Gribblenation

I took another I-73/74 Trip this past Saturday. Having visited the Randleman and Asheboro areas a couple times, I thought this trip should cover the southern part of the corridor from Rockingham east. Perhaps getting as far as to view progress on the US 74/NC 242 interchange project, which according to the NCDOT Contruction Progress Report was more than 99% complete on July 15. With this destination in mind I headed south on NC 751 to its end at US 64, then continued straight through the intersection to eventually connect to US 1 South. Where There's Smoke.... I made good time on US 1 through Sanford and onto the Vass Bypass. (Will they ever upgrade this to a complete freeway bypass without interchanges mixed with the occasional at-grade intersections? I know they were hurrying to complete this for the US Open, will another one have to come to fully complete this?) Just after the NC 24-27 interchange I began hearing a strange noise from the back of my car. I planned to pull over...

Took an early Sunday morning trip to check out progress in the last month in completing the first segment of the Triangle Expressway from NC 55 to US 64 now due to open August 1. With the aid of an iced coffee break at Dunkin' Donuts, I actually got to explore further south before the thermometer got to high. The first part is basically a repeat of last month's journey, so I'll just include any highlights of what's new: NC 55-The new exit signs that were stored in the median in June have been put up. Here is a comparison of the new (overhead) and old:   The ramps had received what looked like their last layer of pavement. Lane striping and traffic signal work remains to be completed. McCrimmon Parkway This view back toward NC 55 shows the addition of lane markings and additional signage in the past month--   Panther Creek High School is behind the trees to the right.    Looking south, similar progress can be seen--  Three lanes i...

The Diverging Diamond Interchange - started in France - imported to Missouri - and slowly appearing in North Carolina - is being proposed at one of the busiest interchanges in the Asheville area.  If built, the Interstate 26 interchange with NC 280 will be home of the seventh type interchange within the state . This interchange also serves Asheville Regional Airport and the area has seen significant growth over the last two decades.  Construction on the new DDI interchange should begin in the fall of 2013 at a cost of $6.4 million.  For more: DOT previews interchange design for N.C. 280 ---Hendersonville Lightning

(Editors Note: This is a first in a series documenting US 301 in North Carolina.  This first installment covers US 301 from the Virginia State Line southwards to Halifax.) When entering North Carolina from Virginia, US 301's past as a major north/south route greets you immediately. What was once Coker's Motor Court sits on both sides of the state line.  The old Stateline Junction Restaurant is closed but the gas station is still open and includes a convenience store where the state line is noted by a painted yellow line. The owners of the convenience store hope to restore a number of the old rooms and allow small local businesses and artists to have store fronts here.  They were kind enough to allow me to have an old linen postcard of Coker's to give an idea what the old motor court looked like in the 1940s and 50s. US 301 southwards to Weldon has a number of old abandoned groceries and gas stations - some with intricate detail that you don't see at the co...