Slug-Lines.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > General Slugging Questions and Comments > General Slugging Topics
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - 236 To 644 Freebies!!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

236 To 644 Freebies!!

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
taurusrex View Drop Down
New Slug
New Slug


Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 0
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote taurusrex Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 236 To 644 Freebies!!
    Posted: 06 Sep 2007 at 9:20pm
I have forwarded the following to the contact person @ the VDOT
Springfield Interchange Project Office website:

The Springfield Interchange is a job-well-done!

There is a portion of the HOV lanes - evening southbound - between VA236 and Old Keene Mill Rd
which, for the duration of the SI project, has been open daily during peak hours to non-HOV vehicles.

Now that the project is complete will those vehicles now be re-routed away from the HOV to the
main south bound lanes. Will we see some relief from this intrusion soon. Please respond. MM

*No answer yet!
Back to Top
sluDgE View Drop Down
Master Slug
Master Slug


Joined: 27 Oct 2003
Status: Offline
Points: 501
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sluDgE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 7:06am
Actually, the afternoon southbound lanes are open to non-HOV traffic during HOV hours at the Turkeycock Run entrance ramp (located at the bottom of the hill between Duke Street and Edsall Rd). Non-HOV traffic must now exit at one of the next two exits south of the Turkeycock Run entrance ramp(either Va 644 Old Keene Mill Rd or the following exit which is the flyover for Backlick Rd or back to the regular southbound I-95 lanes). The third exit after the Turkeycock Run entrance ramp is at Va 7900 (the Franconia-Springfield Parkway), and it is "HOV-3 only" during HOV restricted hours. All three of these afternoon exits are from the left HOV lane.

It seems that the main reason the Va 644 HOV exit is open is it allows traffic to exit safely onto the two westbound lanes of Va 644. When cars exit off the regular lanes onto Va 644 westbound, those cars must do a "mixing bowl" across three lanes of heavy traffic already on Va 644 to get into the two left lanes that continue west of Springfield Plaza. It's much less dangerous to all Va 644 traffic to allow cars to exit off the Va 644 HOV exit.

It appears the late afternoon back-up at Springfield is caused mainly by cars entering the HOV at 6 PM from both Va 7900 and the entrance ramp from the regular lanes a short distance south of Va 7900. We've seen traffic backed up north to Va 644 because of that situation. Haven't really seen a back-up caused by the Turkeycock Run entrance or the Va 644 and Backlick Rd exits.
Back to Top
taurusrex View Drop Down
New Slug
New Slug


Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 0
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote taurusrex Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 3:09pm
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Non-Hov's have been allowed to run the 2 miles
to 644 to avoid the no-longer-existing dangerous crossover to 644.
In other words, there is no longer any need for this intrusive safety valve.

Finally, herewith a response by Steve Titunik of VDOT to my inquiry:

The HOV lanes at Turkeycock is currently under review for closing off to non-HOV motorists during HOV hours. A decision and closing plan may occur by the end of the year. Thanks for writing.
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld


-----Original Message-----
From: Martin xxxxxxxxxxxx@hotmail.com>
To: NOVA Springfield Interchange Information (Public)
Sent: Thu Sep 06 21:43:07 2007
Subject: H O V Lanes

The Springfield Interchange is a job-well-done!

There is a portion of the HOV lanes - evening southbound - between VA236 and Old Keene Mill Rd
which, for the duration of the SI project, has been open daily during peak hours to non-HOV vehicles.

Now that the project is complete will those vehicles now be re-routed away from the HOV to the
main south bound lanes. Will we see some relief from this intrusion soon. Please respond. MM

Back to Top
sluDgE View Drop Down
Master Slug
Master Slug


Joined: 27 Oct 2003
Status: Offline
Points: 501
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sluDgE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2007 at 8:43pm
T'Rex,
That's true too.
Just pointing out that one possible reason the Va644 HOV exit remains open to non-HOV may be because the exit contributes to the safety of all traffic on westbound Old Keene Mill Rd.
Our carpool uses that exit most every day, and we don't see that it causes a backup problem on the HOV lanes. It appears to us that the major HOV backup problem is from traffic entering at the next two HOV entrances that I mentioned in my earlier post.
If VDOT does decide to change the Turkeycock Run (TCR) entrance to HOV3-only for now, that's understandable - and it won't impact our 4-person carpool at all since we enter HOV at the Pentagon.
But in the big scheme of things, the TCR entrance will be just another EZPass access point onto the HOT lanes. Then HOV-3, and those SOVs willing to pay the toll, can do the same thing they do today at that entrance.
Just pray that all the publicity about HOT lanes remaining FREE for HOV3+ is true as VDOT and DMV advertise.
Just curious as to what exact problems you have had at the TCR entrance & Va644 exit, and what time do you go southbound through there? Need more info to understand what you believe is a problem. We pass through there between 4:30 and 5 PM most days.
Back to Top
Oosik View Drop Down
New Slug
New Slug


Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Location: VA
Status: Offline
Points: 0
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oosik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2007 at 8:52am
Rather than end the practice of allowing non-HOV vehicles to enter at this point for a short duration -- it should be extended just a bit further to allow drivers to exit onto the Fairfax County Parkway (West) / Franconia Springfield Parkway exit. The ONLY way to get on this particular road off of 95 is to do so from the HOV lane. For the many drivers who end up taking this major road it can cause a huge problem to exit on 644 and then work your way onto Backlick to go down to the Parkway. In fact, with the new flyover from 395 the need to exit at 644 or to exit onto that portion of the road to Fort Belvoir that is known as the Fairfax County Parkway there is no need to use HOV. Only those individuals hoping to get off on the Franconia Springfield Parkway need to use HOV lanes.

I wonder who thought that it would be a great idea to have a major six lane road intersect with 95 and not provide anyway, except for HOV lanes, to get onto / from 95?
Back to Top
MDC View Drop Down
New Slug
New Slug


Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Status: Offline
Points: 0
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MDC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Sep 2007 at 5:05pm
They have access from the regular lanes. It's Just not very convenient. Exit on Backlick then make an illegal U-turn and you're there.
Back to Top
sluDgE View Drop Down
Master Slug
Master Slug


Joined: 27 Oct 2003
Status: Offline
Points: 501
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sluDgE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2007 at 6:43am
Oosik,
Not the best of news, but you will be able to exit solo at Va7900 to head west on the parkway once the HOT lanes begin.
You'll need to get an EZPASS to pay the toll for the distance of HOT lanes you use. During the height of rush hour, Turkeycock Run to Va7900 will probably cost you just a few bucks.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.10
Copyright ©2001-2017 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.078 seconds.