GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The eastern section of the Greensboro Urban Loop is now open, a year early!
On Thursday, we spoke with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and leaders there told me the people who might benefit most are the ones traveling from Northern Gguilford County to I40 in the morning.
Instead of driving down 29, and into the city to get on I-40, now drivers can use the loop, go around the city, and hit I-40 head on.
Of course, we wanted to see for myself how effective this route was, so we buckled in, started our timer, and decided to test out both routes.
The first route took us down 29, to O'henry, and then onto I-40.
The other, along the loop.
The drive time difference was only 30 seconds, but a big reason for that could have been when we actually drove the routes.
Our drives were during the middle of the day, and not during the morning or after work commutes when the roads are usually more congested.
When we asked leaders with the State Department of Transportation whether their goal is to reduce congestion or give drivers a faster route, they want the best of both worlds.
"Both. The speed limit will be posted 65, you know -- Wendover Avenue, those type of routes, are posted at 45 along with the traffic signals. So, it should be faster as well, and definitely less congested. You don't have the stopping traffic that really causes backups a lot of times.
► Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WFMY News 2 App now