While going through some random stuff recently, I was a bit floored by the thought that before World War II, regular automobile traffic passed through the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin (Germany) like with any other street.
What are some of the most surprising to you other instances of places that exist today that you'd never think of once being parts of regular motorized roads?
Mike
This bridge, which now is part of someone's driveway, used to be US-41 in the Upper Peninsula at the south end of Keweenaw Bay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sV7eTKY8WpBaBRwy5
This driveway (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0889932,-79.0654586,170m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu) is where there used to be a four-lane freeway through Niagara Falls State Park. The previous configuration through here (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0891797,-79.0652997,3a,75y,1.86h,87.82t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipNhyjLffqXtmbn7086hiExnxMyupt4ZPsVQqCl1!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNhyjLffqXtmbn7086hiExnxMyupt4ZPsVQqCl1%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya88.38099-ro-0-fo100!7i7360!8i3680?entry=ttu) was a bit more interesting from a roadgeek POV, however.
The abandoned sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, especially the Laurel Hills tunnel, which turned into Chip Ganassi's wind tunnel.
This is often the case for old alignments of roads:
I always wanted to drive the entire length of the Maryhill Loops Road, the old alignment of US-97 in southern Washington, but the northern part of it looks like it's now a private road belonging to the ranch it passes through. I can make out what looks like a gate in the Google aerial imagery.
And of course, there's the piece of the old US-66 in Nebo Center, CA, which has been absorbed by the Marine Corps Logistics Base. And the bridge which once carried it over the Colorado River is now carrying pipelines.
The old alignment of US-395 in Mammoth Lakes is partly inside the Ormat - Mammoth Geothermal Complex.
The part of old US 395 near CA 203 that ends in a gate? So that's what that is.
Sorry to get off topic, but there are also roads that I'd never think of still being parts of regular motorized roads.
Genoa, Italy (https://maps.app.goo.gl/S625YnkQVx3iq7Wg6)
Quote from: kphoger on February 20, 2024, 12:17:43 PM
Sorry to get off topic, but there are also roads that I'd never think of still being parts of regular motorized roads.
Genoa, Italy (https://maps.app.goo.gl/S625YnkQVx3iq7Wg6)
I've driven some of those streets in old parts of Italian cities. Very tight, especially when driving a 10 passenger van.
There's also I-44's old alignment in Catoosa, OK (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1734899,-95.7423186,3166m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu). It was a much straighter shot than the routing that replaced it.
Probably the oldest sections of the Ridge Route. Long abandoned and mainly just dirt trails these days, but it's hard to believe at one point two cars could pass by one another on them. Cars must have been a lot narrower back in the day.
Only so difficult because Los Angeles County handed a large portion over to the Forest Service who no interest in maintaining it. The Old Ridge Route is now stuck in this weird state of limbo where the Forest Service doesn't want to maintain it and a small group of preservations try but don't really have the resources. Interestingly I've found similar First State Highway Bond Act roads such as the San Juan Grade to be perfectly passable. The thing is though, stuff like the San Juan Grade as a county backing maintenance.
Pretty much the entire original portion of CA 1 over Old Pedro Mountain Road fits the criteria:
https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/07/former-california-state-route-1-over.html?m=1
Quote from: Henry on February 22, 2024, 10:32:28 PM
There's also I-44's old alignment in Catoosa, OK (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1734899,-95.7423186,3166m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu). It was a much straighter shot than the routing that replaced it.
Oh hey, look,
a mini family roadmeet (https://maps.app.goo.gl/b6iEtt52Ga1DT7PM7)!
I always think of the old pictures of US 30 (and likely what is now WA 14) through the Columbia River Gorge. Some pre and some post dams, but roads literally cut into the cliffs, with tunnels and windows, tight turn, cantilevered bridges from the cliffs (some of which you can still see from I-84).
https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/columbia_river_highway/
I forgot about this one earlier. Pictures I took of the original end of US-102 (later US-141) at US-41 in back of nowhere Michigan.
https://www.usends.com/covington.html
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 23, 2024, 10:57:37 AM
I always think of the old pictures of US 30 (and likely what is now WA 14) through the Columbia River Gorge. Some pre and some post dams, but roads literally cut into the cliffs, with tunnels and windows, tight turn, cantilevered bridges from the cliffs (some of which you can still see from I-84).
https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/columbia_river_highway/
That reminds me: 4.4 miles of the old US-30 between Hood River and Mosier OR is now just a hiking or biking trail.
One could once drive their car around the Ohio State campus oval. It's why some of the buildings still have address for N. Oval Dr & S. Oval Dr
(Access was removed back in the 1960s)
In my freshman year at Michigan Tech, this was US-41. It was rerouted the following year (1969) to new alignment on the south side of campus and the former College Avenue became a parking lot for a while. This landscaping was done long after I left.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GQgh6mqBSjFhv6bh6
Grand Ave in Carbondale IL used to be a continuous street across Southern Illinois University's campus, but sometime in the 60s/70s parts of it were removed and converted to green space - probably a good idea to not have a thru traffic road right thru the middle of a college campus
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7168878,-89.2227855,1625m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 23, 2024, 11:59:13 PM
One could once drive their car around the Ohio State campus oval. It's why some of the buildings still have address for N. Oval Dr & S. Oval Dr
(Access was removed back in the 1960s)
Ridge Walk in the UCSD campus in La Jolla, CA is the southbound side of the old US-101 alignment. The entire campus was built in the late 50s, just as the Interstates, in this case I-5, were obsoleting the US routes. A little further north, the old US-101 alignment is now Torrey Pines Park Rd, and most of that is only open to biking and hiking.
My grandfather has pictures from when he went to Rome in the 60s showing people driving right around the base of the Colosseum (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8898043,12.491452,3a,75y,345.54h,92.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suvjha4tr0nFTKjKNh5OKnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu). I found this view (https://curiosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/colosseum-aerial-1536x1082.jpg) showing just how close people were able to drive. That being said, most of Italy is full of places like kphoger's example that are somehow still active roads!
Back to the US, one of the major paths through the Old Faithful area (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4605441,-110.830295,3a,73y,110.94h,77.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-wmps7O2JXD4pBx_PWavSQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu) was the main highway until it was rerouted in the 70s or 80s. It's hard to imagine this (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4797983,-110.8489065,3a,88.4y,201.58h,92.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szl5QRxPFsphm9pWvoKVIuA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&entry=ttu) once being a highway!
Quote from: pderocco on February 24, 2024, 09:58:25 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 23, 2024, 11:59:13 PM
One could once drive their car around the Ohio State campus oval. It's why some of the buildings still have address for N. Oval Dr & S. Oval Dr
(Access was removed back in the 1960s)
Ridge Walk in the UCSD campus in La Jolla, CA is the southbound side of the old US-101 alignment. The entire campus was built in the late 50s, just as the Interstates, in this case I-5, were obsoleting the US routes. A little further north, the old US-101 alignment is now Torrey Pines Park Rd, and most of that is only open to biking and hiking.
Reminds me of the little snippets of old US 395 in San Diego county that are also now trails (the section of Murphy Cyn Rd between Clairemont Mesa Blvd and CA 52, and the old alignment on the "shores" of Lake Hodges, for example).
Some of you reminded me of a dispute I had on Wikipedia about a former segment of NY 30 that was clearly in a photograph in the article.
I've mentioned this on numerous occasions, but Suffolk CR 21 in the Rocky Point Conservation Area has had numerous Road Closed signs at intersections with roads that don't exist, although some of them have existed back in the day when it was RCA's Radio Central.
Of course, there's this near Silver Springs State Park.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Road_Closed_for_a_non-road_near_Ocala_National_Forest.jpg)
Do you see this strip of land between the houses on the left and the two-story brick building on the right?
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Old_G_Road_Extension_in_Suffolk_Co_Community_College.jpg/640px-Old_G_Road_Extension_in_Suffolk_Co_Community_College.jpg)
Well that used to be part of "G Road" back when that land was part of Pilgrim State Psychiatric Hospital. Now it's a greenway and part of "G Road" east of Suffolk CR 13 is CR 106 and ends at CR 7.
On the other hand, I look at some places, and it's pretty easy to believe that they were public roads in the past.
This piece (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8271753,-75.9698152,3a,75y,168.9h,79.8t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sqHU20lujbx9_3XOjuQ6cGQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DqHU20lujbx9_3XOjuQ6cGQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D147.38733%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu) of South Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach used to be US 60. That's the original concrete.
Holy crap! How can I possibly forget this one? A parking lot and a vacant strip used to be part of Granny Road in Farmingville, New York!
https://historicaerials.com/?layer=map&zoom=11&lat=40.8425&lon=-73.043611
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Farmingville%2C_New_York%3B_Old_Granny_Road_Parking_Lot.JPG/640px-Farmingville%2C_New_York%3B_Old_Granny_Road_Parking_Lot.JPG)
This use to be a road in Hawaii: https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html[/img]](https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html) (http://[img)
Quote from: Phoenix1867 on March 13, 2024, 06:21:54 PM
This use to be a road in Hawaii: https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html[/img]](https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html) (http://[img)
I think that's a setup. A sign like that wouldn't have survived unscathed if it was surrounded by molten lava.
Here's a usable link, for those who haven't figured out the formatting error:
https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html (https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html)
This parking lot here in South San Jose...
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2532198,-121.7976695,3a,75y,335.83h,100.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sURn8GlLVD55uq87ehovjjQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DURn8GlLVD55uq87ehovjjQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D194.06165%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2541938,-121.7995955,3a,75y,10.51h,94.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sDXpScuo5c3cE_6F7wtqiIA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DDXpScuo5c3cE_6F7wtqiIA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D49.133427%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
is part of the former Bayshore Freeway northbound lanes, back when US 101 used to connect with Bypass US 101 here prior to 1982 (later on, this was the Route 82/US 101 split, with Monterey Road carrying 101 south of here and 82 north of this spot). When the South Valley freeway was built from there to Gilroy, this former Y interchange was removed, and the right of way for that original portion of the Bayshore Freeway became a shopping center.
(82 itself then was rerouted to Blossom Hill Road to connect to US 101 that way; and in recent years was cut back further to I-880 at the edge of the San Jose city limit with Santa Clara)
there is this route, Neeley St., once carried SB US-431 from the pre 1987 route. before 1987, SB 431 would cross I-59 on Cleveland Ave and NB 431 would follow Meagan Blvd to Cherry St. For a few years after the relocation of US-431, the two roads would serve as a connection to I-59 until a connection road was built connecting the two ramps. https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0195883,-86.0711235,3a,75y,154.26h,62.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soBD8Efy8NhBnM5ExVs4nSQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DoBD8Efy8NhBnM5ExVs4nSQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D23.579124%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu From US-431
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0181622,-86.0709548,3a,19.5y,355.16h,86.25t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srbVAQ4HPYiXZK13xk0jFoQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DrbVAQ4HPYiXZK13xk0jFoQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D23.320553%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu From Cleveland Ave/Forrest Ave
I've always wondered when the crossing there was closed and if it was ever signalized.
[ REDACTED! ]
I didn't see the second page, so I assumed I was responding to the last post. Sorry.
Farrington Highway at KaŹ»ena Point State Park since Hawaii got brought up.
Pretty sure the road right outside the White House used to be open to traffic
Quote from: kphoger on March 14, 2024, 10:05:52 AM
Here's a usable link, for those who haven't figured out the formatting error:
https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html (https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html)
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on March 18, 2024, 11:13:48 PM
Fixed if for 'ya.
https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html
yep
Quote from: andrepoiy on March 19, 2024, 10:44:14 AM
Pretty sure the road right outside the White House used to be open to traffic
Definitely. I've personally been there when it was still open to traffic, and I'm only 42 years old. I didn't actually know until reading your post that it was now closed to traffic.
Quote from: Phoenix1867 on March 13, 2024, 06:21:54 PM
This use to be a road in Hawaii: https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html[/img]](https://www.alamy.com/solidified-lava-flow-across-the-land-and-east-coast-road-with-a-speed-restriction-sign-half-covered-on-hawaii-island-hawaii-image387000615.html) (http://[img)
"Speed limit 15"
Yeah, I wouldn't want to drive any faster on that...
I recently was reminded of another one from Long Island. The intersection of Main Street and Mill Road in Yaphank. That used to be a wye intersection and a former section of Main Street is now part of the Yaphank Commons.
https://historicaerials.com/?layer=map&zoom=12&lat=40.835278&lon=-72.929167
You know, a lot of times I wish Historic Aerials had their own version of Google Street View. That way you could get close-up shots of places from,... oh, maybe 1971 if you wanted it.
There are pieces of the famous Ridge Route Road that connected Los Angeles to the San Joaquin Valley in around 1915 that don't go anywhere any more but haven't been dug up, such as this curlicue:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZNKvPDAPkx65Tss5 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZNKvPDAPkx65Tss5)
I took this picture from that spot:
(https://a4.pbase.com/o4/73/234373/1/56637042.0602190712RidgeRouteRoad.jpg)
Quote from: pderocco on March 21, 2024, 08:01:43 PM
There are pieces of the famous Ridge Route Road that connected Los Angeles to the San Joaquin Valley in around 1915 that don't go anywhere any more but haven't been dug up, such as this curlicue:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZNKvPDAPkx65Tss5 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZNKvPDAPkx65Tss5)
I took this picture from that spot:
(https://a4.pbase.com/o4/73/234373/1/56637042.0602190712RidgeRouteRoad.jpg)
Got a stand-alone album from there:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/MJF1t8z60D