Traffic Congestion and Highway Construction

[SgtCampsalot]

55 minutes ago, Nick2 said:

People in Charlotte definitely think traffic is insanely bad regardless of what people try to say about its stats not being all that bad or how it stacks up to its peers.

Traffic bad? Housing construction moratorium!

*Except for when they build the new house that I want to buy*

But the moment I move into that house: No more building! Anywhere!

I am very intelligent.

[tozmervo]

So there's a dedicated page for the 485-74 express lanes projects: https://publicinput.com/I-485-Charlotte

The thing that jumped out at me was a completely baffling proposal on Hwy 74 north of Albemarle: they want to do a single, reversible express lane. What could possibly be the logic there? There's already a lane in each direction, why would they reduce it to one lane?

[CLTranspo]

7 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

There's already a lane in each direction, why would they reduce it to one lane?

I believe it’s because that section works fine for buses to have two lanes in each direction (they can control the  bus speeds), but it does not have median separation which would be required to have regular commuters going 60+ mph in each direction. And adding in that median plus any access points/merging areas would require more right of way. 

[tozmervo]

48 minutes ago, CLTranspo said:

I believe it’s because that section works fine for buses to have two lanes in each direction (they can control the  bus speeds), but it does not have median separation which would be required to have regular commuters going 60+ mph in each direction. And adding in that median plus any access points/merging areas would require more right of way. 

Is there not enough ROW for them to even add in a concrete barrier wall? If 2-way traffic is not feasible, I wonder why they wouldn't make it two lanes in the same direction. 

[CLTranspo]

They’re going to be required to have some shoulder width as well on either side of the barrier. But you’re right, the two lanes in each direction would’ve been a good idea! Allow express lane traffic to pass any less-than-express drivers

[Nathan2]

I wish they would downgrade independence to a boulevard to help weave back all of the neighborhoods that border it. Especially since there will hopefully be the silver line running down the corridor.  

[Third Strike]

1 hour ago, tozmervo said:

Is there not enough ROW for them to even add in a concrete barrier wall? If 2-way traffic is not feasible, I wonder why they wouldn't make it two lanes in the same direction. 

There are plans to upgrade to two dedicated HOT lanes sometime during the 2020s. It was submitted in the last STIP. 

[southslider]

3 hours ago, Nathan2 said:

I wish they would downgrade independence to a boulevard to help weave back all of the neighborhoods that border it. Especially since there will hopefully be the silver line running down the corridor.  

There wouldn't be any breakdown area or shoulder, if it were two lanes in the same direction.

[ertley]

Random Trivia: Before Independence was created, the street it replaced was Westmoreland (street or avenue). 

I actually am fine with gradually inching Independence towards being a controlled-access highway. Even if most progressive locales have moratoriums on building new expressways, for a city of its size, the east side is a gargantuan area to not have an expressway or any sort. I think it's now so many degrees removed from its origins as a boulevard that it would be even more disruptive to try and re-create it--and I do think utilizing its margins for the Silver Line is going to be a wonderful thing. 

What I wish the city would do is dedicate funds to build more bridges to cross Independence, and reunite some of the neighborhoods. I first nominate re-connecting Bascom from Chantilly to at least McClintock; but I also think Veterans' Park could be redesigned and Bascom could continue as its western border and go all the way through to Central--understanding, of course, that equally as important as car travel lanes would be good sidewalks and bike lanes wherever practicable. 

[southslider]

^Roughly two thirds of Charlotte lives between 85 in the University area and 77 in Westinghouse area, or just another reason why Independence is Charlotte's "missing freeway."

[Ctaylor16]

Traffic was light last evening  but for fun decided to test out the new toll lanes 77 southbound all the way. In the single lane section you can have 1 slow driver in front and that's that. Very nice where it is 2 lanes. 

[XRZ.ME]

I77 south of uptown get some new paving.

Looks and feels good.

[KJHburg]

some facts on my favorite tollway in the state the Monroe Bypass.  From a special advertising section in the Business Journal.  and remember I dont really like toll roads but this one is time saver and time is money. 

1.  since opening Nov. 2018 the tollway has logged 10 MILLION transactions and remember the entire route is 6-7 toll segments

2. Cuts 20 minutes from Marshville to Stallings avoiding 27 intersections!

3. one trucking company exclusively uses the tollway now savings money even after paying the tolls from congestion and driver time

18 miles from end to end.  I think it cut 30 minutes for my trips to Wilmington. 

[Nolan]

On 6/14/2019 at 8:58 AM, tozmervo said:

So there's a dedicated page for the 485-74 express lanes projects: https://publicinput.com/I-485-Charlotte

The thing that jumped out at me was a completely baffling proposal on Hwy 74 north of Albemarle: they want to do a single, reversible express lane. What could possibly be the logic there? There's already a lane in each direction, why would they reduce it to one lane?

 

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article207891454.html I believe it's a temporary solution, the city requested money for another widening of the already widened Independence from 277 to Albermarle in the STIP.  The current ROW isn't wide enough for 2 express lanes with buffers and shoulders.

• Independence Boulevard: $76.8 million to build a new toll lane in the median of Independence Boulevard from I-277 to Albemarle Road.

[drumsy]

I-85 resurfacing project in Rowan to start as soon as July - Salisbury Post | Salisbury Post
https://www.salisburypost.com/2019/06/19/i-85-resurfacing-project-in-rowan-to-start-as-soon-as-july/

 

Uncle already!  Why would it take two years to resurface I-85 in Rowan County?

[Eightane]

Not only that, but can we just have ONE year already where there's no major narrowing between Charlotte and the Triad/Triangle? As someone who has to travel to Richmond several times a year by road (visiting in-laws) I've waited so long just to not have to be held up before I even get to Greensboro. I really don't think 85 in northern Rowan is in such bad shape that they couldn't give us a one-annum grace period.

Even 321's planned widening from Hickory north didn't piggyback on the widening up the Blue Ridge Escarpment to Blowing Rock.

[KJHburg]

Here is that article about Monroe Expressway Bypass tollway from the Business Journal I mentioned above.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/paid-content/economic-development-in-monroe-union-county/2019/monroe-expressway-eases-traffic-and-business.html

[NCMike1990]

Some new pics were posted of the I-77 toll project. Also, a newsletter update was posted.

Pics: https://www.i77express.com/gallery/i-77-express-construction-works-april-2019/

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/33fa22e9c9f1/2019-first-quarter-newsletter-2650013

 

[tozmervo]

Filed under "short term pain, long term gain," construction has really effed up coming into Uptown from 77. Trade Street is still closed for Streetcar work, and now 4th street has been reduced in lanes at the Gateway station project. All the cars, north meck express busses, bikes, and pedestrians are basically getting funneled into a single lane on 4th under the tracks. Even on relatively light commute days, it's creating gridlock all the way through Gateway to the interstate.

[jednc]

I will periodically snap pictures of the i-77 HOT Lanes. Today's pic was right at the end of rush hour.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cZjG7EAcS1UwyaBA6

Edit: it's the last photo in the album...

Edited June 25, 2019 by jednc

[Crown]

https://t.co/RQ4rd6xSsK

One of the nation’s biggest car insurance companies ranks Charlotte drivers among the least safe in the U.S. Allstate Insurance Co., in annual rankings, placed Charlotte a dismal 153rd-safest among 200 cities in 2019, matching the city’s 2018 ranking.

Allstate bases the annual ratings on claims filed with the company, which covers about 10 percent of all U.S. auto policies. The rankings reflect two factors: the average number of years between filing insurance claims and “hard braking” events that the company says are linked to collisions.Charlotte drivers score poorly on both, Allstate says. They file claims an average of every 7.8 years, compared to the national average of 10 years. Drivers in Charlotte are 36 percent more likely to have collisions than the national average, it says.

[KJHburg]

No wonder All state expanded here with 2250 jobs!

[KJHburg]

a rare look at me driving around Charlotte today   stole this from Dale Jr. 

 

 

[easzman]

Are there any plans to address the yearly increase of volume on I-77 between 485 and uptown? With the additional building in Steele Creek, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill, it seems like this stretch of highway will get to a point of having constant congestion every weekday from 6am - 9pm.

[Third Strike]

33 minutes ago, easzman said:

Are there any plans to address the yearly increase of volume on I-77 between 485 and uptown? With the additional building in Steele Creek, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill, it seems like this stretch of highway will get to a point of having constant congestion every weekday from 6am - 9pm.

Yes. The road is going to be widened from six lanes to ten, four being toll lanes. Construction should start sometime in the 2020s. Unlike the widening project on I-77 in north Mecklenburg, the toll lanes will be owned by the state.