Traffic Congestion and Highway Construction

[southslider]

5 hours ago, Seaboard Fellow said:

In addition to I-40. 

Thanks to this Rockingham project, the Triad will have two continuous expressway connections to Wilmington well before Charlotte ever has even just one.

[jthomas]

On 3/5/2022 at 2:22 AM, southslider said:

Thanks to this Rockingham project, the Triad will have two continuous expressway connections to Wilmington well before Charlotte ever has even just one.

While not arguing your broader point, the 74 route to Wilmington won't quite be expressway all the way, even after the Rockingham bypass is done. There is still one stoplight in Laurel Hill, between Hamlet and Laurinburg. This light can cause miles-long backups on summer Saturdays ("moving day" at the beach). There are also quite a few intersections east of Lumberton that are not grade-separated. 

PS - Every time I take this route down to Brunswick County, I think about how stupid it is that I-74 is supposed to terminate in Myrtle Beach, but via a different route than I-73, which will also extend to Myrtle Beach. Seriously - look at the planned route. It's like I-74 is repelled from its logical terminus in Wilmington by a force field:

It would make much more sense for I-73 to go Myrtle Beach, I-74 to go to Wilmington, and for I-140 to be extended as a US 17 bypass from Wilmington to the Carolina Bays Parkway in Myrtle Beach (which is currently planned to become I-74). The only silver lining I see is that completing I-74 seems to be a low priority for both NC and SC, so there is still time to correct this mistake.

[KJHburg]

I agree since NC is much more interested in I-73 and I-74 than SC why not have I-74 end in Wilmington where it would benefit our tourism economy and of course NC Ports.  

[Third Strike]

3 hours ago, KJHburg said:

I agree since NC is much more interested in I-73 and I-74 than SC why not have I-74 end in Wilmington where it would benefit our tourism economy and of course NC Ports.  

I-74 was passed by Congress, which explains why the routing is weird and using a number that violates set Interstate standards (US 74 and I-74 should not run concurrent with each other). Congress would have to pass another bill to alter the routing.
 

Truth be told, Virginia and West Virginia have no interest in building their portion of I-74. I-74 designation should be decommissioned in favor of spurs of existing Interstates. The portion of I-74 between I-77 and I-73 should be resigned as either I-X77 or I-X73, and the section of I-74 between Rockingham and outside of Wilmington should just be part of a dedicated Interstate between Wilmington and Charlotte (and maybe Asheville), which an I-3X would fit well in this corridor. 

[kermit]

South blvd please! (and I am sure several other places in town)

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by kermit

[Mgelbach]

Speaking of S. Blvd, it has to be one of the most miserable roads to drive on right now!

[DCMetroRaleigh]

SC seems to be bumbling toward getting their act together on constructing its part of I-73:  https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/politics-government/article258547573.html

[JRCLT]

It’s so nice how they light up 25th St. bridge! It looked very pretty from the train.

[RANYC]

Today's Charlotte Ledger highlights the city's laggard pace in building sidewalks.  Funding in the upcoming bond cycle will triple, but apparently we have 245 miles of need, and target 10 new miles per year although we're struggling to even meet the 10-mile mark.  Almost fell out of my chair upon learning that sidewalk construction now running $4-$8 million per mile as the city pushes into much more suburban areas.  

I'd question the 245 miles of need, however.  I've seen sidewalks under construction in parts of the city where no one really walks, probably no one intends to walk, and where walkers would be in a pretty hostile environment for pedestrians  just given how fast folks are driving mere inches from the curbside.

On the other hand, I've seen parts of the city where people not only walk for recreation, but out of basic need such as for grocery shopping, doctor visits, picking up kids from school, or to a bus stop and on to work.  And in these locations, I've seen where sidewalks either don't exist, are in bad shape, or aren't sufficiently protected from adjacent traffic. 

I'd like to see 245 miles of "sidewalk need" further filtered by these other considerations.  At some point, we must prioritize.  Some parts of suburban Charlotte aren't walkable, are proudly auto-centric, and its denizens like it that way, so why force a vanity sidewalk project?

Edited March 17, 2022 by RANYC

[tozmervo]

I swear I thought there was some kind of prioritization method in place, but I can't find it right now. Like something that looked at traffic volume, destinations (like schools), and neighborhood density, along with some flexibility for opportunistic sidewalk additions. 

As for intentionally not building sidewalks in certain areas "because they won't get used," that's exactly the mindset that got us into this expensive mess in the first place. That way of thinking has to stop.

[RANYC]

5 hours ago, tozmervo said:

I swear I thought there was some kind of prioritization method in place, but I can't find it right now. Like something that looked at traffic volume, destinations (like schools), and neighborhood density, along with some flexibility for opportunistic sidewalk additions. 

As for intentionally not building sidewalks in certain areas "because they won't get used," that's exactly the mindset that got us into this expensive mess in the first place. That way of thinking has to stop.

Quote sort of taken out of context.  If we're building 5 miles of sidewalk a year amid rapidly increasing costs, and we have 245 miles of need before even factoring in sidewalk replacements, we may need to take a tiered approach to these capital improvements. 

There are parts of this city where people aren't that interested in sidewalks, with each home on half an acre and 50-foot setbacks and a couple SUVs or Pickups in the garage, while on the other end of the spectrum, people utilize their sidewalks as critical parts of personal mobility.  Sure, in an ideal world, maybe we throw a billion bucks at all 245 miles, but absent that, perhaps we prioritize the one end of the spectrum over the other. 

If you're saying there's a prioritization method already in place, well that wasn't addressed in the article and I'd be curious to see a breakdown of the 245 miles according to this method.

I'd also argue that auto-centric design and structural placements have rendered sidewalks a lot less useful in many parts of Charlotte than they would be with more pedestrian orientation.  If a part of Charlotte is very spread out and predominantly single-use and there aren't plans to change that in the next 20 years, perhaps we redirect sidewalk resources to parts of West Charlotte, East Charlotte, and other areas even in Southwest Charlotte where bus ridership is on the higher end, density is on the increase, and yet one can find stretches where riders are walking through tall grass to catch the bus.

Edited March 18, 2022 by RANYC

[kayman]

On 3/17/2022 at 3:59 PM, RANYC said:

Today's Charlotte Ledger highlights the city's laggard pace in building sidewalks.  Funding in the upcoming bond cycle will triple, but apparently we have 245 miles of need, and target 10 new miles per year although we're struggling to even meet the 10-mile mark.  Almost fell out of my chair upon learning that sidewalk construction now running $4-$8 million per mile as the city pushes into much more suburban areas.  

I'd question the 245 miles of need, however.  I've seen sidewalks under construction in parts of the city where no one really walks, probably no one intends to walk, and where walkers would be in a pretty hostile environment for pedestrians  just given how fast folks are driving mere inches from the curbside.

On the other hand, I've seen parts of the city where people not only walk for recreation, but out of basic need such as for grocery shopping, doctor visits, picking up kids from school, or to a bus stop and on to work.  And in these locations, I've seen where sidewalks either don't exist, are in bad shape, or aren't sufficiently protected from adjacent traffic. 

I'd like to see 245 miles of "sidewalk need" further filtered by these other considerations.  At some point, we must prioritize.  Some parts of suburban Charlotte aren't walkable, are proudly auto-centric, and its denizens like it that way, so why force a vanity sidewalk project?

The IIJA law requires any roadway project that uses federal funds to include sidewalks and non-motorized oriented infrastructure is why.  Otherwise it'll have to be only local or state funds used which these days no local jurisdiction is really able to do much without federal funds support. That's why these "vanity" projects are being done in suburban areas of Charlotte. 

Edited March 24, 2022 by kayman

[davidclt]

Hey NCDOT has a survey out. Go provide your feedback. Add comments and vote comments up.

NC Clean Transportation Plan - PublicInput.com

[JRCLT]

Random yet relevant: I have an adamant fear of I-77 between uptown and the SC border… every time I drive there I feel unsafe. Something needs to be done there. I don’t what it needs but it needs something…

[elrodvt]

It's amazing to me how little traffic enforcement there is in Charlotte metro.  I feel I can drive whatever speed I like with very little chance of being ticketed. Half the cops are driving 15 over while playing with their laptops for crying out loud.

This must result in avoidable deaths every year.

[JRCLT]

It's amazing to me how little traffic enforcement there is in Charlotte metro.  I feel I can drive whatever speed I like with very little chance of being ticketed. Half the cops are driving 15 over while playing with their laptops for crying out loud.
This must result in avoidable deaths every year.

Not just that! For some reason I notice people are much more aggressive there than any other areas of interstate I’ve driven on in the area. A lot of lane switching usually leads to higher conflict points. People generally drive like maniacs more than usual there and I can’t figure out why? Cutting people off at close proximity generally arrogant driving making it harder to switch lanes and get where you’re going sometimes. Not sure. Overall US drivers suck as a whole. We have 0 respect for others and frankly sometimes I feel as tho most people don’t know how a high way should be used. It’s probably our lax driving tests and requirements as opposed to Western European countries. They seem to drive better generally. Some of those countries have more restrictions to getting a license.

[Poo Diddy]

5 hours ago, JeanClt said:

Overall US drivers suck as a whole. We have 0 respect for others and frankly sometimes I feel as tho most people don’t know how a high way should be used. It’s probably our lax driving tests and requirements as opposed to Western European countries. They seem to drive better generally. Some of those countries have more restrictions to getting a license.

Correct. 

European roads are also designed quite differently than US ones.  It takes more concentration to drive as lanes are narrower, etc.  My wife is from Sweden so we've spent a lot of time driving around to visit family & friends over there.  I'm always in awe of their road design, and wish the US could copy some of their design principles.  

[videtur quam contuor]

It is another example of the Tragedy of The Commons.

[KJHburg]

I usually speed by the Yadkin River on I-85 but took the old route and came across this 1924 bridge now a pedestrian bridge.  NCDOT did a little park and historical plaques along it.  Look how little this bridge was built for and look how it was paid for (and the locals had to be convinced it was not going to cost them a toll) Between Rowan and Davidson counties.   Sometimes you do need to get off the main road and take a back road.  There was an old mill on the Rowan side but now gone and just a few water tanks left. 

This was really a fine bridge when it was built on the major route from Greensboro to Salisbury and Charlotte. 

 

[videtur quam contuor]

Great photos K, and I approve of taking the blue highways. In the time where paper maps were our guide the yellow highways were the main and most modern roads, the red were the secondary and the narrowest blue lines were the oldest, most winding and interesting routes. Blue Highways is a wonderful book about taking these blue roads to life and experience. In that vein I offer the Plattsmouth Bridge which connects Nebraska and Iowa and collecting tolls for 93 years. Toll booth with toll taker at entrance. When large trucks come truck traffic in other direction yields at bridge entry due to narrow pavement or cars drive very slowly. Still working today. I was on a blue highway trip down the Missouri River ten years ago and crossed here. These are older photos but looks just like this. How could it change?

 

https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ia0443.photos/?sp=6

Edited April 14, 2022 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

Widening of highways in and around the region update.

first 2 photos NC 16 in Catawba county this widening will provide a 4 lane highway from Charlotte to I-40. 

Widening of I-485 in south Charlotte with the tolled express lanes.   (last 3 photos) 

 

[rancenc]

New interchange proposed at I-85 in northern Rowan County.

https://www.salisburypost.com/2022/04/24/all-hands-on-deck-rowan-county-pursues-funding-to-bring-new-interchange-to-east-spencer/

[kermit]

Denver is offering residents $400 rebates on ebike purchases (and $500 more if its a cargo bike). They got 2,600 applicants in 2 weeks!

An incredibly cost-effective way to take cars off the road!

https://denverite.com/2022/05/06/denvers-e-bike-rebates-are-already-gaining-traction-with-residents/

 

Edited May 7, 2022 by kermit

[southernnorthcarolina]

Does anyone have news, or a DOT leak, or a rumor, or speculation about when Providence Road (NC 16)  between Weddington and Waxhaw will be widened?

It's been slated for four-laning for more than a decade.  Three or four years ago, the utility poles were moved away from the existing two-lane road to allow for widening.  And then -- nada.

Residential development, and some retail, continues to boom in Waxhaw.  NC 16 is often bumper-to-bumper, not just during rush hours, but in the middle of the day.  And it seems to be getting worse every day.

[southslider]

6 hours ago, southernnorthcarolina said:

Does anyone have news, or a DOT leak, or a rumor, or speculation about when Providence Road (NC 16)  between Weddington and Waxhaw will be widened?

NCDOT keeps delaying the project (U-5769), the latest official programmed year for construction being 2027, though possibly delayed another year to 2028.