Best downtown freeways

[STLmapboy]

How about I-40 Oklahoma City (opened January 5, 2012)?

Another good one.

[TheStranger]

I really like the stretch of the Santa Ana Freeway that remains part of US 101 - it is narrow and congested, but also full of history and offers its own "entrance into town" vibe near Los Angeles's Union Station that is not quite as dramatic as Harbor Freeway/110 past Staples Center, but still fun.  (the Harbor Freeway does have more of a "skyscraper canyon" feel)

FDR Drive in Manhattan could also fit this category if we're just talking limited-access routes in urban cores in general (and I did see Boston's Storrow Drive mentioned earlier).

[csw]

I-74 eastbound through Peoria gives some nice views of the city, and has enough lanes to avoid congestion most of the time.
I-64 through Charleston is interesting because of all the bridges.
I-77 and I-85 in Charlotte have lots of lanes and are in pretty good shape pavement-wise.
I-40 through Albuquerque has nicely decorated bridges and walls and has planty of lanes.
I-71/75 heading north into Cincinnati from northern Kentucky gives a great view of the skyline, but is usually jammed with traffic.
I-90/94 in Chicago has lots of great views of the city, but I have a hard time agreeing that it's the "best" because of all the traffic.

[kphoger]

I-90/94 in Chicago has lots of great views of the city, but I have a hard time agreeing that it's the "best" because of all the traffic.

I think the same thing about I-290.

[vdeane]

Setting aside the 40 mph speed limit, I think this section of I-490 in Downtown Rochester, bridge included, is an all-time classic. It's a short, sweet and all-encompassing view of downtown, where the old saying "blink and you miss it" actually applies quite literally.

I've been to many cities - both driving through and visiting - and come away wishing they had a nice, clean, snapshot view of their city from the freeway just like this one. But that's why there's no place like home, I guess. 

I-490 and I-787 are both really nice.

[planxtymcgillicuddy]

US-421/Salem Parkway through Winston-Salem at night. In the many times I've taken that route to see races at Bowman-Gray, I am dumbfounded that I never brought my camera. W-S all lit up is so visually pleasing to me

[texaskdog]

I-376 does really fit the bill. There's a reason Pittsburgh is called "The only city with an entrance."

They said that about Dallas until Kennedy visited

[interstate73]

The FDR Drive in Manhattan is pretty spectacular views-wise, but it's not exactly close to freeway standards and doesn't really go through Lower Manhattan. I'm also a big fan of I-280 through the Oranges and Newark, I like the depressed freeway style and I also like being able to see trains on the NJT M&E elevated line right next to the highway!

[Flint1979]

I-90/94 in Chicago has lots of great views of the city, but I have a hard time agreeing that it's the "best" because of all the traffic.

The only thing I dislike there is all those on and off ramps every 500 feet or so.

For Chicago I personally like I-55 it gives it a nice view coming in from the southwest.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I-35 in Duluth has some really nice stretches of interstate near Lake Superior in downtown. It was built a bit later than most downtown interstates (opened 1992) and it shows. It is mostly in a trench with several freeway-cap parks and tunnels, virtually nil in the way of graffiti, and modern interchanges (like a SPUI at Lake Avenue).

The original plan was for an elevated freeway, which wasn't popular because it would have blocked the lake view similar to the Embarcadero Freeway in SF. As Steve Riner mentioned on his site, the underground freeway may have been the best thing to happen to Duluth as it was a rare example of urban renewal actually working out, removing a lot of ugly, decaying buildings and lesser-used railroads east of downtown and replacing them with greenspace.

[CoreySamson]

I-40 thru downtown Memphis is one of my favorites. The Pyramid really is startling and cool.

I also like the Pierce Elevated in Houston. In one area it feels like you're just barely squeezing between 2 buildings.

[STLmapboy]

I-40 thru downtown Memphis is one of my favorites. The Pyramid really is startling and cool.

I also like the Pierce Elevated in Houston. In one area it feels like you're just barely squeezing between 2 buildings.

If NHHIP goes through than the Pierce could be a thing of the past 

[bing101]

Downtown Connector in Atlanta is if CA-110 met interstate standards.GA-400 in Downtown Buckhead.
I-405 in Bellevue, WA gives that the feel of going into downtown.

[ftballfan]

I-196 and US-131 in Grand Rapids
I-65 in Louisville (except for the toll bridge just north of it)

[cwf1701]

 In Detroit, I-375 before the sharp curve to end at Jefferson Ave (BUS-375) with the view of the Ren Cen in the foreground.

[RobbieL2415]

I've always liked the West Side Highway on the Upper West Side. The Hudson on one and the topography with the hi-rises in the background on the other is very striking.

You get some great views of Manhattan going southbound on the Bruckner Expressway.

I-95 and I-195 through Providence are quite nice now.

[mgk920]

I-35 in Duluth has some really nice stretches of interstate near Lake Superior in downtown. It was built a bit later than most downtown interstates (opened 1992) and it shows. It is mostly in a trench with several freeway-cap parks and tunnels, virtually nil in the way of graffiti, and modern interchanges (like a SPUI at Lake Avenue). Also in MN, I-35W in St Paul has a nice downtown stretch (modern bridges, smart signage, and plants in the median south of downtown).

Any other above-par stretches of urban interstate?

When I saw the post I was going to say I-35 in Duluth first.

You mean 35E in Saint Paul, which is the practice freeway

I've been very impressed with what MnDOT did with I-35E/94 in downtown Saint Paul, MN when they rebuilt it in the 1980s.

Mike

[andrepoiy]

The Gardiner Expressway in Toronto goes right next to the core and you come close to multiple buildings. It's also elevated for a large section. The expressway itself is pretty old (no shoulders etc.) but the scenery is awesome.

[bwana39]

I-45 in Houston

Just like a baseball in Minute Maid Park.... Going? Going! Almost gone...................................

[bing101]

I-5 North going to Downtown San Diego is good.

Manila Skyway in Pinoy Joyrides videos have some good shots of Makati area.

[TheDon102]

Gowanus Expressway and the BQE have great views

[plain]

I-95 literally touches the tallest building in Richmond.

[sparker]

I'd have to nominate US 101 through Santa Barbara; the southern (compass WSW-ENE portion) portion, the most recently completed, while remaining a surface freeway, did not require any signifcant property taking when it was made full freeway (crossing streets were sunk into underpasses), while the northern (compass SSE-NNW) portion simply follows the UP/Amtrak rail line, which when initially built as an expressway also had minimal residential displacement.  Both quite scenic and largely respectful of the neighboring community. 

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I-394 in Minneapolis as it dives below downtown, then rises up to dump you in at its eastern terminus.