Stuck on I-485 in CLT? Three Options to Relieve Traffic Jams

Tens of thousands of drivers battle the congestion daily. 

 

“485 is an interesting place to be on,” said Council Member LaWana Mayfield. “It’s kind of like traveling in Europe and being on the Autobahn.”

 

Monday, Transportation Secretary Tony Tata explained to council the legal and financial road blocks of opening the lane now.

 

“Essentially, what you’ve got is three things you can do,” said Tata. 

 

He says NC Department of Transportation can keep the lane closed while contractors begin building the toll lane that was designed to connect to the new lane near Rea Rd.

 

Another option: turn the lane into a High Occupancy Vehicle lane, or open it up for everyone in April as a general purpose lane.

 

Each option, Tata says, would save drivers six seconds of travel time through the eight-mile stretch of highway.

 

“I think a general purpose lane would make more sense,” said Mayfield.

 

Federal law says a general purpose lane can never be used as a toll lane in the future. That toll revenue is one reason the public voted to build the lane in 2007.

 

“All that goes away because there’s no toll revenue, and it becomes a far more expensive project,” said Tata. “We’d have to re-score it, and you’re looking five, ten years from now before you can maybe get to it when you’re less than two years away from the start of the project.”

 

Tata says an HOV lane could open by August if that meets environmental standards.

 

However, Tata says going from five to two lanes could cause more traffic troubles when it comes to merging in and out of an HOV lane.

 

“Let’s have a real conversation about is this still the right direction in 2015?” said Mayfield.

 

NCDOT is talking to the Metropolitan Planning Organization next week. They should have a decision by April.

 

The entire 20-mile toll lane project is expected to be complete by 2019.