N. Mopac toll lane open (Houston, Austin: construction, live, assess)

[Tams here]

I'm surprised there has been no mention of the first segment of the new toll lane on Mopac being opened this weekend. I guess the next few weeks, as people acclimate, might be interesting! I wonder if this will really help with the the congestion?

[RunninJT]

Originally Posted by Tams here

I'm surprised there has been no mention of the first segment of the new toll lane on Mopac being opened this weekend. I guess the next few weeks, as people acclimate, might be interesting! I wonder if this will really help with the the congestion?

I would be amazed if it did significantly help. Seems to be a band aid on a missing limb.

[Austin97]

nothing will truly help with congestion. What it does do is allow people who need to go fast to pay to go fast.

Some people will pay everyday if they can afford it. Most will just pay when they need to.

[RunninJT]

Originally Posted by Austin97

nothing will truly help with congestion. What it does do is allow people who need to go fast to pay to go fast.

Some people will pay everyday if they can afford it. Most will just pay when they need to.

About what they were when I lived in Houston in the 90's. The "pay $3 so I wont be late to work and get fired" lane. Had to use it once, and only once. Toll lanes are made for the 1%, and other people who are having a good year. Regular people have to take the poor people streets.

[cBach]

I think when both northbound and southbound lanes are finished we can assess. The toll has been 25 cents this weekend which is cheap. I might take it next week when I have to drive that section if the traffic is bad, we'll see.

[10scoachrick]

Much of the nastiness is south of 2222(naturally because of the ongoing construction); so I can see how some folks will think 'WTF' as the traffic breaks loose close to the "beginning" of the 'fast lane' northbound(also very close to the end of the 55mph zone and beginning the 65mph). Right now, it doesn't look like it will help the slowest areas that appear to be doomed to construction delays forever.

[DashRiprock]

I don't see how this section is going to help in any meaningful way, but I guess they have to start somewhere. Until they get it all open from the bridge to wherever it ends, we won't know for sure. And by the looks of things, that's going to be a while. A very long while. Seems like they've barely even started anything at all between 29th to 45th.

I'm also having a hard time visualizing how the completed interchange north of 2222 is going to work. Cars on the toll lane that need the 183 exit are going to be merging and trying to navigate across three lanes of essentially stopped traffic during rush hour. To me, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by DashRiprock

I don't see how this section is going to help in any meaningful way, but I guess they have to start somewhere. Until they get it all open from the bridge to wherever it ends, we won't know for sure. And by the looks of things, that's going to be a while. A very long while. Seems like they've barely even started anything at all between 29th to 45th.

I'm also having a hard time visualizing how the completed interchange north of 2222 is going to work. Cars on the toll lane that need the 183 exit are going to be merging and trying to navigate across three lanes of essentially stopped traffic during rush hour. To me, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

They are redesigning the interchange with 183. It remains to be seen if that will help with the scenario you are describing above.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by cBach

They are redesigning the interchange with 183. It remains to be seen if that will help with the scenario you are describing above.

For those going NW on 183, yes.

For those going SE, they'll still need to exit and merge over. But they'll have about a mile and a half to do it, which seems reasonable.

[Tams here]

Originally Posted by cBach

They are redesigning the interchange with 183. It remains to be seen if that will help with the scenario you are describing above.

Any idea what the redesign will be? I haven't been driving Mopac much the last few months, opting to use Burnet instead, to/from work off 35th. The construction and lane closures at night ,( I get off work after 11pm), going north was just too annoying for me. I do know that section north of 2222 to 183 is very congested at rush hour with all the cars merging over at the last second to take the 183 exit. Drove that section for several years during late rush hour and it was always a crap shoot!