Possibly The Worst Designed Shopping Plaza Road System I Have Ever Seen. (Cary: shopping mall, transportation)

[Exit MA Now]

Does anybody understand the thought pattern of the roads around and through Cary Crossroads Shopping Plaza? I would be interested to hear from long timers that have seen that area developed. Was it done piece meal, so it ended up the way that it is? I can't imagine it was originally designed to be that way. I feel like we are driving down a highway, in the middle of the parking lot. I went there the other night and it was packed. I could not stop because of all the traffic and I thought the road went straight ahead. IT DIDN'T. I ended up driving over the median and into a parking lot. It was quite funny. Glad nothing was damaged. The roads twist and turn all around the stores. I see a store straight ahead and have to go through an obstacle course to get there. It's very strange.

[JDJeep98]

Originally Posted by Exit MA Now

Does anybody understand the thought pattern of the roads around and through Cary Crossroads Shopping Plaza? I would be interested to hear from long timers that have seen that area developed. Was it done piece meal, so it ended up the way that it is? I can't imagine it was originally designed to be that way. I feel like we are driving down a highway, in the middle of the parking lot. I went there the other night and it was packed. I could not stop because of all the traffic and I thought the road went straight ahead. IT DIDN'T. I ended up driving over the median and into a parking lot. It was quite funny. Glad nothing was damaged. The roads twist and turn all around the stores. I see a store straight ahead and have to go through an obstacle course to get there. It's very strange.

I can't answer the question, since I've only been here for about a year, but I can certainly agree whole heartedly! It's a pretty weird layout. Even if you can see a store (which, often, you can't) you can't get there from here.

[nclover]

When I read your title, I was sure you were referring to the Walmart side of Briercreek. That parking lot drives me NUTS! All roads lead in but it is impossible to get out.

[MAtoNC!]

Everything in Cary has been perfectly master planned. And that includes Crossroads

[Poggly Woggly]

Yep....that really is a bad one. I was over there a few weeks ago, and I couldn't get to where I wanted to go no matter what

[joe530]

Although the Town is not doing anything inside the Mall, which is crazy, they are reviewing the surrounding roads to come up with a better improvements. Look here (http://www.townofcary.org/depts/dsdept/engineering/engproj/crossroadstrafficoverview.htm - broken link).

[lottamoxie]

I agree Crossroads shopping center is a horrendously planned center in terms of the traffic flow, roads, etc, etc. I try to avoid going there as much as possible (and it's possible!).

[lamishra]

It actually used to be worse! They re-did the whole traffic pattern/flow of that shopping center a year or so ago which was supposed to "help" but I certianly do not think it did. It still stinks. I don't know exactly what they can do. It's been bad since they first designed it and the new configuration does not really seem to help. I've found if you use the 440 to enter and exit, it's much better. The worst part is people trying to exit out to Walnut Street.

[joey2000]

I am convinced that to work for the NC Dept of Transportation you must be a frequent LSD user. Examples abound: poorly designed roads, road signs, malls, etc etc etc. Among my recent favs are 440 (North/South or East/West? We couldn't decide), numerous streets w/well-hidden or no street signs, and perhaps best of all a piece of (I think) Morrisville Ctr Parkway where a lane has a big "straight ahead only" arrow pasted onto it......and all of about 10-20' later there are "right turn only" arrows.

[adlnc07]

Beaver Creek in Apex is really bad as well - I guess shopping center roads are designed by people who don't actually GO to shopping malls!