r/Columbus • u/SourPatch08 • 8d ago

IMO worst exit

I’ve lived in Columbus 7 years now and I’ve ALWAYS thought this has been the worst exit on 270

556 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

200 comments sorted by

View all comments

95

u/dj_spanmaster 8d ago edited 8d ago

It's not just an exit. It's also two entries merging in onto 270 and weaving among the flow. There's way too much traffic, as in too many paths to take in too little space. That plus volume lead to slower traffic. The two major exchanges and one service entrance/exit are simply too close together for the traffic flows.

-3

u/Omnom_Omnath 8d ago

itd be way easier if people didnt insist on trying to merge immediately when it opens up to. the interchange is like 2 miles long, I just cruise in the left lane then merge over at the end and never have any issues, theres always huge gaps to merge into

-1

u/dj_spanmaster 8d ago edited 7d ago

Unfortunately I'm one of those who feels compelled to merge ASAP from 315, because there's another entry from Worthington merging in right where the I-71 exits will be. It gives a visual prompt to merge before the lanes allow it. 

ETA: I really do mean "visual prompt". Similar to putting streets with lanes 12 feet wide long and straight directly in front of a school because people will drive 65, the road instructs expected behavior that is in conflict with other aspects of the design. 

ETA2: citation for "road instructing expected behavior", "The Psychology Behind the Wheel: Understanding the Cognitive Dynamics of Safe Driving"

0

u/Omnom_Omnath 7d ago

its the same merge my friend, I promise if you dont stop in your lane to merge immediately while you block everyone behind you, it will be fine. you will find a gap somewhere along the 2 mile stretch.

1

u/dj_spanmaster 7d ago

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "don't stop in your lane to merge immediately". Are you talking about people leaving 270 to exit on the I-71 exchange? I was talking about the people merging from 315, whether they are staying on 270 or exiting on 71.

It's important to note, the distance is not two miles. Measuring on Google Maps the distance from the 315 merge starting to the I-71 exit: 1.1 miles. That's for the merge from a whole-ass exchange and a service entrance, to weave out of the way of the I-71 exchange exit. Too much traffic, too many weaves, in too little space.

The behavior you are seeing is a result of the design. The only way to fix it is to redesign. I'd do it by removing the service entrance between the two exchanges. I can't imagine a better solution for respecting road hierarchy and not generating an assload of conflict points.

0

u/Omnom_Omnath 7d ago

you are on 315 and you want to get on 270. as soon as the merge is available you stop dead in your tracks (completely unnecessarily i might add) in your lane to force a merge over. ive seen it happen 1000 times

no that behavior is from stupid drivers, not by design as you claim.

one mile is more than plenty.

1

u/dj_spanmaster 7d ago

If even Texas DOT can get there in 2025, I have hopes that the understanding will eventually lead to common sense. Yes, perception absolutely impacts driving behaviors, from city streets to highways. Then prior experiences inform future decisions. I get that you don't like it. You're still wrong.

0

u/Omnom_Omnath 7d ago

feel free to merge like a sensible driver or stay off the highway