ThrU Turn Simulations! Here are Signage Examples for the ThrU Turn. Expect a heck of a lot of signage to direct which way to go and Not Go!
Here is the video of the ThrU turn Simulation for 141 & State Bridge Rd.
Look how light the traffic is in the video...who could be against this?
Sources: Virginia DOT & City of Johns Creek
I love how within five seconds of a light change all the cars are at full speed. That's never been my experience at a red light. Notice the light traffic heading south on 141 into the intersection? What time of day is this supposed to be?
I want to see the simulation at rush hour-6:00 p.m.
I realize this is a model. But it should be a realistic model, I calculated the speed of the white car that turns right off Medlock Crossing onto State Bridge. It takes the car 6 seconds to cover the .1752 miles to the center of the intersection.
Using the time, speed and distance calculator that comes out to a speed of 106 mph.
I have to ask why the traffic is being shown moving so quickly? Do those that look at this model and are expected to vote on it realize this?
Slow it down and it will be obvious the volume of traffic is not what any of us experience during our commutes.
Fun Game: The Interchange at 285 and 85 earned the name Spaghetti Junction. What would be a good name for this intersection if the thru-U is approved?
This interchange will not work, it will be required to shut down all cars turning right on red in every direction. This will have to be done in the interest of public safety. If it is not shut down we will see a dramatic increase in T-bone accidents at this intersection as cars turning on red trying to get across three lanes of traffic to enter the queue for the U-turn.
Another issue will be the cars turning right on a green light that has filled the queue for the U-turn and then extending the tail of the queue across three lanes of traffic at the intersection thereby blocking thru traffic as is already the case for many making a left turn at the existing interchange.
This is a complete waste of money and has absolutely no way to help with the traffic at this corner, it will actually make it worse.
https://twitter.com/JohnsCreekGAgov Tweet your comments on this to https://twitter.com/JohnsCreekGAgov
Please let them hear from you. Silence is the green light-for wasteful spending.
Excellent suggestion...I am not big on Facebook, but I think there is a place there to also post feedback.
This is just a temporary fix at this intersection.
This simulation does not show rush hour traffic correctly at this intersection. There will be back up onto the mainline for these U-Turn.
It is definitely most economic construction cost. This intersection needs to be grade separate similar to Pleasant Hill Road at Buford Highway in Gwinnett County.
I wish the city, county, and GDOT can put more effort on fixing this intersection instead of putting a bandit on it.
This simulation video is quite interesting. The cars do seem to be going fast and the traffic volume in the video is more like a Sunday at 2PM, on Mother’s Day. It also doesn’t seem to account for the mobile-device distraction that prevents many drivers from realizing the light has changed. But that’s another matter altogether.
Looking at this further, is this video the product of modeling software? If so, why not run modeling simulations using actual volume numbers at that intersection, say at 8AM, 10AM, 2PM, and 6PM. Such simulations would greatly help to illustrate any benefits or problems with this idea. I think there will be lots of problems!!
For example, today there are two lanes turning left going all directions. Yet the simulation video only shows one lane for the U-Turns. Should these U-turn queues fill up, say to the intersection itself, that will certainly create a problem. Again modeling simulations would help to reveal these things.
Thanks Zane. You have been an excellent resource for these traffic issues.
This type of intersection works well in Michigan. I do not think it will work here as the volume of traffic on both roads is much greater.
Another idea would be to build a type of flyover, similar to that along Peactree Industrial and Jimmy Carter.
I've actually attended a seminar about this type of intersection configuration. I was skeptical at first, but as I listened to more, it started making sense. I had actually mentioned this to someone at Johns Creek a few years ago as a possibility to improve congestion at this intersection. With 12 different movements which are almost all high volume, it is a major challenge to improve congestion for an intersection like this. If I'm not mistaken, I believe there are something like 100k vehicles per day traveling through this intersection.
The proposed Michigan style intersection configuration is heavily dependent on the right signal timing, however. Right turns will probably need to be controlled to prevent more frequent collisions due to merging of traffic turning right and cutting across to make a U-turn. It will likely be necessary to have two right turn lanes to limit excessive queuing during red lights. This is my guess without actually looking at data, but with a lot of experience traveling through the intersection and some transportation engineering background.
I hope it does help the congestion! I have an 11.5 mile commute from Norcross and it sometimes takes almost an hour coming home. I don't even try to go down 141 in the morning. Fortunately, 120 is better in the morning going southeast than it is in the afternoon going northwest (the 120 widening is also badly needed - too bad we have to wait a few more years!).
Thanks for posting the simulation!
I've experienced the MI U-turn and it works very nicely. My first encounter was not good as I didn't understand what was going on. But after that it made great sense and I've grown to appreciate it's efficiency. Earlier comments made here are childish as they try to diminish a sound concept by evaluating the timing of dots on a demonstration. Grow up folks this really works, is safer, and traffic all moves faster. I'm hopeful it will be installed at State Bridge and 141 to clear up the current mess.
Zane has a good point, the modeling software will indicate if the actual volume can handle a MI U-turn. I'm not a traffic Engineer but I know if the design is scaled to the traffic volume it will work. However there might not be enough room to extend turn lanes to eliminate gridlock.
A demonstration video, NOT a realism driven simulation.
Are we living in a video game world?