Traffic in Charlotte vs. Traffic in Atlanta (home, live)

[engrms01]

My job is moving to Charlotte from Atlanta this summer. Right now it looks like I will be commuting into the city on I-77 from South Carolina. Can anyone give me a comparison of the traffic between Atlanta and Charlotte. Also, can anyone tell me where and when the volume starts on 77. For instance in Atlanta if you can be where you need to be by 7am you are generally okay, but after that your commute time doubles or triples through the volume areas.

Thanks!

[Charlottean]

No where near the same.

I have lived in Charlotte my entire life except for 2 years of it being in Atlanta. My commute was horrible and very stressful. Many days it would take me 1 1/2 hours to go 20 miles.

The only time you would see that in Charlotte would with a MAJOR accident clogging things up or on a rainy day. For some reason everyone drives weird on rainy days here.

Let me know if you need any help or have any other questions.

[engrms01]

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to getting out of here then!

[mm_mary73]

Originally Posted by engrms01

My job is moving to Charlotte from Atlanta this summer. Right now it looks like I will be commuting into the city on I-77 from South Carolina. Can anyone give me a comparison of the traffic between Atlanta and Charlotte. Also, can anyone tell me where and when the volume starts on 77. For instance in Atlanta if you can be where you need to be by 7am you are generally okay, but after that your commute time doubles or triples through the volume areas.

Thanks!

Any time I find myself missing the Northeast, I remember the last time I drove through Atlanta, and say "NO WAY" I am too old for it any more! "The only time you would see that in Charlotte would with a MAJOR accident clogging things up or on a rainy day. For some reason everyone drives weird on rainy days here. " I agree!

[businessperson]

The rush on 77 from SC to Charlotte begins around 7 am. If you get ahead of the traffic you're fine. If you get right in the middle of it still better than Atlanta.

[SuperchargedSS]

Atlanta is an absolute NIGHTMARE compared to Charlotte.... Atlanta has 6 lanes each way, Charlotte has 3 and the traffic is nowhere near as bad.

As previously said, when there is a bad accident, the traffic gets REALLY bad, but thats pretty much anywhere in the US.

Atleast you can cruise through Charlotte with no problems on I-77 during lunchtime, whereas in Atlanta it never seems to let up...

[sprtsluvr8]

Originally Posted by SuperchargedSS

Atlanta is an absolute NIGHTMARE compared to Charlotte.... Atlanta has 6 lanes each way, Charlotte has 3 and the traffic is nowhere near as bad.

As previously said, when there is a bad accident, the traffic gets REALLY bad, but thats pretty much anywhere in the US.

Atleast you can cruise through Charlotte with no problems on I-77 during lunchtime, whereas in Atlanta it never seems to let up...

Actually there are 10-12 lanes each way thru Midtown and Downtown...and there are twice as many drivers trying to get somewhere. It sucks, but it's not hard to find a solution to traffic anywhere you live. I don't drive between 6:00-9:00 am and 3:00-7:00 pm unless I'm against the rush. Problem solved.

[Girl]

I drive from SC to Charlotte beginning at 8:30 a.m. and I'm at my desk by 9 a.m. The only real traffic on I-77 Northbound is at Exit 4, but it is short and once you get past that exit you are home free for the most part.

One day a couple weeks ago I saw 10 cars on the side of the road over the course of one mile (a truck had accidently dumped a bunch of screws on the highway and people were getting flat tires left and right), and I still never went below 50 mph and got to work on time. I LOVE SC-to-Charlotte traffic...it's a JOY to commute compared to my old commutes in NoNJ and NYC.