🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Nov16.221304.9906@ecsvax.uncecs.edu>, ehr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Ernest H. Robl) writes:
>
>It does appear a bit strange that while everyone else in the
>world is trying to eliminate railroad-road crossings at grade,
>this particular situation went the opposite way.
>

   I can't understand why people think this was a bad idea.  The old trestle
only allowed two lanes to pass under it, one in each direction.  At busy times,
westbound cars would be backed up from the stop light at the 54-55 intersection
for minutes.  It would take several light cycles to get to the intersection.  
Lunch time was a madhouse with cars trying to turn right into Pizza Hut and 
Arby's or turn left into Kerr Drugs.  
   I, too had doubts about how the engineers would build up the area to raise
the road to track level, but they did it and other than Arby's, the tire place
and the shopping center east of the trestle being in a hole, it looks safe.
I'm not positive, but doesn't this crossing have warning lights and crossing
arms, unlike many RR crossings in this area?  I seem to remember seeing them.
It also probably cost a LOT less than building a new and longer trestle, but 
this was probably impossible without closing the train track for several 
months.    
   Eventually it looks that 54 just west of the 54-55 intersection will be 
widened to at least 5 lanes to allow a left turn lane, 2 west bound lanes and 
2 east bound lanes.  Traffic will be a lot better. 
   Now does anyone know what the construction on I-40 between RTP and the 
Airport Exit is all about?  A new overpass for the highway between I-40 and
HW 70?  Is that part of the outer belt loop?  Is Raleigh gonna get cold feet
and wimp out on providing adequate roads from North Raleigh to RTP even after
years of debate and deciding to do it?  

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