"Proposed Raleigh-Norfolk corridor clears U.S. House, heads to conference with Senate" (Chesapeake: versus, beach)

[Pyroninja42]

Anyway, this would likely be an economic boost to both HR and eastern/coastal NC, especially Elizabeth City.

[jeff22152]

I agree that the new road will bring economic benefits to both areas. However, I'm puzzled by the choice of route number. Yes, Virginia is north of North Carolina; however, when I think of Raleigh and Norfolk, I think of Norfolk being far more east of Raleigh than north of it. It seems to make more sense giving the new road an east-west even number (I-56) than a north-south odd number (I-89).

As an aside, I wonder if there are internal bets being placed in NCDOT on how many new Interstate highways the state can get approved. I-73, I-74, I-295, I-495, I-795 -- they're popping up all over the place.

[LM117]

Originally Posted by jeff22152

I agree that the new road will bring economic benefits to both areas. However, I'm puzzled by the choice of route number. Yes, Virginia is north of North Carolina; however, when I think of Raleigh and Norfolk, I think of Norfolk being far more east of Raleigh than north of it. It seems to make more sense giving the new road an east-west even number (I-56) than a north-south odd number (I-89).

As an aside, I wonder if there are internal bets being placed in NCDOT on how many new Interstate highways the state can get approved. I-73, I-74, I-295, I-495, I-795 -- they're popping up all over the place.

If I-89 gets approved, I-495 will be decommissioned since it would use it's route. Part of I-440 from I-40 in southeast Raleigh to I-495 will also be decommissioned in favor of I-89. I never understood why NCDOT wasted their time with the I-495 designation, but that's a different story. I was surprised about I-89 also. However, given the fact that I-495 is signed North-South, I guess I-89 shouldn't have came as a surprise.

[lammius]

I just hope the Norfolk-to-Raleigh leg is just the beginning. I've long hoped for an interstate highway down the Delmarva that passes through the Norfolk area and connects to I-95 somewhere in NC. This could relieve a lot of the congestion on the I-95 corridor in the Balt-Washington area. It would serve as a bypass for Northeast-to-Florida trips, it would connect the Tidewater area to the major Northeastern cities, and make resort areas like Ocean City MD, Va Beach, etc. more accessible to tourists from the Northeast.

See: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.7...2be16a!1m0!3e0

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by lammius

I just hope the Norfolk-to-Raleigh leg is just the beginning. I've long hoped for an interstate highway down the Delmarva that passes through the Norfolk area and connects to I-95 somewhere in NC. This could relieve a lot of the congestion on the I-95 corridor in the Balt-Washington area. It would serve as a bypass for Northeast-to-Florida trips, it would connect the Tidewater area to the major Northeastern cities, and make resort areas like Ocean City MD, Va Beach, etc. more accessible to tourists from the Northeast.

See: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.7...2be16a!1m0!3e0

You and I will both be dead a long, long time before anything like that ever happens.

[LM117]

Originally Posted by lammius

I just hope the Norfolk-to-Raleigh leg is just the beginning. I've long hoped for an interstate highway down the Delmarva that passes through the Norfolk area and connects to I-95 somewhere in NC. This could relieve a lot of the congestion on the I-95 corridor in the Balt-Washington area. It would serve as a bypass for Northeast-to-Florida trips, it would connect the Tidewater area to the major Northeastern cities, and make resort areas like Ocean City MD, Va Beach, etc. more accessible to tourists from the Northeast.

See: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.7...2be16a!1m0!3e0

That would be a great route. It'll never happen though. I can't speak for Delaware or Maryland, but VA's Eastern Shore would be up in arms with torches and pitchforks if so much as a rumor of an interstate were heard there, especially Northampton County. Northampton is one of the most NIMBY counties in VA, for better or worse. My dad and his family is from Northampton County and he always joked that they oppose damn near everything except breathing, which is one of the reasons what jobs there are on the Shore usually end up in Accomac County, but that's a whole different story.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Spazkat9696

The article says I-44. I'd love this!

Interstate 44 is already in use from Wichita Falls, Texas, to St. Louis, Missouri. How well would an interstate highway from St. Louis to the Hampton Roads area work?

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by LM117

NCDOT has sent their application to AASHTO to designate US-64 and US-17 from I-440 in Raleigh to the VA state line as future I-89 for the Raleigh-Norfolk corridor.

Interstae 89 is already in use from Bow, New Hampshire, to the Canadian border. An alternative to Interstate 95 from North Carolina to New Hampshire would not be a bad idea.

[lammius]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

How well would an interstate highway from St. Louis to the Hampton Roads area work?

See I-64

[LM117]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Interstae 89 is already in use from Bow, New Hampshire, to the Canadian border. An alternative to Interstate 95 from North Carolina to New Hampshire would not be a bad idea.

On their application, NCDOT reasoned that I-89 would be far enough away from the existing I-89 in the northeast that there would be no driver confusion. They said that there are no odd numbers left to use that closely fits the numbering grid, so they would have no choice but to duplicate an existing odd-numbered interstate. They also said that they consulted with VDOT and VDOT agreed with using I-89. Whether or not AASHTO will go for it remains to be seen. AASHTO's meeting is May 24.