I-87 brings the Triangle and northeastern NC together
- January 14, 2021
- Posted by: Joe Milazzo II
- Category: Blog
This week, the NC East Alliance economic development organization — the counterpart to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership in our area — held an I-87 working group meeting online.
Nearly 200 people attended the event, which spoke of current work and future opportunities to advance the corridor between Raleigh and Norfolk, Va. via Elizabeth City.
I provided opening remarks, speaking of the history of RTA’s engagement with I-87, which has become our first north-south primary Interstate in Wake County, and our future Interstate linkage to I-95 north.
RTA has supported this corridor for more than 15 years, and we seen tangible improvements — from former Governor McCrory’s announcement of the initial Interstate designation at our annual meeting in 2013, to Congressional approval of the entire two-state corridor in 2015, to the receipt of the I-87 designation in 2016 and subsequent posting along the US 64 corridor itself.
How do you complete a 200 mile upgrade to Interstate? The same way you eat an elephant: one bite at a time.
If we work together — and thanks to partners including NCDOT, the NC East Alliance, the Highway 17/64 Association, and many others including our federal and state delegations — Interstate 87 can be a gift that we give to our children, rather than just to our grandchildren.
You can find more information via the following links:
- NCDOT I-87 corridor update slides: https://files.constantcontact.com/daf3e5f7501/299480b0-7f24-445c-8bd6-143c46fd1607.pdf
- Project list by Division: https://files.constantcontact.com/daf3e5f7501/df810aba-bcb1-4e3e-8291-6074674473df.pdf
- Map of I-87 projects: https://files.constantcontact.com/daf3e5f7501/1a7f62b7-b183-4e30-af2e-43970e30ff36.pdf
Let’s get moving,
Joe
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director
RTA is the voice of the regional business community on transportation
