Description
The Exit 4 ramp from Wolf Road onto Interstate 87 northbound should be a prime candidate for metered on-ramps when it is reconstructed in the next few years.
The number of cars violently accelerating to merge onto Interstate 87 northbound during the afternoon rush hour causes incredibly dangerous weaving/merging actions.
A metered on-ramp would also free up some of the backups of northbound traffic on the Interstate 87 mainline between Exits 5 and 8, especially around the notorious "Twin Bridges."
12 Comments
warydriver (Guest)
anonymous (Guest)
In response to warydriver:
In virtually every location where ramp metering has been installed, there has been a marked reduction in accidents if the configuration of the traffic signals and if the highway signage leading up to it is properly designed and implemented.
Ramp metering actually decreases accidents, because the timing of the traffic lights provides a steady, regular pattern of traffic entering the freeway, instead of a hap-hazard, chaotic jumble of cars, which is what is occuring at locations like the Wolf Road ramps now.
If motorists would actually look at and study the data, and see demonstrations of ramp metering in action, they would understand how beneficial it is to achieving safer, more-controlled entry of vehicles onto the highway, and less backups on the surface streets.
People are always uneasy about new projects such as roundabouts and new intersection designs (such as the new Single Point Urban Interchange which has been installed at Exit 6 of the Northway in Latham), however I, myself, have noticed that traffic flows much better even during rush hours, and the design dramatically reduces backups onto the side roads. It also appears as though accidents at that location have been substantially reduced.
Here is an old, yet still appropriate video explaining how ramp metering works:
anonymous (Guest)
Sorry, I have to re-post to the link to the video because it didn't show up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsvaGXW6moA
DCW121 (Guest)
anonymous (Guest)
Closed Huckster516 (Registered User)
Reopened concerned citizen (Registered User)
Huckster516 (Registered User)
DWC (Registered User)
"...that nobody other than other people who live in Colonie look at". It was probably reopened because ramp metering would benefit anyone who drives the Northway in the Exit 4 area.
Even though I live 45 miles north of Colonie and drive through the Exit 4 area everyday, congestion in Colonie affects me too. If enough people see the need for changes, maybe the elected officials will make some needed changes... eventually. Ramp meters would be a welcome addition to at least Exit 4 NB and Exit 8 SB. Maybe Exit 7 NB but only if the entrance ramp was lengthened to at least the Pollack Road overpass (Exit 7 NB entrance ramp was totally UNDER built).
Huckster516 (Registered User)
DWC (Registered User)
Huckster516 (Registered User)