Travel Archives | Randolph News Now

Dec212023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

Construction Suspended for Holiday Travel

Photo by: suwichan / Adobe Stock RALEIGH N.C. (NCDOT) –The N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most construction activity on major highways to make travel easier during the upcoming holiday season. Most work along interstates, U.S. and key state routes will be suspended starting Friday morning and will resume Jan. 2, 2024. Exceptions include bridges being replaced, long term lane construction that cannot be temporarily removed and highway work that does not impact travel. One such spot is Interstate 40 in Haywood County, where lane closures will stay in place for safety reasons. Before you hit the road, be sure to visit DriveNC.gov for the most up-to-date information.AAA forecasts 3.5 million North Carolinians will travel by automobile this holiday season. These saf...

Jan192023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

How Safe Are Bridges in Randolph County?

Investigative

US Hwy 64/49 bridge over US I-73/74 in Asheboro, NC [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - We drive over them every day without a second thought, but last year one reader contacted us to ask just how safe are bridges in Randolph County? Randolph County is the 11th largest county in North Carolina, containing interstates, country roads, forests, lakes, rivers, and creeks. Zigzagging across the county’s 790 square miles are 266 bridges, all maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT). NC DOT is responsible for inspecting and taking care of about 18,000 bridge structures state-wide, including 13,500 bridges and 4,500 culverts and pipes that are twenty feet or longer, which means they fit the federal definition of a bridge. About 9,000...

Dec232022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Strong Bitterly Cold Winds Knocking Down Trees, Causing Power Outages

Breaking News

WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM EST SATURDAY A worker with NC DOT places cones out on Central Falls Rd near Old Liberty Rd due to power lines in the roadway from a fallen tree (Scott Pelkey / Acme News) ASHEBORO N.C. - Wind gusts of near 30 mph this morning are downing trees and have dropped the wind chill value to the mid-teens just as power outages start to stack up, and its probably going to get worse as the day goes on. Forecasters are expecting frequent wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph through this evening with a surge of gusts of 40 to 50 mph and isolated gusts of around 55 mph, between 6 AM and 10 AM. These strong winds combined with the bitter arctic air are posing a threat of any remaining moisture refreezing. "As temperatures rapidly p...

Jul12022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

DOT Announces ‘Operation Firecracker’ Ahead of Holiday Travel

Traffic & Roads

Car and trucks in Traffic jam on highway in rush hour (bignai/Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO N.C. - Today marks the start of one of the busiest holiday travel seasons of the year. AAA says they predict around 47.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend from June 30th to July 4th. That number is up 3.7% over 2021, bringing the number of travelers just shy of the numbers in 2019, prior to most COVID-19 Stay at Home orders. In preparation for the increase in holiday travel, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program has started its annual Fourth of July Booze It & Lose It campaign, this year known as 'Operation Firecracker'. Troopers with the State Highway Patrol will have an increased its presence across North Carolina to stop or discourage unsaf...

Feb92022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC By Train Offering Buy 1, Get 1 Free Ticket Valentine’s Day Special

Traffic & Roads

Stock Photo (encierro/Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO N.C. – This Valentine’s Day the NCDOT says to skip the roses and instead take a trip together with a special deal offering Buy 1, Get 1 free tickets for travel on NC By Train. According to a press release by the NCDOT the sale is running Feb. 9th through the 16th. Tickets purchased as part of the sale are valid for travel anytime from March 1st to Aug. 31st, so you don't have to take that trip right now to take advantage of the deal. Fares are one way (adult) with no additional discounts. NC By Train’s Piedmont and Carolinian trains stop at seven stations between Charlotte and Raleigh, and provide service to Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York. For schedules and more information visit ncbytrain.org or call 1-800-BY-TRAIN.

Jan292022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

Hazardous Travel Conditions Expected Tonight

Traffic & Roads

ASHEBORO N.C. - The National Weather Service and the Department of Transportation are urging drivers of hazardous traveling conditions expected tonight. Road crews were out early this morning working to clear roads of snow and ice and combined with the bright sun today road conditions have dramatically improved. "Most crews were close to completing road clearing efforts Saturday and planned to head home to rest before returning tonight to work on trouble spots where roads could refreeze." said the NC DOT in a press release today. "Transportation officials and the National Weather Service warn that dangerous travel could continue into Sunday morning, as temperatures in the teens and 20s overnight coupled with heavy winds could keep ice on some road surfaces". In a special Weather Statem...

Jan172022 by Acme News WireNo Comments

Live Storm Updates – Randolph County

Weather

At around 1pm DOT crews were working to clear snow from the 73./74 interchange at Sunset Ave, but DOT is still reporting all interstates, highways, and roads in Randolph as "Covered With Snow/Ice". SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Black ice expected from late this evening through Tuesday morning Temperatures will quickly fall below freezing after sunset this evening. Lingering wet roads due to snow melt will result in black ice as the liquid re-freezes. Black ice is difficult to see. Use caution while traveling. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK Frequent gusts between 30 to 40 mph can be expected today. Any trees or tree limbs weakened by ice could fall, resulting in additional scattered power outages. Unsecured objects may be blown around by these winds. JAN 16TH 2022 - 11:30 A.M. ...

Dec172021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

SHP Urges Travelers To Use Caution And Drive Sober While Traveling This Christmas

Traffic & Roads

GREENSBORO N.C, (NCSHP) - The State Highway Patrol is preparing for increased traffic across our State during the Christmas Holiday period. Accordingly, members of the State Highway Patrol will increase visibility on highly traveled corridors to promote safe driving habits and assist stranded motorists. The Patrol will proactively target dangerous driving behaviors to include speeding, aggressive driving and impaired driving. Additionally, members will increase patrols in and around our rest areas. The Highway Patrol is also once again partnering with the North Carolina Governors Highway Safety Program for the 2021 Christmas and New Year’s “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. Recognized as one of the nation's most effective anti-drunk-driving campaigns, “Booze It & Lose It” has cre...

Nov222021 by Sky EmersonNo Comments

SHP Plans Stepped Up Enforcement As Holiday Drivers Take To Road

Traffic & Roads

Car seat belt fastening close-up. Driving safely. (eshana_blue / Adobe Stock) ASHEBORO N.C. - As people prepare to travel for the holiday, the N.C. State Highway Patrol (SHP) is preparing for the increased number of drivers expected across the state. With the vaccine and lifting of COVID-19 restrictions travel this year is expected to be up. The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that more than 48 million people will travel by road across the U.S. in the coming days and weeks. Photo provided by NC SHP According to a press release by the NC SHP during the coming weeks its Troopers will be proactively targeting dangerous driver behaviors including speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving as well as increasing their visibility on highly traveled corridors to ...