  I'm sure that some of the fines will be negotiated down.  If not - I expect Cintra to recoup those Liquidated Damages by adjusting Toll Rates.  Either way Drivers ultimately get screwed.

[Dale]

Matthews news: at last check, Matthews voted to delay widening John St for a further five years. John St is already a perpetual parking lot. And I fear the effect of the delay will be to keep properties along that stretch blighted. I’m talking about the stretch between 485 and Potter Rd.