Skip to main content

NC 44 is back!

It's been nearly 20 years since we've seen this number on a North Carolina highway.

013

The first leg of the 20 mile Goldsboro Bypass opened to traffic Friday Morning - with no fanfare at all.  The 3.9 miles of freeway carries the designation of NC 44.  This is the second incarnation of NC 44 - the first lasted from the 1930 until 1994 in the northeastern part of the state.  In 1994, NC 44 was replaced by extensions to NC 33 and 111.

This version of NC 44 won't last more than a decade either.  When the entire bypass is complete - most likely in 2016 - US 70 will move onto the new bypass.  This might me a first, as I don't know of any other new highway in North Carolina receiving a temporary number - only to be redesignated another route number when the highway is completed.

For the entire photo set on flickr - head here.

NC 44 begins at Interstate 795.

007

I-795 North and South will have flyover ramps connecting to the bypass - while NC 44 will have conventional ramps to the Interstate.

009

The milemarkers and exit numbers for NC 44 follow US 70's mileage.  Hey, it's one less thing to change when 70 moves onto the bypass.

017

This is looking east from Wayne Memorial Drive.  Construction to continue the bypass east towards US 13 and then join back with the current US 70 near LaGrange should be gin late in 2012 or early 2013.

020

Here's NC 44 west at US 117.

025

And finally, the current west end of NC 44 at I-795.

003

Finally, on US 117 at NC 44 a few different type of signs that haven't been common in NC.  First, this sign at the interchange.  I really like this and hope more interchanges at the state will use these.

001

There are also - a first I think for the state - California style 'Freeway Entrance' signs at each ramp on US 117.  I didn't notice this until driving home Friday night and it was dark so I am going to try and get a photo of it next week.

Comments

Bob Malme said…
Great photos. Wondering about the use of a temporary NC number as well. Why a number here, but not, for example, around Sanford where most of the future US 421 Bypass is open except for connections to the original route at both ends. About the same length, but no number.

Perhaps, like the signage at the US 117 ramps, it is a new policy that will occur again at future incomplete, yet open, bypass highways as well. Guess time will tell.

Popular posts from this blog

US Route 101 in Benbow, Garberville and Redway

The communities of Benbow, Garberville and Redway can all be found along US Route 101 within southern Humboldt County.  The former surface alignment of US Route 101 in Garberville and Redway once crossed the Garberville Bluffs along what is now Redwood Drive via a corridor constructed as part of the Redwood Highway during the 1910s.  US Route 101 through Benbow, Garberville and Redway was modernized by 1935.  US Route 101 would eventually be upgraded to freeway standards in Benbow, Garberville and Redway by extension of the Redwood Freeway during 1966-68.  As the cover photo the original grade of US Route 101 and the Redwood Highway can be seen at the Garberville Bluffs during 1934.  US Route 101 can be seen in the communities of Benbow, Garberville and Redway on the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Humboldt County .   The history of US Route 101 in Benbow, Garberville and Redway Benbow, Garberville and Redway lie on the banks of the South Fork Eel River of southern Humboldt County.  D

Patterson Pass Road

Recently on a day trip to the San Francisco Bay Area I traversed the Diablo Range eastbound via Patterson Pass Road. Patterson Pass Road is an approximately 13 mile roadway which starts at Mines Road in Livermore of Alameda County.  Patterson Pass Road eastward ascends over the approximately 1,600 foot namesake Patterson Pass into San Joaquin County where it ends at Interstate 580 near Tracy.  Patterson Pass Road has an infamous reputation as being a dangerous roadway due to the lengthy one-lane section and heavy rush-hour commute traffic. Patterson Pass is one of the earliest documented European paths of travel over the Diablo Range as it was explored during the 1775-1776 Spanish Expedition led by Juan Bautista de Anza.  The 1775-1776 Spanish expedition charted out much of San Francisco Bay which led to the founding of the Presidio of San Francisco and Mission San Francisco de Asis.  Patterson Pass Road between Cross Road east to Midway Road is part of the Juan Bautista de Anza

Highways in and around Old Sacramento; US 40, US 99W, CA 16, CA 24, CA 70, CA 99, CA 275, and more

This past weekend I was visiting the City of Sacramento for a wedding.  That being the case I decided to head out on a morning run through Old Sacramento, Jibboom Street Bridge, I Street Bridge, Tower Bridge, and path of US Route 40/US Route 99W towards the California State Capitol.  My goal was to retrace the paths of the various highways that once traversed the Old Sacramento area. This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page.  For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page The old highway alignments of Sacramento The City of Sacramento lies at the confluence of the Sacramento River and American River in Sacramento Valley.  Sacramento Valley was discovered by Spanish Explorer Gabriel Moraga in 1808.  Moraga referred to the fertile Sacramento Valley akin to a "Blessed Sacrament."  By 1839 John Sutter Sr. settled in Mexican held