Originally Posted by
Spartan
I agree that another bridge is needed. However, I laugh at you trying to say I'm wrong because you perceive some rush hour traffic and congested local highways. Now that I-35 has been widened through Norman, a project that will continue to push south all the way through Norman, [B]there is no regular highway congestion in Norman. [/B]Regular slow spots like between the Flood exit and Tecumseh, which used to be where it narrowed to 2 lanes, have been eliminated. There is almost never rush hour traffic IN Norman - congestion often begins (or ends) about mid-way through Moore, or more realistically wherever that last fender bender happens to be on my way down to Norman. lol
Furthermore, it's absurd to complain about bad traffic 2 hours out of the day and use it as justification for the kind of freeway access that Edmond has. The reality is that during rush hour, Edmond's freeways are at 80-90% capacity, but those 22 other hours of the day probably average at about 20% capacity, which is absurd. Our freeway system is ridiculously over-capacity. So I have little appetite for an argument that I-35 through Cleveland County is at 120% capacity during peak hours, and probably around 40% capacity on average the rest of the day. I believe the peak operable traffic management system would be at around 150% capacity during peak rush hours and average 50% capacity the rest of the day cumulative average. To put this in perspective, the worst spot for traffic in the metro, I-235 and I-44, is probably around 200% capacity between 4:30-5:30, but I believe I've seen some numbers where that capacity too plummets - I believe I-35 through Moore/Norman actually maintains a more constant flow through the 24-hr day cycle than any of the other highways.
The thing is we can quantify traffic counts, which are right around 100,000 cars a day at I-35 and 19th in Moore, and as you'd expect it thins out the further into Norman you get. There are freeways in Texas that have traffic counts around 400,000 cars a day and are being designed for capacity of 800,000 cars a day, like the LBJ in Dallas. So don't talk to me about needing more freeway lanes in Central Oklahoma.
I will agree that Norman street congestion is an issue, but that problem goes to the Norman City Council not sending an ambitious bond package for public works to the voters, and anytime they send a very timid package before voters, it gets rejected.
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