Lowest interstate AADT?

[mgk920]

I was in a discussion just now where the subject became the 'loneliest 2DI'.  I was wondering, what is the lowest AADT for any section of the interstate system, 2DIs only?  Is it still on I-15 at the Idaho-Montana state line?



Mike

[Kacie Jane]

I thought it was I-95 into Canada.

[hbelkins]

I always heard that I-64 in the western part of Virginia was pretty low.

[national highway 1]

I-10 in western Texas?

[Zmapper]

On a related note, these are the Interstates in the West that have an AADT under 10,000 daily. Generally that number is the cutoff nowadays for when it is time to upgrade a 2-lane road to a freeway.

[3467]

Great map Zmapper. Maybe you could expand it east The western part of I-72 in Illinois and the eastern part of I-64 are Both under 10,000.and we have even lower 3dis

[corco]

I-25 in Wyoming is absurdly desolate

[jwolfer]

I was in a discussion just now where the subject became the 'loneliest 2DI'.  I was wondering, what is the lowest AADT for any section of the interstate system, 2DIs only?  Is it still on I-15 at the Idaho-Montana state line?



Mike

If the Interstate Highways were not planned/built in the 1950s and 60s many of them would not be built as freeways... Most of the lower AADT would be four lane roads I think... Sort of of like the Trans-Canada in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

[Scott5114]

Surprised to see that so many of these are east-west interstates, which I always think of as being full of east-west transcontinental traffic. I was able to explain a few of them, like I-80 in Wyoming/Nebraska having lost some of its traffic to I-76 and no major metros to build it back up again, and I-90 and I-94 across the Dakotas each serving half of the possible traffic that might theoretically use them, but others seems to defy explanation. Where does the traffic on I-80 in Nevada suddenly disappear to before it gets to Utah? Surely West Wendover isn't THAT popular of a destination?

[agentsteel53]

Surprised to see that so many of these are east-west interstates, which I always think of as being full of east-west transcontinental traffic. I was able to explain a few of them, like I-80 in Wyoming/Nebraska having lost some of its traffic to I-76 and no major metros to build it back up again, and I-90 and I-94 across the Dakotas each serving half of the possible traffic that might theoretically use them, but others seems to defy explanation. Where does the traffic on I-80 in Nevada suddenly disappear to before it gets to Utah? Surely West Wendover isn't THAT popular of a destination?

it might be a granularity issue.  maybe a lot of the traffic takes US-93, slightly to the west?

[mp_quadrillion]

I've traveled all of the quiet ones mapped except I-90 east of Billings. I feel fortunate to have done it, and done it during the summer.

Many of them are pretty (I-15 sure is). None of them are anyplace to get stuck, especially in the winter. I'm sure that influences the numbers somewhat. The southern interstates are more reliable in many ways during the winter.

I-75 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula must have a low AADT between Mackinac and Sault Ste Marie. That road felt at least as lonely as the ones on the Google map.

As far as I-80 goes.. it's a full day's drive to Boise (80 to 95) or Twin Falls (80 to 93) from Reno. That's where most of the eastbound traffic gets siphoned off. Some of the traffic goes south to Great Basin NP from Wendover (which has several popular casinos, and the Bonneville Salt Flats nearby.. whereas the turn-off at Wells has nothing). The 100-mile gap in services between Wendover and SLC is a different kind of turn-off altogether. It's the kind of road you drive once then vow to fly over next time. Only triples and sinners from SLC on that stretch of highway. 

I've also driven I-180 in Illinois. I've heard the steel plant is operating again.. so traffic is probably up significantly. Might not even be on the list anymore!   http://www.arcelormittalna.com/Facilities/Americas/Mittal+Steel+USA/Operating+Facilities/hennepin.asp

[wphiii]

Where does the traffic on I-80 in Nevada suddenly disappear to before it gets to Utah? Surely West Wendover isn't THAT popular of a destination?

it might be a granularity issue.  maybe a lot of the traffic takes US-93, slightly to the west?

I dunno, I can't think of too many destinations that would necessitate taking I-80 from California and getting off at U.S. 93. Southern Idaho and western Montana, maybe. Going south from there doesn't do much for many people, like it's not a shortcut to I-70 or anything.

Of course, given the concrete cutoff of 10,000, it could just be a margin of error thing, where the traffic along that entire stretch of I-80 is barely over 10,000 to begin with, so even a slightly inaccurate count could be the difference between being deemed "extraneous" or not.

[deathtopumpkins]

I've always heard the lowest AADT on an interstate highway is I-95 in Maine - drops as low as 1,880 according to AARoads and 2-4,000 according to Wikipedia.

[If any of you think about saying wikipedia is not a valid source, fuck you.]

[texaskdog]

I wonder how many interstates would not have been built if they were built "as needed" instead of a determined plan for a whole grid.

[3467]

I think the plant is open for I-180 in Illinois but traffic isnt . Most of the 2000 a day are using it as part of IL 29 from north Peoria to 80.
I mentioned the inder 10K routes in Illinois. Maybe everyone else can list their under 10K routes so we can finish Zmappers map

[The High Plains Traveler]

I wonder how many interstates would not have been built if they were built "as needed" instead of a determined plan for a whole grid.

The original plan was to build many miles of interstate in the west to 2-lane standard.

[NE2]

Wikipedia is not a valid source.

[agentsteel53]

Wikipedia is not a valid source.

meh.  I'm actually thinking it; you just happened to say it.

[Beltway]

I've always heard the lowest AADT on an interstate highway is I-95 in Maine - drops as low as 1,880 according to AARoads and 2-4,000 according to Wikipedia.

That is far less than the aforementioned section of VA I-64.  I-64 between WV I-77 and VA I-81, ranges as low as 8,000 on segments in both states.

[wphiii]

I-10 in western Texas?

I'm curious about this one, too, say, between Kerrville and the 20/10 split. Most desolate stretch of Interstate I've ever personally driven, anyway.

[cpzilliacus]

I wonder how many interstates would not have been built if they were built "as needed" instead of a determined plan for a whole grid.

The original plan was to build many miles of interstate in the west to 2-lane standard.

I cannot speak to the Western Interstate system, but I-95 in Maine between Bangor and Houlton was originally built as a "Super-2," at least between the interchanges (it widened out to a four-lane divided at the interchanges). For a "free" interstate highway, the distances between interchanges are often considerable, well over 10 miles, and pretty desolate.   Only other section of I-95 that "feels" like this is in South Carolina.

[agentsteel53]

I'm curious about this one, too, say, between Kerrville and the 20/10 split. Most desolate stretch of Interstate I've ever personally driven, anyway.

I've always thought it had plenty of trucks.  it is quite desolate, yes, but not as much as I-95 near Houlton, Maine, I-29 north of US-2, I-15 across Monida Pass, and various others I have had experience with.

that said - for a seasonal data point: the emptiest interstate I've ever seen was I-75 heading south from Cincinnati into Kentucky - 3am on Christmas, 2006.

[NE2]

Here's a decent map of truck flow:

[agentsteel53]

CA-99, what an outlier as far as the non-interstates go.

another one I noted was US-49 between Jackson and Hattiesburg, MS.  Has that ever been talked about as being upgraded to interstate standard?  It is a divided four-lane expressway with some pretty poor grading on the southbound (original) lanes.

[Special K]

Wikipedia is not a valid source.

(Hey, look... I-95 Baltimore to DC has an AADT of 50!  Did *I* do that?  Tee hee!)