If you have followed my blog at all over the past year, you know that I expect the Monroe Expressway to be a “game changer” for the economy of Anson County, but until now few practical details about the road have been made public. Today, Megan, Shelby and I attended a briefing by NC Turnpike Authority Director of Outreach and Community Affairs Warren Cooksey that filled in many of the blank spaces, and I wanted to share that information with you.
When will the Monroe Expressway open?
Cooksey indicated that the Expressway is on schedule to open in “late fall” of 2018, but noted that “fall” technically extends to December 20th. Based on these comments, I think we can reasonably infer that the road will open sometime in December of this year.
How much time will the Expressway save the average driver?
Assuming that a driver takes the entire 18 mile trip from Exit 255 in Stallings to Exit 273 in Marshville, the minimum time savings will be 15 minutes. However, the Expressway bypasses 25 stoplights, so depending on traffic and timing, the time savings could be as much as 30 minutes. This would easily put Peachland within 45 minutes of Uptown Charlotte.
What will be the speed limit on the Expressway?
Most of the 18 miles will be posted 65 MPH. A small section near the Marshville exit will be posted 55.
Where are the entry and exit points?
The Expressway begins at Exit 255 on US Highway 74 about a mile east of I-485 and ends at Exit 273 near Marshville. In between, there are six exits spaced 2-4 miles apart. The Expressway can be accessed at any exit.
Will there be a cost to drive the Expressway?
The Monroe Expressway is a toll road. Fees will be assessed based on miles driven and tracked by a system of overhead gantries. The lowest toll, for 2-axle vehicles with the NC Quick Pass, will be about 14 cents per mile, or $2.54 for the entire Expressway. Three-axle (panel trucks) and 4-axle (semi trucks) vehicles will pay a higher toll.
How will drivers pay the toll?
Drivers will not be required to stop and pay a toll. Tolls will be paid in one of two ways; NC Quick Pass or Bill By Mail. NC Quick Pass works a little like an electronic debit card. Drivers sign up at NCQuickPass.com and put funds into an account. The minimum deposit is $20. With the account, drivers get a free transponder (basically a barcode sticker) that adheres to their windshield. Scanning devices in the gantries “read” the transponder and deduct the proper amount from the account. The free transponder will also work on toll roads in Georgia and Florida. For $7.40, drivers can get a more sophisticated transponder that will also work with the EZ Pass system which is popular in the Midwest and East Coast states.
Drivers who use the Expressway infrequently or do not wish to set up an account will be billed by mail. For drivers without the transponder, cameras in the gantries photograph the license plate and a bill is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. Because of the added administrative costs associated with mailing, the toll for Bill By Mail is 35% higher, or about $3.92 for the entire 18 miles. After the first Bill By Mail invoice, drivers may opt to receive bills by email. Email billing is subject to the same 35% premium as physical mail billing.
What will happen if a driver has a breakdown or other problem on the Expressway?
The Expressway is a state highway, like any other state highway. It will be patrolled by state troopers, subject to all traffic laws and regulations, and accessible by all emergency services. There is also a customer service number associated with the turnpike authority which can be used to report issues such as potholes, broken signage and billing problems.
How many drivers are expected to use the Expressway?
Projections are that roughly half of drivers will choose to take the Expressway over the free US Highway 74 route through Monroe. At the western end, that amounts to about 33,000 vehicles per day and at the eastern end about 9,000 vehicles per day. It is expected that the rate of usage will be somewhat higher for trucks than it is for cars.
How will the tolls be used?
The tolls generated by the Expressway will be used to maintain the road and to pay off the $800 million proect cost. By law, tolls cannot be used to support other road projects.
What about the Original Monroe Bypass, Highway 218?
ReplyDeleteHurricane Florence has shut the last leg of 218 near Anson County down early. People will appreciate the Expressway more once it opens. Until then it's US 74 and the 25 stoplights for everybody!
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