Big doings in Matthews tonight as NC DOT explains its plans for the 485-Weddington Road interchange to the public. The oft-delyed new interchange would relieve stress on Hwy. 16 and connector roads across South Charlotte, but the state has come up with a humdinger of a plan to squeeze the interchange into an already fairly built-up area.
Local residents note that the addition of medians and lanes on Weddington would make getting in and out of now bustling shopping centers very difficult. (Full disclosure: I’m one of the residents.)
I haven’t completely decided what I make of the plans — on first pass they look wacky — or if there is any way to come up with something better than what NC DOT has in hand. But I intend to find out.
Update: An NC DOT official made it clear just how 485 interchanges can confuse drivers and lead to wrong-way crashes. Using his laser-pointer to trace the on-ramps on a map for the assembled crowd at Matthews Community Center, the official made a wrong turn and started heading in the wrong direction before being corrected by the crowd.
Take the interchange off a map and put in it the wild along with poor lighting and signage and it is little wonder our Crackhead Beltway can be a menace.
