Interstate 795 (North Carolina)

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Interstate 795
Auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System
Length: 25.41 mi[1] (40.9 km)
Formed: 2007
South end: US 70 / US 117 in Goldsboro
North end: I-95 / US 264 near Wilson
North Carolina highways
< NC 772 NC 801 >

Interstate 795 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It runs along the former US 117 freeway (partially also US 264) from Goldsboro north to its terminus at I-95 near Wilson. The road was completed in 2006, and the interstate highway designation was approved on September 28, 2007 so that trucks longer than 48 feet (15 m) could use the road.

Contents

[edit] Route description

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[edit] History

A new freeway alignment of US 117 was completed in 2006,[citation needed] splitting from the old Goldsboro bypass (which still carries US 13) and paralleling the old two-lane road to the US 264 bypass south of Wilson. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved an extension of US 117, overlapping US 264 to I-95, at their October 11, 2002 meeting.[2] However, the 1982 Surface Transportation Assistance Act specifies that trucks over 48 feet (15 m) in length, including the industry-standard 53 foot (16 m) trailers, can only use Interstates and other routes approved by the state, which included US 70 but not US 117.[3] Rather than go through the time-consuming process to add the route to the STAA system, the state decided to get it approved as an Interstate. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) informed the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) that it would not approve the addition until a construction contract to correct a "high accident wet weather location" on the US 264 portion was underway.[1] Immediately after the response from the FHWA, NCDOT added the project (W-5007) to the state Transportation Improvement Plan,[4] but AASHTO denied the I-795 numbering at their May 4, 2007 meeting, citing concerns about the south end not being at another Interstate and the lack of FHWA approval.[5] However, AASHTO decided at their September 28 meeting to give conditional approval, pending FHWA concurrence.[6] The North Carolina Highway Patrol, which had begun ticketing overlength truckers on US 117 in mid-2007, stopped enforcing the ban on October 3, due to the AASHTO decision.[7] The first I-795 signs were posted on November 28, 2007, replacing US 117 signs along the whole route. Most, but not all signage at the interchange onramps was updated at the same time.[citation needed] Other changes, including shifting US 117 back to the old route and changing exit numbers and mileposts, are to be completed by early 2008.[8]

In 2008, shortly after the road received the I-795 designation, major flaws developed in the paving surface. Though rated for a 15-year life span, the pavement began to deteriorate after only 16 months of use. During the planning of the road, as early as 2003, engineers had warned that the thin pavement would be inadequate. However, North Carolina Department of Transportation officials deemed a thicker road surface too expensive, as it would have added approximately $2.8 million to the cost of the road. Replacing sections that are currently damaged is expected to cost $1.6 million, with estimates for resurfacing the entire road running as high as $10 million.[9]

[edit] Exit list

County Location # Destinations Notes
Wayne Goldsboro 24 US 70 – Kinston, Raleigh, Smithfield Signed as exits 87A (east) and 87B (west) southbound
17 Pikeville
14 NC 222 – Fremont, Kenly
Wilson 9 Alton Road - Black Creek
5 US 301 to US 264 east – Kenly, Wilson, Smithfield
US 264 east – Greenville South end of US 264 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance
4 Downing Street - Wilson
3 NC 42 – Wilson, Clayton
38 I-95 – Rocky Mount, Benson Not Signed as I-795 From I-95
US 264 west – Raleigh Northbound exit and southbound entrance

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Application from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the Establishment of a Route I-795, March 23, 2007, with Federal Highway Administration correspondence
  2. ^ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Report of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering to the Standing Committee on Highways, Tuesday, November 5, 2002
  3. ^ Matthew Whittle, Goldsboro News-Argus, Big trucks could be banned from new U.S. 117 bypass, September 16, 2007
  4. ^ North Carolina Department of Transportation, Schedule Change Request, W-5007
  5. ^ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering, Friday, May 4, 2007
  6. ^ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbers and Interstate Highways, September 28, 2007
  7. ^ Matthew Whittle, Goldsboro News-Argus, U.S. 117 gets OK to allow trucks, October 2, 2007 (note that the article confuses AASHTO and the FHWA)
  8. ^ North Carolina Department of Transportation, NCDOT to Begin Installing I-795 Signs in Wayne, Wilson Counties, November 7, 2007
  9. ^ The Associated Press (2008-02-09). Engineer warned DOT officials that I-795 would need repairs. The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC). Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
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Auxiliary routes of Interstate 95