Segment 7


 		Where: South of I-85 near Archdale to US 220, near Sophia, Randolph County

Length: 13 Miles

Needed: Finish Constructing New Freeway

Current Highway signed:
Estimated Completion Date: May 2011 for First Section, October 2012 for remaining section

I-74 will continue on a new freeway from south of I-85 near current Exit 113 in Archdale to US 220 (I-73) near Sophia, north of Asheboro, connecting to US 220 south of the current US 311 interchange along a path approximated by the red dashed line in the map above. When this specific route was chosen in 1997 it disappointed many citizens and government officials in the area since the route cuts a 1000 foot wide path directly through the city of Sophia before meeting US 220. Despite many objections, NCDOT chose this route, designated Corridor C, rather than the Corridor AA route prefered by the public at June 1997 hearings, because it cost $7 million less, avoided a complicated interchange with US 220 (I-73), and would send the least amount of pollution to the future Randleman Reservoir, preventing potential environmental problems. (1, 2) The project is listed in the 2009-2015 NCDOT STIP as Number R-2606. (3) Right-of-Way acquisition started on the western part of the route in 2003, with a total cost projected at $17.5 million. Construction on the first section, $28.5 million of the total construction cost estimated at $177 million, started on May 29, 2007 (see below). (4) This section will feature an interchange at Cedar Square Road (listed in contract documents as Exit 79) which will be the temporary end of I-74 while the other segments are still under construction. US 311 will be temporarily routed along Cedar Square road back to its current alignment. The US 311 route from there westward (northward) will be redesignated US 311 Business. (5) The next two segments totalling 7.9 miles will be built as design-build projects. These were let in August 2008 with Barnhill Contracting being the winning bidder with a cost of $99.7 million. Construction started in September 2008 and is now listed as 7% complete. (4) There will be an additional exit where the freeway crosses the current US 311 in Sophia and the interchange with US 220 at the end of this segment. (6)

This segment has been dubbed the "Missing Link" by the I-74 Piedmont Corridor Group (PCG), an organization of business people, transportation officials, and others lobbying to complete I-74. They created the term in 2003 to call attention to what they saw as NCDOT's too drawn-out segmented plan to complete this portion of the highway, long after many other sections of I-74 were then scheduled to be built. The PGC hoped to put enough pressure on NCDOT to move up its construction timetable for the entire section to match work starting on Segment 6 to the west. Starting both projects at once, supporters said, would be more efficient. (7) This effort seems to have eventually paid off. While start of construction was delayed from October 2006 to May 2007, work on the first part, 5.3 miles from south of I-85 near Archdale to north of Spencer Road (SR 1929) in Glenola,(8) will began at the same time as work was started on the remaining section of Segment 6. (9) Also, whereas earlier plans called for the proposed letting for the next part of the highway, 5.6 miles from Spencer Road to the current US 311 west of Sophia, not to occur until after 2012 and the final part, 2.3 miles from current US 311 to US 220 through Sophia not to begin a couple years after that (10), the new STIP indicates most of the funds will be borrowed under the Garvee Bond Program to expedite work on the next two sections starting in the latter half of 2008. These borrowed funds ($112 million) would then be paid back out of the highway fund accounts through 2019. (3) The first section then should be completed by May 2011, or earlier, and the entire segment may be finished by Fall 2012.

A summary of construction on the first section from west to east, with photos below, through mid-September 2009 (11):
The I-85/I-74 Interchange Flyover Ramp:

View of progress on Floyover Ramp from I-74 East to I-85 North in September 2009. (9/18/09)


In mid-June the decking needed more attention, the future ramps and I-74 roadway had received at least one coat of asphalt around the I-85 interchange (6/14/09).

A view from 2 months earlier, showing the progress on constructing the flyover ramp from I-74 East, the bridge decking was in place awaiting cement pouring. (4/5/09)


Here's another view of what was in place on the bridge pier in April, part of the flyover ramp from I-74 East. (4/5/09)


View of the same bridge structure about five months earlier, not much progress here, though the bridge piers in the background have been constructed and are near completion. (11/23/08)

A completed bridge pier can be seen in the distance, from the new end of Checker Road due to I-74 construction as of early 2008. (2/23/08)


Progress in placing asphalt east of I-85 is seen in this photo from June 2009. (6/14/09)

Road grading was just starting just east of I-85 and west of NC 62 in Feb. 2009. Taken from the new end of Checker Road, to be  split by the new interstate (2/23/08)


By November 2008 the ramp to the above roadbed had been paved, but not the roadbed itself, which looks much like the photo below. (11/23/08)


Looking eastbound at the clearing being done for the interchange from I-85 North, September 2007.


Here's the view approaching the construction area on I-85 North, lanes were restricted in the area from 3 to 2, for I-74 construction a month earlier (September 2007).

NC 62 Bridge: The NC 62 bridge over I-74/US 311 to the east of the interchange has largely been completed with the decking completed by February. The only remaining project was to cut down the approaches to the bridge to match the existing NC 62 roadway. This, as seen below, had been largely complete by June. During July they closed a lane down on the NC 62 to tie the road to its new alignment and open it to traffic, as seen below:

This view is heading eastbound on NC 62. (7/26/09)

Here's driving over the NC 62 bridge itself, some work remained, as seen by the orange barrels on the other side. (7/26/09)


NC 62 Bridge showing what's left to tie new road to bridge to existing roadway. (6/14/09)


The view of the bridge heading east as of April 2009, at that time only grading has been mostly completed, road realignment and paving were still needed. (4/5/09)

Compare progress to the way the bridge appeared in October 2008, only the metal bridge supports had been placed. (10/31/08)
Looking now from the other direction on NC 62:

The orange barrels are protecting the growing grass surface on either side of NC 62 soon after the new bridge was open. (7/26/09)


This is the view looking west toward the NC 62 bridge in June 2009, before asphalt had been put down. (6/14/09)


The view of the grading and bridge looking west in April 2009, not as much progress, the alignment crosses a roadway here, the intersection was moved back to accomodate the new alignment of NC 62. (4/5/09)


Here's the new NC 62 roadway alignment to cross the new bridge in April 2009, view looking east on NC 62. The pavement on NC 62 to the south had not changed. (4/5/09)
The view south (east of NC 62) has not changed much since the photo below, with the exception of paving that stretches back toward the Tuttle Road Bridge.

This view is from November 2008 showing the roadbed has received its first coat of asphalt heading east, it doesn't go to far around the corner based on the photos below. (11/23/08)


Here's a view to the opposite side of the bridge showing the progress of land clearing a couple miles east of NC 62 in the Fall of 2007. (September 2007)

Tuttle Road Bridge - This was the first bridge completed in this segment. Started in the spring of 2007, graded fill was placed up to the western edge of where the completed bridge in May 2008. The bridge was open early in August 2008. The following are photos from June 2009.


Approaching the bridge from the east, as you can see Tuttle Road itself was also reconstructed at the time the bridge was built, several homes now though have steep driveways, such as the one on the right, just before the bridge. (6/14/09)


Looking north/west back toward NC 62 from the top of the bridge, the curve ahead is one of the steepest ones on this segment. (6/14/09)

Here's the view looking east/southbound from Tuttle Road toward Poole Road, note some of the road surface has received several layers of asphalt. (6/14/09)
Poole Road Bridge: The bridge was opened in May 2009. By April completion with all bridge structures complete and metal rebar decking had been in place. Concrete pouring was starting on the decking, NCDOT anticipated this bridge would open in June, but it was completed sooner.

This is a view I could not take before, looking at Poole Road approaching from the west. (6/14/09)

Here's what the completed bridge looks like heading west, as you can tell, progress was made since the photo below. (6/14/09)


Here's the view in early April showing the cement has been poured and the rebar in place to pour concrete for the side of the bridge. A truck actually crossed the bridge while I was parking to take this photo. (4/5/09)


This view of the Poole Road before construction after the road had been cut-off last fall. (10/31/08)

View looking North from the Poole Road bridge in September 2009 shows some progress on grading and paving, plus the completion of the bridges over the creek. (9/18/09)


The same view from the bridge in June. Showing the progress since on the roadbed and the bridge being built about 1/4 mile away, this is not for a road but for creek bed. (6/14/09)

The view looking east/southbound from Poole Road toward Cedar Square Road in September 2009 showing the progress in grading and paving the road over the summer. (9/18/09)

The view looking east/southbound in June 2009 does not show as much progress as the view from Tuttle Road at the same time. (6/14/09)

The view of the Poole Road Bridge from the new Poole Road alignment in September 2009. Compare the size of plant growth along side the freeway to that in the photo below. (9/18/09)

The view approaching the bridge before it opened in April 2009. (4/5/09)

Workers using boring machines in anticipation of construction of the new Poole Road bridge in the Fall of 2008. (11/03/08)

Looking at the future freeway from the relocated Poole Road in October 2009. Notice progress in grading and placing asphalt as compared to the photo below that was taken a year earlier. (10/12/09)

Here's what the graded freeway looked like from the new section of Poole Road leading to the bridge in October 2008. The road has been moved out of the freeway alignment and built south to connect with Cedar Square Road (the original road intersected with US 311).  (10/31/08)
The Cedar Square Road Bridge and Interchange: Clearing has been completed, work is proceeding on the bridge and the new alignment for the road so traffic can use it when it is complete.

The bridge appears near completion in October 2009. Final work is being done on the bridge deck and the side walls to the bridge are almost complete on the north side. (10/12/09)


View a month earlier in September 2009 shows the support beams for the bridge have been placed and work was starting on pouring concrete for the bridge deck. (9/18/09)


Quite a difference in comparing this photo from the one 3 months later above, at that time construction of the center pier appeared to be complete, but there were no signs of bridge decking materials in the area as of yet. (6/14/09)


Here's what the bridge pier construction looked like with what would be the new alignment of Cedar Square Road in April 2009. (4/5/09).

A close look on progress in constructing the eastbound off-ramp to Cedar Square Road (the temporary end to I-74) in October 2009. (10/12/09)

The beginning of work on the eastbound offramp can be seen in this photo from September 2009. The high ground with the barrels behind is the current Cedar Square Road which will be removed once the new bridge is completed. (9/18/09)

Progress in preparing the connection to the new bridge from the existing Cedar Square Road in October 2009. The south side wall of the bridge still needs to have concrete poured but the road appears near completion. (10/12/09)

View of progress in excavating the freeway bed up to Cedar Square Road, the dirt ramp on the right allows construction trucks to stay in the construction area and simply cross the current Cedar Square Road when necessary (necessitating the workers with stop signs seen above (close to the convenient porta-potty). (10/12/09)

Another view from October showing the exten of construction on the west side of the freeway bed, and the other worker with the stop sign for eastbound traffic. (10/12/09)


The view in April 2009 from Poole Road to the current Cedar Square Road at the start of construction beyond for the new bridge. (4/5/09)
 
The Temporary Routing of US 311 along Cedar Square Road:

The view from just south of the current Cedar Square Road intersection, the new intersection will be where the car and building are in the center of the photo. US 311 will be routed from the freeway to meet its current alignment at this point. The old alignment was to be designated US 311 Business according to plans, but NCDOT has petitioned AASHTO to remove that designation along US 311's old route through High Point to Business 85, calling into question whether it will be signed here. (13) (9/18/09)

This is the view of the end of the new Cedar Square Road at US 311 which will temporarily take I-74 traffic to and from US 311 when the freeway first opens. The road appears almost complete with the exception of line striping and traffic signals. Notice signal poles on the right and electronic loops for the signals have already been placed under the asphalt on the bottom right. (10/12/09)

The end of the US 311 construction zone, The next traffic light is for Spencer Road, the end point for the first part of the project. (9/18/09)


Here's the view approaching the construction zone from the opposite direction on US 311 North. (10/12/09)
 The End of Phase 1 of the Construction Project:


The end of the first phase of the project just north of Spencer Road in September 2009. (9/18/09)

Photos of Work on the Last Phase, from Spencer Road to US 220:

Not much visible work could be seen in September 2009 for the next segment to be constructed from Spencer Road to US 220 along US 311. But there were some signs work was starting:

This road work ahead had appeared along US 311 on the way through Sophia. (9/18/09)

There was also the appearance of grading of earth to move a pipeline. Though it appeared in the construction zone, it may or may not be related to the freeway. (9/18/09)

A look at the construction from the opposite direction in October. An e-mail from a resident and a check of the plans indicate they are going to need to move utilities in order to construct the interchange with existing US 311, so this appears related to the freeway. (10/12/09)

A view at the end of the construction zone along North US 311 in Sophia. (10/12/09)
Construction of the US 220 Interchange
There is more evidence of construction on this part of the project, starting in August 2009. Jersey barriers went up and construction equipment appeared along US 220 between the current US 311 exit and the Pineview Street exit. 

Road construction signs can be seen from the onramp from US 311 to US 220 South (Future I-73/74). (9/18/09)

The signs indicate the placement of barriers along the right shoulder (there on the left too, but not mentioned) where the ramps to and from I-74 will be built. (9/18/09)

Not much construction can be seen from this photo approaching the construction site, except for machinery in the median. (9/18/09)

View northbound in October of construction equipment in the median. This is the approximate location of where the 2 flyover ramps will cross US 220 (I-73) (10/12/09)


Here is the construction area in September 2009 heading southbound with barriers on the shoulders surrounding the construction equipment that was then present.  (9/18/09)

You can start to see the removal of trees across the road along the northbound roadway. Land needs to be cleared for the I-74 West onramp and the flyover ramp to US 220 (I-73) North. (9/18/09)

Progress in tree removal in September 2009 and construction equipment can be seen better looking across toward the northbound lanes of the highway. (9/18/09)

View going northbound in October showing progress in building what will be the flyover ramp taking I-74 West to High Point, this is same area seen in photo above in September. (10/12/09)


View in October on new construction area which will be for the offramp from I-74 East to I-73 North (10/12/09)

The construction zone ends southbound just before the Pineview Street bridge, the zone is about two miles in size. (9/18/09)

Comment: After this section of freeway is built to replace US 311, decommission this intrastate US route which doesn't meet current AASHTO U.S. Route guidelines (at least 200 miles long, in more than 1 state). The section north of I-40 (not along I-74's route) could be NC 311.

Here's a map from the Greensboro News & Record showing the new sections of I-74 under construction:


Sources: NC Transportation Map 2001.
(1) Hall, Tony. 1997. "I-74 Coming to a Town Where It's Not Welcome." News & Record (Greensboro, NC). Sept. 27: B1.
(2) Muschick, Paul. 1999. "Route for 311 Bypass to be Unveiled in Randleman." News & Record (Greensboro, NC). August 9.
(3) NCDOT. June 2008. State Transportation Improvement Program, 2009-2015, Division 8, p. 8-27.
(4) NCDOT. 2007. Construction Progress Report, Contract C201715, Downloaded June 15, 2009.
(5) NCDOT. 2006. Contract Documents, NCDOT Signing Section, Contract C201296, Project R-0609-A. Downloaded from link at: http://dotw-xfer01.dot. state.nc.us/dsplan/2007%20Highway%20Lettings/4-17-2007/ on 2/23/07.
(6) NCDOT. 2008. "Transportation Board Awards More than $265 Million in Highway Contracts for 29 Counties." Press Release. NCDOT Communications Division, 8/7/08.
(7) Kimbrough, Pat. 2003. "Randolph Leaders Lobby State for I-74." High Point (NC) Enterprise. Dec. 1.
(8) NCDOT. 2007. Program Development Branch. "12 Month Tentative Letting List for April 17, 2007" (Typically construction projects are approved and/or start a month after the project is let, this project is to start the last week in May).
(9) Dominello, Amy. 2005. "U.S. 311 Bypass Work Delayed." News & Record (Greensboro, NC). May 2, downloaded from http://blog.news-record.com/staff/fastforward/archives/2005/05/from_sundays_pa.html, Oct. 1.
(10) NCDOT. Sept. 2004. R-2606 Project Breakdown Map.
(11) Information from e-mails from Bill Travers 3/6/08, 5/23/08, 8/11/08, 10/20/08, 2/7/09, 8/5/09.
(12) Information from e-mail from Ronald Shaw 3/6/09.
(13) AASHTO. 2009. Applications to Standing Committee on Highways, Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering, October 1. NC Petition Regarding US 311 Business in Guilford County. Downloaded from: http://cms.transportation.org/sites/route/docs/NC%20Elim%20US%20311%20Bus%20Guilford%20Aug% 2009.pdf 10/2/09.

US 311 shield courtesy of David R. Kendrick's Shield's Up!