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Study calls for stoplights on busy ramps along local interstates

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Regional Transportation leaders will get their first look Wednesday night at a study calling for stoplights on busy ramps across the area.

The ramp meters are designed to help drivers merge and cut down on traffic.

[LINK: NC RAMP METERING FEASIBILITY STUDY]

The study looked at 249 sites along major interstates in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Gaston and Cabarrus counties. It narrowed the list down to 21 projects, which include three off Interstate 85 in Gaston County.

The rest were in high-congestion areas of Mecklenburg County, which included spots on Interstate 77 and Interstate 485.

For example, the study found that a light at Tyvola Road where the lane merges onto northbound I-77 would help cut down on traffic and make the area safer. According to the study, 176 accidents on Tyvola Road between 2011 and 2016 were caused by congestion.

The Tyvola Road project is one of six sites in south Charlotte ranked priority one by the study.

Driver Laura Ryan told Channel 9 that she dreads her daily commute on I-77 off Tyvola Road.

“I come up 77 and I never take 77 home because it’s just too congested,” driver Laura Ryan said. “I take back ways.”

Ryan also said the number of accidents on the highway concern her, and that she’s hoping the ramp meters help with congestion.

“I’m just annoyed with all the traffic really,” Ryan said. “I mean, whatever helps. I think it would be great.”

The ramp meters work by allowing drivers to roll onto a ramp and stop until a light turns green. Drivers then merge with traffic one at a time every few seconds.

Greg Breitbach, a local driver, has encountered ramp meters before and likes them.

“It does serve a purpose and I think people in Charlotte are just thirsty for some relief,” Breitbach said.

Other drivers told Channel 9 that they think Charlotte traffic moves too slow for the meters to work.

“I think until the ramp is wider, I question its effectiveness,” driver Kurt Nass said.

The 21 ramp meter sites were picked based on the biggest bang for the buck. Most of the projects would cost under $300,000 each to build, but that doesn't include operating and maintenance costs.

The list of sites was finalized after looking at three big factors:

  1. The projects' cost-benefit over five years
  2. Other projects that could impact the ramp meters implementation
  3. Whether the site was freeway to freeway.

The ramp meters would not be in place for at least five years.

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