Recent posts

#1

Pacific Southwest / Re: CA 203

Last post by heynow415 - Today at 01:17:28 PM

Another advantage of a 108/Sonora Pass tunnel alignment for an I-70 extension is that it would have lined up nicely with passing just south of Stockton (and the Port of) and then as an east/southeast entry to the Bay Area via the Altamont Pass/I-580/I-205/SR 120. 

I always thought it was strange how 108/120 are basically freeways up to the Sonora area and then 108 has sections that keep going as random freeway and expressway in the mountains for it to just go straight into a windy road after Strawberry and Pinecrest Lake.

The Sonora "freeway" section is relatively new in the grand scheme of things but the three short expressway segments east of Knights Landing, through Twain Harte, and at Long Barn have been in place 50+ years.  It is unfortunate that the notion of extending 120 east of 99 as a freeway to Oakdale is basically dead, though Escalon and Oakdale are probably rightly concerned that a freeway bypassing those communities would be a huge hit to them economically.

Four-laning 108(120) from the east end of the Knights Ferry segment to Yosemite Junction would seem like a relatively simple project given the ruralness and terrain; getting from the Junction through Jamestown to the Sonora segment would be a much bigger challenge.  The section from the east end of the Sonora segment to the Twain Harte expressway is supposedly in the works.  It's unlikely that the gap from Twain Harte to Long Barn would ever be built since trying to thread it through Mi-Wuk Village and other hamlets along the way, plus the terrain, is likely not justifiable from a cost, environmental, and constructability standpoint.  And beyond Pinecrest it just isn't needed.

#2

Traffic Control / Re: Unique, Odd, or Interestin...

Last post by roadman65 - Today at 01:10:10 PM

When urbanization has taken over:  No city name, just DOWNTOWN.  Sbd I-75 in Saginaw, MI:

I figure it's safe to assume that it's talking of the downtown of the city you're in. That signing practice is common here in Spain, and to me it seems logical enough.

I agree it's safe to assume, and I've seen this on pull-through signs, but it's unusual (to me at least) to see it on an exit sign.

I've seen "Downtown" used as a control before in person, didn't realize it was unusual. Here in Huntsville, AL, both I-565 and the Parkway have exits signed for both the local streets the exits are for and for downtown.
I guess just "Downtown" by itself would be a bit odd though.

This is certainly an odd County Parish Route shield.

I've seen Downtown used a few times as well as Business District with no mention of the city.

#3

Mountain West / Re: I-40/US 93 West Kingman In...

Last post by vdeane - Today at 12:53:43 PM

Glad to see this long-delayed and much needed system interchange project (well, at least HALF of it) finally getting underway! Now they just need to get the few remaining portions of US 93 South of the Round Valley Interchange (at the east end of the US 93/I-40 multiplex) upgraded, and that interchange itself get rebuilt for future I-11 project and it will make the LAS-PHX journey much safer and smoother for everybody.

And what of the part north of this interchange?  There's even a traffic light.

#4

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: Update on I-69 Extension i...

Last post by IndyAgent - Today at 12:46:43 PM

As we all know the northern section of 69 starts at the 200 mile marker even though its off 20 miles or so. Is this common around the country to do this?

#5

General Highway Talk / Re: Road-Geeky Things Of The P...

Last post by vdeane - Today at 12:39:56 PM

Consider how much Calrog is brought up still.  The theory that having a common "enemy" brings the viatology community together seems to have time tested merit.

FTFY

#6

Mid-South / Re: I-69 in TX

Last post by TheBox - Today at 12:39:13 PM

The first half of the Corrigan bypass is now visible on Google Maps satellite

Google Earth provides a date of August 11, 2023 for the satellite image.

Been a lot of progress since August of last year. Here is the Corrigan bypass on April 22, 2024 from the Copernicus satellite:

It looks huge probably the fact it has to do a big bypass since the town is spread throughout along the road.
They just separated almost the whole industrial zone. Except for the one place up north.

And how's the Diboll bypass right now?

#7

Mountain West / Re: I-40/US 93 West Kingman In...

Last post by SSR_317 - Today at 12:29:40 PM

Glad to see this long-delayed and much needed system interchange project (well, at least HALF of it) finally getting underway! Now they just need to get the few remaining portions of US 93 South of the Round Valley Interchange (at the east end of the US 93/I-40 multiplex) upgraded, and that interchange itself get rebuilt for future I-11 project and it will make the LAS-PHX journey much safer and smoother for everybody.

#8

Northeast / Re: General PA Design/Construc...

Last post by 74/171FAN - Today at 12:09:40 PM

(For PA 63)  PennDOT - District 6 News: SEPTA to Close Route 63 (Main Street) for Rail Improvements in Lansdale Borough

PennDOT - District 11 News: Smithfield Street Bridge Weekend Closure April 26-29 in Pittsburgh

#9

Traffic Control / Re: Guess the State Route Chal...

Last post by paulthemapguy - Today at 12:08:03 PM

Sorry for sleeping on this thread. Here is a new state highway to guess. The state is North Carolina


guess-state by Paul Across America, on Flickr

#10

Southeast / Re: Interstate 73/74

Last post by bob7374 - Today at 12:05:40 PM

NCDOT has advertised two pavement rehab contracts for a late May letting related to Future I-74 along US 74 in Robeson County. It appears neither includes widening shoulders to interstate standards. That apparently won't happen until interstate upgrading projects are complete, both of which are unfunded at this time.

The first contract is from NC 41 to just over the Lumber River bridges into Columbus County. While the construction plans mention the area around the NC 130/72 interchange project will be skipped, the sign plans (most of which will be kept) still includes that area. The plans are at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2024%20Highway%20Letting/05-28-24/Plans%20and%20Proposals/COLUMBUS_ROBESON_HI-0016_C204930/Standard%20PDF%20Files/

The other contract is from the Scotland County line to the Alt/Bus 74 exit (the start of the current eastern most segment of I-74). It includes new exit signage for NC 71 (Exit 191) and Alt/Bus 74 (Exits 194 A/B). Those plans are at:
https://xfer.services.ncdot.gov/dsplan/2024%20Highway%20Letting/05-28-24/Plans%20and%20Proposals/ROBESON_HI-0017_C204931/Standard%20PDF%20Files/