Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC <br /> NC License #F-0102 <br /> <br />kimley-horn.com 300 Morris Street, Suite 200, Durham NC 27701 919 682 3583 <br /> <br />October 21, 2020 <br /> <br />Mr. Michael D. Harvey AICP, CFM, CZO <br />Current Planning Supervisor <br />Orange County Planning Department <br />131 W. Margaret Lane, Suite 201 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> <br /> <br />RE: Efland Station – Exit 160 Relocation <br /> <br /> <br />Dear Michael, <br /> <br />Throughout the course of this project there have been numerous discussions related to the <br />proposed relocation/elimination of the I-40/85 Westbound Exit 160, including neighborhood <br />meetings, responses to comments, and various meetings and calls with County staff and/or <br />NCDOT staff at the District and Statewide level. The intent of this letter is to outline the analysis <br />and discussions related to the proposed relocation/elimination of the I-40/85 Westbound Exit 160. <br /> <br />The I-40/85 Exit 160/161 interchange configuration is often referred to as a type of “braided ramp” <br />interchange, which occurs when the ramps for two closely spaced “diamond” style interchanges <br />overlap. In this specific instance, the existing I-40/85 Westbound Exit 160 interchange ramp <br />configuration (which was implemented in the mid-late 1990’s) is problematic due to the high-speed, <br />free-flow weaving segment where the freeway exiting and entering movements coincide. This <br />configuration lacks sufficient distance(s) for safe deceleration, decision making, and weaving <br />maneuvers and may result in potentially unsafe conditions as traffic volumes increase. <br /> <br />This style of interchange provides direct connections to and from two closely spaced roadways <br />along a freeway; however, the high-speed, free-flow weaving segment presents capacity and <br />safety concerns as traffic volumes increase, thereby limiting the useful life of the interchange <br />system. NCDOT now deems this type of design to be substandard and avoids implementation of <br />this design on new freeway facilities. <br /> <br />While this development proposal accelerates implementation of these necessary improvements to <br />the interchange, it is important to note that NCDOT’s desire to close/relocate Westbound Exit 160 <br />is not generated specifically by the Buc-ee’s (Efland Station) development proposal, or the request <br />for access onto the service road between the US 70/85 Connector and Mt. Willing Road. There <br />are other less intense, viable land use scenarios for the subject property that would also generate <br />traffic sufficient to cause the weaving area to exceed capacity standards, although the ramp <br />closure and associated mitigation measures would likely be cost prohibitive for less intense <br />development proposals. A few examples are listed below. <br /> <br /> <br />018960 <br />10/21/2020 <br />1055