Going to downtown Raleigh from north side or south side? I-40 or Glenwood? (Cary: how much, construction)

[zitsky]

I'm going from Brier Creek to downtown Raleigh on a Friday afternoon/evening. I guess in general it's best to avoid I-40 during rush hour. My other option is to take Glenwood which I have done before. I know you can take Wade/Capital then get to downtown from that way. But I see you can also stay on I-40, and get off at exit 299 which takes you to Person Street. It just happens that I'm going to Wilmington Ave and that seems pretty convenient.

[BoBromhal]

I think I'd open my map function on my cell phone, to see what 40 traffic from 540 to Wade Ave looked like first.

40 fills up before Glenwood from BC, but my experience is that Glenwood is a longer slog than 40 once 5 pm arrives.

and on a Friday, you definitely want to look at the map to see any backups on 40 south of Raleigh, from folks headed to the beach.

[zitsky]

Yes looking at the traffic/map is a good idea. Accidents can slow down 40 traffic.

[ozmoe571]

Originally Posted by zitsky

I'm going from Brier Creek to downtown Raleigh on a Friday afternoon/evening. I guess in general it's best to avoid I-40 during rush hour. My other option is to take Glenwood which I have done before. I know you can take Wade/Capital then get to downtown from that way. But I see you can also stay on I-40, and get off at exit 299 which takes you to Person Street. It just happens that I'm going to Wilmington Ave and that seems pretty convenient.

Don't do the bolded part on a Friday during rush hour. The construction work going on around Exit 301 typically backs up traffic on Fridays to a crawl if that on the Gorman Street Exit 295 or even 293 (US 1/64). Better off taking I-40 and going in on Wade Avenue into downtown.

[zitsky]

Yea I realize it's a gamble. It will depend on traffic for sure.

[JMMH]

Originally Posted by BoBromhal

I think I'd open my map function on my cell phone, to see what 40 traffic from 540 to Wade Ave looked like first.

40 fills up before Glenwood from BC, but my experience is that Glenwood is a longer slog than 40 once 5 pm arrives.

and on a Friday, you definitely want to look at the map to see any backups on 40 south of Raleigh, from folks headed to the beach.

No kidding--I left Clayton on US-70 at noon today to come back to Cary and the beach traffic was already at a standstill on I-40 East.

[zitsky]

Originally Posted by JMMH

No kidding--I left Clayton on US-70 at noon today to come back to Cary and the beach traffic was already at a standstill on I-40 East.

Oh that's ok. I'm getting a police escort. (I wish lol.)

[pierretong1991]

Originally Posted by zitsky

I'm going from Brier Creek to downtown Raleigh on a Friday afternoon/evening. I guess in general it's best to avoid I-40 during rush hour. My other option is to take Glenwood which I have done before. I know you can take Wade/Capital then get to downtown from that way. But I see you can also stay on I-40, and get off at exit 299 which takes you to Person Street. It just happens that I'm going to Wilmington Ave and that seems pretty convenient.

Two step process:

I would use Google Maps to estimate how much time you might need to get from Brier Creek to downtown Raleigh. On the computer version, you can set directions based on the week/time and it will give you an estimated time range - for example, if you want to be at downtown Raleigh by 6 PM from Brier Creek, it will say I-40 takes approximately 24-35 minutes, leave around 5:25 PM.

On the day off, right before leaving at 5:25 PM, do another route check based on current traffic conditions to see what the quickest route is (may need to leave earlier or can leave later depending on the estimated travel time)

[zitsky]

Thanks. I posted because I was curious who would prefer one route over another. Always look at traffic, yes. I suppose preference depends on what side of town you're on. I usually take Glenwood. I remember road work that makes the signs and exits hard to see.

[lancers]

Glenwood is a nice ride maybe some traffic but it is the easiest way for me coming from North/West of Brier Creek.