In February, Gov. Perdue promised to finish the I-485 loop within four years. The N.C. Department of Transportation says it can be done, but something has to give. They can’t close the loop and widen Independence Boulevard at the same time — their tight budget won’t allow it.
Tonight, Metropolitan Planning Organization, a group that oversees local road planning, is going to meet with state planners to try and reach a decision.
Brian Sisson, of the MPO, told WCNC the ultimate decision lies with city leaders.
What do you think should we do? Close the loop or widen Independence Boulevard?
I’ll tell you my vote: Close the loop.
I say that because I’m rarely on Independence, but I’m all over I-485. In fact, I think they should stop eff’in around and widen the southern portion of the loop near I-77 before they touch Independence. That area is a nightmare during rush hour traffic. Plus, I’m sick of having to drive south on I-77 to pick up I-85 north when I’m traveling from Huntersville to UNC Charlotte.
Though, I have to admit, if the DOT came out and said, “Nah. We’d prefer to transfer these funds to CMS instead of work on either project,” I wouldn’t complain.
What’s your vote?
This article appears in Aug 18-25, 2009.
“In fact, I think they should stop eff’in around and widen the southern portion of the loop near I-77 before they touch Independence. That area is a nightmare during rush hour traffic.”
The ideal solution to that problem would be teaching Charlotte drivers how to merge into traffic on an interstate. Seeing as how that’s obviously beyond the realm of possibility, I agree that this makes the most sense.
I’m not sure whether it’s the same pot of money, but I’d put fixing the Yadkin River I–85 bridge ahead of both these projects.
Then I would vote for 485, because I’d like to see the Independence project go back to the drawing board. I wonder whether it should be widened at all (with a likely loss of green space just outside the corridor.)
Widening Independence right now won’t do anything for the consumers and residents along the desolate stretches except allow some businesses to be bought out. That helps the businesses, but not residents.
Indeed, a bigger boost for East Charlotte would be preserving the East Mecklenburg High School legacy instead of crippling the school with crazy reassignment lines and budget cuts.
Andrea, the funds for the Yadkin river bridge would/will come from a stimulus TIGER grant for roughly $300 million. If for some reason the feds say the Yadkin project doesn’t qualify, then the next project in line for stimulus funds is the Purple commuter rail line.
There wasn’t a lot of new news at the Transportation summit regarding road projects, but you may be interested in the powerpoint presentations, they are all listed on the Chamber of Commerce site here: http://asoft124.securesites.net/secure/charlottechamber/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=TransportationSummit
(the one pertaining to Independence Blvd and I-485 is “Highway Projects Update”)
In my personal opinion, I wouldn’t work on Independence or I-485 but instead put all the focus on finishing the LYNX Blue Line and Purple commuter line. As we transition into a post-oil world, we have to design our cities and transportation infrastructure on where we will be in 2050, not where we were in 1950.
What part of Independence are they thinking of widening? I travel on Independence regularly and it is depressing to look at the desolate shopping centers that between Sharon Amity and Uptown. They don’t need to destroy any more of the businesses that are struggling to survive. Compared to most areas, Charlotte’s “traffic” isn’t bad at all. Even during rush hours. On a normal non-traffic day it takes me about 15 minutes to make it Uptown traveling on Independence. God forbid I have to wake up a little earlier during rush area because it will take me 30-45minutes to get to my destination.
My vote is to finish I-485 but I wouldn’t be opposed to giving money to the school system!!
“The rail lines are a waste of money and should all be scrapped.”
Yes, that makes perfect sense, especially when they’re being utilized more than anyone had original imagined.
Imbecile.