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If the State would get serious in making 17 a true interstate, NE NC would prosper big time. It could have good access to the Norfolk ports, airport, etc...and has the natural resources to build from. Until that happens, it still remains fairly isolated, which allows rural issues to continue to be front and center. The prospects are there and progress is being made, but projects like the Mid Currituck Bridge and Interstate for 17 will keep the progress slow...
All those what-ifs about future infrastructure investment are moot: the mid-Currituck bridge is deader than dead and the new DOT appropriations formula pretty much screws NE NC for at least the next decade.
All those what-ifs about future infrastructure investment are moot: the mid-Currituck bridge is deader than dead and the new DOT appropriations formula pretty much screws NE NC for at least the next decade.
I think the formula will not be as bad as many think, at least on a few primary roads.
Ever travel 17 between Jacksonville and Wilmington...especially in the summer, THAT is a busy road.
Was on 158 in Currituck Co the other day, THAT is a busy road in the summer. And don't forget roads not only get built because of traffic volume, but also because of time saving. The Mid Currituck bridge will shave up to 45 minutes off a one way trip to Corrolla for a middle or high school student in Currituck Co. That's a significant savings. The allocation changes will be looked at statewide rather than regionally....have to wonder how many other bridge projects save up to an hour and a half round trip.
Also have to wonder what the state intends to do with the Raleigh to Norfolk corridor...if an interstate is planned in the future (which indications from Raleigh say they want it), then that status would promote projects in this corridor.
I think many folks undervalue the traffic, particularly in the summer in ENC. The volume of traffic on I-40 to Wilmington has changed drastically in the last 10 years. The 140 projects are more than justified, as is the Hampstead bypass, Greenville SW bypass, Havelock bypass as well as others.
17 is part of STRAHNET- it's covered by the federal government, and not a factor in state spending.
The legislature and McCrory have repeatedly said they're not interested in new toll projects, which also includes the Wilmington Skyway and Garden Parkway projects. It's partially the money but also a political thing since those projects were pushed so hard by the previous administrations/legislature. And also why tolling 95 is dead for the time being.
The handful of kids in Corolla get a choice to attend either Currituck or Dare County schools, with pretty much all of them going to Kitty Hawk Elementary and First Flight Middle/High. They used to come all the way down to Manteo for high school when I was growing up. There's also a K-6 charter in Corolla now, which in part moots that aspect of the proposed bridge.
Hubs and I are turning 30 and "25 again" this week, but we're already a couple of old farts. I want to live someplace where we have our own space. Here in the Phoenix area, everyone is on top of each other, whether you're in an apartment or a house. There are no real backyards to speak of. We don't have children, nor do we plan to. We both like the idea of living in a smaller community within a reasonable drive (an hour or two) to a larger town/city where there would be more varied shopping, theater, concerts, etc. I've never lived anywhere but Arizona, and outside of the Army, Hubs spent most of his time in AZ and Indiana, so living on/near the beach would be a wonderful change for both of us. We'd love to learn to sail and get SCUBA certified. I'd love to be able to take photography and painting classes at a local college or university. But a quiet, slower-paced place sounds like heaven to me.
Hubs and I are turning 30 and "25 again" this week, but we're already a couple of old farts. I want to live someplace where we have our own space. Here in the Phoenix area, everyone is on top of each other, whether you're in an apartment or a house. There are no real backyards to speak of. We don't have children, nor do we plan to. We both like the idea of living in a smaller community within a reasonable drive (an hour or two) to a larger town/city where there would be more varied shopping, theater, concerts, etc. I've never lived anywhere but Arizona, and outside of the Army, Hubs spent most of his time in AZ and Indiana, so living on/near the beach would be a wonderful change for both of us. We'd love to learn to sail and get SCUBA certified. I'd love to be able to take photography and painting classes at a local college or university. But a quiet, slower-paced place sounds like heaven to me.
This is the lure of ENC...it has that rural landscape and slowed down pace many yearn for. The key is getting into the right area because despite what many who never spend any time Down East think, all of the places are not the same.
I would think about how big an area you need to be close to you really need. If its as big as Tidewater (major), there are options there...if its as big as Wilmington (medium), there are options there or Greenville (small to medium). Those are your three main areas that can fit that description, after that, the best you will get will be close to some big box retailers in smaller cities.
If you need to be able to get to Tidewater sizewise, I'd recommend looking in Camden and Currituck Counties...which have grown %wise considerably in the last census, but are still rural with good access (an hour or less depending on where in the county) to Tidewater.
It's probably not really necessary to be "an hour" from a mid size city. Usually just a few miles out from the terminus of town sewer service, you can find farms and large lots of uncleared forest land.
Hi OP, I think it might be very isolating for you. Visit to check it out, but also consider the Wilmington area - you can live in Castle Hayne if you want rural and be at the beach in 1/2 hour and downtown Wilmington in 15 minutes.
Status:
"48 years in MD, 18 in NC"
(set 7 days ago)
Location: Greenville, NC
2,309 posts, read 6,100,090 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Pederman
The legislature and McCrory have repeatedly said they're not interested in new toll projects, which also includes the Wilmington Skyway and Garden Parkway projects. It's partially the money but also a political thing since those projects were pushed so hard by the previous administrations/legislature. And also why tolling 95 is dead for the time being.
McCrory has always said that state transportation money has been misappropriated. He felt that the less populated portions of the state such as ENC received too big a piece of the funds pie. Now that he's governor he has "fixed" that. I voted against him for this reason and no other. His election has set ENC back 20 years.
McCrory has always said that state transportation money has been misappropriated. He felt that the less populated portions of the state such as ENC received too big a piece of the funds pie. Now that he's governor he has "fixed" that. I voted against him for this reason and no other. His election has set ENC back 20 years.
To be fair, it was pretty obvious rural issues were gonna get put on the backburner no matter what. With what happened with Team Blue, the old power base in Eastern NC's kinda done for and the new folks in charge take their cues from their suburban constituents (and money men) more than anything else.
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