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PA - US 219 Expressway Could Begin This Year

Started by PAHighways, January 20, 2010, 07:14:38 PM

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cl94

Quote from: Rothman on December 30, 2015, 01:28:23 PM
Quote from: MikeSantNY78 on December 29, 2015, 06:38:29 PM
  Would like to see this kind of progress here in NYS between Springville/Peters Rd. and Salamanca...

*guffaws*

That is so far off the table that I'd almost use the word "never" to describe the situation.

Um...yeah. It's only particularly bad when Ellicottville blocks off US 219 for a festival (which happens way too often). The only thing that's really needed is an Ellicottville bypass because that is where all of the issues are (and a lot of those could be fixed by not letting Ellicottville close anything down).

And I don't blame the Senecas. New York hasn't been too keen about following treaties and the agreements they made. Such as how the only casinos were supposed to be run by Native Americans.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

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seicer

How can a town close down a federal route? That's prohibited in a lot of states where no truck route is provided around the closure.

froggie

Because US routes aren't really Federal routes (unless you think like Carl Rogers).  They're state routes.  If the state DOT approves the closure, or if the town has maintenance jurisdiction to begin with (as is the case on some routes in at least 4 states and likely more), then that's it.

cl94

Quote from: froggie on December 31, 2015, 05:59:53 AM
Because US routes aren't really Federal routes (unless you think like Carl Rogers).  They're state routes.  If the state DOT approves the closure, or if the town has maintenance jurisdiction to begin with (as is the case on some routes in at least 4 states and likely more), then that's it.

NYSDOT Region 5 approves closures quite often. Too often for my liking, actually.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

Travel Mapping (updated weekly)

hbelkins

Quote from: Sherman Cahal on December 31, 2015, 01:37:10 AM
How can a town close down a federal route? That's prohibited in a lot of states where no truck route is provided around the closure.

Froggie beat me to the Carl Rogers reference, but it happens in a lot of places. In West Liberty, Ky., US 460 gets shut down for the annual Sorghum Festival.

Interestingly enough, KYTC changed its policy a couple of years ago to no longer require an encroachment permit to close a state-maintained road for a festival or other event.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

dave19

Quote from: Hoss6884 on February 06, 2016, 12:23:01 PM
Small bump...

Has there been anything published in terms of what the current two-lane alignment of US 219 will be designated once the expressway opens?
I haven't seen anything about that... Although PA 601 could be extended south on that alignment, my guess is that it becomes quadrant route SR 6219 or SR 2219.

Bitmapped

Quote from: dave19 on February 06, 2016, 02:39:33 PM
Quote from: Hoss6884 on February 06, 2016, 12:23:01 PM
Small bump...

Has there been anything published in terms of what the current two-lane alignment of US 219 will be designated once the expressway opens?

Since the new alignment is significantly different than the older one (access to Berlin or not), an extension of PA 601 or another traffic route would probably make the most sense.
I haven't seen anything about that... Although PA 601 could be extended south on that alignment, my guess is that it becomes quadrant route SR 6219 or SR 2219.

dave19

I'm in total agreement with you on that. PA 653 could be extended from Garrett up to Berlin, then down Main Street to terminate at PA 160. From Somerset to Berlin, they could extend PA 601 along that alignment. (Or maybe a different number if they don't want two interchanges with 601 in the same county.) That's what I'd do, anyway.

But having lived in PA for most of my life, I still think that they'll do the quadrant number instead.

jemacedo9


Gnutella

Here's an aerial video showing the progress along the entire construction corridor as of late March. It appears that all but two overpasses had been constructed by then, so most of the remaining work at this point will involve the actual highway.

dave19


BrianP

It looks like the aerial imagery for this project has been updated in Google Maps.  The road looks to be nearing completion.  From what I found there hasn't been an update to the road opening until 2018.  I wonder if the road could open this fall. 

Alternative 4 was chosen for the Maryland portion of US 219 north of I-68:
http://www.us219northmd.com/
Which I don't like that one since it doesn't construct a new interchange at I-68.  It won't even widen the bridge over I-68 or make a two lane roundabout where the new road meets the interchange. (ok one quarter of it is two lanes, but not the quarter that should have it)  Maryland is throwing PA the cheapest bone it can which is better than nothing but disappointing. 


Beltway

Quote from: BrianP on May 22, 2017, 05:14:36 PM
It looks like the aerial imagery for this project has been updated in Google Maps.  The road looks to be nearing completion.  From what I found there hasn't been an update to the road opening until 2018.  I wonder if the road could open this fall. 

Alternative 4 was chosen for the Maryland portion of US 219 north of I-68:
http://www.us219northmd.com/
Which I don't like that one since it doesn't construct a new interchange at I-68.  It won't even widen the bridge over I-68 or make a two lane roundabout where the new road meets the interchange. (ok one quarter of it is two lanes, but not the quarter that should have it)  Maryland is throwing PA the cheapest bone it can which is better than nothing but disappointing. 

The project website doesn't whether it would be 4 lanes or whether it goes all the way to PA.

If it was built with 2 lanes on a 4-lane R/W like was the relocated US-220 at Cumberland, then it could make sense to initially have a diamond interchange with I-68.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

BrianP

The plans show a brief 4 lane highway that ends between US Alt 40 and the state line.  The rest of the road to the state line will be completed when PA does their part. 

http://www.us219northmd.com/docs/US%20219_Alt%204%20Modified%20Rollplot_20170213_edited_V3.pdf

Though the northern end of this project seems more permanent than I expected.  Maybe they think it'll be a long while before PA does their portion.  I would have expected an abrupt end to the four lane highway with a connector road to the current route which includes two 90 degree turns. 

Beltway

Quote from: BrianP on May 22, 2017, 05:51:00 PM
The plans show a brief 4 lane highway that ends between US Alt 40 and the state line.  The rest of the road to the state line will be completed when PA does their part. 

http://www.us219northmd.com/docs/US%20219_Alt%204%20Modified%20Rollplot_20170213_edited_V3.pdf

Though the northern end of this project seems more permanent than I expected.  Maybe they think it'll be a long while before PA does their portion.  I would have expected an abrupt end to the four lane highway with a connector road to the current route which includes two 90 degree turns. 

The 90+ degree curve to the existing I-68 interchange, looks like the ultimate design would be to connect the new US-219 directly to I-68 with a new interchange.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

Roadsguy

Quote from: Beltway on May 22, 2017, 08:51:06 PM
Quote from: BrianP on May 22, 2017, 05:51:00 PM
The plans show a brief 4 lane highway that ends between US Alt 40 and the state line.  The rest of the road to the state line will be completed when PA does their part. 

http://www.us219northmd.com/docs/US%20219_Alt%204%20Modified%20Rollplot_20170213_edited_V3.pdf

Though the northern end of this project seems more permanent than I expected.  Maybe they think it'll be a long while before PA does their portion.  I would have expected an abrupt end to the four lane highway with a connector road to the current route which includes two 90 degree turns. 

The 90+ degree curve to the existing I-68 interchange, looks like the ultimate design would be to connect the new US-219 directly to I-68 with a new interchange.

There appears to already be part of the grading for the ramps that would ultimately connect 219 to 68. The northern end doesn't seem any more "permanent" than, say, the now-obliterated former northern end of the Meyersdale Bypass. Plus, the website even mentions possible plans to connect to Pennsylvania's expressway eventually.
Mileage-based exit numbering implies the existence of mileage-cringe exit numbering.

The Ghostbuster

On the other end of the US 219 freeway in Pennsylvania, are there any plans to extend the 219 freeway northward towards Carrolltown and beyond, or is any northern extension permanently dead?

Mr_Northside

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on May 23, 2017, 03:45:18 PM
On the other end of the US 219 freeway in Pennsylvania, are there any plans to extend the 219 freeway northward towards Carrolltown and beyond, or is any northern extension permanently dead?

I don't know about "permanently" being the best word.  At some point there might be some swell of support for the funding and construction for whatever reasons on whatever level to resume this.... But I'd state that's indefinitely dormant.  If I live to the average life expectancy, I still wouldn't bet on it existing before I die.  I have a feeling they'll find the money to do Meyersdale <-> Whatever MD builds at some point, even if it's years/decade+, but you never know.

Quote from: Beltway on May 22, 2017, 08:51:06 PM
The 90+ degree curve to the existing I-68 interchange, looks like the ultimate design would be to connect the new US-219 directly to I-68 with a new interchange.

While it does look like that would be a logical step, once they spend the money on this (if they follow thru) I doubt they'd revisit it and build a more direct interchange unless traffic volumes / safety concerns absolutely demand it.  Not to dwell on the fact I'm not immortal, but if this gets built as planned, I would expect it to be my 219 @ 68 experience for the rest of my life.

But that's just my opinion, and you never know what's gonna happen.....
I don't have opinions anymore. All I know is that no one is better than anyone else, and everyone is the best at everything

Beltway

Quote from: Mr_Northside on May 23, 2017, 06:50:08 PM
Quote from: Beltway on May 22, 2017, 08:51:06 PM
The 90+ degree curve to the existing I-68 interchange, looks like the ultimate design would be to connect the new US-219 directly to I-68 with a new interchange.
While it does look like that would be a logical step, once they spend the money on this (if they follow thru) I doubt they'd revisit it and build a more direct interchange unless traffic volumes / safety concerns absolutely demand it.  Not to dwell on the fact I'm not immortal, but if this gets built as planned, I would expect it to be my 219 @ 68 experience for the rest of my life.

But that's just my opinion, and you never know what's gonna happen.....

The current US-219 freeway project Meyersdale-Somerset bypasses the 2-lane US-219 that carries as low as about 5,000 AADT.  Could question whether a freeway is needed.

Segment completion (I-68 to Somerset) still awaits the PA and MD projects south of Meyersdale.

I also argue that they need a direct connection between the US-219 freeway and the Turnpike before they can exploit the capabilities of a completed US-219 freeway from I-68 to Somerset.

IOW, that proposed interchange at I-68 won't get much traffic for a long time to come.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

NE2

Quote from: Beltway on May 23, 2017, 07:43:07 PM
I also argue that they need a direct connection between the US-219 freeway and the Turnpike before they can exploit the capabilities of a completed US-219 freeway from I-68 to Somerset.
yawn
pre-1945 Florida route log

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Tom958

Virtual tour of the Maryland section, just because a video version made it onto my Facebook newsfeed. An interesting aspect that no one else has mentioned is that the northern roundabout, where the new highway would terminate, provides extra capacity for the U-shaped movements between new 219 and the northern leg of old 219. The liberally configured right turn ramp from southbound new 219 to northbound old 219 could be spun as a neat way to kill off a lane so as not to necessitate a two-lane roundabout, but... the movement from southbound old 219-- and the western leg of the circular roadway-- are two lanes anyway!  :hmmm:


There's this, too. I'm guessing that curve will be signed for 40 mph.

ARMOURERERIC


mgk920

^^
That does look like it is designed with the potential for future major upgrades in mind.

Mike

Bitmapped

I use I-68 and the existing US 219 through here frequently. Some traffic signals at the I-68 ramps would be nice, but other than that, the existing US 219 is adequate.

I don't see there being much advantage to the construction as proposed. Either build a new interchange with a direct tie-in to I-68 or just leave things as they are. If you want to spend money in Garrett County, completing the Oakland bypass would be more useful.

The Ghostbuster

How far along is the proposed connector project Tom958 mentioned? Is the study complete? Is the project funded? Does it have a construction date?



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