Haven’t seen it myself but that sounds de dumb as hell. 64E merging on there has had a sign for years that says left lane ends. Force them to merge into the right lane before it joins 95S.

We're talking about the "K" merge? God, what a death trap.

I've not seen the new traffic pattern, but what you're describing is what most locals do coming south on 95. You know there's going to be cars merging left joining from 64, so I always merge left in anticipation and to give them room. Exit 78 is a little soon after the merge, but not so close you have to take crazy maneuvers to get to it in time. Keep in mind the speed limit there is 55mph (though no one follows that).

Unless I’m picturing the wrong area, I despise this spot. When I’m coming from the 95 side to get on the boulevard exit, people with the yield sign do the opposite of yielding. I often avoid the highway for my commute because of this spot. It’s not worth the headache and anxiety.

I’m having a hard time picturing the new traffic pattern but I have seen them doing road construction on the boulevard exit for weeks now.

Who makes these kinds of design decisions? They seem like they shouldn’t be in that line of work.

Except for the people that want the Boulevard exit, they (used to) stay in the right lane so they could get to the exit more easily. Especially important during morning rush hour when everyone is getting on 95S from 64/195

The new traffic pattern extends the left of the two lanes on 64E as you merge onto 95S so that you’re not immediately merging onto 95 right as you come around the bend. It’s the exact same principal as before it just allows more time for drivers on 64 to actually zipper merge left onto 95 instead of being dumped into it. If you’re in the right lane on 95 cars would always have been merging into you from your right now there’s just more space to safely do it. I have no problems with this change

For what it's worth, that merge also includes traffic from 195, not just 64E

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This spot scares the crap out of me, I've seen the general traffic IQ of the local populace...

But that’s two lanes instantly becoming one before this which gets super sketchy

I'm really bad at picturing stuff when people are talking about traffic patterns lmao but that sudden merge right before Exit 78 to Boulevard has always been like that?? Like since 2006 when I moved here.

The merge onto 95S needs 2 lanes waaaaay more than 95S needs 3 lanes through here.

I do the 95 south to Boulevard exit 2-3 times a week during morning rush. The people coming from 64 tend to bunch up and leave no gaps which is super annoying. The basic problem here is an exit too close to a major merge. The right solution would be a flyover ramp from 95 to cross over 64 and exit to Boulevard or maybe Westwood Ave. but that would be beaucoup expensive.

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https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/richmond/richmond---i-95-south-bryan-park-lane-restriping-and-ramp-improvements-at-arthur-ashe-boulevard.asp

The Mad max corridor

I too, just experienced this new pattern (yesterday). While it's definitely an improvement for the folks coming from 64E, the loss of the lane from 95S definitely needs more warning/signage.

Yes, the exit from 95S onto Boulevard is more difficult with having to cross two lanes, but at least we're not fighting so hard with the folks on 64 trying to squeeze into "our" lane. I haven't come from the 64E side, but I'm hoping there was a signage change to encourage drivers to stay left and keep folks out of the exit only lane who don't intend to exit. I suspect this may have happened since the actual exit-only lane is much more empty at morning rush hour than before this traffic pattern change.

Thank you for sharing this! This is exactly what I meant. But, there were NO SIGNS that the right lane (of the 3 on 95) ends suddenly beofre the 64 merge, unless I missed it/them. Has anyone been through to confirm there isn't a sign? I got on 95 from the Chamberlayne exit-maybe there are signs before then? Or I just missed them? I know it's a new traffic pattern, but that's especially when a sign is needed.

Looking at the new layout, I'm not sure why they didn't just make 2 exit only lanes for 64/195. It would make the Hermitage/Lakeside entrance a bit harder in traffic, but honestly, that entrance shouldn't be there anyhow. It should be moved further up if possible and be fully merged before all the 64/195 stuff

The final layout looks like it will have 2 lanes for the Boulevard exit, so it ends up being just one merge to the right to get off. That makes this a net positive once it's done I think

I drive it daily, they have the big mobile sign that says NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN that you mentioned, and the lane that merges has big white merge arrows painted since the first morning it was put in place. Plus that merge is super long, not sure how it caught you so off guard tbh. But hey, now ya know.

I don’t think there is a yield sign coming off 64 onto 95s in that spot. It just says lane ends and shows a merge sign right before you hop on.

The reason they are bunched up like that is traffic is often backed up near the staples mill exit and traffic typically goes from 15 mph to needing to merge at 55 with no merge lane.

It’s a horribly designed highway. Honestly they either need a flying exit or to close the exit for boulevard there. The amount of cars coming on from 64 is huge.

I drove that this morning (coming from 64, eastbound) and didn’t notice anything different and traffic was as much as a cluster fuck as it always is. I’m suspecting most people (like me) missed all the signs and were driving like zombies this morning. There was definitely a truck with a giant trailer coming down that lane (right most lane on 95) making it extra hard for me to merge left with the 95 traffic…

Gotcha-I was in rush-hour traffic, so maybe the traffic/cars in front of me blocked the arrows painted on the road. Thank you! And you're right-now I know and will just get over to the left sooner. Thanks for your reply!

Thanks for your reply! It's true that the Boulevard Exit lane was emptier, and it makes sense that it will be emptier once people learn the new pattern. That makes me hopeful that exiting there won't be too problematic. I appreciate your reply!

I’ve been waiting for this improvement for over six years. It’s 1000 times better than what it was.

Get 95 the fuck out of city limits. Delete this shit at 295 fam. Powhite too maybe.

I'm not sure what the ultimate plan is for the exit itself. Seems like they may be making it into two lanes, one for northbound Boulevard traffic, and another for south(?)

I noticed a large yellow sign 'RIGHT LANE ENDS - 1 MILE AHEAD' on 95S before there, yesterday about 3pm. I hadn't seen the sign before and I drive that stretch at least 7 days a week if not more. Saw the VDOT trucks with yellow flashing lights working on that stretch before the K-merge. I figured they were setting it up when I took the 195S exit. Thanks for the heads-up.

I hate that exit so much. I can only hope it will get better

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IT'S DIFFERENT AND I DON'T LIKE IT

Thanks for your reply! Glad they have signs up. Stay safe out there!

In a little bit it should be the case that the merge on 95 south is well marked, and then the boulevard exit will be a double and you only need to move over one lane to take the exit. Once they are done it will be fantastic for 64 drivers, though right now it’s incomplete and frustrating especially if you are taking 95 south to boulevard.

That merge has always been a death trap I was so excited to see it finally changed.

I avoid it at all costs. Happy to pay a toll to avoid death trap.

My thoughts exactly! The way it's being done will cause people who think they are clear after that exit to suddenly need to merge. Glad 64 EB is getting a dedicated lane though, been wanting that for years.

I am so excited about this, I have swerved around three separate collisions at that K merge. It was just an insane spot with people trying to cut through to get to the exit and cut through to get out of the exit while the lanes merge.