From a Charlotte Observer story about road construction there:
The DOT is currently doing a cost-benefit analysis of proposed loop projects statewide, including other outerbelt proposals in Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Fayetteville and Wilmington.
In the past, the DOT had no objective way of ranking loop projects, and some outerbelts such as Fayetteville’s I-295 had been given a higher priority than the last piece of I-485.
Moose said he thinks the I-485 widening in south Charlotte will be ranked high.
5 Comments
ThePhan is correct. The I-26 Connector project is lumped in with beltway projects in other cities. AFAIK it’s the only one statewide that is in that program and not a true "loop" around the city.
Don’t we have a loop in 240?
I believe this reference is actually to the I-26 Connector project, and not any kind of new truly outer belt freeway project for Asheville. Years ago the DOT lumped the Connector project in with other traditional outer belt freeway projects across the state.
Would be good to know what loop they are planning. I know that east-to-west travel on the south side of town is difficult due to the Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Forest – hence the "commuter route" on the Blue Ridge Parkway – a purpose the road was not intended for.
Trying to get to Hendersonville Road from the North side of town is always an adventure.
I could see extending a spur of I-240 on the East side of town beyond the parkway down the current US-74E, then turn it to the Southwest roughly parallel to the Parkway with a possible interchange with Sweeten Creek and/or Hendersonville Road between Mills Gap and Oak Forest.
Connecting it with I-26 beyond that would be a tough battle given the money from the Biltmore Estate, Biltmore Forest and Biltmore Park.
Loop Highway Projects are best. There’s a lot of through traffic which cares nothing about stopping in many cities. Highway planners should learn that ramming an interstate through a city isn’t a good idea. Local traffic and through traffic don’t need to mix. Look at Atlanta before the outer belt was built there.