Pictures from Opening Day

I took a ride on the new Interstate 40 section in Greensboro today.

The road was really nice, even though the only real exit on it is the Wendover Avenue picture above. I'm not sure when that new High Point Road interchange will open.

Also, Interstate 73 was mentioned a few times as well.

On the older 2004 Interstate 85 part, Interstate 40 is now signed on it as well, although I noticed the signs on the interchanges still showed Interstate 40 as "To Interstate 40".

You can take a look at the pictures here.

Grand Opening of Western Loop Segment

Well after 3 1/2 years, the next chapter of the Greensboro Urban Loop has begun.

This section, which runs from Interstate 40 to Bryan Boulevard, is about 4 miles long and includes exits for Interstate 40, Friendly Avenue, and Bryan Boulevard.

One of the most interesting things I noticed was the extensive use of Interstate 73 markers. It appears that they're really serious about routing the new Interstate onto the loop.

And now for your viewing pleasure, 24 pictures that I took this afternoon. Click here

Concord Mills Carousel

This is about the only picture I took at Concord Mills today that didn't come out blurry.

This carousel definately was not there when I was last there in 2004. It's a relatively small carousel, but looks pretty cool. I really like those string like neon lights at the top. Just like Carolina Circle Mall, the carousel is located at the mall's food court.

Road Sign Pictures from Today's Concord Mills Trip

I took a trip to the Concord Mills mall in Concord (Near Charlotte) today and took 58 road sign pictures that can be viewed here.

What really caught my attention was how much progress has been made on the Intersate 85 resurfacing project in Rowan County. When I last went through there a year ago when I was picking up the Carolina Circle Mall restroom sign, the road was still a big mess! But now, only one small part of the Interstate is still under construction.

Please enjoy the pictures.

Pictures of Wilmington's Independence Mall

While I was at the beach this week, I rode up to Wilmington and visted the Independence Mall. I had been there before, but I hadn't been to that mall since 2002.

My opinion on it is that it's a pretty nice mall. It's pretty big for a one-story mall and it has the most unusual layout imaginable as well as an odd shaped food court. The JCPenney actually had two mall entrances! Although it's not to phenominal Carolina Circle Mall standards, I admit it's a pretty cool mall. Also, I don't think I've seen a mall with a double deck carousel before.

Take a look at all 13 pictures here. Also, if anyone has additional information about the Independence Mall, let me know.

Beach Trip 2007 Road Signs

I have returned to Greensboro today after a 5 day long trip to Kure Beach, NC. As promised, I have returned with many many road sign pictures.

I have been taking pictures of road signs since I believe 1998 and I think that this is the most I have ever taken since then.

The picture above by the way is a glimpse of Raleigh's Interstate 540 from the perspective of Interstate 40, including it's latest segment known as "NC-540". I believe it was named this to allow it to possibly become a toll road in the future.

Anyway, take a look at them here.

Photo Album Update

As you all know, the photo album hosting for the Roadgeek BlogRing is done by Yahoo! Photos. Well, I've got some sad news for you tonight.

Starting in I think June, Yahoo! will no longer offer the Photo service. This makes me rather upset because I think they did a pretty good job.

I've tried Flickr, and discovered that their free service can only support 3 albums. Way too little for me!

However, I came across Webshots. Like Flickr, they have free and premium services, but the free has everything I need.

Gradually, the photo albums linked from my blogs will be switched to Webshots. During this time, some will be Webshots and some will remain Yahoo! Photos until Yahoo! Photos becomes another Carolina Circle.

My albums can be accessed here.

New Painter Blvd. Signs

I was riding down Painter Boulevard today (I-85 Bypass Portion), and I spotted two new signs at the big interchange at the bypass end in SW Greensboro. I had my camera with me to share these with everyone. Both sign are northbound.

You sort of have to zoom in to this one, but this is a sign on a ramp under construction running from I believe the future section of the Interstate 40 Bypass. I'll help you out here with what the sign says. "Exit 122: US-220 South Asheboro Exit Only".

This is a little better. As you can see, the arrows are missing from the US-220 exit sign and the Interstate shields are missing from the "Durham Raleigh" sign. Obviously, the missing Interstate shields are Interstate 40 and Interstate 85.

We are now getting to the interesting part of construction. Once they start putting up some signs, that means lots of progress. They're still saying the next section of the loop will open in 2007, but I sort of have my doubts.

Current Urban Loop End I-85 Edition

This is what the other end of Painter Boulevard (I-85 South) looks like.

Remember, this picture was taken in June of 2006 and this scenery of this photo might look different today. I have surprisingly not been on this stretch of the loop since July, so I can't give a good description.

Unlike the other end of the loop at US-70, this is expected to be extended fairly soon as part of the new I-40 Bypass, with an optimistic prediction for late 2007.

Current Urban Loop End

This is what the current end of Painter Blvd. (I-840 West) looks like.

This terminus is at US-70 and will not be extended until sometime in the next decade. Believe me, it's well worth the ridiculous amount of time.

Future Vision

Within the next few days, I'll simulate what this Painter Blvd. sign will look like in the future.

Raleigh Directional Signs

I've talked about the roads of Raleigh here a lot and I'd like to bring attention to you all two directional signs on Interstate 40 in Raleigh.

This is on Interstate 40 East approaching the Wade Avenue split. These signs state that North Raleigh can best be accessed by Wade Avenue and that Downtown Raleigh can best be accessed by Interstate 40.

This one is on Interstate 40 West approaching Interstate 440 (Beltline). East and North Raleigh can best be accessed by the Outer Beltline and South, West, and Downtown Raleigh can best be accessed by the Inner Beltline.

Road City Loves the Dixie Classic Fair 2006 Part 1

Well, I took a visit to the 2006 Dixie Classic Fair today. Like always, I was very impressed.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures that I took today.

I believe this ride is called the "Starship 2000". That ride built this city on rock & roll. Also, I'm the boy in the blue-jean jacket.

I still think that carousel is the big brother of the Carolina Circle Mall carousel.

I have so many great memories of that ride. When I was little in the mid '90s, that was my favorite ride at the fair. I would probably ride it about 5 times each trip.









You can see the rest of my pictures here. Also, there will be more next week on my second trip.

Forgot This Picture

I forgot this in my articles about the new Interstate 140 in Wilmington.

This digital traffic board on Interstate 40 East in Pender County is notifying people that the new Interstate 140 is open from US-17 to US-421. I was unable to get a picture of the first part of the message.

Interstate 40 Under Construction

I found this cool site that has pictures of Interstate 40 under construcion in Winston-Salem in 1958. It also includes other pictures of Winston-Salem in the 50's-70's. http://www.juliejames.org/fcpl/street_scenes_02.html