Is there anything in your state that's rare and/or odd?
Here in South Carolina, they built (AFAIK) their first superstreet intersection on SC 9 and Hwy 66. SCDOT went back and put in cable barriers because people were just cutting across the median because, you know... SC drivers are idiots.
https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.063072,-78.850417&spn=0.002911,0.004823&t=h&z=18
Also, there is this signal (center) northeast of Augusta. It looks like a 4-section signal could have been used here. If anyone is near this intersection, I'd like to see it green! :
https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.553627,-81.934576&spn=0.005856,0.009645&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.553588,-81.934522&panoid=rQUdGIYAujK52f5ppCxfig&cbp=12,299.19,,2,-3.05
Finally, I believe that this is the only 5-section inline signal in SC:
https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.782314,-79.931757&spn=0.001044,0.001206&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=32.782385,-79.931764&panoid=H_xI0ZTbd4Vup330XXxfCg&cbp=12,309.03,,2,-5.46
I-95 stub in Massachusetts, where I-95 was going to be built but wasn't.
I saw a bunch of Easter eggs for sale in Walmart the other day...does that count?
/had to :pan:
Here in New York, the Bethpage Parkway is a super-2, which you don't see every day. Suffolk County has a number of county routes with grade separations (e.g. CR 97, CR 105). And up in Westchester, you'll find some parkways with traffic lights on them (the Bronx Parkway and the Saw Mill Parkway). Finally, between Manhattan and the Bronx, there are a couple of one-way bridges (the Willis Avenue Bridge and the Third Avenue Bridge).
In Ledyard, CT, Route 2 is a "Super 4" at Route 214: access fully controlled (2 interchanges), but four lanes undivided.
Quote from: PColumbus73 on April 08, 2014, 11:24:43 PM
Is there anything in your state that's rare and/or odd?
Common sense? :spin:
I-540/Future I-49 has a highway tunnel near Winslow. Only one in the state.
I don't know how rare it is, but US 64 crosses the Arkansas River twice: one at the AR/OK Line near Fort Smith, the other at Van Buren.
Quote from: dgolub on April 09, 2014, 08:51:05 AM
Here in New York, the Bethpage Parkway is a super-2, which you don't see every day. Suffolk County has a number of county routes with grade separations (e.g. CR 97, CR 105). And up in Westchester, you'll find some parkways with traffic lights on them (the Bronx Parkway and the Saw Mill Parkway). Finally, between Manhattan and the Bronx, there are a couple of one-way bridges (the Willis Avenue Bridge and the Third Avenue Bridge).
The Bronx River Parkway even has a section with
private houses with driveways right on the road. The Taconic has some traffic lights at the southern end. NY 5S near Ilion is also a super-2, as far as I know the only one in upstate NY (unless you count the Thousand Islands Bridge, one of the few two-lane sections of interstate in the country).
There's also the fact that many parkway names just randomly change at region boundaries (probably because of the reference route system).
Given that "easter egg" is generally defined as something where the user has to have special knowledge (typing in a code, clicking on a pixel, etc.) in order to find it, I think that 95% of the things posted in this thread will NOT be easter eggs.
So, that said, NJ 13 has a cool easter egg - you can only see the route number if you're in a boat on Lovelandtown Canal.
Harlem River Drive has a neat one, too. You can actually walk underneath the viaduct that leads up to the Trans-Manhattan Expressway, but a) you have to follow an unmaintained dirt path at some point regardless of which direction you approach it from, and b) when I went, the only cleared path (from the local streets above) was technically closed due to construction.
EDIT: Thought of another one. The old NJ 58 stub - unless you're looking for it specifically (off Orange Ave. by I-280 in Newark), you could walk right by it and never realize it's there.
Then you have the concept of an "easter egg hunt," where no single find is an egg by itself, but finding the entire set is a challenge. Chattanooga has four roadway tunnels, to my knowledge. I was only planning on seeing one, but thanks to a wrong turn, I got to see three of the four. The fourth one is well north of the other three, and I'd never have found it without knowing where it was beforehand. So what other fun "hunts" does your state offer?
Quote from: Alps on April 11, 2014, 08:36:21 AM
Given that "easter egg" is generally defined as something where the user has to have special knowledge (typing in a code, clicking on a pixel, etc.) in order to find it, I think that 95% of the things posted in this thread will NOT be easter eggs.
So, that said, NJ 13 has a cool easter egg - you can only see the route number if you're in a boat on Lovelandtown Canal.
Harlem River Drive has a neat one, too. You can actually walk underneath the viaduct that leads up to the Trans-Manhattan Expressway, but a) you have to follow an unmaintained dirt path at some point regardless of which direction you approach it from, and b) when I went, the only cleared path (from the local streets above) was technically closed due to construction.
By that definition, I suppose that NY 904 would qualify. You have to know to look at the first line on the reference markers to tell that it has a route number. Ditto for the eastern section of NY 27A out in Southampton. NY 25C was similar until about a year ago when they installed a couple of route shields.
LA 1141 is mostly stuck away on an island by itself now, if it is even signed at all. I don't think the ferry from LA 27/ LA 82 to Monkey Island ever got reinstated after Hurricane Rita took out SW Louisiana in 2005. That'd be a good hunt to see if any of the road or old signs are still there.
Quote from: Alps on April 11, 2014, 08:36:21 AM
Then you have the concept of an "easter egg hunt," where no single find is an egg by itself, but finding the entire set is a challenge. Chattanooga has four roadway tunnels, to my knowledge. I was only planning on seeing one, but thanks to a wrong turn, I got to see three of the four. The fourth one is well north of the other three, and I'd never have found it without knowing where it was beforehand. So what other fun "hunts" does your state offer?
The 4 major floating bridges in Washington: the I-90 twin spans & SR 520 over Lake Washington, & the Hood Canal bridge. A bonus 5th is right across the border in Kelowna, British Columbia. Not a challenge to find, but a nice collection of rare major infrastructure.
Most of the old route markers are gone, but some very old signage can still be found on some former Kentucky state highways that were turned over to the counties or cities when they were bypassed by new alignments. I happened to run across a few old warning signs yesterday on an old alignment of KY 11 in Owsley County that was bypassed in the mid-1980s.
Not too long ago I went exploring in Richmond to see if an old KY 52 cutout that had survived well into the 1970s was still there. It wasn't.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 11, 2014, 08:28:46 PM
Most of the old route markers are gone,
is our friend the "to" US-60 still around? also, any other older-spec route markers? the KY-7 over a 24" state-named US blank is long gone, and I believe as is the US-42 over a 24" state-named state route blank.
I remember in 2010 stumbling across an older circle cutout for I think either the Hal Rogers or the Mountain Parkway. I'd have to check my photos but I feel like it was on the same gantry as a KY-11 so I could tell you where it is, but it will have to be on Monday.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 11, 2014, 08:40:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 11, 2014, 08:28:46 PM
Most of the old route markers are gone,
is our friend the "to" US-60 still around? also, any other older-spec route markers? the KY-7 over a 24" state-named US blank is long gone, and I believe as is the US-42 over a 24" state-named state route blank.
I think that cutout is still on the Singing Bridge in Frankfort. I am supposed to be in Frankfort next week so I will try to check. The KY 7 and US 42 signs are definitely long gone.
QuoteI remember in 2010 stumbling across an older circle cutout for I think either the Hal Rogers or the Mountain Parkway. I'd have to check my photos but I feel like it was on the same gantry as a KY-11 so I could tell you where it is, but it will have to be on Monday.
I know of three circle cutout Mountain Parkway signs still in existence. Two in Salyersville and one in downtown Jackson. There are no more circle cutout Daniel Boone Parkway signs left. All have been replaced with Hal Rogers signs, although there are still a couple of the brown-on-white signs left whereas everything else has been converted to the blue and white with the "Unbridled Spirit" logo.
With one exception. There are two new installations of blue and white text signs without the "KUS" logo at the end of the new KY 15 alignment in Jackson. I haven't gotten photos yet but I will soon.
Quote from: vdeane on April 09, 2014, 07:53:27 PM
NY 5S near Ilion is also a super-2, as far as I know the only one in upstate NY (unless you count the Thousand Islands Bridge, one of the few two-lane sections of interstate in the country).
Or NY 104 at NY 89.
QuoteThere's also the fact that many parkway names just randomly change at region boundaries (probably because of the reference route system).
Are you thinking of Grand Central/Northern Parkway? I can't think of any other examples–oh wait, Henry Hudson/Saw Mill River Parkway. But there's no way those are because of the reference route system, since they predate it (and region boundaries as well, no doubt).
Quote from: dgolub on April 11, 2014, 08:50:56 AM
By that definition, I suppose that NY 904 would qualify. You have to know to look at the first line on the reference markers to tell that it has a route number. Ditto for the eastern section of NY 27A out in Southampton. NY 25C was similar until about a year ago when they installed a couple of route shields.
You made me have to visit my own website to figure out that NY 904 is Glen Cove Road. :-) But of course, that's not its real route number, at least any more. It's 900B now. Old 27A is now 900W, and 25C is now 900F–well, unless it really was renumbered when the new shields went up!
As for neat hidden treasures in my state, we have the only road that passes under the Erie Canal.
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
Are you thinking of Grand Central/Northern Parkway? I can't think of any other examples–oh wait, Henry Hudson/Saw Mill River Parkway. But there's no way those are because of the reference route system, since they predate it (and region boundaries as well, no doubt).
Belt/Southern
Quote from: vdeane on April 12, 2014, 01:19:02 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
Are you thinking of Grand Central/Northern Parkway? I can't think of any other examples–oh wait, Henry Hudson/Saw Mill River Parkway. But there's no way those are because of the reference route system, since they predate it (and region boundaries as well, no doubt).
Belt/Southern
The Belt Parkway doesn't really turn into the Southern Parkway. It curves to the north and turns into the Cross Island Parkway, which continues its exit numbering scheme. The Southern Parkway begins at this interchange, which is right on the city line, but you have to use a numbered exit to get to it.
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
Are you thinking of Grand Central/Northern Parkway? I can't think of any other examples–oh wait, Henry Hudson/Saw Mill River Parkway. But there's no way those are because of the reference route system, since they predate it (and region boundaries as well, no doubt).
How about the Hutchinson/Merritt/Wilbur Cross combination. Well, technically the Merritt turns into the Wilbur Cross at the first exit after the border between Fairfield and New Haven counties rather that at the border itself, but it's close.
Quote from: dgolub on April 12, 2014, 08:22:23 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
Are you thinking of Grand Central/Northern Parkway? I can't think of any other examples–oh wait, Henry Hudson/Saw Mill River Parkway. But there's no way those are because of the reference route system, since they predate it (and region boundaries as well, no doubt).
How about the Hutchinson/Merritt/Wilbur Cross combination. Well, technically the Merritt turns into the Wilbur Cross at the first exit after the border between Fairfield and New Haven counties rather that at the border itself, but it's close.
Those name changes don't occur at NYSDOT region boundaries and are
definitely not a result of the NYS reference route system. :-)
Northbound Hwy 400 at the Severn River in Ontario -an old parking prohibition sign facing facing away from traffic, from back when it was the two lane Hwy 69.
http://onthighwayman.tumblr.com/post/73638962154/northbound-highway-400-at-the-severn-river-the-no (http://onthighwayman.tumblr.com/post/73638962154/northbound-highway-400-at-the-severn-river-the-no)
Sadly its days are numbered as the bridges are slated to be replaced, complete with a re-alignment of the northbound lanes through there.
LA 3225 is signed with mile markers for whenever US 71 used the route. US 71 has been moved onto the Pineville Expressway with US 167, but you still have a 5 mile long road with mile markers in the nineties.
US 371 is legally referred to in Bienville and Red River Parishes as LA 7. US 425 is signed with mile markers for LA 139 north of Bastrop, while it uses LA 15's mile markers between Ferriday and Archibald.
Quote from: Alps on April 11, 2014, 08:36:21 AM
Given that "easter egg" is generally defined as something where the user has to have special knowledge (typing in a code, clicking on a pixel, etc.) in order to find it, I think that 95% of the things posted in this thread will NOT be easter eggs.
So what other fun "hunts" does your state offer?
I don't know if this would be fun, but you could try to find all the routes SDDOT maintains w/ no signage.
Something more fun would be to find the "BUSINESS LOOP 14" signs in Huron.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dm.net%2F%7Echris-g%2Fbl14.png&hash=15583096a278c8b244c559cf076aee9c43d0d945)
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
As for neat hidden treasures in my state, we have the only road that passes under the Erie Canal.
Do tell.
Quote from: dgolub on April 12, 2014, 08:19:05 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 12, 2014, 01:19:02 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
Are you thinking of Grand Central/Northern Parkway? I can't think of any other examples–oh wait, Henry Hudson/Saw Mill River Parkway. But there's no way those are because of the reference route system, since they predate it (and region boundaries as well, no doubt).
Belt/Southern
The Belt Parkway doesn't really turn into the Southern Parkway. It curves to the north and turns into the Cross Island Parkway, which continues its exit numbering scheme. The Southern Parkway begins at this interchange, which is right on the city line, but you have to use a numbered exit to get to it.
The Belt Parkway Is 4 different parkways
Shore (Gowanus/Brooklyn Queens Expressway I-278, Brooklyn to Cross Bay Parkway, Queens)
Southern (Cross Bay Blvd to Sunrise Highway, Queens)
Laurelton Parkway (Sunrise Highway, Queens to Southern State Parkway, Queens/Nassau County)
Cross Island Parkway (Southern State Parkway Queens/Nassau County to Whitestone Expressway Queens)(Cross Island Parkway Signed as Separate Parkway From Belt Parkway)
Former Parkway Sections either renamed and/or converted to Expressway
Gowanus Parkway (Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Shore Parkway, Brooklyn) (Now Gowanus/Brooklyn Queens Expressway I-278)
Whitestone Parkway (Cross Island Parkway to Grand Central Parkway (At Northern Blvd/Astoria Blvd), Queens)(Now Whitestone Expressway I-678)
Grand Central Parkway (Northern Blvd/Astoria Blvd to Triboro Bridge) (Part from Brooklyn Queens Expressway to Triboro Bridge now co-signed with I-278)
Though some signage bears the name "Belt Parkway," the original plan never called for a highway of that name, rather a system of different named parkways called the "Belt System." The Belt System is made up of a series of interconnecting highways, none of which are actually named the Belt Parkway. Originally, the highways were the Gowanus Parkway from the Brooklyn—Battery Tunnel to the Shore Parkway; the entirety of the Shore, Southern, Laurelton, and Cross Island Parkways; the Whitestone Parkway from the Cross Island to the Grand Central Parkway; and the Grand Central from the Whitestone to the Triborough Bridge.
According to Street View, ALL the signage says Belt Parkway except the Cross Island Parkway. Also, there's more through lanes coming from the Southern Parkway at that interchange... the only way to tell anything differently is to look at the exit numbers in Street View. It would appear that the exit number to go from the Belt Parkway to the Southern Parkway and the exit numbers on the Cross Island are the only vestiges of the original plan.
Quote from: Alps on April 13, 2014, 04:19:26 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
As for neat hidden treasures in my state, we have the only road that passes under the Erie Canal.
Do tell.
It's just east of Medina (http://www.lowbridgeproductions.com/erie-canal-images-culvert.html). I almost posted it to the "low clearance" thread.
Quote from: SD Mapman on April 13, 2014, 12:55:08 AM
Something more fun would be to find the "BUSINESS LOOP 14" signs in Huron.
once you know the town, it's not too tough to find. in Oct'11 I found three survivors. there's also an old underpass with original two-lane concrete at one or the other ends of the old 14 segment through town. east end, IIRC.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 11, 2014, 10:46:24 PM
I know of three circle cutout Mountain Parkway signs still in existence. Two in Salyersville and one in downtown Jackson.
I pulled up my photo. it has three assemblies:
* to/Bert Combs supplemental arc/Mountain Parkway circle/left arrow.
* KY-11/bidirectional arrow
* KY-52/right arrow
this is in Beattyville, on KY-52 eastbound, at the north end of the 11/52 multiplex that crosses the river.
here is a street view, but that dates to 2009:
http://goo.gl/maps/kSzzN
do you happen to have any evidence, more recent than November 2010, of the existence or demise of this arc-and-circle assembly?
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 14, 2014, 10:33:22 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 11, 2014, 10:46:24 PM
I know of three circle cutout Mountain Parkway signs still in existence. Two in Salyersville and one in downtown Jackson.
I pulled up my photo. it has three assemblies:
* to/Bert Combs supplemental arc/Mountain Parkway circle/left arrow.
* KY-11/bidirectional arrow
* KY-52/right arrow
this is in Beattyville, on KY-52 eastbound, at the north end of the 11/52 multiplex that crosses the river.
here is a street view, but that dates to 2009:
http://goo.gl/maps/kSzzN
do you happen to have any evidence, more recent than November 2010, of the existence or demise of this arc-and-circle assembly?
LOL. That's my hometown and I pass that sign everyday. I guess I'm so used to it that I had forgotten about it. It's still there. Main Street is no longer KY 52, as that route has been bypassed and the street has been turned over to city maintenance. I guess KYTC is just going to let that assembly rot in place.
So make that four cutout Mountain Parkway old-style signs still in existence, unless they've removed the one in downtown Jackson. Even though I work in Jackson I don't get downtown very often.
Old US-81 crossing over Walnut Creek in Austin. Changed routing during the 40s but to find the old piers while hiking and not looking for them was cool.
Quote from: vdeane on April 13, 2014, 08:53:52 PM
According to Street View, ALL the signage says Belt Parkway except the Cross Island Parkway. Also, there's more through lanes coming from the Southern Parkway at that interchange... the only way to tell anything differently is to look at the exit numbers in Street View. It would appear that the exit number to go from the Belt Parkway to the Southern Parkway and the exit numbers on the Cross Island are the only vestiges of the original plan.
Originally The Cross Island Parkway, The Southern State Parkway & Heckscher State Parkway Exit Numbers were Continuous, Cross Island Exit 1 (Whitestone Parkway) - Exit 12 (Laurelton Parkway) -> Southern State Exit 13 (Central Avenue) to Heckscher Exit 46 (Timber Point Road)
Quote from: 1 on April 09, 2014, 06:30:57 AM
I-95 stub in Massachusetts, where I-95 was going to be built but wasn't.
I would say that the I-695 stubs in Somerville are just as, if not more, unique than the I-95 stub in Canton. The stubs from southbound I-93 and to northbound I-93 are now part of the Leverett Connector ramps, but the stubs from I-93 northbound and to southbound I-93 have never been used (and can never be used because of the Leverett Connector).
Then, of course, there's the overpasses to nowhere on US 1 at MA 60 in Revere that were supposed to connect the Northeast Expressway to the continuation of I-95 across the Lynn Marsh. Much of that embankment was removed several years ago to reclaim the sand for Revere Beach, which had severely eroded.
I found three Easter eggs just today on a walk through Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx–the park is rife with hidden historic treasures!
One is the weird old reference marker (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10374.0) I've posted about previously.
Another is a NYC street blade sign for Jerome Ave. in the median of I-87 at Exit 13. While Jerome Ave. did indeed continue up the I-87 right of way into Yonkers, this sign isn't quite old enough or in quite the right spot to date from that era. Yet there's a second bracket that looks as if it could have held an intersecting street sign; what might it have said? (StreetView (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.896358,-73.880671,3a,18.6y,358.56h,90.19t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1shuDa6gN0qBRhfjKhMqgYog!2e0))
The last is a fire hydrant and some crumbling stonework along the long-obliterated r.o.w. of Mosholu Avenue where it crosses the old Croton Aqueduct trail. Interestingly, there is another hydrant and some better-preserved stonework behind the ballfields on the other side of I-87 from here (which you can just discern in this StreetView (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.892807,-73.884032,3a,15y,85.73h,86.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sQe-PvC0evdWMqZ-0fCIcuQ!2e0), and Mosholu Avenue lives on here as the entrance drive into the ballfield parking area. (Similarly, Mosholu Ave. still exists on the western side of the park leading to the stables and maintenance areas.)
This stretch of I-87 was in the news recently when a small plane successfully made an emergency landing on it.
Quote from: Alps on April 13, 2014, 04:19:26 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 12, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
As for neat hidden treasures in my state, we have the only road that passes under the Erie Canal.
Do tell.
Or show? (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.235099,-78.3404,3a,75y,356.69h,79.78t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s0V6vvf7EcZ4GSTC9mi9Jaw!2e0)
Quote from: texaskdog on April 14, 2014, 12:15:11 PM
Old US-81 crossing over Walnut Creek in Austin. Changed routing during the 40s but to find the old piers while hiking and not looking for them was cool.
Just east of Lamar between Yager and Braker? I was fairly sure I could see remains of an old bridge from the current Loop 275 bridge over Walnut Creek while tracking old US 81 alignments. I wasn't sure about hiking over there, although west of Lamar is clearly a city park. Where Yager intersects Lamar, you can see on satellite maps (and in real life) where what must have been the old alignment diverged slightly eastward and trace it nearly to the former creek crossing. I have always wanted to go and explore that area more.
Quote from: US81 on April 16, 2014, 12:20:56 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on April 14, 2014, 12:15:11 PM
Old US-81 crossing over Walnut Creek in Austin. Changed routing during the 40s but to find the old piers while hiking and not looking for them was cool.
Just east of Lamar between Yager and Braker? I was fairly sure I could see remains of an old bridge from the current Loop 275 bridge over Walnut Creek while tracking old US 81 alignments. I wasn't sure about hiking over there, although west of Lamar is clearly a city park. Where Yager intersects Lamar, you can see on satellite maps (and in real life) where what must have been the old alignment diverged slightly eastward and trace it nearly to the former creek crossing. I have always wanted to go and explore that area more.
"THE DALLAS HIGHWAY" Take Oakbrook off of Lamar to near where it ends. It is even shown on Google Maps as Walnut Bluffs Trail. If I remember correctly you have to go a little ways past the end of the trail, but it is not gated off. Basically you can just see the old piers on either side, and you can tell it was removed long ago (the 1940s). I just found this on one of our hikes. When the Walnut biking trail is complete in a few years it will go right thourgh there. Sadly they may have to take it out to make the trail fit, but that is just speculation on my part.
Sorry to call you old, US-81
And do yourself a favor and hike in Walnut Creek Park! 17 miles of hiking trails.
Quote from: texaskdog on April 16, 2014, 02:56:28 PM
Quote from: US81 on April 16, 2014, 12:20:56 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on April 14, 2014, 12:15:11 PM
Old US-81 crossing over Walnut Creek in Austin. Changed routing during the 40s but to find the old piers while hiking and not looking for them was cool.
Just east of Lamar between Yager and Braker? I was fairly sure I could see remains of an old bridge from the current Loop 275 bridge over Walnut Creek while tracking old US 81 alignments. I wasn't sure about hiking over there, although west of Lamar is clearly a city park. Where Yager intersects Lamar, you can see on satellite maps (and in real life) where what must have been the old alignment diverged slightly eastward and trace it nearly to the former creek crossing. I have always wanted to go and explore that area more.
"THE DALLAS HIGHWAY" Take Oakbrook off of Lamar to near where it ends. It is even shown on Google Maps as Walnut Bluffs Trail. If I remember correctly you have to go a little ways past the end of the trail, but it is not gated off. Basically you can just see the old piers on either side, and you can tell it was removed long ago (the 1940s). I just found this on one of our hikes. When the Walnut biking trail is complete in a few years it will go right thourgh there. Sadly they may have to take it out to make the trail fit, but that is just speculation on my part.
Sorry to call you old, US-81
And do yourself a favor and hike in Walnut Creek Park! 17 miles of hiking trails.
Actually, I have hiked in Walnut Creek Park. My sister used to live near there. Love those trails. I just never got onto the Walnut Bluffs Trail - but I am planning to change that as soon as I can get back to Austin. Thanks for the good info. I hope I can time it right and get some good pictures.
and "I" can't really be upset about being called "old" because "I" date back to the days of the Meridian Highway and SH2 and the original 1926 Ag BPR. :cool: ;-)
Quote from: US81 on April 16, 2014, 03:55:42 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on April 16, 2014, 02:56:28 PM
Quote from: US81 on April 16, 2014, 12:20:56 AM
Quote from: texaskdog on April 14, 2014, 12:15:11 PM
Old US-81 crossing over Walnut Creek in Austin. Changed routing during the 40s but to find the old piers while hiking and not looking for them was cool.
Just east of Lamar between Yager and Braker? I was fairly sure I could see remains of an old bridge from the current Loop 275 bridge over Walnut Creek while tracking old US 81 alignments. I wasn't sure about hiking over there, although west of Lamar is clearly a city park. Where Yager intersects Lamar, you can see on satellite maps (and in real life) where what must have been the old alignment diverged slightly eastward and trace it nearly to the former creek crossing. I have always wanted to go and explore that area more.
"THE DALLAS HIGHWAY" Take Oakbrook off of Lamar to near where it ends. It is even shown on Google Maps as Walnut Bluffs Trail. If I remember correctly you have to go a little ways past the end of the trail, but it is not gated off. Basically you can just see the old piers on either side, and you can tell it was removed long ago (the 1940s). I just found this on one of our hikes. When the Walnut biking trail is complete in a few years it will go right thourgh there. Sadly they may have to take it out to make the trail fit, but that is just speculation on my part.
Sorry to call you old, US-81
And do yourself a favor and hike in Walnut Creek Park! 17 miles of hiking trails.
Actually, I have hiked in Walnut Creek Park. My sister used to live near there. Love those trails. I just never got onto the Walnut Bluffs Trail - but I am planning to change that as soon as I can get back to Austin. Thanks for the good info. I hope I can time it right and get some good pictures.
and "I" can't really be upset about being called "old" because "I" date back to the days of the Meridian Highway and SH2 and the original 1926 Ag BPR. :cool: ;-)
Have you ever been to the UT map library? I found a gem there of a map before US Highways. If only I weren't honest I would have taken it home.
Walnut Bluffs is short and boring other than the bridge piers. Takes maybe 20 minutes out and back. I dont think you can access this (legally) on the North side. I'd love to walk that old alignment.
Look at this http://fryr.tripod.com/cfhistoryaerial1954.html
SR 303 just east of Peninsula, OH, there is a section of old SR-303 that still is overgrown with trees and other assorted foliage, but there is a local hiking trail which follows the old red-brick alignment which still mostly exists (between Dell & Pine -- barely visible in this GSM link: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Peninsula,+OH+44264/@41.2399722,-81.5434382,553m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x8830d84c1c3e0201:0xb8200bb20199a8a6
Quote from: texaskdog on April 16, 2014, 04:11:13 PM
Have you ever been to the UT map library? I found a gem there of a map before US Highways. If only I weren't honest I would have taken it home.
Walnut Bluffs is short and boring other than the bridge piers. Takes maybe 20 minutes out and back. I dont think you can access this (legally) on the North side. I'd love to walk that old alignment.
Look at this http://fryr.tripod.com/cfhistoryaerial1954.html
I have not been to the UT map library, but I'm dying to go.
I think you're right about not being able to access the old alignment legally from the north side, looks very 'private property - keep out' but like you, I'd love to walk it.
What a cool photo. You can clearly see the old 81 alignment. The caption says Yager was not yet built, but it should looks like there was a road in the same alignment where Yager is now. I will definitely have to prowl more maps.
To answer Jake's question upthread, the old US 60 cutout in Frankfort with the "TO" lettering added is still in existence.
I also saw a very old text-only "DO NOT ENTER" sign today in Frankfort that uses a font that I always found exclusive to the Louisville district office. Alas, I was riding with someone and couldn't get a photo.