SC: I-95 widening projects

[Thing 342]

I looked through all of the projects listed on the fixthedrive95.com website a few weeks ago and the proposed interchange redesign for the trumpet where U.S. 17 branches east is disappointing.

Alternative 1 is a diamond interchange
Alternative 2 is a parclo interchange

Both designs also call for adding a traffic light on U.S. 17 just east of the exchange. The project website includes:

The current ramp design allows drivers to maintain high speeds when exiting I-95, which can lead to safety concerns on the local roadway

The proposed improvements would help slow vehicles down once they have excited I-95

The connection to the west frontage road needs improvement, but to removing all high-speed movements between a freeway and rural four lane, divided highway while also adding a signal.

The intersection with Frampton Dr can be pretty harrowing, there's very limited visibility facing northward due to a hill. I can see why they went with a signal there. (I would prefer a roundabout, but whatever)

[architect77]

As someone who travels a lot on I-85 through the upstate, I witness the problem that's preventing maximum throughput. It's slowpokes who plant themselves in the left most lane and also big trucks who stay in the middle lane but maintain slower speeds than the general flow which causes hundreds of additional lane changes by others getting around them.

It is the middle lane slowpokes that cause far more problems, IMHO. That being the middle lane of a 3-lane directional roadway. They commonly go 5 or 10 mph below the speed limit and as you say traffic has to flow around them and it disrupts the whole traffic flow.

In the left lane it is pretty rare that they go less than the speed limit.

I agree that the middle lane slowpokes often including big trucks cause the most additional lane changes for everyone  which adds so many potential conflicts.

Those who park themselves in the left lane aren't ever a problem as long as they are traveling at the fastest speed of the 3 lanes. In NC they are never moving fast enough to remain in the left lane and highway patrolmen should be ticketing them even if traveling the speed limit. Passing lane only if there's room in the right lanes, is the law on the autobahn and it makes sense.

[Beltway]

It is the middle lane slowpokes that cause far more problems, IMHO. That being the middle lane of a 3-lane directional roadway. They commonly go 5 or 10 mph below the speed limit and as you say traffic has to flow around them and it disrupts the whole traffic flow. In the left lane it is pretty rare that they go less than the speed limit.

I agree that the middle lane slowpokes often including big trucks cause the most additional lane changes for everyone  which adds so many potential conflicts.
Those who park themselves in the left lane aren't ever a problem as long as they are traveling at the fastest speed of the 3 lanes. In NC they are never moving fast enough to remain in the left lane and highway patrolmen should be ticketing them even if traveling the speed limit. Passing lane only if there's room in the right lanes, is the law on the autobahn and it makes sense.

Once in a while I see a jerk in the left lane going below the speed limit, or speeding up and slowing down repeatedly with the low speed below the speed limit -- that refuses to move over even when repeatedly signaled with a flash of the high beams -- but this is rare.

[1995hoo]

The intersection with Frampton Dr can be pretty harrowing, there's very limited visibility facing northward due to a hill. I can see why they went with a signal there. (I would prefer a roundabout, but whatever)

I come alive whenever I drive through there. I gather you don't feel like I do?

[ModernDayWarrior]

The intersection with Frampton Dr can be pretty harrowing, there's very limited visibility facing northward due to a hill. I can see why they went with a signal there. (I would prefer a roundabout, but whatever)

I come alive whenever I drive through there. I gather you don't feel like I do?

Guess you'll just have to show him the way.

[NJRoadfan]

Those who park themselves in the left lane aren't ever a problem as long as they are traveling at the fastest speed of the 3 lanes. In NC they are never moving fast enough to remain in the left lane and highway patrolmen should be ticketing them even if traveling the speed limit. Passing lane only if there's room in the right lanes, is the law on the autobahn and it makes sense.

Its also the law in some states to keep right except to pass. The Carolinas aren't among them.

[wriddle082]

Those who park themselves in the left lane aren't ever a problem as long as they are traveling at the fastest speed of the 3 lanes. In NC they are never moving fast enough to remain in the left lane and highway patrolmen should be ticketing them even if traveling the speed limit. Passing lane only if there's room in the right lanes, is the law on the autobahn and it makes sense.

Its also the law in some states to keep right except to pass. The Carolinas aren't among them.

South Carolina does require slower traffic to be in the right lane(s).  The law was passed a few years ago, but the signage is poor (which is par for SCDOT) because it's posted low on the right shoulder instead of high in the median where the perpetrators might see it.

North Carolina does not have any similar law, and it shows, as I have had more left lane bandit issues there than I have in Ohio (which now has a left lane law and it seems to be working)!  But one thing that might prevent them from passing such a law is their insistence on continuing to build left exits!  Sure, they've gotten rid of a few, but they built a large rest area in the median of I-77 north of Statesville, and they're building some sort of left exit madness on I-26 near the Blue Ridge Pkwy crossing in the never ending widening project south of Asheville.

[sprjus4]

North Carolina loves their left exits. See the new rest area along I-77 north of Statesville as well.

[PColumbus73]

Those who park themselves in the left lane aren't ever a problem as long as they are traveling at the fastest speed of the 3 lanes. In NC they are never moving fast enough to remain in the left lane and highway patrolmen should be ticketing them even if traveling the speed limit. Passing lane only if there's room in the right lanes, is the law on the autobahn and it makes sense.

Its also the law in some states to keep right except to pass. The Carolinas aren't among them.

South Carolina does require slower traffic to be in the right lane(s).  The law was passed a few years ago, but the signage is poor (which is par for SCDOT) because it's posted low on the right shoulder instead of high in the median where the perpetrators might see it.

North Carolina does not have any similar law, and it shows, as I have had more left lane bandit issues there than I have in Ohio (which now has a left lane law and it seems to be working)!  But one thing that might prevent them from passing such a law is their insistence on continuing to build left exits!  Sure, they've gotten rid of a few, but they built a large rest area in the median of I-77 north of Statesville, and they're building some sort of left exit madness on I-26 near the Blue Ridge Pkwy crossing in the never ending widening project south of Asheville.

You would think SCDOT would deploy the "TRUCKS OVER 6 WHEELS MUST USE RIGHT 2 LANES" signs along the length of I-85, they have them on I-95 in Florence.

[Beltway]

You would think SCDOT would deploy the "TRUCKS OVER 6 WHEELS MUST USE RIGHT 2 LANES" signs along the length of I-85, they have them on I-95 in Florence.

South Carolina, like Virginia, doesn't apply lane‑use rules uniformly across an entire Interstate corridor. The distinction usually comes down to functional classification, traffic density, and crash patterns, not the route number itself.

Do they consider certain parts urban and certain parts rural? Virginia has different lane‑use rules on 6+ lane Interstate highways depending on whether a segment is classified as urban, suburban, or rural, and SCDOT may be doing the same thing on I‑85.

I-95 in the Richmond-Petersburg area has no left lane restriction. The rural parts of I-95 ban large trucks from the left lane on 3+ lane directional roadways.

[Mapmikey]

It appears SC does urban-rural for this. I-26 has a truck restriction starting at Exit 197 heading for Charleston.

[architect77]

You would think SCDOT would deploy the "TRUCKS OVER 6 WHEELS MUST USE RIGHT 2 LANES" signs along the length of I-85, they have them on I-95 in Florence.

South Carolina, like Virginia, doesn't apply lane‑use rules uniformly across an entire Interstate corridor. The distinction usually comes down to functional classification, traffic density, and crash patterns, not the route number itself.

Do they consider certain parts urban and certain parts rural? Virginia has different lane‑use rules on 6+ lane Interstate highways depending on whether a segment is classified as urban, suburban, or rural, and SCDOT may be doing the same thing on I‑85.

I-95 in the Richmond-Petersburg area has no left lane restriction. The rural parts of I-95 ban large trucks from the left lane on 3+ lane directional roadways.

I-85 through SC does have this truck lane restriction for all of the 6 lane portion through the upstate.

[NJRoadfan]

The law in NJ is pretty specific, keep right except to pass. Which means, unless you are actively passing someone, stay out of the left lane.

[architect77]

North Carolina loves their left exits. See the new rest area along I-77 north of Statesville as well.

The central rest area serving both directions of travel is the reason for the new left exits to rest areas.

But funding shortfalls has resulted in 2 left lane on ramps to I-440 and US1 in Raleigh unfortunately.

[sprjus4]

North Carolina loves their left exits. See the new rest area along I-77 north of Statesville as well.

The central rest area serving both directions of travel is the reason for the new left exits to rest areas.

Yes... it's still a bad design.

[webny99]

The law in NJ is pretty specific, keep right except to pass. Which means, unless you are actively passing someone, stay out of the left lane.

It is unfortunately very poorly adhered to though, at least in my experience. I-78 in NJ would be one of my favorite interstates if it weren't so darn near impossible to maintain speed due to constant gaggles of traffic with cars in all three lanes moving roughly the same speed. But unlike other parts of the country, there's basically zero predictability with lane speeds, so you almost always get burned when trying to navigate the gaggles: either a bunch of faster traffic will come flying up out of nowhere or a slowpoke will appear in your path out of nowhere. The inconsistency is maddening.

[vdeane]

The law in NJ is pretty specific, keep right except to pass. Which means, unless you are actively passing someone, stay out of the left lane.

It is unfortunately very poorly adhered to though, at least in my experience. I-78 in NJ would be one of my favorite interstates if it weren't so darn near impossible to maintain speed due to constant gaggles of traffic with cars in all three lanes moving roughly the same speed. But unlike other parts of the country, there's basically zero predictability with lane speeds, so you almost always get burned when trying to navigate the gaggles: either a bunch of faster traffic will come flying up out of nowhere or a slowpoke will appear in your path out of nowhere. The inconsistency is maddening.

I-287 has similar problems.  I find that my driving is more aggressive in New Jersey than anywhere else (even NYC), largely for this reason.

[D-Dey65]

Hey, I saw there was an article claiming some kind of funding shortage on the project in Hardeeville. I think the article had a virus on it though.