Loop-the-Loop
Finally figured out how to maneuver the southern section of the Urban Loop?
Well, forget about it. At least for about a month.
The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to announce today that it will have to close the Southern Bypass section of the Urban Loop to build two bridges at Interstate 85 needed for the western section of the Loop, said Mike Mills, lead engineer for the N.C. DOT in Greensboro.
The road, which opened in February 2004, will be closed from Feb. 26 to March 23, said Brad Wall, the division construction engineer for the Greensboro area.
Officials will provide details on the closure and alternative routes at a news conference planned for this morning.
The 13.5-mile Southern Bypass connects Interstate 40/85 east of the city with I-85 south of the city. The bypass makes it easier for drivers to make the trip from Raleigh to Charlotte.
A short piece of the Loop from U.S. 70 to I-40/85 will remain open, Mills said.
- Amy Dominello
Comments (2)
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If I am reading the article correctly they are closing the entire southern loop to build 2 bridges at the beginning. This doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't we be able to access the loop at Elm-Eugene,421 or points north
Posted on February 17, 2005 7:28 AM
The more important question is, why didn't these bridges get built during phase 1 of the project? Sure, it would have opened a month later, but then they wouldn't have the expense (and it is an expense) of closing a busy highway for an entire month. And what happnens if bad weather comes during that month?
They managed to build bridges over I-40 without closing it for a month.
Do they really have to close the whole stretch? A lot of people take southbound I-85 to southbound US-220: Now they will have to drive through "death valley" because of two bridges that they never will drive under.
Letting people have something for a whole year, then yanking it from them for a whole month makes no sense when there were alternatives.
Posted on February 17, 2005 11:45 AM