Abstract Manager

Have you ever had traffic be so bad that it became a video game?  This is the story of one such location, the background on how it came to be, and how the announcement of a video game led to an effort to implement more cost-effective relief instead of waiting for a much higher cost corridor project.

Exit 3A was constructed as part of Charlotte’s original I-277 loop and was not designed to accommodate the traffic volumes the corridor experiences today. The intent was to create a glorified collector-distributor roadway serving the downtown core of Charlotte.  Additional connections, an NFL stadium, an NHL/NBA stadium, and the steady development of downtown Charlotte have changed the purpose of what was meant to be a simple interstate spur.

Exit 3A on Northbound I-277 in Charlotte, North Carolina is a well-known transportation challenge for motorists that poses both safety and operational concerns. The existing configuration requires drivers Northbound on I-277 to merge across multiple lanes of traffic in a very short distance.  The video game is focused on that 200-meter-long multilane weave and the resulting chaos that ensues.  News of the impeding video game made automotive blogs, video game blogs, and featured heavily in local newscasts triggering a new emphasis on finding a solution that could be funded and built quickly.

Original feasibility study costs exceeded $500 million or more. Our team explored conceptual alternatives that focus on lower-cost solutions aimed at improving traffic flow, reducing conflict points, and minimizing complex lane weaving. The NCDOT is working with the City of Charlotte to help fund these solutions that address the immediate safety and operational concerns for a fraction of the price.

 Exit 3A: The Game on Steam