re: Mobile locals, how do y'all feel about the summer tunnel situation?

May have found the root of old people frustration....

Left Florida at the same time this morning as the inlaws. Hit the accident traffic on i10 before we got to the gulf shores exit. I followed Waze and I'm home in thibodaux. They're just leaving mobile.

Mobile locals don't take the tunnel, we know better.

quote:

---

The Wallace Tunnel? Is it closed or just down to one lane?

---

a few weeks ago it got backed up real bad cause the Causeway (eastbound) was flooded over from the outskirts of that tropical storm. The barriers on the Causeway are pathetic.

but as far as the Big Tunnel goes.. I don't know what to tell you. There is a bend on the interstate heading into the tunnel eastbound and exiting westbound. I guess people naturally slow down some but I've seen some drivers act like they are driving the Drivers Ed car from high school going through that bitch. Combine that with people going home from work around 4-5 each week day and its crappy.

I've seen the turning lane going into the Bankhead (old tunnel) get real bad too. People assume its the only way around I guess but just keep going straight and cross that Big Bridge. Then take a turn to the connector until you see an exit for 1-65 South. Once on that interstate just simply follow the signs west bound to Biloxi/New Orleans.

quote:

---

Took the Africantown bridge and traffic was fubar in both directions on the Mobile bay bridge.

---

I didn't realize people were still saying fubar.

That tunnel is situation is bad. Last summer, we visit an aunt near Dauphin Island and had some time to kill, so I made the mistake let's cross the tunnel just to to do it. Boy that was a disaster. I went all the way to the last exit before the tunnel and aborted going through the Wallace Tunnel. The traffic was backing up halfway to I-65 of all the lemmings going through the tunnel. So, I get off the interstate and think let's try the Bankhead tunnel, that too was backing up. I got stuck downtown trying to find a turnaround to get into the tunnel around all the one way street and stoplights. After about 2 hours and finally getting across, I said screw the tunnel and I took the Africatown bridge on the way back. That was a breeze.

Yesterday, I was thinking of trekking to the panhandle for some business, but I stopped in Biloxi instead after reading this thread.

Nice prank on the wiper fluid, I may have to start pulling that one in the Houma Tunnel.

today was real bad.

I tried going down Govt. Street (downtown) through the old tunnel. Was going to see a friend across the bay. I usually don't go over the bay much but it was ridiculous.

I ended up turning on a side street and working my way to I-10 east. At least it was moving. They've cut off that old ramp that cause a jam just before you got to the big tunnel at least.

after I made it through the tunnel I got off on the Causeway and it was packed! All the people who were going west bound on I-10 that were trying to get off the interstate got screwed cause of the heavy flow of traffic on the Causeway.

I know its probably different each day but something to keep in mind if anybody is on the road this weekend.

quote:

---

whoa -- there is actually a place in Mobile called "African Town"?

---

Yeah it was named that by a group of freed slaves.

quote:

---

Africatown, also known as AfricaTown USA and Plateau, is a historic community located three miles (5 km) north of downtown Mobile, Alabama. It was formed by West Africans who in 1860 were among the last known illegal shipment of slaves to the United States from Africa, after the Atlantic slave trade had been banned. These people created their own community in this area. They retained their West African customs and language for many years following the American Civil War. 

---

LINK