Shared by IRPO–A Review of a few Bicycle Laws in North Carolina

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  • Bikes are vehicles (though not motor vehicles) 
  • Cyclists have to follow the same traffic laws that motorists do
  • Motorists are allowed to pass cyclists
    • Since October 1, 2016, State law allows cars to pass cyclists, even if there’s a double yellow line. If a car is trying to pass a cyclist, they must give them at least 4 feet of space on the side.
  • Cyclists must use hand signals to let motorists know they are turning or stopping.
    • Cyclists will use their left hand to signal a left-hand turn and their right hand for a right-hand turn. They can also put a hand behind their back to let drivers know they are stopping.
  • Cyclists are to have lights on their bike at night
    • Lights are required on the front and back of the bike, along with reflectors. Lights can also be used during the day, but it is not mandatory.
  • Drivers can be fined if they cause a cyclist to crash or force them to change lanes
    • A driver who causes a cyclist to change travel lanes or leave that portion of a travel lane will be fined $200. If the motorist causes a cyclist to crash causing property damage or personal injury there will be a fine of $500 and if there is more than $5,000 in property damage or serious injury, the driver will be fined $750.
    • See here for more information: https://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/lawspolicies

Photo source: http://www.pedbikeimages.org/Jackson

Shared by IRPO–Crews Repair I-26 Storm Damage

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Occasional lane closures needed

MILLS RIVER – A massive storm closed both directions of Interstate 26 in Polk County on the night of May 18.

The basic cleanup from that storm is complete on I-26, and the next phase of repairs recently started. Those repairs will require occasional lane closures from mile markers 60-63 through July to restore the road and drainage.

Crews from Graham County Land Company will improve drainage beside the interstate by creating larger ditches and drainage channels. They will also repair the shoulder, install new guardrail, repave short sections of roadway and make additional improvements as needed.

Most lane closures will be limited to off-peak hours. However, some daytime closures will be necessary for large equipment to maneuver into position or work on the interstate roadway.

Transportation officials urge drivers to plan for delays in this area, obey all posted signs and drive slow through this active work zone.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

***NCDOT***

Shared by IRPO–Voice Your Thoughts on Greater Asheville Project Priority

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Public comments sought on potential transportation projects

ASHEVILLE – North Carolinians are invited to a public meeting June 14 to express their opinions about which regional and local transportation projects in the 7-county Division 13 area should be top priorities in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – a 10-year plan that identifies funding for projects and schedules them for construction.The N.C. Department of Transportation combines data and local input to determine which projects will get built, using criteria established in the Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law to focus funding on projects that help reduce congestion, improve safety and promote economic growth.

NCDOT Division 13 (Buncombe, Burke, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey counties) will hold an informal public meeting from 5-7 p.m., on Thursday, June 14, at Lake Tomahawk Park, Lakeview Clubhouse, 401 Laurel Circle Drive, Black Mountain, N.C., 28711.

Citizens are invited to stop in and provide input a preliminary list of regional projects supported by the division to be considered for funding. Please note that these meetings are not for maintenance projects, such as patching potholes, resurfacing roads or improving ditches.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for anyone with disabilities who wants to participate in the public meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lauren Putnam, Public Involvement Officer, at 919-707-6072 or by email at lnputnam1@ncdot.gov as early as possible, so that these arrangements can be made.

Other Ways to Participate

During a public comment period that runs from June 4 through July 9, NCDOT is collecting feedback from citizens who express their views at public meetings across the state, online, by phone or in writing.

Starting June 4, citizens can provide input through the STI website (ncdot.gov/sti).  Citizens can complete a short, interactive survey to identify priority projects, or send a message to their local division planning engineer.

The online survey features an interactive state map with the proposed projects up for funding.  Citizens can review project information and provide feedback on which projects they think are important.

The STI website provides the phone numbers and postal addresses of local division planning engineers, for citizens who want to comment on transportation projects by telephone or mail.

In Division 13, contact Brendan Merithew, PE, at bwmerithew@ncdot.gov, (828) 251-6171 or by mail at: 55 Orange Street, Asheville N.C., 28801.

In April, NCDOT released data scores for more than 2,100 transportation improvement projects across the state, in the first round of an evaluation process to determine which projects will be scheduled for construction.  Also in April, NCDOT identified 77 high-scoring Statewide Mobility projects that will be programmed for funding over the next decade.

Next Steps

After the comment period ends on July 9, NCDOT will combine the data scores and local input to produce the total project scores. A draft list of the top-scoring Regional Impact projects is scheduled for release in August. A similar process for local input will take place in the fall for local Division Needs projects.

Once all project scores are finalized, the top projects will be programmed for construction based on available funding. Other factors may determine whether a project ultimately moves to construction, including the completion of environmental and engineering plans, corridor spending limits prescribed by law, and other federal and state funding restrictions.

This information will be used to create the next STIP for the years 2020-2029. NCDOT will release a draft STIP for public comment in January 2019. The final 2020-2029 STIP is expected to be adopted by the N.C. Board of Transportation in June 2019.

The STI law, enacted in 2013, established a data-driven process that allows NCDOT to invest transportation dollars more efficiently and effectively.  NCDOT updates the STIP approximately every two years to ensure that it accurately reflects the state’s current financial situation.

 

***NCDOT***

Shared by IRPO– I-26 Shifts Coming in Polk County

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MILLS RIVER — Construction on the Interstate 26/U.S. 74 interchange in Polk County continues with the deadline in August drawing closer each day.

“The devastating storms that hit Polk County put us in a spot where we have to make up for lost time,” Division 14 Resident Engineer Shep Cordray said. “We are going to accelerate a few things in the coming weeks that should help us meet our deadline on this project.”

Plans include necessary lane shifts and closures that will require temporary detours at various times in June. Drivers should follow posted signs and schedule extra time into travel plans.

  • Thursday, June 7: The I-26 westbound on-ramp will re-open. The onramp from I-26 West to U.S. 74 East will close at various times for six days. The detour takes drivers through Columbus to access U.S. 74.
  • Monday, June 18: The I-26 Eastbound ramp to Tryon/Columbus will be closed for one week. The ramp from I-26 East to U.S. 74 East will remain open and serve as part of the detour. Drivers should take U.S. 74 East exit 163, turn left over the highway and take U.S. 74 West to West Mills Street.
  • Tuesday, June 19: Traffic on a one-mile stretch of I-26 West will be shifted to the inside lane for a week. No significant delays are expected.

Visit www.DriveNC.gov for real-time traffic information and follow NCDOT on Twitter.

***NCDOT***

 

Shared by IRPO–Help Determine Your Priority Projects in WNC

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Public comments sought on transportation projects

Help Determine Your Priority Projects in WNC
Public comments sought on transportation projects

SYLVA – North Carolinians are invited to a public meeting June 11 or 12 to express their opinions about which regional and local  transportation projects in the 10-county Division 14 area should be top priorities in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – a 10-year plan that identifies funding for projects and schedules them for construction.

The N.C. Department of Transportation combines data and local input to determine which projects will get built, using a formula established in the Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law to focus funding on projects that will reduce congestion, improve safety and promote economic growth.

NCDOT Division 14 (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Swain Transylvania counties), will hold informal public meetings from 5-7 p.m., on Monday, June 11, at Hayesville First United Methodist Church, 989 U.S. 64 Business, Hayesville, N.C. 28904 and on Tuesday, June 12 at Grace Community Church, 495 Cardinal Road, Mills River, N.C. 28732.

Citizens are invited to stop in and provide input on how the division plans to rank its project priorities. Please note that these meetings are not for maintenance projects, such as patching potholes, resurfacing roads or improving ditches.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for anyone with disabilities who wants to participate in the public meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lauren Putnam, Public Involvement Officer, at 919-707-6072 or by email at lnputnam1@ncdot.gov as early as possible, so that these arrangements can be made.

Other Ways to Participate

During a public comment period that runs from June 4 through July 9, NCDOT is collecting feedback from citizens who express their views at public meetings across the state, online, by phone or in writing.

Starting June 4, citizens can provide input through the STI website (ncdot.gov/sti).  Citizens can complete a short, interactive survey to identify priority projects, sor send a message to their local division planning engineer.

The online survey features an interactive state map with the proposed projects up for funding.  Citizens can review project information and provide feedback on which projects they think are important.

The STI website provides the phone numbers and postal addresses of local division planning engineers, for citizens who want to comment on transportation projects by telephone or mail.

In Division 14, contact Division Planning Engineer Steve Williams (828) 586-2141 or 253 Webster Road, Sylva N.C., 28779.

In April, NCDOT released data scores for more than 2,100 transportation improvement projects across the state, in the first round of an evaluation process to determine which projects will be scheduled for construction.  Also in April, NCDOT identified 77 high-scoring Statewide Mobility projects that will be programmed for funding over the next decade.

Next Steps

After the comment period ends on July 9, NCDOT will combine the data scores and local input to produce the total project scores. A draft list of the top-scoring Regional Impact projects is scheduled for release in August. A similar process for local input will take place in the fall for local Division Needs projects.

Once all project scores are finalized, the top-scoring projects will be programmed for construction based on available funding. Other factors may determine whether a project ultimately moves to construction, including the completion of environmental and engineering plans, corridor spending limits prescribed by law, and other federal and state funding restrictions.

This information will be used to create the next STIP for the years 2020-2029. NCDOT will release a draft STIP for public comment in January 2019. The final 2020-2029 STIP is expected to be adopted by the N.C. Board of Transportation in June 2019.

The STI law, enacted in 2013, established a data-driven process that allows NCDOT to invest transportation dollars more efficiently and effectively.  NCDOT updates the STIP approximately every two years to ensure that it accurately reflects the state’s current financial situation.

***NCDOT***

Shared by IRPO–Western Roads Slowly Starting to Reopen

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ASHEVILLE — The list is shrinking.

N.C. Department of Transportation crews have reopened more than a dozen roads in the last 24 hours that were closed due to some sort of storm damage.

But 35 roads — four sections of highway and 31 secondary roads — remain closed due to a slide, a washout, or severe damage suffered in the last two weeks as more than 20 inches of rain pummeled areas of the mountains and pushed rivers and creeks far beyond their banks.

State transportation officials continue to urge drivers to be cautious when driving and to avoid flooded roads or areas that are susceptible to a washout or slide.

Crews across the mountain counties continue to assess damage — especially in areas where water is receding — remove debris, clear ditches and handle other essential tasks needed to get roads open.

The primary focus remains clearing the pavement and inspecting integrity of roads so motorists may return to driving on their regular routes. Crews will return to complete the finishing touches on roads, ditches and bridges to get the entire area back to normal — or better — condition than before the storms. Complete restoration will be a long process in many cases and last through the summer in some spots.

Burke County crews cleared a slide on U.S. 221 on Thursday. McDowell County crews re-opened U.S. 70 on Thursday as well.

On Interstate 40 West heading up Old Fort Mountain from McDowell County into Buncombe County, the far right of three lanes is closed at mile marker 72 and again at mile marker 66. Those may open this weekend.

A section of U.S. 221 in Avery County remains closed while the road is rebuilt, a process that may last through June. The northbound lane of N.C. 80 requires continuing attention. U.S. 64/74A north of Chimney Rock will remain closed until that slide is cleared. U.S. 176 in Polk County remains closed as well.

All other closures are on secondary roads in Avery, Buncombe, Clay, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Rutherford, Polk, Swain and Transylvania Counties.

A list of road closures is available at http://www.DriveNC.gov by using the county or route drop-down menus.

 

Shared by IRPO–NCDOT Crews Responding to Road Damage

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Rain hampers roads across western North Carolina

See below for roads affected (Isothermal Region is bolded).

ASHEVILLE – Severe rains have caused mudslides, washouts and flooding on interstates, highways and local roads across western North Carolina in recent days.

N.C. Department of Transportation crews have been working around the clock to assess damage, remove debris, clean pipes, and clear ditches in counties spanning from Cherokee County in the far west to Surry County in the northeastern mountains.

Road conditions will change throughout the day. Some roads may reopen after water recedes or small slides are cleared. It’s also possible for road conditions to deteriorate and other roads to be closed.

Transportation officials remind motorists to drive with extra caution and never cross moving water. It can takes inches — not feet — of running water to wash away a vehicle.

Below is a list of highways and primary roads that are closed in the western part of the state. Some secondary roads — but not all — are included.

AVERY COUNTY
Highway
U.S. 221
Secondary Roads
Pilot Ridge Road
Edgemont Road

WATAUGA COUNTY
Secondary Road
Rominger Road near Watauga River Road

IREDELL COUNTY
Secondary Road
Hill Dairy Road

CALDWELL COUNTY
Secondary Roads
Brown Mountain Beach Road
Old Johns River Road
Camp Carolwood Road

BUNCOMBE COUNTY
I-40: Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane near MM 67
Highways
Swannanoa River Road
Fairview Road at Swannanoa River Road
Sweeten Creek Road near Biltmore Village
Riverside Drive
U.S. 25 in Biltmore Village

McDowell County
I-40: Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane near MM 67
Highway
N.C. 80 northbound

MITCHELL COUNTY
Highway
N.C. 197

RUTHERFORD COUNTY
Highway
U.S. 64/74
Secondary Road
Bills Creek Road near Antioch

HENDERSON COUNTY
Secondary Roads
Middle Fork Road
Brookside Camp Road
Willow Rd. at River Road
Butler Bridge Road from Jeffress Road and Tap Root Dairy
Ledbetter Road
Balfour Road
Gilliam Road
Hooper Lane
Hoopers Creek Road
Nix Road
N. Ridge Road
Erkwood Road
S. Mills Gap Road
Howard Gap Road between Nix Road and N. Clear Creek Raod.
Old Airport Road at Blue Ridge Community College
East New Hope Road off of Old Airport Road

MACON COUNTY
Secondary Road
River Road

POLK COUNTY
U.S. 176 between Ozone Drive and Harmon Field Drive
Secondary Roads
Howard Gap Road
Holbert Cove Road
Abrams and Moore Road
John Watson Road
Green River Cove Road

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY
Secondary Roads
Island Ford Road
Barclay Road
Davidson River Road
Cascade Lake Road
Wilson Road

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

***NCDOT***

Shared by IRPO–Slide Closes I-40 by Buncombe County Line

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Interstate should re-open before morning commute

ASHEVILLE — Interstate 40 is closed in both directions due to a mudslide near mile marker 67 by the Buncombe/McDowell County line.

N.C. Department of Transportation crews from Buncombe and McDowell counties and State Highway Patrol immediately responded to a report of several vehicles being stuck in the mud just after 10 p.m. No serious injuries were reported.

The estimated re-opening of both directions may happen by 3 a.m.

Transportation officials remind drivers to obey the directions of local law enforcement and be aware of difficult driving conditions.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

***NCDOT***