Gribblenation

If the state's Draft Strategic Transportation Improvement Program for 2009-2015 stays the same, it will. It is entirely possible that the construction to complete the I-485 loop around Charlotte will not start until 2015, meaning that the loop may not be finished until 2018. More importantly, the desperately needed widening of I-485 from I-77 to US 521 in Southern Mecklenburg County would also be delayed until 2015, if no changes are made from the draft to the final version. The official verbiage is "To assist in balancing funds, construction of Segment 'E' delayed from FY 13 to FY 15." Segment 'E' is the missing link from I-77 in Huntersville to I-85 near Concord. The same "to assist in balancing funds" is used in delaying the widening of I-485 in Southern Mecklenburg County from 2013 to 2015. I would not be surprised that there will be a large uproar from Charlotte, Mecklenburg and regional officials over this delay. The widening has been pu...

Yesterday, I went with Dave Filpus to hike a former section of US 70 and prior to that NC 10 between Old Fort and Black Mountain. The goal was to hike the former highway (which is about three miles one way) and to see if any clues from the old road's past was still there. It's not difficult to get there. Take I-40 to Exit 73 (the Old Fort Exit) Turn North into town. At the T-intersection with US 70 in town turn left on to US 70 West. You'll be on US 70 West for about a half mile or so where you will turn right onto Old US 70 there will be a sign for Andrew's Geyser as well. Follow that road until it ends. The hike begins here. For the most part, the abandoned highway is still in decent shape, there are a handful of small washouts, and in numerous cases overgrowth has shrunk the old 20' roadbed to four-six feet wide. But there isn't really anything 'dangerous' to worry about with the old road. Early in the hike, we encountered this fella, who had ...

Got another blog tip in the mailbag today...this time it's an excellent blog on US 40 specifically the National Pike in Maryland and Pennsylvania. It's called, ' 125 N to B: The National Pike and National Road ' and is run by Christopher Busta-Peck. Check it out!

As you know from earlier this year, the future of Interstate 540 in Wake County is a pretty hot topic around these parts (Raleigh, NC.) Earlier today, I was tipped off on another I-540 blog site called Build 540 run by Kyran Connelly. If you have some time, check it out!

Well...one of the blog's favorite theme's from the past year or so is back. New delays push completion of I-485 further back. Where and how many times have we read that before , eh? Story in the October 14th Charlotte Observer: http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/318586.html Anyways, here's the scoop on the latest section of I-485 to be delayed. The currently under construction six mile section from NC 16 to NC 115 -- including the large interchange with I-77 near Huntersville -- will not be opened until at least late summer of next year (2008). Originally this section was to open this past March, then this coming December, you get the idea. And like prior delays, there is some bickering between the contractor (this time Skanska USA Civil Southeast) and NCDOT. The issue this time (not signs) but issues on utility relocation and right of way purchases. The contractor contends that the DOT did not acquire all of the right of way. The state freely admits that the reloca...

Last Saturday, I headed back down to Charlotte for the weekend. I went to the Panthers game Sunday, they lost. But on Saturday, I rode around again with Steven. This time into South Carolina and along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway , also known as SC 11. Before I share with you SC 11, one note. Near milemarker 95 on I-85 in South Carolina, there is a over a century old family cemetery within the median of the interstate. If you are headed Southbound, you can tell by how the median extremely widens. Look at the top of the small hill on your left and you should be able to see the cemetery. Now for SC 11. When discussing the trip with Steven before I headed down for the trip, he wasn't very thrilled with the possibility. By the end of the trip, that mindset had changed. Heading south on SC 11 from Gaffney begins uneventful. A few car dealerships and other business start of the ride. However, not long before Cowpens National Battlefield, the highway becomes more rural...

Dad is in town for the weekend. So on Saturday, we went down to Wrightsville Beach for the day. Route: I-440, I-40, US 117/NC 132, US 74, and US 76. Nothing really spectacular about the route down. Although I was surprised to see the amount of guide signs on I-40 that only listed the route number and no control city destination. I guess it's our small slice of the west. Not sure why I-140 currently ends at I-40 instead of continuing to what will be its terminus at US 17 anyways. We accessed the beach at the Masonboro Inlet Parking Lot...which also happens to be the end of US 76. The beach was great. Waves were four to six feet as Tropical Storm Gabrielle was a few hundred miles off shore. If it wasn't for the endless hype about the storm (we really need therain) around these parts. You would have no idea that a storm was off the horizon. Blue skies and slight ocean breezes were dominant. Yes, the waves were a bit rougher and would get stronger as the day went ...