Traffic/construction engineers really amaze me sometimes

[jtvang125]

So the city has decided to expand the two freeway overpasses and on-ramps. This is a major hub for the trucking industry. So with the amount of trucks now this was long overdue. However I really can't believe the bonehead designs these traffic/construction engineers implemented.

Both over passes run N and S while the freeway crosses going E and W. On both overpasses they designed it where the onramps are both accessed on the right lane. The first is for going eastbound and the second (just over the overpass) is for westbound. Before the construction you stayed on the right lane for the east bound onramp and the left lane for the West bound onramp.

The problem is that the right lane was made very narrow with no dedicated turn lane onto the onramp. A large pickup truck or big rig needing to go straight is going to block anyone needing to get on the east bound onramp at a red light. This just causes unnecessary traffic backing far back in that one right lane. The slow turning big rigs doesn't help things either as only one and 1 or 2 cars usually makes it through the light. They should have followed the previous design by splitting the traffic into the left and right lanes. Doesn't take an engineering degree to know 2 lanes moves traffic faster than 1.

Similar issue with the offramps too where there's a long, single exit lane and then splitting at the very last second into left and right turn lanes. The shoulder has plenty of room for another lane which can be used for traffic needing to turn left. Again 2>1.

So all this money spent and it didn't really help ****.
/rant

 

[reallyscrued]

That sucks dude.

And this just *barely* belongs in The Garage.

 

[repoman0]

Traffic engineers are the ones who couldn't cut it as civil or mechanical engineers.

 

[Kelvrick]

I have a T intersection that I deal with all the time. The west side of it is a big railroad track and a wild/animal preserve. When the left (to go East) turn signal for the south bound drivers turn green, the right turn signal (to go North) for West bound drivers turns green. Makes sense since South bound drivers can't make a U-turn there.

However, if the cars going West bound hit the sensor, then it triggers both a straight (go West) and right turn (go North) green light, so any cars going south wanting to turn left (go East) have to sit through the cycle. It pisses me off to no end. Sorry, just wanted to share.

 

[cabri]

Traffic engineers are the ones who couldn't cut it as civil or mechanical engineers.

Traffic engineers (that sign off) are almost always required to have a PE.

civil and mechanical can get jobs without a PE easily.

also, there may be other considerations on the design of a roadway/intersection.

If one has complains/comments; contact the local or state DOT to find out why something was done "illogically"

Part may be due to rules/law/funding and/or traffic flow.

 

[jagec]

However, if the cars going West bound hit the sensor, then it triggers both a straight (go West) and right turn (go North) green light, so any cars going south wanting to turn left (go East) have to sit through the cycle. It pisses me off to no end. Sorry, just wanted to share.

Huh? If a westbound car hits the light, the sensor can't tell if they want to go north, or south. So, it has to produce both greens. Obviously a westbound car turning south would conflict with a southbound car turning east, so both signals can't be green at the same time.

A northbound car turning east would be able to do so as a right-on-red.