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New road opens – with bit of a twist By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer Motorists traveling along the new Gate City Boulevard over I-73 may have been surprised when the road opened this past weekend. Rather than flowing across the overpass in a normal fashion, traffic follow a diverging diamond interchange pattern (DDI). The 1.25-mile road begins just past Adams Farm Shopping Center and runs to near Hilltop/Groometown roads in Greensboro, at the site of the former driving range. The intersection – exit 100 – on I-73 is about halfway between I-85 and the next intersection at Wendover Avenue. It is part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s $40.1 million High Point Road widening project. The “Jamestown Bypass” from Vickrey Chapel to I-74 in High Point is the final phase. “The diverging diamond interchange is unique because it allows traffic moving in two directions to temporarily cross to the left side of the road, moving a high volume of traf-
fic through the intersection without increasing the number of lanes and traffic signals,” said Miracle King, NCDOT communications officer. “This innovative design will allow motorists to easily access I-73 from High Point Road (Gate City Boulevard) and will prevent the congestion and crashes that can occur when vehicles back up on interstate ramps.” “If you follow the signs and road markings, it’s fairly simple,” said Paul Ingram, resident engineer for NCDOT. “It’s something to get used to. “This should provide tremendous access for this area. It will cut travel time down for a lot of people in this area.” Over the I-73 bridge, traffic will actually be reversed, with vehicles passing each other on the right, as in Great Britain, rather than on the left as is usually the case in the United States. The first diverging diamond interchange in the United States opened in Springfield, Mo., in 2009. Currently, there are over 100 diverging diamond interchanges either opera-
This view of the diverging diamond interchange at I-40 and Union Cross Road in Forsyth County – which opened in September – indicates the unique traffic pattern.
(Bottom photos/Carol Brooks)
(Left) Motorists now have access to Gate City Boulevard and I-73 with the new interchange. The old High Point Road bridge is in the background. (Right) Motorists to Jamestown, High Point and Greensboro now have access to Gate City Boulevard from I-73. tional, under construction or in the planning stage. There are also several internationally: one in Canada, three in France (for over 20 years) and one in the United Arab Emirates. King said there are 17 diverging diamond interchanges in North Carolina under several stages. The diverging diamond design is the brainchild of
Gilbert Chiewicki, then a student of the University of Maryland. For a graduate term paper, he modified the style of the I-95/I-695 interchange in Baltimore. Chiewicki’s design caught the eye of the Federal Highway Administration and state departments of transportation. Benefits of the DDI include:
• Fewer conflict points; • Conflict points spread out throughout interchange; • Better sight distance at turns; • Virtually no driver confusion; • Traffic calming features when desired; • “Free” or simple left and right turns from all directions decreasing congestion; and
• Wrong way entry to ramps extremely difficult. “The cost of the DDI can be less than most standard diamond or clover interchanges due to the right of way reduction and associated costs and construction costs can be reduced due to time to construct can be less,” said NCDOT’s Patty Eason. “Normally it is used See TWIST, page A6
Gaming terminals may still be in state’s future By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer There was quite a bit of controversy over video gaming terminals and sweepstakes several years ago. “Sweepstakes” businesses sprung up everywhere, seemingly overnight, offering payouts to winners. In February 2015, the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office authorized law enforcement agencies to enforce a state law “which bans the operation of electronic machines that conduct sweepstakes through the use of an ‘entertaining display’.” (N.C.G.S. 14-306.4(b) However, on March 10 of this year, North Carolina Lottery Executive Director Alice Garland met with the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the North Carolina State Lottery to
request some changes on how the lottery was run. One change would include advertising spending to generate more revenue. More importantly, the second change would be to add video lottery terminals, Internet lottery and keno games to bring in more revenue. The terminals – like poker and sweepstakes – are currently illegal in North Carolina due to their addictive nature. Keno and iLottery are allowed. If approved, these gaming machines could be placed in convenience stores, bars, restaurants and similar establishments across the state no earlier than 2017.
“It’s really helpful to look to other states because if they succeeded in other states, they’ll probably do well in North Carolina,” Garland said. “We think there are some opportunities for us in some of the things presented today.” In April, the Oversight Committee addressed the joint General Assembly in Raleigh. Its findings indicate “the primary purpose of the North Carolina Education Lottery is to generate additional funds to support education programs.” The Committee recommended the spending of up to 2 percent of annual revenues for advertising, up from 1 percent, thereby raising
additional funds for education. However, the Committee did not recommend operating or participating in “any lottery game utilizing a slot machine or a video lottery terminal.” Not every legislator is a fan of the lottery. Rep. Paul Stam is a large opponent and is not in favor of the new games. “What that proposal would do is essentially legalize what 100 sheriffs ask us to outlaw,” said Stam in March. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Nelson Dollar, are also against the video lottery terminals. “What is the difference
between the state doing video poker and the private sector doing video poker?” asked Dollar in March. The 2015 ruling against sweepstakes machines (video poker) was for privatelyowned machines. Garland replied that the state-run game would be more closely regulated. Although the N.C. General Assembly had the option to legalize video lottery terminals, it is not scheduled for discussion during the current session. Legislators have drafted a bill, however, for possible future introduction, stating that a video lottery terminal is not allowed under
statute. The bill would also increase the percentage of revenue used for advertising. The N.C. State Lottery began selling tickets in March 2006 and generates around $2 billion in sales a year, with a quarter of that going to education. Approximately 62 percent of the revenue is payout for prizes. Through the end of the 2015 fiscal year, the lottery has brought in $13.4 billion in sales, with $3.9 billion going to education and the state.
Carol Brooks can be reached at 336-841-4933 or jamestownnews@north state.net.
Preservation award to be given May 22 By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer The winner has been decided. All that’s left is the presentation of the third Mary A. Browning Historic Preservation Award. In recognition of May as Historic Preservation Month, the Historic Jamestown Society is inviting the public to attend the Browning Award presentation on Sunday, May 22, at 3 p.m. Appropriately, the program will be held
in the historic Quaker Meeting House in City Lake Park, 602 W. Main St., with a reception to follow across the street at the Richard Mendenhall Homeplace. Last year’s recipients were Florence White Allen and the Jamestown Veterans Committee. The award recognizes contributions directly related to the preservation, interpretation or research of Jamestown history. The award honors well-known local historian and genealogist Mary Browning. She has used
census records and the National Archives as well as research in the Friends Historical Collection at Guilford College, local libraries and newspaper archives to compile her ever-expanding notes on the area. Browning has almost singlehandedly undertaken the responsibility of documenting the town’s history in five books, multiple newspaper articles and a video. As a professional genealogist, she also uses her knowledge to help families research their roots.
Along with the award presentation, Browning will speak briefly about the effort to obtain designation of the Mendenhall store and meeting house as historic sites. Mendenhall Homeplace Director Shawn Rogers will follow with a brief explanation of landmark properties and their importance.
Carol Brooks can be reached at 336-841-4933 or jamestown news@northstate.net.