Traffic Congestion and Highway Construction

[tozmervo]

So CDOT says it's in the NCDOT widening project (http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/epm/Projects/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Community%20House.aspx)

but the NCDOT project maps don't show the bridge at all (http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/CharlotteOuterLoop/ - 2/3 way down page).

[MilZ]

^Sure would be nice if they posted when the pages were last updated.

[grodney]

Interesting.  I didn't think it was part of the widening, but maybe that's why I can't find project info for it anywhere.  Maybe it really is part of the widening, but they didn't add any of its info to those pages.

 

This article says: "The bridge project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014, around the same time as the Johnston Road flyover and I-485 widening is expected to finish.".

http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/news/2014/01/second-wave-of-road-construction-coming-soon/

Edited September 15, 2014 by grodney

[grodney]

This document says "Project to be built by private sector."  http://www.crtpo.org/PDFs/2035_LRTP/Amendments/LRTP_Amendments(2013_05_May_22).pdf

 

Edit: I knew Bissell was paying for it in some kind of barter to allow them to build more offices, but I assumed they were paying money to NC and NCDOT was building it.  Maybe not.

 

Edit again:  These two documents both reference it as an NCDOT project -- apparently lumped into the 485 widening.  I guess.  So confusing.

http://www.bissellcompanies.com/assets/Bissell-to-Move-Forward-with-Area-Road-Improvements-Dec19-2013.pdf

http://intranet.bissell-companies.com/signs/go-bal/RoadImprovementsPlan.pdf

 

And this article the same says "The Bissell Companies upheld its end of the bargain, rushing to finish widening and other improvements on North Community House by the end of 2012. Now, area drivers must wait and see when Lane Construction opts to build the bridge as part of the company’s contract to widen I-485 in south Mecklenburg and build the Johnston Road flyover."

http://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/news/2012/12/ballantyne-waits-for-word-on-community-house-bridge/

Edited September 15, 2014 by grodney

[cltbwimob]

The Governor and Secretary of Transportation traveled across the state today to outline their 25 year infrastructure plan. I won't belabor all the specifics, but one of the major tenants of the plan is upgrading US-74 to interstate standards from Asheville to Charlotte to Wilmington. Also, the plan suggested expanding light rail options in metro areas when warranted, and expanding the state's intercity rail network.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/09/17/4158354/mccrory-sketches-nc-transportation.html

http://www.ncdot.gov/ncvision25/

Edited September 18, 2014 by cltbwimob

[dubone]

That is great news.  I also like how they include complete streets, bike/walk, and passenger and freight rail infrastructure in the scope of planning.  

 

 

The US74 to interstate standards is a no brainer for a fast growing state.   

[Nolan]

Reading the News & Observer comments about that transportation plan seems like a delight compared to anything commented on the Charlotte Observers. 

[orulz]

Reading the News & Observer comments about that transportation plan seems like a delight compared to anything commented on the Charlotte Observers. 

The right wing reactionaries in the Triangle tend to comment on wral.com, leaving the News and Observer to the more left leaning crowd.

 

The US 74 Shelby Bypass is definitely a worthy project. It looks like this would be enough money to complete it. I don't really know about the others on the list, though.

[Third Strike]

They also talked about an interstate between Raleigh and Virginia Beach. That could be beneficial for Charlotte too, since that would give us a straight shot to Hampton Roads. It would also give us another clear path to another port, along with US 74 to Wilmington, and I-77/26 to Charleston.

[ScottCLT]

They also talked about an interstate between Raleigh and Virginia Beach. That could be beneficial for Charlotte too, since that would give us a straight shot to Hampton Roads. It would also give us another clear path to another port, along with US 74 to Wilmington, and I-77/26 to Charleston.

Yes - we have family in VA Beach and the trek there is horrible right now. Up 85 all the way to highway 58, then through small town after small town. I hate that drive!

[New Name]

Apropos of nothing: We have an East Blvd that becomes West Blvd... not at the intersection of South Blvd (as would make sense) but a block away... but we have no North Blvd. Anyone have any thoughts about how/why this is the case? Just a little curiosity this morning on my part

[Nolan]

Apropos of nothing: We have an East Blvd that becomes West Blvd... not at the intersection of South Blvd (as would make sense) but a block away... but we have no North Blvd. Anyone have any thoughts about how/why this is the case? Just a little curiosity this morning on my part

Tryon and Trade is usually where the streets in Charlotte switch from North to South or West to East designations. However, East Blvd changing to West Blvd at Camden is another mystery, just like who the heck is Sharon? E. Sugar Creek changes to W. Sugar Creek after it crosses over Tryon, however geographically this makes no sense since W. Sugar Creek is still on the north side of Charlotte. 

[Third Strike]

I believe there was a township in Mecklenburg which was called Sharon. I believe this is the present day SouthPark area.

[Nolan]

I believe there was a township in Mecklenburg which was called Sharon. I believe this is the present day SouthPark area.

Ahh interesting, well now we know the origins of all the roads named Sharon in South Park. 

[dubone]

History and evolution of the network leads to all these things.  The same as how you have W Summit  east of N Summit and S Summit, none of which connect anymore.   But you also have some standards, like E & W being based on Tryon, but then that doesn't work everywhere.  

 

Charlotte's roads are definitely not made for OCD people like Manhattan or midwestern cities.   It's one big bowl of spaghetti. Just don't ask why, and follow Google's directions. 

[Nolan]

I actually like Charlotte's organic layout versus a grid layout, while it's not efficient, it gives Charlotte some character. 

[videtur quam contuor]

East Boulevard was part of the Dilworth development by the 4C's  (Charlotte Consolidated Construction Company) which created the first electric trolley from Charlotte to this new community. This was 1889-1892. Dilworth was not part of Charlotte for 15-20 years or so. This may explain the East/West division since it was not Charlotte then. The East Boulevard is quite broad for such an old street, 1890. This is because it was designed for the two trolley tracks plus wagons and horse drawn vehicles. As you head toward Freedom Park on East you will see where East narrows dramatically at Dilworth Road. This tells you that is as far as the trolley went. I know not if West was platted at the same time as East or if it was during the Wilmore development in the early 1900's.

[tozmervo]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/10/03/5218860/graphic-planned-managed-lanes.html#.VC87VOd8Ez8

 

Useful Observer graphic. I never would have guess that 77 South of uptown carried SO much more traffic than north of uptown. I guess that surprises me because 77 north seems to have far more congestion issues routinely. 

 

[southslider]

Note that vehicles per lane is highest around Exit 23 in Huntersville.

[grodney]

Somehow 148,000 at Nations Ford and 76,000 at Arrowood doesn't make any logical sense.  Does it?

[tozmervo]

Best guess is that I-485 traffic isn't getting counted at Arrowood. Given how the lanes merge and split at Arrowood, it's really a matter of where they conduct the traffic count.

[southslider]

Based on the map graphic, adding a second HOT lane to 77 between 85 and 485 doesn't make much sense. Granted, two HOT lanes north of 485 to Cornelius matches demand, as well as south of 85 to 277. But imagine the savings, if the existing HOV lane were just converted to HOT between 485 and 85. 85 could even have direct ramps to where the second HOT lane picked up, as well as 485. That makes more sense, and costs less.

[Nolan]

Found some neat visualization of the I-77 North HOT

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncdot/sets/72157645815043992

[allthingsplanes]

It still amazes me how big the effort is against these.  Signs are all over the place, including big banners.  So is this a done deal at this point?  When will construction really get going?

[southslider]

^July 2015