A simple fix for Exit 7 traffic?

This letter is submitted in hopes that someone at the city of Bristol Virginia or at the Virginia Department of Transportation will take the initiative to make a small change in the traffic flow at Exit 7 that should help the situation.

When traffic is coming from Clear Creek Road, crossing Lee Highway and going to Old Airport Road, and cars are turning left onto Old Airport Road from Lee Highway, and cars are coming out of Linden Drive turning right to go to Old Airport Road, must all merge into one lane?

The one inside lane is marked for right turn only onto the southbound interstate. If this lane was simply marked for right turn or straight onto Old Airport Road (example, Commonwealth and Euclid), it seems that the traffic should flow smoother instead of backing up into the intersection at Lee Highway with nowhere to go.

Jim Fiala
Bristol, Va.