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Exit ramp in Leland sees reduction for safety reasons

Submitted by WWAY on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 5:26pm.READ MORE:
lelandhighway300.jpg
If you are driving to Leland, you may notice a slight change in your route. The Department of Transportation recently reduced the exit ramp to 17 South from Highway 421 near the battleship to one lane. A spokesman for the department said this change was based entirely on safety, pointing out that merging onto a curved ramp can be dangerous. He also added that the capacity for the ramp will remain the same.

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You can change it again and again and again....

Submitted by MalawiMistress (not verified) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 4:32pm.
It will do no good. The simple fact is that at afternoon rushhour you have two very busy lanes (421/17 bypass)) trying to merge onto two equally busy lanes (17S/74W) and it is never going to be a smooth transition. 17/74 needs to be at least three, preferrably four lanes from that junction to the Leland exit, and until that is funded (to include new bridges over Alligator Creek and the Brunswick River) it's going to be a nightmare. All the current modification did was make the line jumpers more annoying and accidents more likely. At least with the old two lane approach, people alternated the merge. Now, when some idiot tries to wait to the last minute and jump in front of sixty cars, well, it won't be long before someone intentionally tags him.
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DUH

Submitted by duh (not verified) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 12:56am.
IF THERE WAS NOT STUPID TRUCKERS TRYING TO MERGE OVER ONTO TO CARS....... THEN THEY PROBALY WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT DOING THIS ...SO GREAT JOB!!!DOT THANKS FOR THE CHANGE... DOES NOT TAKE MUCH SENSE TO GET OVER IN THE CORRECT LANE AND READ THE SIGNS DUH DUH
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It is more dangerous, slower and more confusing than before.

Submitted by jsmith232 (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 3:34pm.
The change has made things slower, more dangerous and more confusing than before. I think a lot of people will go through downtown to the Cape Fear bridge rather sit in traffic for ever to go this way. It took a rocker scientist to figure this mess out.
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Just Your Imagination

Submitted by Dr. Billbad on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:45pm.
A little bit of logic or real-world math and you'll realize that there is no difference except improved safety. The number of cars trying to merge onto 17 hasn't changed. Having two lanes only meant that your mind was better entertained by playing in traffic instead of sitting in an orderly queue. Once you learn to plan a whole 20 seconds sooner than before, your confusion will subside.
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NCDOT

Submitted by DavidMerrill (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 10:25am.
Leave it to the NCDOT to take a problem and make it worse. Good Job!
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Thanks for making my commute twice as long

Submitted by Leland Commuter (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 8:00am.
It now takes me twice as long to get to Leland from Wilmington during rush hour. This will create more traffic headaches for everyone heading toward Leland in the afternoon. People still use the left lane to bypass everyone in the "Leland Right Lane" and then merge over at the last minute just before the exit ramp, casuing more backups...
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great idea,should have read the signs

Submitted by Guestbb (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 7:34am.
oh,great idea!! no warning about the change before you get there and the signs leading up to that still tell you to get into the right hand lane which now is blocked off. Wonderful idea, I am sure that won't add to the confusion or the rate of accidents....
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Signs are clear...

Submitted by Dragon (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 2:04pm.
The signs tell you to stay in the right lane, which is the one that leads to the ramp. If people would actually follow directions and get into the lane before they *need* to, it would help with the traffic. Of course, most drivers in this area won't get over until they *have* to, which causes the problems.
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Really?

Submitted by Brian70 (not verified) on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 10:36pm.
The problem got worse... This has nothing to do with drivers "having" to get over in the right lane. I understand what you're saying, but the fact that they took away an additional PAVED lane (right lane) heading on the westbound ramp to I-74 makes it worse. Now, cars are crammed into one lane, and the worst part in terms of safety is that cars in the existing left lane designated to go to Carolina Beach are STOPPING on a 55mph highway to get into the ONE Leland lane. This is probably the worst situation that could have happened at this interchange, and it has nothing to do with drivers here. I worked in the planning department for several years in Fort Collins, and the LAST thing CDOT ever would do is remove a perfectly good paved lane of traffic. Forcing cars to merge while braking on an open highway off a bridge that isn't even a 1/4 mile from this mess is just plain wrong.
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