US Highways that shouldn’t have been built

[cbalducc]

Political clout ultimately determines where money goes for highway construction.  People in these forums offer wish that certain highways were built.  But in what cases were highways built primarily to serve the interests of a well-connected few and never carried a lot of traffic?

[Max Rockatansky]

Most US Routes weren't "built"  per se but were designated over a former Auto Trail, public road or State Highway.  Unless I'm totally misreading the thread title and this about highways in the United States in general. 

[hotdogPi]

I don't think this thread was meant for the US Route system only.

[cbalducc]

Most US Routes weren't "built"  per se but were designated over a former Auto Trail, public road or State Highway.  Unless I'm totally misreading the thread title and this about highways in the United States in general. 

I'm referring to highways built after the official establishment of the US Highway system, in particular the Interstates with their loops and spurs.

[cbalducc]

I don't think this thread was meant for the US Route system only.

I'm asking about United States highways including interstates.

[hotdogPi]

I don't really see the point of I-72 west of Springfield. I understand that demographics have changed, but it still seems unnecessary.

When I-24 was being built, there was a debate: Paducah or Evansville? Paducah won, despite being much smaller.

[roadman65]

I don't really see the point of I-72 west of Springfield. I understand that demographics have changed, but it still seems unnecessary.

When I-24 was being built, there was a debate: Paducah or Evansville? Paducah won, despite being much smaller.

Now both have it. Evansville has I-69😄

[SkyPesos]

I don't think this thread was meant for the US Route system only.

I'm asking about United States highways including interstates.

Reword the thread title then. "US highways"  mostly refer to the US highways system that was established in 1926, not it and the interstates.

[VetteDriver16]

Was I-220 around Jackson, Mississippi really necessary?
Was I-180 in Northern Illinois really necessary?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I-99

[cbalducc]

Was I-220 around Jackson, Mississippi really necessary?
Was I-180 in Northern Illinois really necessary?

I-220 saved travel time for people in north Mississippi to get to Louisiana, Texas, and points west.

[sprjus4]

I-99

I think that the route was certainly needed, the only questionable part is the number. But the freeway itself has utility and should continue to exist.

[hbelkins]

Fixed the thread title to more accurately reflect what is to be discussed here.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I don't really see the point of I-72 west of Springfield. I understand that demographics have changed, but it still seems unnecessary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgottonia

[Bruce]

I-5 through Downtown Seattle was a mistake that we will certainly regret when it comes time to rebuild.

I-705 is practically useless and cost us the use of Union Station (which has since been bypassed anyway, but still).

Most urban freeways that were "coincidentally" routed through majority-minority neighborhoods were also horrific decisions.

[jp the roadgeek]

FritzOwl: All of them

[jlam]

I-275 through Tampa. Routing it's way through every downtown neighborhood, there is no way the FWHA would approve it in modern times.

[oscar]

Fixed the thread title to more accurately reflect what is to be discussed here.

A re-fix, to focus the discussion to highways in the United States. "American Highways" seems to include highways in other countries in North and South America.

Now, if the OP wants to extend the discussion to highways outside the U.S., I would have no objection. I can think of at least one possible example.