NC DOT has posted some updates for an upcoming public meeting this week. Many of the new proposals show NC 42 as more of the SuperStreet configuration. Part of this is changing the way that NC 42 and Cornwallis intersect. You can see the proposals here: https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/nc-42-widening/Documents/nc-42-cornwallis-left-turn-graphics.pdf They have also updated the maps from NC 50 to US 70 Business here: https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/nc-42-widening/Pages/february-2023-meeting-maps.aspx The DOT meeting is this Thursday in Clayton at 5pm. Details are on the NC DOT page. https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/nc-42-widening/Pages/public-meetings.aspx
The 42/Cornwallis intersection proposals are probably the biggest CF I have ever seen. The only good thing is none of this is due to begin until the spring of 2029. By then the final section of 540 should be at least close to completion.
Yeah and by 2029 hopefully I-40 will be complete and also I will hopefully be alive still but retired from having to drive all the way to UNC REX via Cornwallis to Poole Road
They mentioned that they are trying to pull this forward. I believe at least the portion between I-40 and Business 70 might start before then in some capacity. They need to do some of this project to allow for the Copper District being built and other growth in that nearby area (42 Gateway to Clayton).
They're proposing a similar change to the NC50/NC210 intersection in McGee's Crossroads. This would be in the 2028-2031 timerange. https://publicinput.com/NC210Johnston
There was a good turnout at the DOT meeting last night, unfortunately there wasn't really anything new there other than what is on the webpage above. Construction to start in 2029 and complete in 2033, if nothing gets delayed. I still think the Copper District will be required to make some changes to NC42 between 70 bypass and around Amelia Church Rd.
i really wanted to go but i get off of work at 7pm and by the time i am even close to home its almost 8pm. I really would like to see them start sooner then 2029. With all this increased traffic in the area they could push up the start date. Like as soon as they finish 42 east through Flowers Plantation area. Which btw how much longer before they are finished on that section? They've been working on that side for close to 5 years now.
You really didn’t miss much. They just had large posters of the PDF’s that are on the website. The people from DOT that were there didn’t really have any answers to the questions I had. They just said to submit them on the website. And as for the timeline, they said purchasing right of way property won’t start until 2027.
The proposed design of the lights around Cornwallis/RT 42 is just idiotic. If I want to pull out of the Austin Pond development and go East on 42, I need to turn RIGHT/West and then go through THREE lights, reverse direction then go back through the same two lights just to get back to Austin Pond road going East. How is eliminating left turns at Cornwallis/42 and then adding two more lights & turnarounds going to improve flow?
It's all about reducing conflict points and increasing safety. They also increase the possible traffic flow and reduce delays by reducing the number of light cycles on a stretch of road or at an intersection. https://mobility.tamu.edu/mip/strat...ation/technical-summary/superstreets-4-pg.pdf
Interesting concept if Cornwallis Road was a minor street. It used to be, but no more. The main problem is that NCDOT will be directing this show. What could go wrong?
Another public meeting is coming up for this NC 42 (now Veterans Pkwy) widening. Browsing the maps, some changes have been made since the last meetings. There are some traffic circles in Clayton that weren't there before. They are proposing removing all left turns at NC 50/Veterans Pkwy. Highlights from the maps (that may or may not have been in previous maps, I'm just browsing the new maps, not comparing too much against the old ones): Coming from Fuquay east on Veterans Pkwy, the "superstreet" model starts just before NC 50, before the Lowe's Foods shopping center. This means median divided lanes, and left/U turns only in designated places. No left turns at NC 50/Veterans Pkwy. If you are on Veterans Pkwy and want to turn left, go past NC 50 and make a U-turn at a designated place. If you are on NC 50, turn right onto Veterans Pkwy and then make a U-turn at a designated place. If you are on NC 50 and stay straight, there is not a designated place to make a U-turn. Continuing east, Veterans Pkwy is 2 or 3 lanes in each direction with a median, until it gets to the recently completed construction at 40/42 (I'm still going to call it that, probably forever). On the other side of 40/42, there are at least 2 or 3 lanes in each direction (with a median) past Wal-Mart to Cornwallis Rd. There are no left turns at the Cornwallis Rd intersection. Again, to turn left in any direction, you must use Veterans Pkwy and a U-turn in the superstreet. There are no designated U-turn areas on Cornwallis Rd. Government Rd gets realigned, and will intersect Veterans Pkwy a little west of its current location. There will still be a light here and left turns are allowed. The superstreet model continues on Veterans Parkway past the hospital to Amelia Church Rd. You can turn left from Veterans Pkwy onto Amelia Church Rd (from either direction) via median-separated left turn lanes. However, if you are on Amelia Church Rd and want to turn left, you have to first go right on Veterans Pkwy and use a designated U-turn area. Here's where it gets really crazy. There is a traffic circle with TWO through lanes at the intersection of Veterans Pkwy and Trailwood/Pinecroft. It's almost all residential on the cross streets, so I'm surprised at the traffic circle. But a traffic circle with TWO through lanes? Every time that's been done here, they have to restructure it for just one through lane. Drivers around here cannot cope with two through lanes on a traffic circle. Remember Hillsborough St in Raleigh? Then another traffic circle at Veterans Pkwy's intersection with Wexford Dr and Slate Ave. Again, two through lanes. Barber Mill Rd gets realigned and moved west to directly intersect with Guy Rd. BUT, that intersection will be a traffic circle. With two through lanes... The project ends on the east side with one last traffic circle at Veterans Pkwy and the interchange with eastbound US 70 Business (now Clayton Blvd). At this point, property acquisition is supposed to start Winter 2027 and construction starts 2031.
