Another taxpayer funded, state (mis)managed boondoggle in NC

The new section of 540 in Wake County is open, and the results are not impressive. Poor planning by NC DOT engineers has resulted in even more traffic headaches for traffic exiting 540 for I-40 East or West.

Now the DOT is talking about spending even more tax-money to try and fix the mess. But to make matters worse, they're saying they don't know if they *can* fix it, because the exit ramp which needs to be expanded is bordered by water.

It makes one wonder what would happen if highways were run by private companies without the ability to subsidize their mistakes by collecting tax money. One supposes the need to make a profit (or go out of business) might encourage better planning; as opposed to the DOT who can (and do, routinely) screw up everything they touch, secure in the knowledge that the taxpayers of NC will continue to absorb the cost of fixing their mistakes.