RALEIGH – The following are highlights
from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are
also featured in NCDOT Now,
the department’s weekly newscast.
Winter Storm Cleanup
Once again, the New Year kicked off with a wintry welcome, bringing
record-breaking cold and not one, but two winter storms. The first storm brought
ice and a few inches of snow to eastern counties and coastal areas, which is an
unusual sight in North Carolina.
The ice, coupled with constant below freezing daytime temperatures
and single digit nighttime temperatures, made it especially challenging for
crews to clear roadways. N.C. Department of Transportation crews from across the
state were sent to assist in the clearing efforts, which took nearly a week in
some areas.
Nearly every county received snow, with the highest amounts in the
Piedmont where up to a foot fell in some locations. Additional crews from other
counties were brought in to assist, first clearing interstates and primary
routes before transitioning to secondary roads.
IMAP Rescue
We also want to recognize some of our workers who recently made a
big difference for a few North Carolinians.
North Carolina State Farm Incident Management Assistance Patrol
employees Robert Remini and Denny Thrift saw a mother in distress on the
shoulder of I-73. They pulled over and jumped into action, saving a child who
was suffocating.
And during the latest round of winter weather, Triangle Expressway
Roadway Manager Alan Shapiro and Bradley Young, who also works for the N.C.
Turnpike Authority, went above and beyond.
While monitoring N.C. 540 on the operations floor, Alan noticed a
stranded motorist. He knew it would take some time to get the driver help, so he
asked Bradley to meet him on the Triangle Expressway so they could personally
assist the driver.
Thanks to our workers across the state who help keep drivers safe
every day.
PIP Completion
On another note, hop on the train to experience firsthand the
improvements between Charlotte and Raleigh with the completion of the Piedmont
Improvement Program.
This series of 40 rail projects, that included station
improvements, closures of street-level crossings and new bridges, have greatly
increased safety for vehicle drivers and rail passengers. Additionally, the
ability to more efficiently move freight traffic will help spur new economic
development and job growth.
You can learn more about these projects here.