FDOT finds $120 million: Fuller Warren to be widened

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Can you guys provide specifics on the design that supports your position please?

You could start with the funneling of all 3 lanes of I-10E and combining that with the merge of 2 more lanes of 17N.  Add in the trickle from the Stockton ramp and you essentially have 5+ lanes of traffic, splitting into two single 95S on-ramps that merge together just before the start of the bridge.   Then on top of that CF, you have all 4 lanes of 95S thru traffic merging together at one point. 

I'm no engineer, but when you try to cram 9 lanes of traffic into 3, you're going to have a bad time. 

[thelakelander]

^Most of the preliminary ROW impacts are in Five Points (between Park & Riverside) and in North Riverside where the flyover will be. Since the flyover will be elevated, I wonder if there will be noise impacts in the vicinity of Rosselle between Riverside and Murray Hill? The area it will be going in is currently a wooded stretch surrounding the south branch of Mccoys Creek.

[I-10east]

My only complaint about the interchange is that the signage could be better. It's light years ahead of that prehistoric 'interchange' years ago no matter how anyone try to spin it negatively. The Roosevelt lane merge into I-10East clearly presented a major challenge, that couldn't be rectified with a simple solution (like two lanes going I-95North, and the other two going I-95South) and given that, it's actually pretty well done. The DOT is in a 'no-win' situation by most on an urbanist website; No matter what they would have done (besides lane reduction from the 90's) would've been hated. Some mentioned that the interchange is 'geared for expansion' and they hit the nail on the head; It's clearly not the finished design.   

[kbhanson3]

That's a ridiculous reason for a design that will supposedly be there forever if that is indeed true.

If it is indeed true, it would seem to make more sense that shutting the entire I-95 & I-10 interchange for several years in order to accomplish a perfect design rebuild and in the process detouring all of the interstate and local traffic to other area roads.  We saw what the Mathews Bridge closure & resulting detours did to traffic for a short period of time....

[dougskiles]

If you want to get a sense for what the impact will be during construction on Riverside Park, the Artists Walk and the Riverside Arts Market, drive down Hendricks Avenue underneath the Overland Bridge and look to the east.

[Jumpinjack]

To Lake's question about noise: Our home is about 200 yards from the interstate merger. The highway noise has always been significant but since the most recent expansion of the interstate with elevated flyovers, the noise levels have increased dramatically. Road noise which was deflected by highway barriers is now above those barriers and reflecting into the neighborhood.

These road projects are affecting resale and value of the bungalows and cottages in this part of Riverside. We have mitigated to the extent possible for homeowners with landscaping, double pane windows, heavy doors.  Most of our neighbors living in those bungalows do not have resources to handle increased noise. If you dream of a peaceful and attractive neighborhood for yourself and children, you will think twice about moving here. And anyone who thinks we should quit complaining and ask for a mitigating noise wall, imagine living in your neighborhood encased in concrete walls. 

[fieldafm]

And anyone who thinks we should quit complaining

Riverside needs to get very, very loud on this issue.  This highway expansion will have significant negative impacts on the neighborhood and our communinty in general.

[cline]

So by looking at these plans, it is clear that quite a bit of work and effort has already gone into this project yet this is the first time people are hearing about it- shown at a public meeting as part of mandated Work Program meeting.  That is unacceptable and reeks of deliberate secrecy. 

[tufsu1]

I would suggest the whole urban core needs to get up on this one.  Think about it:

The interchange was under construction from 2006-2010...followed by the Overland Bridge project from 2012-2016....and now this from 2016-2019.

Basically the core will have suffered through 15 years of construction that pretty much solely benefits people outside the core.  Heck, extending this crap through the end of the decade will severely hamper efforts to attract companies downtown...and then the additional highway capacity will be a complete waste anyway!

[MEGATRON]

Just learned that FDOT did NOT talk to RAP about this project in their discussions about the Dog Park.

Not cool at all.

Who cares whether they talk to RAP?

[cline]

Just learned that FDOT did NOT talk to RAP about this project in their discussions about the Dog Park.

Not cool at all.

Who cares whether they talk to RAP?

It matters because they were in direct negotiation with RAP about utilizing land for the dog park.  One would think that when you're in negotiations you might bring up a project that could have a direct impact on this land. 

[Captain Zissou]

Basically the core will have suffered through 15 years of construction that pretty much solely benefits people outside the core.  Heck, extending this crap through the end of the decade will severely hamper efforts to attract companies downtown...and then the additional highway capacity will be a complete waste anyway!

For once I don't want to punch tufsu after a post!!

I think everyone on this site will agree that in 2019 the Core will look nothing like it does today. Based on the growth of Brooklyn, expansion of the San Marco commercial districts towards the Southbank, the potential development of the trio  as a catalyst for downtown, and general densification and connectivity growth within the core; we were on the right track to the most vibrant core that we've had in 30 years. 

Whatever the area does in the next 6 years, this will hold it back and hamper the connectivity.  This is a project for residents of the burbs at the expense of the core.  If FDOT proposed a flyover through deerwood, it would be DOA. This is a denser area and a much denser QOL part of town. We can't let this go forward. It's not needed.

[thelakelander]

Hmm, continued multi-million roadway widening investments at the expense of the neighborhoods under them that will then be used to say we don't have congestion, so no need to improve mass transit.

[fieldafm]

Who cares whether they talk to RAP?

In this case, the expansion of the highway would affect a) the dog park b) the artists walk and c) Riverside Arts Market... all pieces of land that RAP either already has agreements with or is in the process of finalizing agreements with.  I would find it hard to tell a tenant that is in the middle of a lease that their business will be rendered useless in a few days b/c I am tearing their office down so I can extend my own in order to have about 14 inches of more legroom.


Plus, this expansion will negatively effect homes and businesses in the Riverside neighborhood.... you would think a public agency would engage someone (anyone?) in the neighborhood in some meaningful way instead of just completely surprising everyone (with funding already identified) in a normally low-key, ho-hum meeting on Monday night (that is normally reserved to talk about capital projects that have already been vetted publicly) with the bare minimum of notice.

[Captain Zissou]

What kind of commuter rail system could be built for $135M?  I'm guessing $135M would connect the Shoppes to Springfield by streetcar.