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The turbine seems to be a big disappointment as far as easing traffic flow on 85.
I commute from 85 north to 485 outer loop every day at rush hour and had hoped the entrance opening up would help but its making no difference at all that I can see.
Having only one lane to exit onto each long ramp is ridiculous and will just make things worse if someone breaks down or has an accident on the entrance.
So far it looks like a tremendous waste of money.
They haven't opened all of the lanes yet. Once everything is complete it should be two lanes exiting per ramp that then split between 485 outer/inner and then reconnect with traffic coming from the other direction on 85 to make it two lanes again prior to merging onto 485. There will still be room for breakdowns just like on any other exit ramp.
The long ramps and extra lanes on 85/485 should make it pretty smooth once complete. I think there will be 6 lanes in each direction on 485 and 85 near the interchange to allow for two merging lanes to easily transition into the rest of the traffic.
Looks like part of the old Eastland Mall site is going to get some redevelopment, in the form of a QuikTrip at the corner of North Sharon Amity and Central Avenue:
Work on the new Novant Health hospital near I-485 and Albemarle road could be happening soon, as a rezoning request and site plan have been submitted to the city of Charlotte:
They haven't opened all of the lanes yet. Once everything is complete it should be two lanes exiting per ramp that then split between 485 outer/inner and then reconnect with traffic coming from the other direction on 85 to make it two lanes again prior to merging onto 485. There will still be room for breakdowns just like on any other exit ramp.
The long ramps and extra lanes on 85/485 should make it pretty smooth once complete. I think there will be 6 lanes in each direction on 485 and 85 near the interchange to allow for two merging lanes to easily transition into the rest of the traffic.
I know their not all open yet.
But the one that goes to 485 outer has been open for some time now and it appears that unless they are planning to do a lot more work to it, that there is going to be just 2 lanes that exit 85 that split off to only one long lane for each direction of 485 inner and outer?
Work on the Monroe Bypass has been approved by the feds. Construction should begin either later this year, or early 2015. This road is just one segment in connecting Charlotte to Wilmington, with a freeway:
Work on the Monroe Bypass has been approved by the feds. Construction should begin either later this year, or early 2015. This road is just one segment in connecting Charlotte to Wilmington, with a freeway:
Looks like part of the old Eastland Mall site is going to get some redevelopment, in the form of a QuikTrip at the corner of North Sharon Amity and Central Avenue:
QuikTrip has been expanding aggressively in Charlotte, in case anyone hasn't been watching. They're new, clean, well stocked quickie-marts. I just wish they wouldn't hang dumb "Tweet us / Facebook us" banners over the bathroom urinals. Ruins the upscale gas station vibe with such a coarse advertising gimmick.
Huge waste of money. Improve the 74. Dont encourage sprawl. Doesnt even connect at the 485. Toll road. Nonsense.
It's too late for any other solution or to retrofit existing Hwy 74. To do that it would turn into a mess on the scale of the big dig in Boston...2-3x the amount of money to upfit and cost could unexpectedly soar.
It will connect to I-485 via the portion of 74 that will be upgraded to interstate standards. An interstate between Wilmington and Charlotte is 40 years overdue and this is part of the solution.
Once Independence Avenue is upgraded to interstate grade all the way to I-485 it'll make a huge difference.
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Ruins the upscale gas station vibe with such a coarse advertising gimmick.
