Drive Times from Amberly to UNC (Cary, Chapel Hill: chapel, live, activities)

[browntod]

We're considering buiding at the Peninsula at Amberly in Cary/Chathum Co. Biggest concern for us is my wife's drive time to UNC-CH. It looks like the best route is New Hope Church Rd to 751 to Stagecoach Rd to Barbee Chapel Rd to 54 / South Rd.

Does anyone have some real work-day experience with this drive from the Amberly area? We recently made the trip down and did a test drive but it was on a Sunday w/o traffic. Took us 22 minutes. We're wondering how traffic impacts this time.

[durhammom]

I don't drive it to work but at times the left hand turn from Stagecoach onto Barbee Chapel can back up quite a bit (5 to 10 minutes). I've more run into it when going to Chapel Hill for evening activities but based on the volume of traffic that is going in the opposite direction at that time I suspect it may be an issue in the AM also.

One thing to keep in mind though -- that backup is one that would likely disappear if a light is put at the intersection. I don't know if there are plans for one but maybe someone else on this board will know.

[Dire Wolf]

You might also try going a bit South on 751 and then cutting across on Martha's Chapel Rd to Farrington Rd and taking that into Chapel Hill (I think the name changes as you do this). That is roughly the route we used to get over to UNC Hospital some mornings and it avoids the traffic of both Stage Coach and 54.

[Chicky]

Depending on where exactly your wife's job is at UNC-CH and the parking available at her location, she might consider driving to one of the park-and-ride lots. Drive time to UNC offices at Hedrick/Friday center would be different than main campus or Carrboro, Eastowne, etc.

[browntod]

Her research building is located on Medical Dr. ... not sure where she'll be able to park as a post-doc though.

[Chicky]

Ok, so she'll be at the hospital complex, so at best, she'd be eligible to purchase a craige deck parking pass. Craige deck is on Manning Drive, just off 15-501, near the Dean Dome. I have a similar drive a few days a week, and depending on what time I leave home, it's 30 minutes. Count on another 20 minutes to walk/bus from parking to office.

Another option would be to do a park-and-ride at the Hedrick (Hwy 54 near Meadowmont) or Southern Village (15-501S @ SV)... Less driving, more riding, but dropoff near the door. I liked that when I worked there because I could read or whatever on the ride.

Best bet is to call her department and talk to the others who work in her office. Lots of UNC people live at Amberly - you might find a carpool at Home — Triangle Transit.