Skip to main content

NC 44 is back!

Image
By
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.
Labels:

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.
9:40 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crescent City Connection (New Orleans, LA)

By
The Crescent City Connection is a massive dual-span steel truss bridge that spans the lower Mississippi River at downtown New Orleans, about 95 river miles upstream from the mouth of the great river at the Head of Passes Light. If counted as a single bi-directional highway bridge, the parallel spans combine to form the single busiest bridge on the Mississippi River and its importance as a linchpin in the region’s transportation network cannot be overstated. While there have been various schemes over the years to construct bridges downriver from Algiers Point, this bridge has been the southernmost bridge on the Mississippi River since its initial construction in the 1950s. The years immediately following the end of World War II were a transformational period in the history of New Orleans. Already one of the great economic and cultural centers of the American Deep South, it was recognized at this time that major changes and improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure would b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Old US Route 99 through Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch

By
This summer I had a look into the alignment history of US Route 99 through the Tulare County communities of Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch.  While this slab below might seem like much it is one of the few remaining reminders of how US Route 99 was during the 1920s in Tulare County. 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 Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch Tipton and Tulare were both founded in 1872 as sidings of the Southern Pacific Railroad.  The Southern Pacific Railroad laid the groundwork for development of southern San Joaquin Valley.  Previous to the Southern Pacific Railroad travel via wagon or foot in Central California tended to avoid San Joaquin Valley in favor of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road.  The Stockton Los Ange...
Post a Comment
Read more

Former US Route 101 and California State Route 41 through Paso Robles

By
Paso Robles is a city located on the Salinas River of San Luis Obispo County, California.  As originally configured the surface alignments of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 converged in downtown Paso Robles.  US Route 101 originally was aligned through Paso Robles via Spring Street.  California State Route 41 entered the City of Paso Robles via Union Road and 13th Street where it intersected US Route 101 at Spring Street.  US Route 101 and California State Route 41 departed Paso Robles southbound via a multiplex which split near Templeton.   Pictured above is the cover of the September/October 1957 California Highways & Public Works which features construction of the Paso Robles Bypass.  Pictured below is the 1935 Division of Highways Map of San Luis Obispo County which depicts US Route 101 and California State Route 41 intersecting in downtown Paso Robles.   Part 1; the history of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 i...
Post a Comment
Read more