Answer Man: 'No Parking' signs on I-26? Confusing speed limits?

John Boyle | The Citizen-Times

Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:

Question: I regularly make the morning commute from south of Hendersonville north to Asheville. I have a few questions about the N.C. DOT's thought process on the construction signage for the new lane construction. If you're headed north (technically I-26 W), you start to hit 55 mph construction zone signs pretty early — as in, over 10 miles before you even see any construction. Are we doomed to 55 mph in areas that don't actually have any construction activity for the next four years? Also, N.C. DOT has been sloppy in their signage. If you make that commute, you will see the speed limit drop to 55, go up to 60, drop back to 55, return to 60 for a brief second, before finally settling at 55 for the rest of the way to Dysfunction Junction. They never covered up those two 60 mph signs. Will the DOT be taking care of that? On a related note, N.C. DOT has installed many "No Parking" signs all along the I-26 construction corridor — another baffling decision on their part, since I've never seen anyone park on the side of I-26 before and can't imagine someone wanting to pull over and take in the construction scenery now. Did someone at N.C. DOT accidentally order 50 of those signs and think, "Well, we have to put them somewhere, so we might as well put them on an interstate?"

My answer: Well, it does fit in with their motto: "NCDOT — Baffling decisions since 1915."

Real answer: To be fair, N.C. DOT announced Nov. 15 it has made changes on the work zone speed limits along the I-26 corridor, which will be widened all the way from the Brevard Road interchange in Buncombe County down to Four Seasons Boulevard (U.S. 64 in Henderson), an 18-mile stretch. Construction is slated to last through April 2024.

Some work has already begun, including placement of jersey barriers in places, some tree and brush clearing by the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge and a lot of sign placements.

In the press release, the DOT announced it "has reduced the speed limit in work zone areas of Interstate 26 between I-40 in Buncombe County and U.S. 64 in Henderson County." There is a method to what the reader sees as madness.

"The speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph in areas where lanes have been narrowed, bridge work is taking place or the contractor is performing other work," the release stated. "The speed limit will remain at 60 mph where no work is taking place and lanes have not been narrowed."

The idea with the reductions is to "raise awareness of those traveling through the work zone,” according to the DOT's Division 13 Assistant Construction Engineer Nathan Moneyham.

More: Boyle column: With I-26 widening hell imminent, some tips for survival

"It is critical for drivers to slow down and be alert, especially when there are construction activities and backups," he said.

Here are the speed limits on I -26:

• I-26 East from I-240/I-40/I-26 interchange to Exit 37, Long Shoals Road, will be 55 mph.

• I-26 East from Exit 37, Long Shoals Road, to the Henderson County line will remain at 60 mph.

• I-26 East from the Henderson County Line to Exit 49, Four Seasons Boulevard, will be posted at 55 mph.

• I-26 West from the Exit 49, Four Seasons Boulevard, to the Henderson County line will be 55 mph.

• I-26 West from the Henderson County line to a half mile before Exit 33, Brevard Road, will remain 60 mph.

• I-26 West through the current Brevard Road interchange project to I-240/I-40/I-26 interchange will remain 55 mph.

More: Answer Man: Sweeten Creek Road widening delayed? Basilica work?

Speeding in work zones is a really bad idea, folks. The release offered this sobering statistic: "In the six years from 2012-2018, more than 35,600 crashes and 173 deaths occurred in work zones in North Carolina. Last year alone, there were more than 7,300 work zone crashes, and 32 people died."

Also, in 2018, "Buncombe County had 145 work zone crashes, which ranked ninth in the state; and Henderson County had 30 work zone crashes, ranking 29th."

Now, about those huge "No Parking" signs. Anna Henderson, the N.C. DOT's Division 13 traffic engineer, explained.

"Under routine conditions, and by North Carolina General Statute, once an abandoned vehicle has been tagged, it is allowed to remain in place for a minimum of 24 hours before it can be towed," Henderson said. "Since abandoned vehicles along the shoulder of I-26 can create an additional hazard for construction workers and drivers, an ordinance has been written that will allow N.C. DOT to immediately tow a vehicle from the shoulder."

Henderson noted that the ordinance for I-26 applies to the active construction project limits. It states, “Any vehicles parked, left standing or disabled, whether attended or unattended on the right of way within the limits described, shall be subject to being towed without advance notice as determined by NCDOT to a site designated by NCDOT and the project towing contractor.”

The new signs are hard to miss, and that's intentional.

"The new 'No Parking' signs have been installed along the corridor, in conjunction with the ordinance, to notify motorists that leaving a vehicle on the shoulder is not allowed and can be towed immediately," Henderson said. "We believe this action will help increase the mobility and safety of the corridor during construction."

This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com