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Interstate 99 north of Williamsport

Started by Mountain Parkway, October 31, 2019, 08:03:12 PM

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Mountain Parkway

Why can't US 15 north of Williamsport, PA be signed as I-99.


webny99

Because I-83 is the correct number.  :-P

I'm not entirely sure of the serious answer. Exits were numbered a year or so ago, so that's progress. Ditto for the 70 mph speed limit. My best guess would be that it's probably waiting on a redesign of the interchange with I-180/US 220, which could be any number of years down the road.

tolbs17

Because I-99 is the WORST interstate numbered in the United States! Could be like I-74 in North Carolina too, but whatever.

An I-x80 or I-x86 would possible work.

Beltway

Quote from: webny99 on October 31, 2019, 08:42:05 PM
I'm not entirely sure of the serious answer. Exits were numbered a year or so ago, so that's progress. Ditto for the 70 mph speed limit. My best guess would be that it's probably waiting on a redesign of the interchange with I-180/US 220, which could be any number of years down the road.
It is a decent enough interchange between the two freeways.

Better than the westerly interchange between I-80 and 1/2 mile of PA-26 to I-99, and that segment of I-99 has been posted.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

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Jim

Controversial number aside and back to the original question, my not-a-highway-engineer eye did not notice anything that should prevent it from being a signed interstate highway when I drove it from Corning to Williamsport last week.
Photos I post are my own unless otherwise noted.
Signs: https://www.teresco.org/pics/signs/
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GenExpwy

There is that one little blink-and-you-miss-it intersection with a dirt road in the Steam Valley section that was built around 1970.

But yes, I-83 would be the correct number (← see avatar) :nod:

Verlanka

Quote from: Mountain Parkway on October 31, 2019, 08:03:12 PM
Why can't US 15 north of Williamsport, PA be signed as I-99.
It will; it just needs Congressional approval for it to go forward.

storm2k

Quote from: GenExpwy on November 01, 2019, 03:18:43 AM
There is that one little blink-and-you-miss-it intersection with a dirt road in the Steam Valley section that was built around 1970.

But yes, I-83 would be the correct number (← see avatar) :nod:

That's a fun one. Doesn't look like there's much room there to build off any sort of separation for the RIRO.

vdeane

Quote from: Verlanka on November 01, 2019, 05:17:51 AM
Quote from: Mountain Parkway on October 31, 2019, 08:03:12 PM
Why can't US 15 north of Williamsport, PA be signed as I-99.
It will; it just needs Congressional approval for it to go forward.
Given that the portion in NY is designated and signed, I'm not sure that's an issue with respect to getting the shields up.

Quote from: storm2k on November 01, 2019, 10:47:42 AM
Quote from: GenExpwy on November 01, 2019, 03:18:43 AM
There is that one little blink-and-you-miss-it intersection with a dirt road in the Steam Valley section that was built around 1970.

But yes, I-83 would be the correct number (← see avatar) :nod:

That's a fun one. Doesn't look like there's much room there to build off any sort of separation for the RIRO.
I don't understand why it was left in when they were just doing work to remove the at-grades there a few years ago.  It looks like it's connected to other roads on Google Maps, so why not just block it off?  Or does PA plan to do just that, but not until the portion of I-99 is between I-80 and Williamsport is ready to be signed?
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

hbelkins

It's been a few years since I've been north of Williamsport on US 15, but I think they had all the at-grades removed when I was on it.

To the OP: I'm old enough to remember when KY 205, not KY 705, was the road that crossed US 460 at Grassy Creek. KY 205 was relocated and the old route was renumbered in the mid-80s. Grassy Auto Parts is well-known in this area as a great place to buy used parts. I've been through Grassy Creek more times than I can count, and was in Morgan County for work Wednesday evening. Grassy Creek is the home of New Cummer Road.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

J Route Z

I'm pretty sure they are in the process of converting US 15 to I-99. I was on this road this past summer and saw a few "Future I-99" signs.

vdeane

Quote from: J Route Z on November 01, 2019, 08:59:15 PM
I'm pretty sure they are in the process of converting US 15 to I-99. I was on this road this past summer and saw a few "Future I-99" signs.
Those have been there for at least 15-20 years.  There were a few projects done a decade ago to fill in the freeway gaps.  Ironically, the at-grade posted here was right in the middle of one.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

The Ghostbuster

Perhaps we will have to wait until the Interstate 80 (west)/Interstate 99 interchange is completed, and wait until/if the portion of US 220 between Interstate 80 and Interstate 180/US 15 is fully up to freeway standards before 99 will be signposted along US 15 north of Williamsport (ditto for getting rid of that at-grade dirt road connection). As for making the highway an extension of Interstate 83, I think the prospects of Interstate 83 being extended north of Harrisburg are nil, so save it for Fictional Highways.

Roadgeek Adam

We don't need 99 north of 80 [/grumble grumble]

Realistically that section of 220 is never going to happen at all.
Adam Seth Moss
M.A. History, Western Illinois University 2015-17
B.A. History, Montclair State University 2013-15
A.A. History & Education - Middlesex (County) College 2009-13

goobnav

The intersection between PA 287 and US 220, plus the US 220 junction with I-80 and PA politics wasting money. 

Number of reasons besides the scourge of the number itself.
Life is a highway and I drive it all night long!

Roadgeek Adam

I'm vocally against adding to the interstate system, but the point is, we don't need to waste the 2019 dollars to upgrade a section of 220 that doesn't really need it. I've been on the stretch in question. It isn't that overloaded in traffic.
Adam Seth Moss
M.A. History, Western Illinois University 2015-17
B.A. History, Montclair State University 2013-15
A.A. History & Education - Middlesex (County) College 2009-13

sturmde

It's not like the number 220 made much sense for a north-south route that ends at N-S US 1, and crosses N-S US 29, 11, and 15.  It would have been much better as a x15 or x11.  So, it only makes sense that I-99 is here!
.
Really, with I-99 signed in New York, it would be perfectly acceptable for PA to submit it south from the NY Line to end temporarily at the 15/220 interchange.  Just do TEMP 99, the same way we had TEMP 85 for years in NC, and TEMP 75 in Michigan.  Even better, get New York to extend over 86, replace 390 to 590, and then follow 590 all as a northern I-99 extension.  At least then it's a bit more of a "corridor".

Roadgeek Adam

My point is more that we don't need to extend I-99 from 80 on north. It's a waste. The stretch of 220 doesn't need to be a freeway. There are better projects that deserve that money.

The interstate system is antiquated in 2019. We don't need to waste that time. FHA should cease and desist from adding more numbers to the system.

You're not changing my mind.
Adam Seth Moss
M.A. History, Western Illinois University 2015-17
B.A. History, Montclair State University 2013-15
A.A. History & Education - Middlesex (County) College 2009-13

hotdogPi

Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on November 06, 2019, 05:19:30 PM
FHA should cease and desist from adding more numbers to the system.


That reminds me of this 2014 post:

Quote from: vtk on June 03, 2014, 03:35:51 AM
Quote from: ysuindy on June 02, 2014, 10:54:24 PM
4-5 lane, $331 million project receives FHA approval

Since when does the Federal Housing Administration approve roads?
Clinched, minus I-93 (I'm missing a few miles and my file is incorrect)

Traveled, plus US 13, 44, and 50, and several state routes

I will be in Burlington VT for the eclipse.

Roadgeek Adam

Adam Seth Moss
M.A. History, Western Illinois University 2015-17
B.A. History, Montclair State University 2013-15
A.A. History & Education - Middlesex (County) College 2009-13

Beltway

I-99 could and should be posted on US-15 between I-180 and NY I-99, imho.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

Jim

Whether or not it was a good use of funds to upgrade US 15 to a freeway between Williamsport and Corning, it is one now, so it seems worthy of the I shield.  It connects to Interstates on both ends and best I can tell from this thread there's just that one dirt road access.
Photos I post are my own unless otherwise noted.
Signs: https://www.teresco.org/pics/signs/
Travel Mapping: https://travelmapping.net/user/?u=terescoj
Counties: http://www.mob-rule.com/user/terescoj
Twitter @JimTeresco (roads, travel, skiing, weather, sports)

Beltway

Quote from: Jim on November 06, 2019, 09:13:40 PM
Whether or not it was a good use of funds to upgrade US 15 to a freeway between Williamsport and Corning, it is one now, so it seems worthy of the I shield.  It connects to Interstates on both ends and best I can tell from this thread there's just that one dirt road access.
In two states as well, not just one state.

The unbuilt segments between I-180/US-15 and I-80 near Lock Haven are worthy projects, but will probably take a long time to fund.

It could even be a 3-state Interstate highway, if the segment between Bedford and Cumberland ever gets revived.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

Alps

Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on November 06, 2019, 05:19:30 PM
My point is more that we don't need to extend I-99 from 80 on north. It's a waste. The stretch of 220 doesn't need to be a freeway. There are better projects that deserve that money.

The interstate system is antiquated in 2019. We don't need to waste that time. FHA should cease and desist from adding more numbers to the system.

You're not changing my mind.
By pure volume, there are rarely delays there - not never, I've seen them - but rarely. But the existing road has no shoulders, not always turn lanes, lots of cross traffic. It's been under proposal to be bypassed for decades upon decades, well before I-99 was conceived. I support it.

Beltway

#24
Quote from: Alps on November 06, 2019, 10:35:58 PM
By pure volume, there are rarely delays there - not never, I've seen them - but rarely. But the existing road has no shoulders, not always turn lanes, lots of cross traffic. It's been under proposal to be bypassed for decades upon decades, well before I-99 was conceived. I support it.
The Appalachian Thruway was first proposed in the late 1950s.

Basically a freeway paralleling US-220 and US-15, Cumberland-Bedford-Altoona-Lock Haven-Williamsport-Corning.

http://digitalcollections.library.cmu.edu/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=556593
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)



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