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KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC <br />NC License #F-0102 <br /> <br /> <br />kimley-horn.com 300 Morris Street, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701 919 682 3583 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br />To: Mr. Craig Benedict, AICP – Orange County Planning Dept. <br />Mr. Michael Harvey, AICP – Orange County Planning Dept. <br />From: Earl Lewellyn, P.E. - Kimley-Horn <br />CC: <br />Mr. Kevin Lacy, PE – NCDOT <br />Mr. Chuck Edwards, PE – NCDOT <br />Mr. Clarence Bunting, PE – NCDOT <br />Date: October 8, 2020 <br />Subject: Beaver Crossing – Efland, NC – Exit 160 Weaving Assessment <br /> <br />In discussions regarding the Beaver Crossing project, North Carolina Department of <br />Transportation (NCDOT) staff has consistently expressed significant concerns with the existing <br />substandard “braided ramp” configuration along I-40/85 between Mt. Willing Road and the US <br />70/85 Connector. More specifically, the existing interchange ramp configuration is substandard <br />for two primary reasons: (1) it presents a high-speed conflict point only 645 feet from the I-40 <br />Westbound Exit 160 gore area without a deceleration lane, and (2) the weaving area is only <br />1,075 feet, compared to a minimal standard of 2,000 feet. It should also be noted that the <br />problem of substandard weaving distance is further compounded by the lack of a deceleration <br />lane for exiting traffic. <br /> <br />The combination of high speeds, insufficient weaving distance and increasingly high traffic <br />volumes will ultimately cause this weave segment to fail from a capacity perspective. Based on <br />the current geometry and traffic volumes, this weaving segment will approach failure with the <br />addition of approximately 600 peak hour trips within the weaving segment. Below are examples <br />of other land use scenarios for the subject property that would generate sufficient traffic to cause <br />the weaving area to exceed capacity standards. <br /> <br /> 210,000 SF Shopping Center <br /> 20-Pump C-Store; 40,000 SF Gym; 110,000 SF Shopping Center; 60,000 SF Medical <br />Office <br /> 20-Pump C-Store; (2) 5,000 SF Fast Food Restaurants: 85,000 SF Shopping Center; <br />60,000 SF Medical Office <br /> <br />Although the land use scenarios described above are viable options for development of this site, <br />it would likely be cost prohibitive for such projects to fund the exit ramp closure and associated <br />mitigation measures. <br />018960 <br />10/8/2020 <br />1053