Cities which need beltways that don't have them

[roadman65]

Dallas amazes me with I-635 only being a half circle, but Fort Worth gets full beltway if you count I-20 with I-820. In fact I-20 was I-820 in Fort Worth as I-20 used the old DFW Turnpike and tied into via the US 80 freeway between Terrell and Dallas. 

[Avalanchez71]

Related question:  Why would a city not benefit from having a beltway?

At first, I misread this as what city would not benefit from having a beltway.

My answer to that question would be: Binghamton, NY.

I started a thread a while back asking about the most isolated area the closest to a metropolitan area and Miami, FL was the clear winner due to the Everglades.

Then there are cities or metro areas where it's essentially impossible to build one. The Greater Miami area might benefit from a partial beltway around the west side linking the Turnpike and I-95 up around the northern end of the Sawgrass Expressway down to the Homestead area, but no such highway can possibly be constructed any further to the west than the existing Sawgrass, I-75, US-27, and Krome Avenue (FL-997) because of the Everglades, except perhaps all the way at the southern end in the Homestead area. If you're not familiar with the area, it's hard to visualize how dense development abruptly ENDS sharply at the north-south part of the Sawgrass (FL-869) and at US-27, and if you ever go out into the Everglades on a boat, you'd see it would be completely impractical (environmentally, financially, and realistically) and arguably very reprehensible (environmentally) to build an elevated beltway through that area.

[Avalanchez71]

Nashville TN could use a full beltway.

SM-G950U

Not going to happen.  Too much pollical and local opposition.  Nashville needs folks funneling through town as it relies heavily on tourist and sales tax.

[Avalanchez71]

* Des Moines, IA, especially if growth keeps up
* Memphis, TN, including two new Mississippi River crossings
* Champaign - Urbana, IL
* Terre Haute, IN - IN 641 doesn't go far enough for through traffic using US 41 and IN 63
* Lafayette, IN
EDIT:
* Joliet, IL

Two new Mississippi River crossings?  Wow that is huge money.  Two jurisdictions to deal with and the cost sharing just will not work.  Not to mention that the bridges have to withstand the New Madrid Fault as well.

[SkyPesos]

* Des Moines, IA, especially if growth keeps up
* Memphis, TN, including two new Mississippi River crossings
* Champaign - Urbana, IL
* Terre Haute, IN - IN 641 doesn't go far enough for through traffic using US 41 and IN 63
* Lafayette, IN
EDIT:
* Joliet, IL

Two new Mississippi River crossings?  Wow that is huge money.  Two jurisdictions to deal with and the cost sharing just will not work.  Not to mention that the bridges have to withstand the New Madrid Fault as well.

Doesn't Memphis only have 2 Mississippi river crossings currently, with 10 lanes total? That's not a lot for a city that's a major freight hub. Compare that to St Louis upstream, which have 23 lanes across 4 bridges crossing the Mississippi for the interstates only + however much from the local roads.

[Avalanchez71]

Yes that is correct.  Memphis does have two river crossings.  There is also one up a ways on I-155/US 412/SR 20.

[roadman65]

Yes that is correct.  Memphis does have two river crossings.  There is also one up a ways on I-155/US 412/SR 20.

The I-269 freeway should really be extended west of its southern terminus and cross the Mississippi just west of the US 61 and MS 304 intersection and loop north to tie into I-40 west of West Memphis for through I-40 travelers and as a shortcut north to west or east to south.

[kenarmy]

Yes that is correct.  Memphis does have two river crossings.  There is also one up a ways on I-155/US 412/SR 20.

The I-269 freeway should really be extended west of its southern terminus and cross the Mississippi just west of the US 61 and MS 304 intersection and loop north to tie into I-40 west of West Memphis for through I-40 travelers and as a shortcut north to west or east to south.

I personally think I-22 should follow that route, but it's supposed to be a shortcut of 40 so ig it would need only one number.

[Avalanchez71]

Yes that is correct.  Memphis does have two river crossings.  There is also one up a ways on I-155/US 412/SR 20.

The I-269 freeway should really be extended west of its southern terminus and cross the Mississippi just west of the US 61 and MS 304 intersection and loop north to tie into I-40 west of West Memphis for through I-40 travelers and as a shortcut north to west or east to south.

Tennessee is big on using transient dollars to fund the government.  I don't see that happing any time soon.

[MikeTheActuary]

Doesn't Memphis only have 2 Mississippi river crossings currently, with 10 lanes total? That's not a lot for a city that's a major freight hub. Compare that to St Louis upstream, which have 23 lanes across 4 bridges crossing the Mississippi for the interstates only + however much from the local roads.

Memphis doesn't have the same degree of cross-river commuting that St. Louis does.

A third bridge, would help reduce congestion downtown; but there's not enough demand for four bridges, especially in light of the environmental and geological challenges.

[mvak36]

In Lincoln, NE, they're building the Lincoln South Beltway right now and I think they will do the West Beltway project at some point (not sure when).

There's also been talk of an East beltway to complete the loop around the city, but that's probably not being built anytime soon. The latest article I could find on it said that it's going to be twice as expensive as the South Beltway project.

[kernals12]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

[I-55]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

Long Beach has entered the chat

[SkyPesos]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

yes Virginia Beach totally needs a beltway

[Bruce]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

Or we could do this case-by-case instead of trying to stick a full beltway around Honolulu and Fresno.

[SkyPesos]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

Or we could do this case-by-case instead of trying to stick a full beltway around Honolulu and Fresno.

We could ask FritzOwl to make a beltway for every city, but here's too busy extending the interstate system to the North Pole.

[texaskdog]

Austin TX.  They built 130 on the east side too far out but there is still a gap on the south end and no connection at all on the west.

[SeriesE]

Rather than beltways, a grid of freeways is better because it allows for easier expansion should development spread outwards.

[hotdogPi]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

Or we could do this case-by-case instead of trying to stick a full beltway around Honolulu and Fresno.

Fresno kind of has one already.

[Avalanchez71]

The urban sprawl phenomenon comes into affect with a beltway.  Just look at I-285.  Unless I am running into rush hour or lunch traffic I just use I-75 in lieu of I-285 these days.

[hotdogPi]

The urban sprawl phenomenon comes into affect effect with a beltway.  Just look at I-285.  Unless I am running into rush hour or lunch traffic I just use I-75 in lieu of I-285 these days.

There's sprawl along the Acworth/Woodstock/Alpharetta/Johns Creek/Suwanee corridor. No beltway there.

[Flint1979]

* Des Moines, IA, especially if growth keeps up
* Memphis, TN, including two new Mississippi River crossings
* Champaign - Urbana, IL
* Terre Haute, IN - IN 641 doesn't go far enough for through traffic using US 41 and IN 63
* Lafayette, IN
EDIT:
* Joliet, IL

Two new Mississippi River crossings?  Wow that is huge money.  Two jurisdictions to deal with and the cost sharing just will not work.  Not to mention that the bridges have to withstand the New Madrid Fault as well.

Doesn't Memphis only have 2 Mississippi river crossings currently, with 10 lanes total? That's not a lot for a city that's a major freight hub. Compare that to St Louis upstream, which have 23 lanes across 4 bridges crossing the Mississippi for the interstates only + however much from the local roads.

In the case for St. Louis there is a pretty sizable population on both sides of the river. Crittenden County, Arkansas only has about 50,000 people. So I don't think there is a need to have as many bridges in Memphis. It's just I-55 and I-40

[thspfc]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

That ship has long sailed for Madison (MSA 640K)

[Hwy 61 Revisited]

The Lehigh Valley will need a kinda-sorta beltway in the future to alleviate congestion on 78 and especially 22, though I don't know if it'll ever come to fruition due to the terrain.

Come to think of it (though this has been mentioned), Philadelphia also strangely lacks a bona fide beltway.

[hotdogPi]

Every city with more than 400,000 people should have a beltway.

That ship has long sailed for Madison (MSA 640K)

Madison has a 3/4 beltway, and the other 1/4 is on the other side of a lake without really much need.

Do you not consider it a beltway, even though part of it is called the Beltline?