Description
As the two eastbound lanes of Charlotte goes under I-40, the left lane has to merge into the right lane just past the I-40 on ramp. Most drivers in the left lane never see the little "merge" sign way over on the right side of the road, so the "merging" becomes dangerous because everyone thinks they have the right of way. There appears to be enough pavement to run the left lane right on into the left turn lane for the shopping center, but it is lined so that is not allowed.....remove the lines, re-line the pavement so the left land runs on into the left turn lane, put signs up/paint pavement saying "left turn only", and the folks turning into the shopping center will no longer have to merge into the right land to just move back into the left lane to turn into the center....folks going straight will know by the signs that if they want to continue on eastbound Charlotte they will need to merge right as the left lane is identified "left turn only".
I frequently have people in the left lane come over right into me, requiring me to slam on brakes/swerve to avoid a crash...thinking they have the right of way.....very, very dangerout area, and a really easy fix...
11 Comments
Tina (Guest)
Jennifer (Guest)
Ginger (Guest)
This has been an issue which greatly needs correction for several years. Every time I drive through this area, people disregard the merge sign.
Additionally, as noted below, people exiting I-40 eastbound onto Charlotte seem not to realize that they must yield to through traffic already on Charlotte. There should be pavement markings indicating to drivers that their exit ramp space has ended and they must wait for a safe time to merge onto Charlotte.
Public Works (Guest)
Susan (Guest)
Dewey Hamrick (Guest)
The problem has been addressed.....somewhat.
First, new signs with brighter coloring, have been placed on the right of the roadway. Helpful.
Second, arrows have been painted on the lane that ends showing motorists to move to the right.
Continuing problems with this "solution"....
First, the arrows are only painted close to the end of the left lane..not enought time for thru-motorists to safely merge into right lane.....Suggest "lane ends ahead" wording on pavement, or at least arrows begin closer to I-40 which will allow safe movement into the right lane for thru-traffic.
Second, there is still the problem of motorists turning into the shopping center. I have noticed many (since the changes have been made) who stay in the left lane, and go right on thru to the left turn lane at the light.....this confuses those in the right lane as they never know whether that motorist plans to go on to the left turn lane, or plans to merge at the last minute before the light......still a dangerous situation.
Again, the solution to both of these continuing safety problems is to make the left lane a "LEFT TURN ONLY' land, and put that wordling on the pavement as traffic comes under I-40, thereby giving thru-traffic plenty of time to safely merge, and allowing the left turn traffic to stay in that lane on through to the light. If the "reason" for not doing that is the width of the pavement, that is not preventing motorists from doing it anyway.....at least a clear marking would make the current situation much safer.
Lee (Guest)
Lee (Guest)
Lee (Guest)
Susan (Guest)
Closed Dewey Hamrick (Guest)
The issue is STILL not corrected.
In all this intervening time I have seen multiple "near misses", multiple speeders zooming up the "ending" left lane, then forcing themselves into the right lane (to save a second or two??)....and.....unfortunately, I witnessed one hit and run speeder, who used the left lane to pass the cars who had moved to the right lane, then swerved into the right lane and hit the front fender of an elderly couple's car....he never stopped.
It is still beyond me why a sensible "fix" has not been accomplished.