Nobody Reports on Merge!

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   It sure would be great if WTOP, XM Satellite, any other radio station, or even this website, would report on the extent of the merge backup on a daily basis, so that you could decide what to do BEFORE you get down there.  They always report on the mainlines, but nobody ever specifically says anything about how far back the HOV merge (in the HOV lanes) is backed up.  Obviously, if it is a mile, many would want to bail into the main lanes.  The best I can do is just get off at 234 every Friday just for good measure.  But sometimes, on other days of the week, it gets backed up for miles and you don't know until you run into it.

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miltrade Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote miltrade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Nobody Reports on Merge! Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 2:16pm
	It sure would be great if WTOP, XM Satellite, any other radio station, or even this website, would report on the extent of the merge backup on a daily basis, so that you could decide what to do BEFORE you get down there. They always report on the mainlines, but nobody ever specifically says anything about how far back the HOV merge (in the HOV lanes) is backed up. Obviously, if it is a mile, many would want to bail into the main lanes. The best I can do is just get off at 234 every Friday just for good measure. But sometimes, on other days of the week, it gets backed up for miles and you don't know until you run into it.

carleric Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote carleric Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 2:33pm
	Good point. Those of us who don't go through it don't think about it terribly often but my colleagues who use it NEVER have good things to say. Even looking at the cameras online before you leave doesn't help 'cause things can change dramatically before you get there. Honestly, though: is the merge EVER good?

msticaries Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote msticaries Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 2:39pm
	Actually on B101.5, Alex does report on the merge, when there is a backup he lets you know. :)

Lone Wolf Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 19 Aug 2005 Location: Va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lone Wolf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 2:42pm
	It's always good to bail on Friday's. Just do it. Always.

miltrade Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote miltrade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 2:59pm
	quote: Originally posted by msticaries [br]Actually on B101.5, Alex does report on the merge, when there is a backup he lets you know. :) I've heard that report, they report on the merge as it relates to the main lines, they don't say "the HOV is backed up for x miles at the merge"

sharonji27 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote sharonji27 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 3:42pm
	I have heard the traffic reports on B101.5 and they will say how far the merge is backed up at times. But I agree on Fridays it is best as a general rule to bail at the earlier exit to the main lanes.

msticaries Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote msticaries Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 3:44pm
	quote: Originally posted by sharonji27 [br]I have heard the traffic reports on B101.5 and they will say how far the merge is backed up at times. But I agree on Fridays it is best as a general rule to bail at the earlier exit to the main lanes. He does for the most part, but I ALWAYS bail on Friday. [:D]

gonova Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote gonova Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Aug 2005 at 7:35pm
	I think today, both B101.5 AND WTOP reported on the backup at the merge. WTOP (Bob Marlburg) said it was backed up past the truck scales and Alex said pretty much the same thing. What really pissed me off was the number of people using the right breakdown lane as their own personal express lane (couple of New York vehicles did this), or vehicles entering and exiting where not authorized. I was very happy that VA Patrol caught some folks jumping from the mainlines into the HOV (too bad for the Vermont dude in that vehicle with three others behind him in the dirt between the mainline and HOV). I just wish they'd use the manpower they used to clog up the morning commute yesterday to catch out of towners et al. who screw things up for the rest of us.

Luvmyhybrid Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luvmyhybrid Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 2005 at 11:52am
	Like many other savvy sluggers on Fridays, we too bail out at the exit before the merge. It's comic relief when you see out-of-staters bailing ONTO the HOV's when it appears (falsely so) that the HOV's are going faster, ONLY to be caught at a complete stop round-about the truck scales. While it's slow for a mile/two past the scales, the main lanes go much faster all the way thru the merge....

defender Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote defender Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Aug 2005 at 12:57pm
	Fun to see them cut-in illegally to be nabbed by unmarked car waiting by the flyover, or those who cut-out, by the weigh station, with trooper waiting at the just up the the road.