America's Most Loathed Highways

[Henry]

Recently, a Volvo dealership in FL took a nationwide survey of the 100 most hated arterial roads, expressways and freeways in America (with the complete list below), and most of these should come as no surprise:

https://www.gunthervolvocarsdaytona.com/americas-most-loathed-highways.htm

1. US 101 CA
2. I-5 CA
3. I-405 CA
4. I-76 (PA Turnpike) PA
5. I-70 CO
6. I-65 AL
7. DE 1 DE
8. I-87 (NY State Thruway) NY
9. I-90/I-94 IL
10. Garden State Parkway, NJ
11. I-95 CT
12. I-95 FL
13. I-10 MS
14. I-85 GA
15. I-290 IL
16. I-40 NC
17. I-195 RI
18. I-40 AR
19. I-75 OH
20. I-66 VA
21. I-210 LA
22. Glenn Highway, AK
23. I-95 NY
24. I-95 NH
25. I-80 NJ
26. I-84 CT
27. I-95 ME
28. I-15 NV
29. I-95 PA
30. I-30 AR
31. I-5 WA
32. I-495 NY
33. I-85 NC
34. US 1 FL
35. I-93 MA
36. I-17 AZ
37. I-35 KS
38. I-84 ID
39. I-25 CO
40. I-695 MD
41. I-95 RI
42. I-80 NE
43. I-95 (NJTP) NJ
44. I-285 GA
45. I-4 FL
46. I-71 OH
47. Seward Highway, AK
48. US 1 ME
49. I-75 MI
50. I-95 VA
51. H-1 HI
52. I-24 TN
53. I-70 MO
54. I-85 SC
55. I-40 NM
56. I-45 TX
57. I-95 DE
58. I-65 IN
59. I-55 IL
60. I-94 MI
61. I-75 KY
62. I-610 TX
63. I-80 WY
64. I-80 UT
65. I-405 WA
66. I-70 OH
67. I-64/US 40 MO
68. I-80 IA
69. I-376 PA
70. I-495 MD
71. I-77 NC
72. I-77 WV
73. US 280 AL
74. I-64 KY
75. I-96 MI
76. US 26 OR
77. I-270 MD
78. I-465 IN
79. I-94 WI
80. I-15 UT
81. I-35 TX
82. US 93 MT
83. I-26 SC
84. I-29 SD
85. I-43 WI
86. I-10 AZ
87. I-35 IA
88. I-40 TN
89. I-35W MN
90. I-94 ND
91. US 191 WY
92. US 7 VT
93. US 95 NV
94. I-10 LA
95. I-5 OR
96. I-35 OK
97. H-2 HI
98. I-70 KS
99. I-93 NH
100. I-94 MN

[Max Rockatansky]

Not leading off strong placing US 101 generalized in California atop that list.  The Redwood Highway more than cancels out anything bad to south of the Golden Gate Bridge.  The Ventura Freeway along Santa Barbara Channel is one of the most scenic limited access roads in the country.

[Rothman]

LIE's a good one.

[webny99]

Recently, a Volvo dealership in FL took a nationwide survey of the 100 most hated arterial roads, expressways and freeways in America (with the complete list below), and most of these should come as no surprise:

https://www.gunthervolvocarsdaytona.com/americas-most-loathed-highways.htm

1. US 101 CA
2. I-5 CA
3. I-405 CA
4. I-76 (PA Turnpike) PA
5. I-70 CO
6. I-65 AL
7. DE 1 DE
8. I-87 (NY State Thruway) NY
9. I-90/I-94 IL
10. Garden State Parkway, NJ
...

Notable exclusion of the I-90 portion of the Thruway here. Usually it's just "the Thruway", and the rural stretches aren't really "loathed" aside from being really boring to drive and the need for six lanes during travel season. I-87 from the NYC line to Harriman is the one stretch that deserves to be top-10 on this list.

Also... since when is the PA Turnpike known for congestion near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh? That was news to me, especially with some of those segments being 6+ lanes, including some proactively widened in the last few decades.

[Rothman]

Recently, a Volvo dealership in FL took a nationwide survey of the 100 most hated arterial roads, expressways and freeways in America (with the complete list below), and most of these should come as no surprise:

https://www.gunthervolvocarsdaytona.com/americas-most-loathed-highways.htm

1. US 101 CA
2. I-5 CA
3. I-405 CA
4. I-76 (PA Turnpike) PA
5. I-70 CO
6. I-65 AL
7. DE 1 DE
8. I-87 (NY State Thruway) NY
9. I-90/I-94 IL
10. Garden State Parkway, NJ
...

Notable exclusion of the I-90 portion of the Thruway here. Usually it's just "the Thruway", and the rural stretches aren't really "loathed" aside from being really boring to drive and the need for six lanes during travel season. I-87 from the NYC line to Harriman is the one stretch that deserves to be top-10 on this list.

Also... since when is the PA Turnpike known for congestion near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh? That was news to me, especially with some of those segments being 6+ lanes, including some proactively widened in the last few decades.

Pfft.  The Thruway is fine compared to a whole lot of others.  Hardly the top 10 nationwide.

[pderocco]

Yeah, US-101 shows how stupid this list is. A 770-mile road isn't "loathed," what's loathed are certain stretches of it, probably in this case from L.A. to Santa Barbara, and from San Jose to the Golden Gate. That's it. Having driven every mile of it, I can say that the rest of it is at the very least pleasant, much of it beautiful, and some of it spectacular. Even the "bad" parts can be nice if you drive it, say, early on Sunday morning when the traffic is light.

[Roadgeekteen]

This list really needs to be sections, not whole states. CA I-5 at the Oregon border is a lot different than I-5 in downtown LA.

[Konza]

Did I miss I-80/94 in northwest Indiana?

Easily top ten, much less in the top 100.

[Scott5114]

It's weird that I-35 in OK shows up but I-44 doesn't.

[Rothman]

Did I miss I-80/94 in northwest Indiana?

Easily top ten, much less in the top 100.

Right: If the Borman isn't on the list, the list is bunk.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Hadn't realized before, but glad to see that the study identifies specific segments of affected highways as being loathed.   

[epzik8]

I-95 in Virginia only being 50th is wild.

[vdeane]

This list is pretty hokey.  I-87 worst than the Cross-Bronx?  Heck, anything from Alaska appearing on it at all, much less ahead of I-95 in NY or VA?

[JayhawkCO]

Yeah. I mean, coming back on Sundays during ski season on I-70 in Colorado sucks. But it's arguably the most scenic major highway in the country. Fifth most loathed and the NJTP is 43rd? Yeah, right.

[Big John]

Need to make it segment and not whole state rated.

[SectorZ]

I have grave concerns about any science that was involved in this being a credible poll. I'll wait until my own local Volvo dealership has their poll.

[formulanone]

Lists like these are like comparing the 100 best works of art and the hundred (thousand) most worthless politicians.

Don't know if I'm surprised or disappointed I-65 in Alabama is listed so high, but there's several pain points in semi-rural areas (narrow spots in Morgan/Cullman County, anything around Alabaster, for example).

[ilpt4u]

Did I miss I-80/94 in northwest Indiana?

Easily top ten, much less in the top 100.

Right: If the Borman isn't on the list, the list is bunk.

80/94 absolutely needs to be on the list. I-80 in Chicagoland after the 94 and the 294 splits should be as well

[1995hoo]

Rather than "I-495 MD," I would think just the Capital Beltway as a whole would appear because of its association with politics and as a metaphor for Congress.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

In Minnesota, Crosstown TH 62 is more hated than either of those entries listed.

[FightingIrish]

I expected I-43 (Milwaukee - Green Bay) to be higher on the list. What a mess.

And I'm not sure how much the ongoing rebuilding project will improve it.

[webny99]

I expected I-43 (Milwaukee - Green Bay) to be higher on the list. What a mess.

And I'm not sure how much the ongoing rebuilding project will improve it.

Now I'm curious, what is wrong with it? Looks pretty normal for a rural 2di.

[tmoore952]

Rather than "I-495 MD," I would think just the Capital Beltway as a whole would appear because of its association with politics and as a metaphor for Congress.

I know what you mean about the politics etc. However, I have driven this road every workday for many years now, and politics is the last thing I think of, since all of that is always 10+ miles away and the only place you can really "see" anything of the type is at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and then (safely) only as a passenger. (I don't cross Woodrow Wilson Bridge on my commute)

[Big John]

I expected I-43 (Milwaukee - Green Bay) to be higher on the list. What a mess.

And I'm not sure how much the ongoing rebuilding project will improve it.

Now I'm curious, what is wrong with it? Looks pretty normal for a rural 2di.

The broad description includes the urban part from Silver Spring Dr to WI 60 that is only 2 lanes in each direction but is well over capacity, but the NIMBYs won't allow expansion.

[1995hoo]

Rather than "I-495 MD," I would think just the Capital Beltway as a whole would appear because of its association with politics and as a metaphor for Congress.

I know what you mean about the politics etc. However, I have driven this road every workday for many years now, and politics is the last thing I think of, since all of that is always 10+ miles away and the only place you can really "see" anything of the type is at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and then (safely) only as a passenger. (I don't cross Woodrow Wilson Bridge on my commute)

I've travelled it regularly since 1974. My point was not local reality but rather popular perception, including people from elsewhere.