Name: NC DOT officials open Durham's East End Connector
Uploaded: 2022-06-30T10:11:00-0400
Duration: 101056
Description: A project that's been decades in the making is finally complete. Connecting U.S. 70 to the Durham Freeway, officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation say it will provide another route from I-40 to I-85, bypassing downtown.

The "Dueling Dinosaurs" exhibit opening this weekend at Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature what's believed to be the most complete T. rex skeleton ever discovered.

'Dueling Dinosaurs:' One-of-a-kind dig, laboratory access at Raleigh science museum

DinoLab at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods, so purchasing separate flood insurance is crucial in North Carolina, especially in high-risk areas.

Homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods: How to protect your home in North Carolina

Princeville residents weigh options after Hurricane Matthew

A project that's been decades in the making is finally complete. Connecting U.S. 70 to the Durham Freeway, officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation say it will provide another route from I-40 to I-85, bypassing downtown.

<p>we have some local and state dignitaries here with us today. If you will all please stand and raise your hand to be recognized. My state and local elected officials thank you. Now our first speaker today is Joey Hopkins, who's our chief operating officer at N C D O T. Thank you Valerie and good morning to everyone. As Valerie said, I'm the new C 00 and D O T. Well, she didn't tell you is that I worked in Durham for over 20 years And the former Division five engineer Division five includes 7 counties, which Durham is one of those seven. I'm very familiar with this project and I know it's been a long time coming. In fact, I was at the groundbreaking seven years ago where there was talk about how great this project will be for Durham and the whole triangle region. Well, we're finally here. We're going to cut the ribbon in a few minutes and we're gonna open the connector this afternoon. This again, this project's been around a long time. It's been on the city's plans and transportation studies since the 70s. It's D O. T. We have what we call T. I. P. Numbers. Project numbers. The project number for this project is you which stands for urban 0071 and we number our projects sequentially Now we're planning and building urban projects in the 6000 range. Just to give you an idea how long this project's been on the books Interest in this project resurfaced in the late 90's And it became the city's top priority in 2000 and I see my friend joe Milazzo in the crowd the top priority of the regional Transportation Alliance. A few years after that in the, In the early 2000s we explored a number of alternatives and after in input from the public we moved into design and then right away acquisition and construction began in 2015. You know, and this happens with most every project, but once the project start, things inevitably come up that aren't expected. Some things may not go as planned. Some things take longer than planned. This is a very complex project coordination with our partners was very involved. It took time to work out utility relocations, construction impacts to neighborhoods and local streets and coordination with the railroad companies that we cross multiple times for this project, Including even us having to construct a temporary railroad bridge along us. 70 However, I don't want today's focus to be on those issues or delays. I want us to celebrate the efforts of the city, the community, our contractor, the many, the many subcontractors, our inspectors, D. O. T. Staff, all of these people who persevered and saw this project through to completion and completing this project is important for a myriad of reasons. First of all for the residents of Durham, this connector will take, will help relieve congestion along during freeway and also 15501. It will divert traffic off of local roads such as Roxboro, Mangham Gregson and do regionally I hear you, Senator Woodard regionally, this project has great importance to, you know, we refer to it as an east end connector but the regional transportation Alliance refers to it as a triangle connector and they're right. The opening of this connector will help promote economic development in areas along I-85 up toward Virginia by improving access for travel and the transportation of goods between the counties north of Durham and employment in retail centers including our T. P. R. D. U. And locations in Wake County and south of there, Travelers now have a traffic signal free ride from I-85 coming from Virginia All the way to I 40 and into the triangle. I believe senator Murdock will cover more of this in a minute but I briefly want to mention interstate 885. We received official approval for this new designation a few years ago And this connector will be part of I 885. As part of this, the Durham Freeway 1 47 no longer begins at I 40 but here at the connector and goes north through Durham Several exit numbers along during freeway and us 70 has changed as a result of that. It may take some time for all the navigation apps that you use Waze google maps whatever to catch up but we've done our best to let them know about this change in closing. I want to thank everyone that's been along for the ride on this project. It took a real team effort to get the point to this point. I want to recognize a few people Before I go though. First of all, liam Shannon resident engineer, raise your hand liam right in the middle. I want to publicly recognize liam for his commitment and determination to see this project through completion, particularly over these last few weeks and months. Thank you liam. And do you have you have vacation schedule now? Yeah, you deserve it. This project has had several other resident engineers, Michelle Gatti who's now in our state construction unit Philip Townsend with a local engineering firm and Cameron Richards who's here today. Where's Cameron? He's our system. He's our Deputy Division construction engineer still here in Division five. We also want to thank road safe traffic control safety services and D. O. T. S. County maintenance engineer staff for their efforts toward the end of this project. Last but not least as someone that's been on this project since staying near the beginning. And I talked to this man earlier. He has worked on this project I think 15,000 hours Since 2015 Bruce Scuffle. Where's Bruce at? Thank you Bruce Bruce is an inspector with RS and H and he's had a tough and a very long job, but thank you for your work out here Bruce. Thanks again to all our partners without you. None of this is possible. Thank you, Joey. Our next speaker is Elaine o'neill the mayor of the city of Merrill neal. Happy thursday, everybody. Happy thursday I'm gonna move this down just a little bit to mr Hopkins, all of D. O. T officials 15,000 hours, wow, wow. You don't even think about that stuff as we're watching it develop this. There are people that actually make it happen. So glad to be here this morning to all the city and county and state officials, especially to those who worked on this project. I just give you glory and honor this morning for being here and and allowing all of us to participate in this beautiful, beautiful day for a new opportunity for Derm equitably improving transportation and infrastructure for those who live and travel through. Durham are key priorities for the city council of Durham and for the Mayor's office. So this is a momentous occasion when you open a new how to the the county and north Carolina Department of Transportation in the city of Durham. We've all worked together over the years. We not so much since I've only been in here seven months, but others behind me work together to get this project developed to ensure that the project not only meant the need as a regional transportation corridor and newest interstate, but also provided important local improvements as you know, many of our north south streets are currently heavily used. You hear this morning as these vehicles are moving from N. C 1 47 to I 85 there was a study done back in by the city council in 2020 called move Durham and they anticipate that this will this east end connector would greatly reduce our traffic volumes in central And it will provide a quicker connection to areas north of I-85 and make it more safe for local drivers and pedestrians in Durham. We're also pleased with the many side walking related improved safety improvements that the east end connected project has brought to eastern. It truly takes a partnership to deliver a major transportation improvements such as this And we look forward to continuing these partnerships to deliver the needed transportation system that will continue to make girls one of the best places to live and work in the entire county as I closed. So I will offer this prayer um for those who don't pray just close close your ears because I'm gonna do it. Um I do thank God for the opportunity for us to be able to participate in such an occasion as this Lord. But we lay before you all those who would travel and we ask that you let them have traveling, Mercy that your grace be ever upon them and let this be a safe and pleasant way to travel through our city in jesus name. Amen. Okay, thank you Mayor. Our next speaker is Chairwoman Brenda, Howerton Durham County Commissioner. Thank you Valerie. I think I gotta move it down a little bit even more. I don't have my high heeled shoes on this morning but coming up that hell over there would not have worked with the Kenny's work. So good morning everyone. And it is absolutely my pleasure and honor to be here this morning with you. Uh and two. I see at least I see one of my commissioners here Commissioner Byrne and just in city council, all of the officials, I read you and I am so elated to see the this dedication to the east end connector trans transformative project. You know this is a wonderful day and I'm delighted as I said to be here to to provide a few opening remarks um and to see what's going to happen for the road and the travelers that go through this area, I live on this side of Of town and always having to go down through town to get to 85. Not been fun, I've been here since 1986 and I would hear about, I started hearing about east end connector, east end connector but I kept waiting for east end connector to happen. So now it's happening. The potential economic benefit for providing a beltway to help our residents travel from one side of town to the other is going to be so incredibly great. I am so grateful that we are last able to partner, we were able to partner with N. C. P. O. T. The federal government and others that we eventually found a way to develop this wonderful new project that will help our residents and travelers alike. This is just another excellent infrastructure project that will serve to maintain and enhance Durham's quality of life. Before I am let me just say a sincere thank you to all the brave highway workers who showed up in the coldest days. The hottest days. We've had some cold days in hot to ensure that this east end connector was constructed according to plans. Our great highway workers deserve our sincere gratitude. Yes, this PCM connector is a major improvement to a highway system and this will ensure that Durham is connected to the region and beyond as we continue to grow, addressing transportation issues is and will continue. But today let's be grateful that we are making the important step in improving our transportation system. Congratulations on this great highway project that will benefit all of us. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Chairwoman Howerton, we now have our next speaker is Representative Zack Hawkins who represents the north Carolina House of Representatives In this in Durham County. Representative Hawkins today is a great day for the people of the city and county of Durham, especially those in Eastern. My name is Zak Hawkins a crowd Eastern resident for the last two decades. I appreciate the privilege to bring greetings on behalf of the north Carolina House of Representatives and the incredible constituents RTP employees and companies that call district 31 in East Durham home. Little do people know that? We have 50,000 people a day that come into East Durham and our TP to live work and play as a member of the caucus leadership on house transportation and the long term planning and appropriation subcommittees that have the chance to think, talk and talk to constituents and experts about this topic often and had an incredible reverence for what it means to efficiently move people, goods and services and families to and from the desired destination safely before I cover the human aspects of this project. Here are a few east end connector project highlights This project includes conversion of us 72, a freeway facility from Highway 98 to Pleasant Drive, which is right around the corner from my house. The project included 16 bridges rehabilitating for others and installation of four culverts which are structures that help to channel water past an obstacle. One of the most critical pieces of this project is providing great separation over the railroad for non engineers like me translation. A great separation is a railway that is realigned over and under a railroad railroad, a railway to eliminate hazards for improved safety, reduced noise and a decrease in traffic congestion for those who will use this route daily. This connector provides a more effective link for east and south east Durham to downtown and other important areas making this route the gateway to the Bull City? The innovation of our teepee and an end to using back roads and spending up to 30 minutes in traffic waiting to move from Highway 72. The Durham Freeway as I personally experienced and here consistent from my constituents. Now that is worth a lot now, the history of state highways like the Durham Freeway for some in our community have not always been pleasant experiences or memories today with the skin connector. We help to include and expand rather than divide. Today we are bridge builders and connectors to greater access and opportunity to a better quality of life for our residents though decades in the making and given the unprecedented growth we're experiencing. Today's opening is right on time as terry, louder and eastern constituent of mine shares. I can't wait. Well terry, I can't either. Congratulations to the city to the county and to the state D. O. T. Engineers, taxpayers, current and future residents and employees. And congratulations Bruce. The east end connector is now open for business. God bless and drive safely. Thank you. Thank you. Representative Hawkins, our last speaker is Senator Natalie Murdoch who represents this. Great county Senator murdock. Alright, thank you so much Valerie. Um And hello to everyone. Um North Carolina. State senator Natalie Murdoch. So first and foremost, welcome to my district. North Carolina Senate District 20 and the Bull City. Um and I also have the pleasure of serving on the transportation committee and the north Carolina state Senate um and also wanted to just take in this moment. How often do you get to have an event on a highway? I mean this is pretty cool. So let's take this in after today. You will never be able to do this again. So take pictures and enjoy this moment. I extend greetings to N. C. D. O. T. Secretary eric Rohit, um Division five board member Valerie jordans. Division engineers also seen in Tennyson here. Um a previous Secretary of Transportation as well as previous mayor of Durham um chuck Watts, who previously served on the Board of Transportation Mayor Elaine O'neal Chairwoman Howerton also sees someone here from Congressman Price's office. We have to have a federal partner to do this work. We are blessed and lucky to have a ranking member um of transportation appropriations that serves um us right here in Congress and Durham as well as other elected officials and special guests this day has been years in the making. And I'm saying this with the permission of Senator Michael Woodard who was here with us, ranking member of the Senate Transportation Committee this project. And correctly from wrong Joey actually received a D. O T I. D. In 1958. I just learned that that was before Senator Mike Woodard was even born. So when we say that this project has been a long time in the making. We mean a long time in the making, but today we have finally reached the finish line um and I believe I'm the only member of the general assembly that previously served as a transportation planner many moons ago. So I really know um how many years of planning and work and engineering, um it takes to get a project like this off the ground, the funding has to come together, the stars have to align to really, really get a project like this going 85 mile service, our newest interstate spanning almost 8.7 miles, linking I 40 to 85 And I know a little bit of something about that too. I was raised in Greensboro North Carolina, two exits from 80 where 85 and and 40 merged and it would be a standstill. It didn't matter where you're coming from on the east coast, everyone always complained about wait until you get to Greensboro and all that track. So before we got that loop, it has really, really been huge to relieve congestion. I'm so thrilled that we're finally doing that in my own district. North Carolina is the ninth fastest growing state in the nation. Durham County is the fourth largest growing county in the state. So this project will support that rapid growth as well as transit. I will always be a transit advocate, good luck having good transit access if there's traffic if you don't have good roads that have potholes, so very good highway facilities also support robust transit as well as rapid transit Interstates are a major component of our overall transportation network and allow us to move not only people but goods and products across the state and nation providing not only transportation but the goods and services that we need to support our booming economy so that the economy can throb the eastern connector and the creation of 85. I'll have to get used to saying that will promote economic development locally and regionally and regionally by improving access and travel time to major employment centers, health care centers and the R. D. U. Airport. It truly takes partnership at the federal, state and local levels to bring a project like this through the planning design and finally the construction again, I have to thank all of the partners that played a role in getting us here today because you do not get to do this a lot. Another thing about transportation work is sometimes you plan projects that never, ever see the light of day, you never actually see to get them come to this point. So for us to be here, um, it's something that we really, really, really get to take in. We are really, really lucky that today we're able to see this project come to life and cut this ribbon. So thank you all again and let's let's cut that ribbon. Thank you Senator murdock. We have come to the end of the program. So on behalf of the north Carolina Department of Transportation, I would like to thank everyone for joining us today. If our speakers can please join me for the ribbon cutting, Let's cut that ribbon. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. Mhm. Okay. Right. What? Okay. Yeah. Mhm. Big smiles. 1, 2 3 connector. From where? Three? Two, one. Yeah, I have some background. I don't see all sides of this game.</p>

Maggie Brown

Vinnie Boccanfuso

Monica Casey

NC DOT officials open Durham's East End Connector

WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

Hi, everyone. Happy Thursday, meteorologist, Anthony Bag Leone here in the WRL SE Weather center, we are on track to see a really nice day if you like temperatures close to normal sunshine. No rainfall expected for us today. Although we could use a little bit more. It is a little bit dry. Our latest drought monitor is showing that across most of the viewing area. We go to 74 though this afternoon, it'll come with a lot of sunshine, maybe some clouds floating on by. But other than that really no big problems for you today. A pretty normal stretch for this the next couple of days or normal 75 below that tomorrow. But close enough, we get to 81 on Sunday, 86 on Monday and then that continues into next week. That will be our weather story next week is definitely some warmer weather and pretty calm with minimal rain chances. Tuesday is really the only chance I have at this point. We of course, have the Durham Bulls though playing at home Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Even into Sunday, we have Dollar dog night bark at the park tonight. I think it's gonna be probably pretty packed temperatures at 71 upper sixties tomorrow. 72 on Saturday, zero rain chances for any of those games. So it's gonna be a really, I think probably busy time at the DB A here into the weekend. 68 for Brugal. Also happening tomorrow as you're headed out there 67 at seven o'clock, sixties for the majority of that forecast looks like, probably partly to mostly cloudy skies. Saturday. Very similar. Just a couple degrees warmer at 74 at four o'clock and then still 78 at eight o'clock in the evening, we head over the next seven. You see temperatures really not moving too much. The next couple of days we get to Monday. That's when we start to climb 8688 on Tuesday and Tuesday during the afternoon into Tuesday evening. That's when we could see a few areas of rain. It doesn't look like a big system right now. But when we have no other chances in the forecast, that's at least the only one that we are watching right now and still warm there into Wednesday at 87.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Gayle Hurd. Welcome to tonight's drawings for Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a seven. Our second number is six and the third number tonight is a nine and our pick three. Fireball number is six. Joining me for tonight's show is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first winning pick four number, it's zero. Our second number is a nine. Third number tonight is three and our fourth number is one in our pick for fireball number. There it is. It's three. Again, we're turning now to the Carolina cash five and no one was the top prize tonight. Tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $620,000. Good luck. Everyone here's their first win in cash five number. It's a 29. Our second number, it's 37 3rd number tonight. It's 34. Our fourth number is lucky 13 and the final number in our cash five this evening is 12. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Get your winning numbers right here every night on your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Ball. Good evening, Ruan, I Randy trainer. Tonight. We have another life changing jackpot. It's worth an estimated $130.2 million. So, get your tickets ready here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 26. Right after that America. We have the number two and congratulations to Gina Magnum from North Carolina. She won $50,000 playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning numbers tonight 20 47. And let's round it out tonight with the number 22 and tonight 20 powerball number, that's gonna be 21 and your power play multiplayer is four. Let's take another look at tonight's winning numbers. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

Powerball Drawing

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Good afternoon. I'm Luis Fernandez. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings for Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three number is two, second is eight and the third is eight and our pick three fireball number is five. Join me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for mcconnell LP. Now let's move to Carolina pick four. The first pick four, number is five. The second is one, the third is three and the fourth is zero and our pick four. Fireball number is five. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education and thanks for your support.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Brian Shrader flies over the site of a plane crash at Raleigh-Durham International Airport approximately three hours after the accident.

Seen some activity just in the past 10 minutes or so. I want to take you outside Sky five right now for a live look at the scene. We saw a van being escorted to the runway there and someone got out and now there appears to be a really careful inspection of the debris going on. So we're working to confirm if that may be the NTSB investigation team arriving at the scene. Let's zoom out and give you some about where this is. There are two main runways at RDU International and this is in the grassy field next to the runway that mostly serves terminal one on the east side of the airport, that runway remains closed while this investigation continues at the top of your screen. That is the other main runway that serves terminal two, mostly that runway is open. So we have two things going on here that could affect your flights for the rest of the day and maybe even into tomorrow, the airport takeoff and landing capacity is roughly reduced by half because they are only working with one runway. And if you have a flight coming out of terminal one, maybe Southwest, you're going to have to take that crossover all the way out to that other runway. It's going to add a lot of extra time.

Sky 5 flies over RDU plane crash 3 hours later 

A UNC Health physician and pilot were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a small plane crashed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).


Sky 5 flies over plane crash at RDU

RDU Airport Authority gives an update on a plane crash that sent a physician and pilot to the hospital. The crash occurred Wednesday morning on a flight that took off from Wilmington.

<p>Landguth first, I want to extend my thoughts to those affected by this morning's aircraft accident and thank our first responders for their quick action to respond. The airport authority and its mutual aid partners responded to an aircraft accident at RDU involving a general aviation aircraft. The accident occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. in the grass next to runway five, right 23 left. The flight was arriving from Wilmington, North Carolina. The A the aircraft is owned by medical Air Inc and operated by UN C air operations. The aircraft had two people on board, one pilot and one passenger. Both were transported to area hospitals. The federal A Bush administration issued a ground stop that was lifted at approximately 1130 this morning. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have both been notified. The National Transportation Safety Board is en route and expected to arrive within the next hour at which time we will conduct an accident investigation. Rdu's runway five left 23 right reopened to departing and arriving aircraft around 11:30 a.m. this morning. Are you experiencing approximately 70 delays and several arriving flights were diverted to other airports? Until ground stock was lifted, travelers should contact their airline for the latest updates regarding the flight status. And of course questions about the identity and condition of the pilot and passenger should be directed to UN C health. And at this time I'll try to answer any questions. You may have, uh, the one, any other accidents in, in the past. I'm not familiar with any other accidents have occurred with that operation. I don't know, uh, that's the role of the National Transportation Safety Board. They'll actually come in and do the investigation. Uh, and at some point in the future, they write up a report and determine what the cause of the accident was. You know, that there was no notification to the airport authority or to the FAA uh about any type of emergency on board. Do we have a guy? We don't, all we know that we've got them out of the airplane and we've got them transported to local hospitals. We know situations like this and delays have a ripple effect on, you know, flights. Do you have any idea what type of impact we'll see here in our view and for not sure, but what we're going to encourage everybody to do is reach out to your airlines. We'll be able to give you real time information about the impact of your particular flight. Ok. I believe some of them went to Greensboro and I think a couple went to Charlotte as well. What, what to be impacted due to the NTSD. Say that one more time at this point in time, what we call the west side of our airport is now open the investigation they'll conduct will all be on the east side. So at this point, we are anticipating normal operations returning to normal operations from this point forward. I don't think that anything that they're doing regarding the investigation or where they would have to investigate would have any impact to the west side of the airport. No, the aircraft is still on the airfield itself. It's on the east side of the field. So terminal one that runways the east side of the field, that's where the debris field actually sits, the west side of the field is open and operational and safe to operate. Not that I'm aware of in operations for you throughout this event today. What was your main concern concerning the passengers that were in the internals? Right. I think our primary focus when, when that accident occurred were the two people sitting in that aircraft? Our primary mission is to make sure we can get to them and try to rescue them and try to make sure that we can get them in a safe condition as fast as we possibly can. Uh secondarily is trying to figure out then how we recover and get our operations back up and running. Mhm. How does that affect? What goes on term? Yeah, so great. Question. So the team has figured out a way to get all the aircraft they're gonna operate at terminal one. Your Southwest develops. Uh We've got a crossover taxi way that we can actually get them through our general aviation aircraft. We've got a crossover taxiway, we can get them to. But the rest of the uh accident scene is actually kind of isolated and closed and locked off. Yeah, you're terminal one at this point in time. Once they can get back on their schedule, it's going to be a normal operations. All right. Thank you guys. All right. Thank you. Grab your phone, right.</p>

NC DOT officials open Durham's East End Connector

More On This

NC DOT officials open Durham's East End Connector

Related Topics

More Videos

WRAL Late News

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Powerball Drawing

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Sky 5 flies over RDU plane crash 3 hours later

Sky 5 flies over plane crash at RDU

News conference: RDU plane crash sent 2 to hospital