Segment
6
East Belt Section 3 Construction Photos
Below
is a summary of the construction photos taken along Section 3 of the
High Point East Belt from start of construction in 2007 through July
2010 going west to east, (from most recent to oldest) [SOME PHOTOS HAVE
YET TO BE RE_LOADED ONTO THE MALMEROADS SITE]:
1.
Baker Rd. Bridge - The new bridge was completed in early February
2010 after an 8 month project that started in June 2009. Traffic was
put onto a temporary road to the north, completed in June therefore
not requiring a detour until the new bridge was completed. Work
started on the bridge in July 2009 and by the middle of January 2010
it appeared almost ready to open. Concrete for the roadbed had been
completed and asphalt was being laid to connect the bridge to the
old road alignment as seen in the photo below. The bridge was not
opened to traffic though until early March, a delay probably due to
weather problems preventing lane markings from being put down:
Raised utility covers in July
2010 indicate a final asphalt layer is still due on Baker Road.
(7/25/10)
Contractors working on removing
the temporary Baker Road alignment in June 2010. (6/20/10)
A look at a lack or progress connecting the existing I-74 roadbed to the
new one north of Baker Road. (6/20/10)
View of progress in removing
the temporary Baker Road and bringing the future freeway down to grade
in May. The grading was completed the week after this photo was taken.
(5/9/10)
View of the open bridge and the
start of dismantling of the temporary roadbed a month earlier. Once
completed, grading of the entire freeway to Cedar Square Road will be
almost complete. (4/11/10)
View of the open bridge looking eastbound a month earlier,
the removal of the temporary road had yet not begun due to the
need to remove rock in the freeway's path first. (3/10/10)
The bridge
appears complete, except for lane markings in this view taken in late
January. (1/28/09)
Workers laying asphalt at west end of new Baker Road Bridge.
(1/14/10)
The excavator on the left was
clearing space along the old road alignment to match the wider area of
the bridge. (12/12/09)
Progress on the bridge in
November. All the steel supports had been put in along with rebar for
concrete, adding of which should be the next step toward completion.
(11/8/09)
The concrete deck in December
was ready for traffic as the crossing of the contractor truck above
proved. (12/12/09)
The crane can be seen
lowering the first beam into place in early October. (10/12/09)
A closer look at the
equipment that loads the support sections in place, three sections
make up one span for the bridge. (10/12/09).
Looking east in September when the crane had just been
brought in to lift the concrete forms into place and then the
bridge girders in October. (9/18/09)
Excavation progress to the
south side of the bridge as the structure neared completion in December.
Once the bridge is built the temporary road to the north will be taken
down and grading finished to connect the existing freeway to the new
one. (12/12/09)
This photo shows the beginning
of the construction of the center support beams for the bridge that were
completed by the end of September. (9/18/09)
Looking east from the bridge,
enough pavement has been put down by July to let bikers use the future
freeway all the way down to Business 85. (7/25/10)
The view of progress creating
the I-74 roadbed south of the Baker Road Bridge, one asphalt layer has
been place since the previous month's view, below (6/20/10)
View of the progress in grading
the future freeway looking South from the Baker Road Bridge in May.
Basic grading has been completed and landscaping and water culverts are
starting to be installed. (5/9/10)
Progress in grading the freeway
east of the bridge can be seen in April 2010. Grading is almost complete
and work has started in the future highway median. (4/11/10)
View of the bridge deck and
remaining grading to be completed south of the bridge in
mid-December 2009. (12/12/09)
Earlier view of progress on
grading the roadbed south (east) of Baker Road before the support
beams had been placed. (9/18/09)
A view in July 2009 when they
had just started excavating to place the I-74/US 311 roadbed under the
to be constructed Baker Road Bridge. (7/26/09)
View looking west on Baker Road
just prior to the bridge being opened. (1/28/10)
2. Jackson
Lake Road Bridge - This bridge was completed and opened to
traffic at the end of November 2008.
Here's
a view of the bridge soon after it opened heading south across it
toward NC 610. The changes since have mainly consisted of
consolidating the excavated material besides the road bed, so it
can be removed, this was still going on in early August 2009.
(11/23/08)
While most of the project has
been completed looking east toward Kersey Valley Road, work appear to
still be needed for landcaping and water runoff in July 2010. (7/25/10)
View toward Kersey Valley Road
a month earlier in June 2010. Most of the work had been completed
earlier, there doesn't seem to have been any further work on the water
containment and runoff systems since April. (6/20/10)
View a month earlier in May
2010. Though from a slightly different angle, a similar view of progress
as above. (5/9/10)
The view eastbound in April,
progress had been made on landscaping and the placement of runoff
collectors in the median. Again,
the Kersey Valley Road bridge is in the distance. (4/11/10)
The view eastbound from the
bridge in December 2009, showing much of the roadbed has received a
second coat of asphalt as of October 2009, enough so contractor vehicles
can use it. Compare that to the view below, more than a year
earlier. (12/12/09)
The view east from the
bridge in November 2008, notice progress on excavation, but where the
roadway will be is not as obvious as it is a year later.
(11/23/08)
The only thing new looking west
in July 2010 is a pile of poles and other metal structures that will be
used to be put together for one of the I-85/NC 62 interchange signs.
This was probably assembled in early August. (7/25/10)
The
view in June 2010 showed progress has been completed on leveling the
western roadbed, an initial asphalt layer has been placed, and work was
proceeding on water runoff culverts and landscaping. (6/20/10)
Photo from a month earlier
shows initial progress in grading the freeway, the previous mound in the
westbound lanes has totally been removed and work has continued on
landscaping closer to the bridge. (5/9/10)
View to the west in April 2010,
the mound taking up the future westbound lanes had almost been brought
down to grade, the material from the mound has been piled along the side
to serve as future landscaping. (4/11/10)
Some progress, including the
start of landscaping along the completed road, can be seen earlier in
January 2010, as viewed from the Jackson Road Bridge. As this is one of
the entry points for construction vehicles it may be one of the last
sections completed. By March most of the roadbed had been leveled (11)
(1/14/10)
Little, if any progress can be
seen in this photo from December 2009. This is though an entry point for
the contractors to the road surface (the vehicle above got on the
freeway here), so the westbound lanes may not be done for a purpose.
(12/12/09)
The westbound view in November
2009 showing that there hasn't been much progress here since the spring,
with dirt piles still existing in the future westbound lanes. (11/8/09)
The view in April 2009 looking
west shows the first layer of asphalt being applied from just south of
Baker road to the remaining debris piles north of the bridge.
(4/5/09)
The eastbound roadbed from the
Jackson Lake Road Bridge as it appeared in November 2008. The road
curves to meet Baker Road about 1/2 mile away. (11/23/08)
Here's a view of the bridge in
November 2009 from another angle. (11/9/08)
3. Kersey
Valley Rd. - This bridge was completed in October 2008.
The view from June 2010 shows
work has been completed on placing down the asphalt layers for the
highways, though some landscaping and guardrail work remains.
(6/20/10)
The view of progress in grading
the highway south of the bridge from April 2010. Grading appeared
completed and the first asphalt layer has been applied starting at the
middle left in the photo, to be completed 2 months later. (4/11/10)
View of the nearly finished
graded roadways looking back at the Kersey Valley Road Bridge a month
earlier. (3/10/10)
Work continues in late January
2010 in laying out the roadbeds and landscaping just south (east) of the
Kersey Valley Road bridge. (1/28/10)
More material can be seen in
this earlier January 2010 photo than the one taken a month earlier. This
can be seen as progress though since the extra material is from grading
and landscaping work being done on the future westbound lanes. (1/14/10)
The view of the
bridge in December is very much like that of a month earlier, notice the
addition of asphalt on the future roadway, as compared to the view in
September, below. (12/12/09)
The view of
the bridge from Dresden Road in September 2009, notice less piles of
dirt and more construction vehicles and equipment than in the photos
below. This is because much of the dirt has been pushed off and up
from the road bed. (9/18/09)
Similar view of the roadbed a
month earlier showing the additional landscaping work needed. (6/20/10)
The excavated material from the
roadway piled on the sides now is in the process of being seeded as of
November 2009. Compare progress to photo below. (11/8/09)
Progress has been made in
seeding the slopes and smoothing out the road surface further south of
the bridge as of December, also notice the lack of as many construction
items and machinery than in September. (12/12/09)
The excavated materials have
been piled on the side of the eastbound lanes during the summer of
2009. What's left in the roadbed median are construction materials
that were there in the July as seen in the photo below. (9/18/09)
View of the construction
materials that can be moved using the freeway due to the construction of
a temporary access road from the freeway toward Dresden Road in June and
July 2010. (7/25/10)
Closer view of I-74 Roadbed
from Dresden Road showing landscaping work still needing to go on.
(7/25/10)
View of progress in paving the
roadbed looking toward the I-85 interchange a month earlier in June.
(6/20/10)
The view looking south from the
bridge in May 2010. Note more work has been completed on the placing of
asphalt, though not all the way to I-85. (5/9/10)
As of April the new asphalt
layer had been continued to the paved part of the I-85/NC 62 offramp and
almost down to the I-85 bridges. (4/11/10)
View from Dresden Road in March
showing progress in grading the freeway toward the I-85 bridges in the
background. (3/10/10)
Same view in late January 2010
showing progress in grading since the past month. (1/28/10)
View from Dresden Road of the
I-85 interchange bridges, notice progress in placing walls on the
flyover bridge, the one in the back, and the installation of a overhead
sign structure for the westbound I-85 North exit just before the bridge.
(12/12/09)
Progress of landscaping in the
past year can be seen from contrasting the photo above from Dresden Road
in early 2010 from that below taken about 6 months earlier. The
high bank goes back at the same height toward the Kersey Valley Road
bridge.
The view from Dresden Road in
from July 2009, notice more piles of dirt and more construction vehicles
and equipment than in the photo above. (7/26/09)
View from the bridge looking
Northwest back toward the Jackson Lake bridge. This section is one of
the most complete on the project as of May 2010. (5/9/10)
Dust can be seen from the
construction activity in January 2010 that has altered the appearance,
if not improved the grading of this view of the I-85 bridges from the
month before. (1/14/10)
Here's a closer look from
December 2009 of the progress on building the eastbound offramp to the
flyover bridge. (12/12/09)
Here's
the view from late October showing what was excavated at that
time, including the roadway later removed (see above) (which
already had been blocked by barriers) in the center. (10/31/08)
Construction equipment in the
process of removing the rest of the excess soil and creating the roadbed
as of November 2009. (11/8/09)
A view from the other
side of the highway showing progress in grading as of April 2010 toward
the Kersey Valley Road Bridge further along to the left. (4/11/10)
Similar view as
above showing progress of clearing and grading the future I-74
roadway between I-85 and Kersey Valley Road in November 2009.
Compare with the view above and below from last spring. (11/8/09)
The appearance
of the future I-74 roadway between I-85 and Kersey Valley Road
from April 2009. (4/5/09)
Here's
the view in October 2008, showing the beginnings of grading of the
roadway. (10/31/08)
4. The
I-85 / US 311 - I-74 interchange.
Footings for bridge structures were completed over the summer of 2008
and C/D lanes constructed for the future interchange, traffic was
switched on I-85 in both directions onto the C/D lanes once completed in
October 2008 so the I-85 road could be excavated for the I-74 freeway.
Significant progress has since been made on on both the I-85 bridges and
building the flyover ramp that will carry I-74 East traffic to I-85
north. The original I-85 roadway reopened in mid-April 2010. Compare the
photo below to those taken in July 2010 and those in early April 2009
and in November 2008.
Work still remains on
building the walls for the I-85 roadway over I-74, there also appears
to be little asphalt on the southern roadbed after the flyover.
(11/8/09)
This is the bridge over I-85
going north, unfortunately, they put back up the fence surrounding the
highway, so I could not duplicate the shots from below, but had to
take two. (6/14/09)
Though little has changed in
the foreground, you can see the progress made on the I-85 bridges since
June, in the photo below, also a graded mound has been built from
excavated material under the bridges. (11/8/09)
You can see the progress on
building the future I-85 bridges over I-74 under the bridge. The
northbound looking more complete than southbound. (6/14/09)
This
is a complete photo of the I-85 South future interchange with I-74
in April 2009. The future I-74 and NC 62 exit C/D lanes were now
serving as the I-85 mainline temporarily as the old road is
excavated (the start of which is going on behind the bridge) to
put I-74/US 311 under existing I-85. Above is the
progress of construction as of April.
The same view from late October 2008. (10/31/08).
The view of progress in paving
I-74 toward the I-85 bridges in May 2010, not too different from a month
earlier. (5/9/10)
View of the I-85 bridges and
approach from the north a month earlier shows the beginning of asphalt
covering and final grading. (4/11/10)
View of the I-85 bridges and
approach from the north shows more level ground and less construction
equipment than in the photo below from January. (3/10/10)
Same view of the I-85 bridges
and approach shows progress as of January 2010, much more than a month
before in the photo below. (1/14/10)
The view of the interchange
from Dresden Road in November 2009, not much seems to have changed from
the photo below, though much more of the ground surface is level.
A sign of progress is contained in a photo toward the bottom of
the page. (11/8/09)
The view from Dresden Road
where the former cross-road was cut-off showing the progress of the I-85
bridges over the future I-74 freeway. Note that there is little change
from the photo below taken in July, except for the trees cut down by the
offramp . (9/18/09)
The view from July 2009. A
closer inspection driving by on I-85 revealed the bridge decks looked
nearly complete, what remained to be built was the bridge siding.
(7/26/09) NCDOT
restored I-85 to its normal traffic pattern in June 2010.
The view of the now cut-off
Dresden Road in April 2009 with the future I-85/I-74 interchange in
the distance. (5/5/09)
A similar view from April
shows progress on the I-85 bridges at that time and the
beginnings of the construction of the ramp from I-74 east to I-85 and
its continuance on the flyover ramp in the distance. (4/5/09)
Here's a view of the progress
in building the new I-85 bridges from April, some excavation and bridge
building was apparent on the northbound lanes, but not the southbound
I-85 roadway. (4/5/09)
Here
is a similar photo from fall 2008. The bridge above I-85 is a part
of the I-74 east interchange fly-over ramp, you can see that the
ramp to I-85 south is already paved. (11/23/08)
You can
also see in this photo that the closed southbound lanes of I-85 has
been excavated by November 2008. (11/23/08)
Photo from July 2010 showing sign assemblies, and signs had
been put up, the future exit signs covered over. (7/25/10)
As
mentioned above this ramp system southbound will also serve as
access to NC 62. These ramps were closed for much of October as
they were re-aligned to meet the new C/D ramps. The exit number
will be changed to 113A. (10/31/08)
What may be the ultimate sign
the project is winding down, the delivery of the support structures for
the overhead exit signs which are being stored in the southbound I-85
lanes, while traffic is detoured. According to the NCDOT Traffic
Information Management System (TIMS), the I-85 roadway should open by
June 2010, but, because of the quick progress on this project, perhaps
earlier. (11/8/09)
At the future I-74/US 311
interchange, signs have been put up along the future northbound I-85 C/D
lanes as of July 2010. The photo below is the same sign as seen above,
before the I-74 east ramp. (7/25/10)
The next sign assembly for the
I-74 West offramp along the I-85 North C/D ramps. (7/25/10)
Here are the first signs being
put up for the new interchange on I-85 North, the NC 62 ramp has
received a new coat of asphalt. (5/9/10)
By April 2010, the support
structures for overhead signs were being put up along the C/D ramps.
(4/11/10)
Compare
the view of driving under the bridge on I-85 North in June 2009 as
compared to October 2008:
The view in June shows most of
the siding of the bridge complete, since bridge decks are generally
poured before that happens, I assume that's complete also (6/14/09)
Here's traveling north on the temporary I-85 roadway under the I-74 exit
ramps under construction last fall. (10/31/08).
This is the view going
southbound toward NC 62 (the bridge in the distance). The photos for the
interchange were taken from the top of the stand of trees between the
two bridges. (10/31/08)
A final shot of the
construction going on to the east of I-85, paralleling NC 62 in Spring
of 2009. (4/5/09)
This shot, tries to show that
the ramp merging from the flyover ramp has at least received one coat of
asphalt. (6/14/09)
I-74 and US 311 shields courtesy of David
R. Kendrick's Shield's Up!
