Jackson, MS: MDOT will eliminate a loop ramp at I-55 & Lakeland Drive

[berberry]

From WLOX.  It will mean slower access for some to an important ER, but at least the dreadful weave on westbound Lakeland will be history!

[richllewis]

This is the only report on this from WLBT:

http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/24442056/i-55s-westbound-lakeland-drive-exit-to-close

This is the story on WAPT.com:

http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/i55s-westbound-lakeland-drive-exit-to-close/-/9156912/23920330/-/12jefk6/-/index.htm

Here is a much more extensive review from the Clarion Ledger:

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140114/NEWS/301140027/Interstate-55-westbound-Lakeland-Drive-exit-close?nclick_check=1

[CarolinaPaladin]

It would make sense to remove the entry ramp from Lakeland Drive westbound to I-55 southbound.  The last thing you want are ambulances en route to a hospital with a trauma patient waiting at a traffic signal.  As exit 98B provides access from I-55 northbound to Lakeland Drive westbound, exit 98C is not necessary.

It would be wise to consider improving the interchange into an single point urban interchange.

[NE2]

The last thing you want are ambulances en route to a hospital with a trauma patient waiting at a traffic signal.
[...]
It would be wise to consider improving the interchange into an single point urban interchange.

What?

[CarolinaPaladin]

The last thing you want are ambulances en route to a hospital with a trauma patient waiting at a traffic signal.
[...]
It would be wise to consider improving the interchange into an single point urban interchange.

What?

Maybe a single point urban interchange is not a wise idea after all.

[NE2]

PS: you know there are devices that allow ambulances to change lights to green?

[CarolinaPaladin]

PS: you know there are devices that allow ambulances to change lights to green?

Yes, I am aware of them.  I usually do not see them in use out where I live.

[froggie]

As I recall, Mississippi does not have such devices.  That said, there really isn't a lot of traffic making the movement from NB 55 to westbound Lakeland, hence why they plan to close the loop to begin with.  The vast majority of non-through traffic is going south and east.

[berberry]

The ambulance will be able to control the traffic light, and this in fact may be a faster route for them.  Instead of the long one-lane loop there will be a much straighter shot, with one left turn in a choice of three left-turn lanes.  This will eliminate the dangerous weaving on west-bound Lakeland.  Long overdue!

[UptownRoadGeek]

It would be nice if they could use this as an opportunity to bring the exit/entrance ramps on the eastern side of the interchange closer to the interstate and open all of the land that is currently occupied to development, but given that we are talking about Mississippi, that would make too much sense and probably cost too much to actually happen. The Woodrow Wilson interchange could use some down-sizing as well.

[richllewis]

For all of you who don't know: Eastbound Lakeland Drive is also MS 25 going East and if you drive it further it links Flowood and NE Rankin county on the way to Carthage, Louisville, and Starkville. St Domenic hospital is on the west side of I-55 on Lakeland Dr and Lakeland Dr goes to State Street and Old Canton Rd near the Fonderen area of Jackson. It is also the back way to Univ.of Mississippi Medical Center as many Streets from Lakeland Dr is the back entrance in to this area of hospitals, clinics and Classrooms. You have to know this area of the UMMC campus in order to find where you want to go. This is the reason for less traffic since most of the St Dominic Hospital traffic uses Lakeland Dr going west and UMMC traffic uses Woodrow Wilson Dr. Also this area of town is a nice little residential area. It stands to reason that there is less traffic going west and more going East.