Gribblenation

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 compar...

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...

This story could push the discussion of getting the 'gap funding' for the Cape Fear Skyway approved along though the next few months. A recent inspection of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge that carries US 76/421 and 7 Business over the Cape Fear River in Wilmington exposed cracks in the bridge's infrastructure. The cracks are in need of repair but NCDOT officials say drivers shouldn't be worried. The bridge will see one lane shutdowns beginning May 27th - Monday through Thursday. From 10 pm through 6 am - Monday through Thursday - the bridge will be shut down altogether. The bridge will remain open during the weekends for beach traffic. NCDOT plan on the repairs to be completed in their entirety this fall. Story: WWAY-TV HT: Joe Babyak

Joe's got two new video's. The Southern End of US 117 in Wilmington. and US 74/76 East entering Wilmington including the Cape Fear River Draw Bridge.

A new twist to the blog tonight...videos. An old friend of mine Joe Babyak took some road videos recently down in Wilmington. First, the entire signed length of I-140: And finally, the Eastern End of US 76: Joe plans on taking more videos so keep an eye out for them.