MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (August 12, 2016) - The Town of Mount Pleasant Transportation Department recently completed a post construction study to determine the Level of Service (LOS) improvements and the decrease in vehicle delays, following completion of a newly constructed free flowing on-ramp for westbound I-526, near the intersection of Long Point Road and Belle Hall Parkway. The results are in: it worked!
The I-526 On-Ramp Project is part of the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan, a five-year plan prioritizing funding for infrastructure improvements town wide. The project was designed to improve traffic flow and decrease vehicle delays along westbound Long Point Road prior to the on-ramp. It was also built to improve traffic flow and reduce wait time for residents living in the Belle Hall area.
Traffic volumes were counted in 2010, 2013, and 2016, in addition to vehicle delays measured in units of seconds per vehicle to measure the effectiveness of the intersection. The delay experienced during the pre-construction morning peak hours was extremely high. Wait times of 86 seconds developed on Long Point Road, from vehicles trying to access the westbound I-526 on-ramp. These resulted in a LOS of F. The extended wait times reduced the amount of gaps in traffic where vehicles from Belle Hall Parkway could safely enter the lanes along Long Point Road.
Several months after the completion of the project, the results are in and data shows it worked. Delays for both the morning and evening peak periods were significantly reduced from 86 seconds to 17 seconds in the morning, and from 23 seconds to 16 seconds in the evening. The LOS for the intersection of Long Point Road at the I-526 off-ramp improved from an E to a Level of Service B.
In addition to the overall LOS, delays were decreased and the vehicle stacking during the peak periods were reduced by approximately 250 ft. along Belle Hall Parkway and 400 ft. along Long Point Road.
For more information about the Capital Improvement Plan, visit us online at www.tompsc.com. To view videos of CIP projects, visit our Media Center.
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