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Crosstown Traffic
Crosstown Traffic is all about getting around in the Triangle. Bad drivers and traffic hassles. Gas taxes and transportation politics. Public transit and other auto alternatives.
The blog is maintained by N&O transportation reporter Bruce Siceloff, whose Road Worrier column is published each Tuesday.
This traffic is two-way. What do you think? Leave a comment or email Bruce with questions, links, tips or gripes.
Still have trouble getting in touch with your Inner Beltline?
Inner 440 Beltline, Outer 440 Beltline. It looks clear enough on a Raleigh highway map, but it can be confusing when you have to pick the right on-ramp in the thick of traffic.
DOT is making plans to simply the circuit ("Redesigned Beltline signs to drop 'Inner' and 'Outer'"). New signs will eliminate the need to think clockwise / counterclockwise. Now wherever you are, you'll be on east or west I-40 (southern Beltline), or on east or west I-440 (the rest).
Here are DOT's old map, and a new map.
Better? Do you have trouble finding your way around the Beltline and Raleigh? Let me know.
[Updated Monday.]
Bruce Siceloff
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. An N&O reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the Road Worrier column in 2003. Lately he drives I-40 with the cruise control set at 62 mph. E-mail Bruce or call him at 919-829-4527.
Comments
a wild alternative to the new Beltline signs?
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 23:13 — plusafpicture this:
on top: the standard shield of the I-440 Interstate Highway.
IN THE MIDDLE, BETWEEN THE TWO, A CIRCLE, WITH ARROWS SHOWING "CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE" to describe WHICH WAY AROUND RALEIGH's "center" you will be going.
on the bottom [depending on location,] Inner Beltline or Outer Beltline
crazy idea, eh? took me a year or two to figure out that's what "inner" and "outer" MEANT, and in a minute, it all cleared up.
of course, with digital watches, some training might still be needed as to what "clockwise" and "counter-clockwise" mean..... :)
Beltline redesignation
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 12:28 — Bob (not verified)Bruce, I think you overused the word "only" in the following sentences from Sunday's article:
* The southern Beltline's eight miles from Exit 293 (U.S. 1 / 64 in southwest Raleigh) to Exit 301 (the I-40 split in southeast Raleigh) will be known only as I-40. "East" instead of "Outer." "West" instead of "Inner."
* The other 16 miles -- running north from Exit 293, curving past Crabtree Valley and North Hills, looping south past WakeMed and closing the circle again at Exit 301 -- will be known only as I-440. East instead of inner, and west instead of outer.
There will still be a part of the Beltline that is also designated as US 1 (Exit 1 [which should really be Exit 0, but that's another story]) northward and eastward to Exit 11). Likewise, most of the rest of the Beltline will continue to be signed as US 64 (Exit 293 eastward to Exit 301, then northward to Exit 14). And one mile (Exit 13 to Exit 14) is still US 64 Business. In fact, only a short stretch of the whole Beltline (Exit 11 to Exit 13, which is purely I-440) will NOT bear a dual designation. The DOT change merely reduces a triple-designation (I-40, I-440 and US 64 on the 293-301 stretch) to a dual-designation (I-40 and US 64).