Road construction on 15/501 between Garrett Rd. & Mt. Moriah (cost, relocating)

[Heathercp]

I've been meaning to ask for ages... Does anybody know what's happening to this stretch of road? Seems like the crews have been working at it forever and I can't figure out what their ultimate purpose might be.

Are they getting ready to completely redo this stretch of road? Widen it? Maybe one of you knows.

I drive this stretch almost every day, but I'm starting to get the feeling I'd better find some alternate routes. Is there someone at the city level I could call to find out what's planned for that bit of road? I'm really curious.

[CHTransplant]

Widening. I believe the plan is as follows: First step is a temporary bridge onto which they can divert traffic from one direction (southbound I think) while they replace the existing bridge. Then traffic in the other direction (northbound) will be diverted onto the new bridge while that side is worked on (while the southbound traffic is still using the temporary bridge). Should be lots of fun. I noticed last night that they had 15-501 down to 1 lane in each direction for evening work.

http://www.newsobserver.com/161/story/693864.html (broken link)

[Nelson919]

The state DOT is working simultaneously on three separate highway projects:

The main project is U-4012; it involves adding two additional lanes on US15-501 between Garrett Rd and Mt. Moriah Rd and widening the I-40 westbound exit ramp to accommodate an additional right turn lane. Here is a project map:
http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruc...urce/u4012.pdf


They are also working on project U-4009 which involves relocating the service road that runs parallel to US15-501 near Garrett Rd.
http://www.ncdot.gov/doh/preconstruc...urce/u4009.pdf

Finally they are working on project B-3450 which involves replacing two bridges on Garrett Road to the east of US15-501.

According to a construction progress report maintained on the state's website, the total cost for the project (all three parts) is $18.8 million, work began in October 2007, the project is about 33 percent complete and is expected to be 100 percent complete in August 2010.

[Heathercp]

Once again, it's City Data Folks to the rescue. Why, oh, why did I wait so long to ask the question?? It looks like I'm definitely going to take the back roads whenever possible.

The maps were great and thanks, too, for the link to the article in the paper. It's nice to know that there's an end in sight (even if it is a year away). Both of those intersections (at Garrett and Mt. Moriah) are pretty unpleasant right now. Hopefully they'll be better once all the construction is over with.

Thanks again for the info. You guys are great!