Gribblenation

Chimney Rock Park, a privately owned mountain attraction since 1902, will become part of the larger state-owned Hickory Nut Gorge State Park in 2008. The Morse family, who have owned and operated the park since its inception, sold the land to the state after two years of negotiations. Story: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/email/news/breaking_news/16577010.htm Commentary: Chimney Rock Park was the first park I visited after I moved to North Carolina in January 2000. During my brief time in Asheville , I took advantage of a mild winter day to visit the park. The Lake Lure/Hickory Nut Gorge area has become a popular second home destination, and over the past decade the amount of development there has been staggering. The Morse family decided to sell to the state, which will allow the land to become part of Hickory Nut Gorge State Park, because the state will keep the grounds as part of the new park vs. making it part of another mountainside development. I have a web feature ...

Well, it's been covered in detail by many. But another nine miles or so of I-540 opened in Raleigh on Tuesday the 16th. I finally checked it out this afternoon. the new highway is nothing out of the ordinary, although it does a lot for traffic flow in Northeast Raleigh and Eastern Wake County. With my company's office now off of I-540, the new highway would have been a blessing for me at my former apartment off of US 401. There is one 'roadgeek' surprise on the new highway. Between US 64 Business and the US 64/264 freeway in Knightdale, there are a set of Interstate 540 North Carolina shields. (One in each direction.) So here it is.

Well blogging may be slow in January. I am in the midst of moving back to Raleigh from Albany. I should be set up at my new apartment by the end of the month. I'll try to add things as I get an opportunity.

I apologize in advance for sounding like a broken record, but the opening of Interstate 540 from Triangle Town Center (exit 17) to the US 64/264 Knightdale Bypass has been delayed to at least the end of January. The oft-delayed seven and a half miles of new Interstate have been under construction for at least three years. Also, costs have increased from a planned $67 million to a current amount of $73 million. Most of the delays appear to be from various environmental concerns. This past November, over nine inches of rainfall delayed the project. The road was to originally be opened in April 2006, then Fall, then the end of 2006 and now "hopefully" the end of January 2007. WRAL in Raleigh has the story and a great video if you want to see what the highway will look like whenever it is finally open. Related Posts: NC: Both I-485 and I-540 Delayed Again

On Christmas Eve, I took a small trip through Washington and western Allegheny Counties to enjoy some freetime. Route: PA 48, PA 51, Former PA 171, PA 201, I-70, PA 519, PA 980, US 22, PA TPK 576, US 22, PA 980, PA 50, PA 519, I-70, PA 201, Former PA 171, PA 51, PA 48. Notes: Traffic was pretty light on I-70, Next to no traffic on PA TPK 576. PA 980 has a series of turns in the towns of Canonsburg and McDonald. Accomplishments: PA 519, 980 and TPK 576 clinched. New Miles on PA 50. Photos: Just South ("East") of the US 30 (Exit 2) interchange. PA TPK 576 shields are green on white with White on Green directional banners. The current end of PA TPK 576 east is at US 22 near Bavington. I am standing inside what one day will be the lanes that will carry PA TPK 576 over US 22. Just a zoom image from the same spot above this time of the exit gore and the Exit 6 ramps. (I could have zoomed further here.) A Keystone Town Marker for Hickory. It's about time I start contr...

This old NY State Thruway sign is found in Schenectady on Nott St. approaching Erie Blvd. Along with the old trailblazer, there's a local truck sign, and an old fire call box.

After running some errands today, I took a brief trip through the Hilltowns to the south of Albany. Route: NY 85, NY 443, Albany County Route 312, NY 143, NY 144, NY 396, Albany County 301, NY 443, NY 85. Notes: I clinched NY 143 and NY 396 on this trip along with Albany County 301. I also added mileage to NY 144. In Clarksville , near the Northern end of Albany County 301 there is a great replica of a stone arch bridge carrying CR 301 over the Onesquethaw Creek. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a good spot to pull over and walk around to photograph it. Now for some photos: One of the many farms in southern Albany County. This one is off of Albany County 312 in Clarksville . This sign gem is located on NY 143 at Albany County 312. This old water pump is at the Albany 312 'Wye' at NY 143. Old style NY 396 shield on 396 West in Selkirk. They don't make 9's or 6's like that anymore. Albany County 301 at NY 32. Just a shot I liked.