Gribblenation

Headed out this afternoon for my first roadtrip of some length since I moved back to NC last month. Route: I-540, I-40, NC/VA 87, US 220, US 220 Business ( Martinsville ), US 58 Business ( Martinsville ), US 58, VA/NC 62, NC 57, NC 157, I-85, US 70, I-540. Notes: NC 87 in Graham is routed around the Alamance county Courthouse. This is one of a few traffic circles around a county courthouse within the state. Others include NC 27 in Lincolnton , NC 22/24/27 in Carthage, Business US 64 at US 15/501/NC 87 in Pittsboro , and US 701 Business in Whiteville . There are also some older (installed in the early 1980s) NC shields in and around Graham. The combo shown below dates back to November 1982. In Ossipee , I found a decently old Sprite logo sign. There is an Old NC 87 through Ossipee . Judging from what current NC 87 looks like Ossipee was bypassed in the 1940s. I was expecting to see US 311 signed along NC 770 and NC 87 into Eden. But none can be found. US 311 was extended from ...

I got an e-mail tip earlier this month informing me that PA 65 will be extended a little further North in New Castle. The following was found in the Ellwood City Ledger . The state will redesignate a section of East Washington Street from the city line to Croton Street as Route 65, which now ends at the city limits. Signs to that effect will be installed this year. Croton Street carries PA 108 and PA 168. Now, the article states that PA 65 ends at that city limits, which is just North of the US 422 Bypass. However, in state official maps as late as 2006 (see below), PA 65 ends at Taylor St./Butler Ave. which carries Business US 422. Either way, it's a small extension of the route that follows the Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Rochester and then turns north to New Castle. Other Links: PA 65 Ends

U.S Marine Corps officials plan to close a state highway that runs through Camp Lejeune . The road, NC Highway 172, would only be open to vehicles with Department of Defense decals. The highway is a commonly used short cut for motorist traveling between the Wilmington and Morehead City/Beaufort areas. The highway totally avoids Jacksonville, and parts of the highway runs through the heart of the Military Base. The restricted access is for security reasons, although no specific threat was named. "It's in response to an ongoing evaluation we've had of our security," said Col. Brant Bailey, director of training and operations at Camp Lejeune . Besides commuters looking to bypass Jacksonville, NC 172 is also shared by NC Bike 3, the Ports of Call Route. Story via the Durham Herald-Sun . NC 172, US 17, and NC 24 around Camp Lejeune and Jacksonville. (Source: 2007 NCDOT Highway Map) Commentary: If this plan does happen, --- and from the story it looks like local l...

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