The North Carolina Department of Transportation awarded a $337 million contract to The Lane Construction Corporation for its long discussed Interstate 85 expansion project.

This is the first of three projects expected to, “add capacity and other improvements along the interstate,” according to a press release.

This phase will target congestion along four miles of I-85 between exit 23 in Mount Holly and exit 27 in Belmont.

Work includes

One lane to be added in each direction, widening the interstate from six to eight lanes with a 26-foot median.

The intersection of N.C. 7, U.S. 29 and U.S. 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) will be altered to a “modified reduced conflict intersection.”

Interchange modifications like new bridges at exits 23 and 27

About 4,000 linear feet of railroad will be rebuilt for Piedmont and Northern Railway

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According to a press release, the following bridges will either be replaced or rehabilitated during construction:

N.C. 7 over I-85

I-85 over South Fork Catawba River

Hickory Grove Road over I-85

Belmont-Mt. Holly Road/Main Street over I-85

P&R Railway over I-85, east of Belmont-Mt. Holly Road

N.C. 273 over I-85

Lane Construction

The Lane Construction Corporation, a business with corporate headquarters in Charlotte, has been in business for more than 100 years and completed several multi-million-dollar transit projects around the United States, according to its website.

Other North Carolina projects the company is currently working on include the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension and the “Complete 540” initiative, which includes building an extension of NC-540, Triangle Expressway on a new alignment through Wake and Johnston counties.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCDOT awards $337 million contract for I-85 widening

A Jeju Air flight crash in South Korea killed 179, raising concerns over pilot blame, investigation fairness, and airport safety measures.

www.jalopnik.com

Commercial aviation faced a tragic incident on December 22, 2025, when Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, resulting in 179 fatalities. The disaster, which has raised numerous questions about aviation safety, stemmed from a bird strike that led to a series of critical failures during landing.

6 Key Takeaways Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed in December.

Bird strike triggered emergency landing procedures.

Pilots’ union claims unfair blame on crew.

Muan Airport’s design contributed to crash.

Bird mitigation measures were insufficient.

Multiple factors must be considered in investigation.

As investigations unfold, the South Korean Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAID) has faced criticism from the Jeju Air pilots’ union. They argue that the blame is being unfairly placed on the flight crew, despite evidence suggesting multiple contributing factors to the crash. The final report is still pending, but the implications for aviation safety are significant.

Fast Answer: The Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash highlights critical safety concerns in aviation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive investigations to prevent future tragedies.

Why is it essential to consider all factors in aviation accidents? The Jeju Air incident illustrates that pilot error is often not the sole cause of crashes. Key points include:

Bird strikes are a known risk, yet mitigation measures were inadequate.

The airport’s unusual earthen barrier may have exacerbated the crash.

Investigators must address all contributing factors to enhance safety protocols.

This incident raises urgent questions about aviation safety regulations worldwide, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to protect passengers.

As we await the final report, it is crucial for aviation authorities globally to learn from this tragedy and implement necessary changes to prevent future incidents.

There are still many questions surrounding the crash, with the final report yet to be released. According to Reuters, Jeju Air pilots’ union claims that ARAID is preparing the ground to place the blame on the flight crew. Eyewitnesses on the ground saw flames and sparks trailing from the right engine after the bird strike, but the pilots shut off the left engine. Despite duck remains being found in both engines, investigators have suggested that nothing was wrong with the left engine. Additionally, there has been no evidence provided that the landing could have been safely completed with a single engine.

The pilots’ union and the victims’ families believe that investigators are ignoring the other circumstances around the crash, especially the airport itself. First, the aircraft would have safely slid to a halt if Muan International Airport didn’t have its unusual earthen barrier at the end of the runway. Officials claimed it was to protect facility instruments, but most major airports leave them exposed to allow ample open space for overrunning aircraft. Second, the local bird population was a known danger at Muan. There are three bird habitats around the airport. Korean regulations required that four airport employees must be tasked with driving birds away from the runway. However, only one person was on duty the day of the crash, the Korea Herald reported. Also, the deployment of recommended bird mitigation technology, like sound cannons, was delayed due to renovations to lengthen the runway.

It would be absurd to declare the crash as solely pilot error when there were multiple contributing factors. Failing to identify those factors in either the press release or the final report could lead to those issues not being addressed and potentially contributing to a future fatal crash.

A head-on collision killed a teenager and closed part of State Route 40 in Washington County on Tuesday morning.

Washington County 911 officials say a portion of Route 40 in North Bethlehem Township was closed due to the crash.

Officials with the Washington County coroner’s office say the incident occurred around 5:11 a.m., when a vehicle traveling east on E. National Pike (Route 40) crashed into another vehicle heading west. Both vehicles caught fire.

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Dispatchers confirm one person died in the crash, and another was flown to a hospital. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco identified the person killed as Chayse Allen, 18, of South Strabane Township. Allen was the driver eastbound vehicle.

It’s unknown whether Allen was wearing a seatbelt, officials say. The crash remains under investigation.

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UPDATE 9:50 a.m.: The left lane is back open and the traffic is no longer delayed.

Original story:

A crash on I-95 North is causing significant delays Tuesday morning between Baymeadows Road and Bowden Road.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<the

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash is blocking the left lane and left shoulder. Both FHP and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue crews responded to the scene.

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No fatalities have been reported at this time.

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