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===Through Greensboro===
===Through Greensboro===
[[Image:IMG 661011.jpg|250px|right|thumbnail|The six routes of Death Valley in 2007. US 421 has since been rerouted; the shield was removed in 2009.]]
[[Image:IMG 661011.jpg|250px|right|thumbnail|The six routes of Death Valley in 2007. US 421 has since been rerouted; the shield was removed in 2009.]]

IT'S WAY TOO NARROW!!!


Throughout much of the Greensboro metropolitan area, I-40 follows a stretch of six-lane [[freeway]] carrying four other routes: I-40, [[Interstate 85 Business (North Carolina)|Business I-85]], [[U.S. Route 29]], [[U.S. Route 70]], and [[U.S. Route 220]]. This {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} corridor begins in the west at the I-40/Business I-85/Randleman Road [[interchange (road)|interchange]] and ends in the east at the U.S. Highway 29/70/220/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard junction. Both of these interchanges are quite unusual in design and are often operating at above full capacity, leading to frequent [[traffic jam]]s and traffic incidents.
Throughout much of the Greensboro metropolitan area, I-40 follows a stretch of six-lane [[freeway]] carrying four other routes: I-40, [[Interstate 85 Business (North Carolina)|Business I-85]], [[U.S. Route 29]], [[U.S. Route 70]], and [[U.S. Route 220]]. This {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} corridor begins in the west at the I-40/Business I-85/Randleman Road [[interchange (road)|interchange]] and ends in the east at the U.S. Highway 29/70/220/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard junction. Both of these interchanges are quite unusual in design and are often operating at above full capacity, leading to frequent [[traffic jam]]s and traffic incidents.

Revision as of 15:30, 16 November 2010

This article is about the section of Interstate 40 in North Carolina. For the entire route, see Interstate 40.
Interstate 40 marker
Interstate 40
Route information
Maintained by North Carolina DOT
Length423.55 mi[1] (681.64 km)
Existed1956-1990–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-40 at Tennessee state line
Major intersections I-26 / I-240 in Asheville

US 321 in Hickory
I-77 in Statesville
US 52 in Winston-Salem
I-73 in Greensboro
I-85 / US 29 in Greensboro
US 15 / US 501 in Durham
NC 55 near Durham
I-440 / US 1 / US 64 in Cary
I-95 in Benson
US 13 / US 701 near Newton Grove
NC 24 near Kenansville

I-140 / US 17 in Wilmington
East end US 117 / NC 132 in Wilmington
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
Highway system
← NC 39→ NC 41

Interstate 40 runs 421 miles (678 km) through the state of North Carolina from the Tennessee state line in the west to its eastern terminus in Wilmington. The middle segment of I-40 in the state is sometimes informally known as the "Tobacco Road" since it is the major thoroughfare linking the "Big Four" universities in the Tobacco Road sports rivalry.[2]

Route description

Pigeon River Gorge

The first section of I-40 in North Carolina is the section that travels through the Pigeon River Gorge in Haywood County. Known locally as simply "The Gorge", this part of I-40 cuts a path from the Tennessee state line to Waynesville. This section of the interstate is fairly curvy and tends to become a bit narrow in some places when compared to other portions of the highway. Because much of the road was cut through mountainside, concrete retaining walls have been built on both sides of the road and in the median, cutting down on the width of the breakdown lanes. Coupled with speeding vehicles, the extremely thick fog that tends to plague the area, and little room to maneuver in case of accident, this area has become notorious for its severe and many times fatal accidents. It is reported that a person is 20 times as likely to die on I-40 in Haywood County than they would be to win the Powerball lottery, which equals to be twice the average of any other Interstate Highway in North Carolina.[3]

Even some minor accidents have been known to tie up traffic in this area, because there is little room to move accidents off or to the side of the road with the terrain. Speeding semi trucks have been a problem in the gorge and have subsequently led to many accidents. In 2002 and 2003, two state troopers were killed in two separate accidents by speeding trucks that drifted off the road and hit their police car conducting a traffic stop. This led the North Carolina Highway Patrol to crack down on speeding tractor trailers and speeders in general through the area.

This portion of the highway is also notorious for rockslides and rocks falling onto the highway. The main cause is an engineering flaw, in that sections of the highway have been built on the north side of the Pigeon River, where the rock strata foliate towards the highway.

2009 rockslide and closure

On October 25, 2009, a major rockslide, including boulders described as the size of houses, blocked the highway completely at mile marker 2.6.[4] The section reopened with westbound traffic restricted to one lane on April 25, 2010.[5] Trucks wider than 12 feet are still prohibited through the slide area, and must still use the I-26 and I-81 detour.[6]

Through Greensboro

The six routes of Death Valley in 2007. US 421 has since been rerouted; the shield was removed in 2009.

IT'S WAY TOO NARROW!!!

Throughout much of the Greensboro metropolitan area, I-40 follows a stretch of six-lane freeway carrying four other routes: I-40, Business I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, and U.S. Route 220. This 2.5-mile (4.0 km) corridor begins in the west at the I-40/Business I-85/Randleman Road interchange and ends in the east at the U.S. Highway 29/70/220/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard junction. Both of these interchanges are quite unusual in design and are often operating at above full capacity, leading to frequent traffic jams and traffic incidents.

I-40 through Greensboro officially bears the name Preddy Boulevard. The nickname "Death Valley" was originally given to the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) segment of I-85 in Greensboro in 1963 after seven people died in accidents there the previous year.[citation needed] In 1964, the state unveiled a plan to eliminate Death Valley's flaws.[citation needed] After numerous construction projects, conditions improved along the corridor, but the nickname remained. Over the years, increased traffic through the area has given the nickname "Death Valley" new meaning. [citation needed]

One major problem with the highway is that the U.S. 29/220/70 southbound lanes merge from the right, and exit to the left. Thus, through traffic on I-40 west and US 29 south (a major route from Virginia to Charlotte) must all merge to the other side of the freeway. A study conducted by state traffic engineers from May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2008 (the period between the I-85 relocation and I-40's relocation) concluded that "the Death Valley area" had an accident rate "higher than average for urban interstates... but the [route] was safe anyway"[7] There were no fatalities during the study period, but a large number of rear-end collisions.[7]

Through The Triangle

I-40 through the Research Triangle varies in width, from 4 lanes to 8 lanes depending on the location. It serves as a major artery between Raleigh and Durham (the other being US-70). Work is in progress to widen the 4-lane stretch between Wade Avenue and I-440 which has been especially congested of late.[8] [needs update]

I-40 is called Dan K. Moore Freeway from Durham to Wade Avenue and Tom Bradshaw Freeway through Raleigh. The James E. Harrington Freeway stretches to Newton Grove.

The interchange at Wade Avenue offers a right exit for eastbound traffic to take Wade, but it could have been built with one less bridge had Wade been made a left exit.

Eastern North Carolina

I-40 is 4 lanes from the western edge of Raleigh to Wilmington as it crosses through mostly agrarian land.

History

I-40/85 through Burlington

Construction

Construction on I-40 through North Carolina officially began in 1956 along the Pigeon River in Haywood County. This would be the first section of I-40 to be built anywhere in the country. This section was completed in 1968 and at that time contained the only Interstate Highway tunnels east of the Mississippi River. Construction continued through the 1950s and 1960s, with much of the interstate being constructed in the 1960s. The last portion of I-40 to be completed, between Raleigh and Wilmington was opened on June 29, 1990, by Governor James G. Martin. Much of Martin's election campaign in the mid-1980s was hinged on opening this section for the sake of improving access to the North Carolina State Port at Wilmington.[9]

A standard distance sign that once existed near the start of the westbound section of I-40 in Wilmington indicates the distance to Barstow, California as 2,554 miles (4,110 km). However, NCDOT has stated that it will not be replaced after frequent thefts.[10]

Rockslides in the Pigeon River Gorge

In 1985, a severe rockslide buried the westbound entrance to one of two tunnels that carry the highway through the gorge. Repair of the slide area and the tunnel required shifting westbound traffic to the eastbound tunnel, while eastbound traffic was diverted onto a temporary viaduct around the tunnels.

In July 1997, a rockslide near the Tennessee state line closed the road for nearly six months.[11]

On October 25, 2009, another rock slide occurred about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Tennessee state line. The rock slide blocked both lanes of traffic and was estimated to be 100 feet long and up to 50 feet high.

Greensboro I-40 relocation

Map showing changes made to I-40's routing between 2004 and 2008

{{Reference necessary|1=In February 2008, Interstate 40 was rerouted onto the new Greensboro Urban Loop. The former path of I-40 became Business Loop I-40.

NCDOT received many complaints by local residents and motorists on the confusion between mainline Interstate 40 and Business 40, which used a shield differing only in color from the mainline I-40. Greensboro residents also had concerns with the resulting increased traffic. On September 12, 2008, seven months after the initial switch, NCDOT officials got permission from the FHWA to restore Interstate 40 back to its original route through the city, decommission Business Interstate 40, and leave I-73 and I-85 as the only interstates signed along the Loop. Exit numbers on the I-40 part of the Loop that ran with I-73 will be replaced with I-73 exit numbers from the I-85/US 220 southern interchange around the loop to the western I-40 interchange. US 421 was officially rerouted to replace most of I-40 around Greensboro. [12]

Work on re-signing the Loop and the former Business 40 began on May 8, 2009, with the exception of the eastern I-40/85 interchange, where signs were changed in the fall of 2008.[13][14] The re-signing project was completed on July 1, 2009.[15]

The current alignment of I-40 is four miles (6 km) shorter than the 2008 Urban Loop routing,[7] and is a quicker route for any vehicle consistently traveling at the posted speed limits.

Auxiliary routes in North Carolina

Interstate City Type Notes
Business Interstate 40 Greensboro/Winston-Salem Business loop
Interstate 140 Wilmington Spur
Interstate 240 Asheville By-pass
Interstate 440 Raleigh Beltway
Interstate 540 Cary, Raleigh Beltway Partially constructed beltway
Interstate 840 Greensboro Beltway Under construction

Exit list

County Location Exit Destinations Notes
Haywood Great Smoky Mnts. 7 Harmon Den Westbound from mile 3 to TN State line is limited to one single lane due to rockslides
15 Fines Creek
20
US 276 south – Waynesville, Maggie Valley
24 NC 209 – Lake Junaluska, Hot Springs
27


US 74 west to US 19 / US 23 – Clyde, WaynesvilleModule:Jct error: Invalid "to" argument 		West end of US 74 overlap
31 NC 215 – Canton
33 Newfound Road
Buncombe Asheville 37 Candler, East Canton
44 US 19 / US 23 (US 74A east) – West Asheville, Enka, Candler
46

I-26 / US 74 east / I-240 west – Hendersonville, Spartanburg 		Signed as exits 46A (east) and 46B (west); East end of US 74 overlap; Access from westbound I-40 to northbound I-26/I-240 is via exit 47
47 NC 191 – West Asheville, Farmers Market
50 US 25 – South Asheville, Asheville, Biltmore House Signed as exits 50A (south) and 50B (north) westbound
51 US 25A (Sweeten Creek Road) – Asheville
53
I-240 west / US 74A – Bat Cave, Asheville, East AshevilleModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated 		Signed as exits 53A (east) and 53B (west)
55
To US 70 – East Asheville, VA Hospital
59 Swannanoa
Black Mountain 64 NC 9 – Black Mountain, Montreat
65
US 70 west – Black Mountain 		West end of US 70 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
66 Ridgecrest
McDowell Old Fort 72
US 70 east – Old Fort 		East end of US 70 overlap; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
73 Catawaba Ave. - Old Fort
75 Parker Padgett Road
Marion 81 Sugar Hill Road - Marion
83 Ashworth Road
85 US 221 – Marion, Rutherfordton
86 NC 226 – Marion, Shelby
90 Harmony Grove Rd. - Nebo, Lake James
Burke Nebo 94 Dysartsville Road - Lake James
96 Kathy Road
Glen Alpine 98 Causby Road - Glen Alpine
100 Jamestown Road, Dixie Boulevard - Glen Alpine
Morganton 103 US 64 – Morganton, Rutherfordton
104 Enola Road
105 NC 18 – Morganton, Shelby
106 Bethel Road
107 NC 114 – Drexel
Valdese 111 Carolina St. - Valdese
112 Mineral Springs Mountain Road - Valdese
Rutherford College 113 Rutherford College Rd. - Rutherford College, Connelly Springs
Icard 116 Miller Bridge Rd. - Icard Former NC 10
Hildebran 118 Old NC 10
119 Henry River Rd., S. Center St., Henry River, Hildebran, Long View
Catawba Long View 121 Old Shelby Rd. - Long View
Hickory 123

US 321 to US 70 / NC 127 – Hickory, Lenoir, Lincolnton, Gastonia 		Signed as exits 123A (south) and 123B (north)
125 Hickory, Lenoir-Rhyne College
126
To US 70 – Hickory, Newton
128 Fairgrove Church Road
Conover 130 Old US 70
131 NC 16 – Conover, Taylorsville All ramps now closed
132
To NC 16 – Conover, Taylorsville
133 Rock Barn Road
Claremont 135 N. Oxford St. - Claremont
138
NC 10 west (Oxford School Road) – Catawba
Iredell Statesville 141 Sharon School Road
144 Old Mountain Road
146 Stamey Farm Road
148 US 64 / NC 90 – West Statesville, Taylorsville
150 NC 115 – Downtown Statesville, North Wilkesboro
151 US 21 – East Statesville, Harmony
152 I-77 – Charlotte, Elkin, Mount Airy Signed as exits 152A (south) and 152B (north)
153 US 64 Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
154
To US 64Module:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
162 US 64
Davie Mocksville 168 US 64 – Mocksville
170 US 601 – Mocksville, Yadkinville
174 Farmington Road
180 NC 801 – Bermuda Run, Tanglewood
Forsyth Clemmons 182 Tanglewood, Bermuda Run Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
184 Lewisville, Clemmons
Winston-Salem 187

I-40 BL east / US 421 south – Winston-Salem 		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
188
I-40 BL east / US 421 – Winston-Salem, Yadkinville, Wilkesboro 		Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
189 US 158 (Stratford Road)
190 Hanes Mall Boulevard Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
192 NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway) – Downtown Winston-Salem
193C Silas Creek Parkway, South Main Street Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
193
US 52 / NC 8 / US 311 north – Lexington, Mount Airy 		West end of US 311 overlap; signed as exits 193A (south) and 193B (north)
195 NC 109 – ThomasvilleModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
196
US 311 south – High Point 		East end of US 311 overlap
201 Union Cross Road
Kernersville 203 NC 66 – Kernersville, High Point
Guilford Greensboro 206
I-40 BL north / US 421 – Kernersville, Downtown Winston-Salem 		West end of US 421 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
208 Sandy Ridge Road — Farmers Market
210 NC 68 – High Point, Piedmont Triad International Airport
211 Gallimore Dairy Road
212
I-73 / US 421 south – Asheboro, PTI AirportModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated 		East end of US 421 overlap; signed as exits 212A (Bryan Boulevard) and 212B (I-73/US 421) southbound
213 Guilford College Rd.
214 Wendover Ave.
216 Patterson Street NC 6 was decommissioned in 2005 and signs removed in 2009.
217 High Point Rd./Koury Blvd.
218 Freeman Mill Rd.
219

I-85 BL south / US 29 south / US 70 – Charlotte
220 Randleman Road
221 South Elm-Eugene Street – Downtown Greensboro
222 MLK Jr. Dr./J.M. Hunt Jr Expressway Former US 421 south
223


US 29 north / US 70 east / US 220 north – Reidsville 		North end of US 29/US 70/US 220 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance
224



To US 29 north / US 220 north East Lee Street 		NC 6 was decommissioned in 2005 and signs removed in 2009.
226 McConnell Road
227
To US 70 (via Future I-840)
228
I-85 south – High Point, Thomasville 		Northbound exit and southbound entrance
I-40 overlaps with Interstate 85 (exits 131 to 163)
Orange Hillsborough 259
I-85 north – Durham, Oxford 		East end of I-85 overlap
261 Hillsborough Rd. - Hillsborough Former NC 86
263 New Hope Church Road
266 NC 86 – Chapel Hill
Durham Chapel Hill 270 US 15 / US 501 – Chapel Hill, Durham signed as exits 270A (south) and 270B (north)
273 NC 54 – Chapel Hill, Durham Signed as exits 273A (west) and 273B (east) westbound
Durham 274 NC 751 – Jordan Lake
276 Fayetteville Road - Southpoint–North Carolina Central University
278
NC 55 to NC 54 – Apex
279A Alexander Drive
279B
NC 147 north (Durham Freeway) – Downtown Durham
RTP 280 Davis Drive
281 Miami Boulevard
282 Page Road
283



I-540 east / NC 540 west to US 70 / NC 55 – Apex 		Signed as exits 283A (west) and 283B (north) westbound
Wake 284 Airport Boulevard - RDU International Airport Signed as exits 284A (west) and 284B (east) eastbound
285 Aviation Parkway - Morrisville, RDU International Airport
287 Harrison Avenue - Cary
289


To I-440 / US 1 northModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated
Cary 290 NC 54 – Cary
291 Cary Towne Boulevard - Cary
293

I-440 east / US 1 / US 64 west – Sanford, Asheboro, Wake Forest, Raleigh 		West end of US 64 overlap; signed as exits 293A (south/west) and 293B (north/east)
294

To I-440 / US 1 - Jones Franklin Road 		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
295 Gorman Street
297 Lake Wheeler Road
Raleigh 298 US 70 / US 401 / NC 50 (South Saunders Street) – Fayetteville, Downtown Raleigh Signed as exits 298A (east/south) and 298B (west/north)
299 Hammond Road, Person Street
300 Rock Quarry Road Signed as exits 300A (south) and 300B (north) westbound
301

I-440 west / US 64 east – Rocky Mount 		East end of US 64 overlap; Eastbound exit is a left exit
Garner 303 Jones Sausage Road
306 US 70 – Garner, Clayton US 70 Business Signed as exits 306A (west) and 306B (east) westbound
309 US 70 – Smithfield, Goldsboro
Johnston Clayton 312 NC 42 – Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Wilson
319 NC 210 – Smithfield, Angier
Benson 325
NC 242 south – Benson
327 US 301 – Benson, Four Oaks
328 I-95 – Benson, Dunn, Smithfield Signed as exits 328A (south) and 328B (north)
334 NC 96 – Peacocks Crossroads
Sampson Newton Grove 341 NC 50 / NC 55 – Newton Grove, Dunn
342 US 13 – Newton Grove, Goldsboro, Spivey's Corner, Fayetteville Signed as exits 342A (south) and 342B (north)
Clinton 343 US 701 – Clinton, Newton Grove
348 Suttontown Road
355 NC 403 – Faison, Clinton
Duplin Warsaw 364



NC 24 west / NC 24 Bus. east to NC 50 – Warsaw, Clinton, Turkey 		West end of NC 24 overlap
369 US 117 – Warsaw, Magnolia
Kenansville 373
NC 24 east / NC 903 – Magnolia, Kenansville, Jacksonville 		East end of NC 24 overlap
380 Brices Store Rd. - Rose Hill Greenevers
384 NC 11 – Teachey, Wallace, Kenansville
Wallace 385 NC 41 – Wallace, Chinquapin, Beulaville
Pender Burgaw 390 US 117 – Wallace, Burgaw
398 NC 53 – Burgaw, Jacksonville
408 NC 210 – Hampstead, Rocky Point, Topsail Island
New Hanover Castle Hayne 414 Holly Shelter Rd - Castle Hayne, Hampstead
416 I-140 / US 17 – Scotts Hill, Hampstead, Leland Signed as exits 416A (west/south) and 416B (east/north)
Wilmington 420
US 117 / NC 132 northModule:Jct warning: "road" parameter is deprecated 		Signed as exits 420A (Gordon Road) and 420B (US 117/NC 132) westbound;Eastern terminus of I-40
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ Route Log - Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 1
  2. ^ ABC Local "What is Tobacco Road?"
  3. ^ The Smoky Mountain News
  4. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2009/10/26/1019615/rockslide-closes-i-40-near-tennessee.html
  5. ^ http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/25/section-of-i-40-back-open-after-oct-slide/
  6. ^ http://www.ncdot.org/traffictravel/
  7. ^ a b c "Which Way Do We Go?" Winston-Salem Journal. Sunday, February 1, 2009 issue. Page 1 Section A.
  8. ^ "I-40 Widening Project & I-440 Signing Improvements". NC DOT. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  9. ^ Steelman, Ben (2010-06-28). "Decades of effort put into 122-mile, $417 million stretch of I-40". Star-News. Retrieved 2010-06-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ "Popular I-40 sign stolen again". News & Observer. Retrieved November 13, 2009. [dead link]
  11. ^ http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us/PIO/97report.PDF
  12. ^ NCDOT Press Release Dated 9/12/08
  13. ^ Greensboro Urban Loop on Flickr
  14. ^ NCDOT Press Release Dated 9/12/08
  15. ^ News 14 Carolina. "Signing Changes Coming to I-40". Report aired May 11, 2009.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 40 in North Carolina.


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