Gribblenation

Remember all the drama between NCDOT and Skanska USA on various issues and delays over the last stretch of Interstate 485 to open I enjoyed blogging about over the years ? Well, that chapter in the I-485 story isn't finished yet. This time the issue is over installing the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) over the new five miles of highway. ITS syncs traffic cameras, electronic message boards, and other sensors together to report live traffic information to motorists. But wait! There's more...since the project isn't officially completed in NCDOT's view. The highway was to be completed on March 15, 2007. Now it's over 980 days later...and with an agreed upon $10,000 per day late fee. That's just under $10 million owed!!!! Hey who needs to rename a bridge to get highway money - just collect on late fees! So far it appears that the state has collected on $1.8 million of the fees. Skanska is fighting back saying NCDOT added additional responsibi...

Tolls on the newly opened and free of charge Interstate 140 in Wilmington? The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce likes the idea. Why do they like the idea, because it will assist in paying for the construction of the proposed toll project the Cape Fear Skyway . The North Carolina Turnpike Authority has floated tolling I-140 as a possible funding source for the Skyway project. But adding tolls to an existing free interstate isn't easy. In order for tolls on I-140 to happen, it would have to be approved by the FHWA and Congress in addition to the NC legislature that must approve all toll projects. I really don't see this happening, and the Wilmington Chamber is supporting a trial balloon that will have extreme difficulty getting off the ground. Story: Chamber backs toll for bypass to fund Skyway ---Wilmington Star-News

...and the idea: Rename the bridge. In the never ending search for every highway dollar she can find, NC Governor Beverly Perdue is renaming the Yadkin River Bridge on Interstate 85, the Interstate 85 bridge. Why? So it stresses the regional importance of the aging structure. So I guess the name change will put NC's bid for $300 million in stimulus/TIGER funds to build a new bridge over the top. No word if Governor Perdue came up with this idea after a few pints of Guiness . Story Links: New effort to replace Yadkin River Bridge includes ' rebranding ' --- WBTV When is the Yadkin River Bridge not a bridge? ---The Meck Deck

Today was a fine fall day, and I really didn't feel like staying in and rotting while the sun was shining, but I had no cash. But I has feets, and there's interesting stuff within reasonable walking distance. Here's a snap of the southern end of the recently completed Vineyard Ave overpass works on US 9W in Highland. The sign in the midground is brand new. Can you spot the Boo-Boo, Yogi? Today was rather unique in that I finally decided to deal with one of my phobias. I have a thing about heights in general, and walking across suspension bridges in particular. In the seven years I've lived here, I've never crossed the Mid-Hudson Bridge on foot. Today I decided I was gonna man up and tackle this puppy. This is a monument to two locals killed in Vietnam north of the foot of the bridge: Here's the Ulster/Dutchess county line in the middle of the bridge. A slightly dodgy US 9 advance sign... And everybody's favourite: Button Copy! This sign has gotta be at leas...

Earlier this month, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority announced their preferred alternative for the controversial Garden Parkway. The northern route or 'Alternative 9' has been chosen as the recommended route for the future toll road. Next steps for the Garden Parkway is the completion of a Final Environmental Impact Statement in the coming spring. The NCTA received heavy scrutinization from the Environmental Protection Agency and local citizens groups when a Draft EIS was released earlier this year. Rumors of changes in the route - from elimination of interchanges, reduction of lanes, and building the entire route vs. piecemeal construction - were not revealed. Story Links: State locks in on official route for proposed toll road ---Gaston Gazette

Earlier this month, VDOT officially supported the current FHWA approved route for I-73 through Henry County vs. a recently completed study alternate route proposed by the Henry County Board of Supervisors. VDOT has suggested to the Commonwealth Transportation Board ( CTB ) that the alternate route not be studied further. The CTB has not made a decision on whether or not they will consider the alternate route for futher study. VDOT's biggest concerns is that the alternate route costs more. But their biggest concern is that any further study of the route could delay and ultimately jeopardize the project. The current approved route for I-73 was cleared by the FHWA in 2004. However, the Henry County Board of Supervisors wants the route closer to Martinsville . They see I-73 as a key to reviving the local economy and that the current planned route is too far from Martinsville to make a positive impact. VDOT also is concerned that if I-73 gets changed in Henry County, Frankl...

It didn't take long for doubts to start creeping in on Governor Beverly Perdue's design-build-finance plan for completing Interstate 485. Two weeks after the announcement of the plan, NC Treasurer Janet Cowell's office issued a statement expressing concern on how the plan is financed. A spokesperson for Cowell's office said, "In the absence of contracts specifying terms and conditions of the 485 project, we are unable to determine if there are issues or concerns." Perdue's office immediately responded with a statement of their own, "Prior to announcing the plan, we worked with the[Attorney General Roy Cooper's] office as we developed the design-build-finance program for completing I-485. During this process, the Attorney General's office indicated that our plan was legal." Then throw in that the DOT thought that the Treasurer's office was already on board with the plan. Jim Trogdon , the DOT's chief operating officer, sai...