Traffic in Madison (Huntsville, Redstone Arsenal, Triana: Home Depot, pre-k, university)

[goldmom]

We will be relocating to the Huntsville area and are considering the Walden Preserve area in Madison. I have heard the traffic is horrible in Madison. Can anyone give me their perspective on this? What would traffic be like from WP if you worked in the Research Park area?

[Elizabeth_G]

I live in Walden and think the traffic is just fine. Sure, during rush hour it can be a bit of a problem, but I'd rather fight this than other areas. I would avoid Old Madison Pike during rush hour. My husband goes in early and leaves early. He never has an issue with traffic.

[madisonmamma]

Originally Posted by goldmom

We will be relocating to the Huntsville area and are considering the Walden Preserve area in Madison. I have heard the traffic is horrible in Madison. Can anyone give me their perspective on this? What would traffic be like from WP if you worked in the Research Park area?

Living in Madison, you learn to take certian routes during certian hours and to avoid some roads during peak traffic. From Walden Preserve you should be able to make it to RP in 15 minutes. That is what it takes my hubby and we live in that area as well.

Traffic is the worst on Wal Triana mornings/afternoons and 72 heading W in the afternoons. I just avoid those areas during those times. I always warn clients about Wal Triana as a commuter route...it can really get congested.

[mm42]

I think the best thing to do is try it out yourself at the times and directions you would be driving. Everyone has his own tolerance level for bad traffic.

I tried out Madison for myself (going to arsenal rather than RP) and it was well above my traffic threshold, and it's likely to get worse before it gets better.

[33458]

It really matters where you're coming from...we moved up from South Florida and chuckle any time anybody mentions traffic congestion issues.

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by 33458

It really matters where you're coming from...we moved up from South Florida and chuckle any time anybody mentions traffic congestion issues.

Agreed. Coming from LA/OC in california (top 3 of world busiest highways), the traffic here is nothing to complaint about.

[caution]

Originally Posted by 33458

It really matters where you're coming from...we moved up from South Florida and chuckle any time anybody mentions traffic congestion issues.

X2

Moved here first of Dec and rented in Madison. Drove 72 each way into and out of HSV during rush hour for a month.

No worries compared to the DC/NOVA/MD area where we lived before (all three places over last several years).

You will notice a few traffic/driver quirks that might bother you if coming from a heavily populated area.

I'm now on the opposite side of HSV and it's about the same.

It may get worse around Redstone Arsenal once all the predicted growth kicks in. I suspect that area south of 72 in Madison, at the edge of HSV, will be popular with BRAC types.

[33458]

Routes, too.

Taking daughter to Pre-K, have tried 3 different ways so far and truth told, the easiest was University/Wynn/Bradford in to Research Park instead of the highway. So I have a light or two to stop for, mojo usually has me timed for green. The time spent traveling is about the same.

That way also no weirdness like I encountered trying to turn left from a median - which surprised me in difficulty the other day when it was raining (hard)...I'm not a wimpy driver (accustomed to quickness in town and I-95 aggro) but couldn't see well enough through my fogged up truck topper and the mirrors were useless...at an angle, neck strained and politely waiting for the previous intersection to affect the solid line of cars in both lanes, some without lights on. (RAINING! Hello?) Never lightened, must have steady traffic merging around that time...bad enough breaking in to commute but then could not get over to the almost immediate right-hand exiting lane without actually insulting someone and possibly causing an accident, so I had to take another route. :I

Struck me odd because I'm used to situations of aggressive driving. This felt more like ignorance.

(Time for another vehicle...I love my little truck but I need a clear view and better mobility to go with the storage.)

[amsa526]

I am coming from SF Bay Area ... was there weeks back and drove on a Friday during rush hour. Traffic through most of the freeways was moving fine ... there were a lot of cars ... but cars were at 50-60 mph. I would not call this traffic at all!
On non-freeways, I did not see any traffic!

[HB2HSV]

I made the mistake yesterday attempting to go from RSA to Home Depot on University during the afternoon rush hour traffic. Thinking 255 will be congested as well as University, the route I took was Martin road to Wall Triana, right on Madison Blvd, and left on Hughes Road. A total of 45 minutes