Overpass Designs

[Zeffy]

While most overpasses are generally bland looking, some areas take pride in their roadways and liven up the gray concrete with unique and often very aesthetically pleasing designs. I didn't see a thread for things like this, so here it is.

This is the one that inspired me to make this thread. This is a very well-done job for the Triangle Expressway overpass in Apex, NC:
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6967459,-78.8723101,3a,68.5y,60.05h,87.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sta5SSQIe3buYwPxr4_CqFQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I also remember a unique design somewhere in New York - that I believe was red-tinted like the one in Apex, but I can't remember where it exactly was...

[Big John]

Wisconsin has been doing that with their CSD program.

The I-41 project in the Green Bay and Oshkosh areas did this as part of the project.  One example here: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.5232871,-88.0818539,3a,75y,17.31h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sf6YnVKp3wKYyMWVp8axnDg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

A few in the Madison area: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0737233,-89.2800803,3a,75y,345.71h,87.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spfUL1ROc4m1xBXF-dbYe7g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I-94/41 has them in their plans also.

[vdeane]

The Northway has a few of these artistic overpasses/underpasses, especially in rural Adirondack areas.


I've always been impressed by these ones on the BQE:


And there's this one on I-87 at NY 7 and NY 2 in Latham.  On the west side is a NY 7 shield carved in the concrete on top, and of the right the same thing is done with NY 2.  The center pillars do that with an I-87 shield on the side facing traffic and the Town of Colonie seal on the other.

[Buffaboy]

These are the most beautiful overpasses I've ever seen.

The only one in NYS that has made me do a double-take is this one in Batavia: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0136394,-78.3154692,3a,45.1y,349.04h,81.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skFEx4wGpI3j8xnAlMkkJHQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And more recently is this one on the Cattaraugus Reservation. I talked about it a few months ago when I went down to NC, but the GSV cars beat me to any kind of roadgeeky-picture taking I could've done (and I can't anyways because I have shitty cameras):

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5644259,-79.0922065,3a,75y,31.86h,79.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4-_Gp1oR4UJSzlNmOUNUYA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


Here's the Grant St. bridge under what will likely become the "Scajacquada Parkway"



I think Utica's Arterial is supposed to look a little presentable, but who knows.

[pumpkineater2]

This kind of stuff is all over the Phoenix area. They like to put designs all over the freeways here, even in the gravel.

Giant lizards on loop 303 interchange support columns:https://goo.gl/maps/MW49GjYrYbP2

Racecar theme inspired by nearby PIR, at 107th ave. and I-10:https://goo.gl/maps/y6rfMY5vu922

How much do you like giant rattlesnakes?https://goo.gl/maps/cA59tLzosTr

Another pretty cool design in gravel:https://goo.gl/maps/s9KJ7AhFrou

I appreciate how ADOT takes the extra time and money to make its freeways look nice.

[vdeane]

If we're expanding this to "supports with stuff on them", there's this one in the NY 49/NY 365 interchange:

[Buffaboy]

This kind of stuff is all over the Phoenix area. They like to put designs all over the freeways here, even in the gravel.

Giant lizards on loop 303 interchange support columns:https://goo.gl/maps/MW49GjYrYbP2

Racecar theme inspired by nearby PIR, at 107th ave. and I-10:https://goo.gl/maps/y6rfMY5vu922

How much do you like giant rattlesnakes?https://goo.gl/maps/cA59tLzosTr

Another pretty cool design in gravel:https://goo.gl/maps/s9KJ7AhFrou

I appreciate how ADOT takes the extra time and money to make its freeways look nice.

One thing I wish I saw more in NYS on the Thruway is decorative planting, but that's usually exclusive to Southern and Western/MW states.

The closest I've seen is this kind of thing: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2573181,-79.7540304,3a,27.9y,7.25h,87.61t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sLZ85uP0xNspHnN-dWw0n_g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DLZ85uP0xNspHnN-dWw0n_g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D257.21884%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

If we're expanding this to "supports with stuff on them", there's this one in the NY 49/NY 365 interchange:

Hmm, this is right up the road from me, I haven't noticed it yet!

[roadman65]

How about this one in Texarkana: https://flic.kr/p/e8gvBJ

[Buffaboy]

How about this one in Texarkana: https://flic.kr/p/e8gvBJ

Reminds me of the Texas Instruments logo.

[xcellntbuy]

The Northway has a few of these artistic overpasses/underpasses, especially in rural Adirondack areas.


I've always been impressed by these ones on the BQE:


And there's this one on I-87 at NY 7 and NY 2 in Latham.  On the west side is a NY 7 shield carved in the concrete on top, and of the right the same thing is done with NY 2.  The center pillars do that with an I-87 shield on the side facing traffic and the Town of Colonie seal on the other.

Wow!  Have those overpasses changed!

[SignGeek101]

One from an old, crumbling bridge that will hopefully be replaced with the design kept.

https://goo.gl/maps/AZzbshaSbuH2

Some more, courtesy of AsphaltPlanet. Images are obviously not mine.

First one is in Windsor, near the 401 extension that was partially finished last Spring (that road will connect to a new international bridge crossing to I-75 in Detroit). The markings are supposed to resemble Tallgrass Prairie, a endangered ecosystem found throughout North America.

A wildlife overpass on ON 69 north of ON 637. 69 is being upgraded to freeway and will be done in the next 6-8 years.

[KG909]

Seems like most bridges over I-10 between 1-15/I-215 are getting their own unique designs. Pretty cool shit
https://goo.gl/maps/QKFdBP3hHk42
https://goo.gl/maps/ii47srqtkPH2

[jakeroot]

Not a particularly unique design for the structure, but points for the street name:

I-64 west of St Louis. Most of the overpasses have these signs.

[briantroutman]

Originally, the Pennsylvania Turnpike had a standardized design for a single-span concrete overpass–sort of a pseudo-art deco style similar to the tunnels and very reflective of its era. They were still very common up until about a decade ago, but their numbers are rapidly dwindling as overpasses are rebuilt to accommodate widening.

[UCFKnights]

Orlando has a bunch:
Conroy (welcome bridge):
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4928857,-81.4335305,3a,75y,29.26h,88.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRfHujc_0WAAv3wV6KRpQHQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Anderson
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.5365671,-81.382829,3a,75y,199h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sKpm8nr-cFHJj9XFNUWe4ZQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.5382282,-81.3319517,3a,75y,57.74h,80.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1si22hAX7sL9rHJc6pk7IBkg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

the i4 ultimate project is redoing a bunch of bridges that are supposed to be artistic as well. most of the columns of new bridges in the past few years have been decorative at least

[Buffaboy]

I found one in San Antonio through GSV:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5205699,-98.4927292,3a,65.2y,105.97h,85.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU6jZKwYDN_monSu_F68Jrg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I guess they do "everything bigger" in Texas.

Then there's this contraption: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5202584,-98.4855135,3a,23.2y,89.94h,90.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saGfeMQds-CEl3gadUZVUUA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Boy, if NYS did any of this even with the 11M people in NYC, we would be in the hole. I don't know how TxDOT gets away with this and all of the other projects they do.

[AsphaltPlanet]

The 410 through San Antonio is amazing.  It is among the most interesting freeways that I have ever driven.  Texas does a good (and uniquely Texan) job with its freeway aesthetics.

[theline]

South Bend has some notable overpasses. Here's one on the Indiana Toll Road at Olive Road: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7302258,-86.3476863,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5P-pwf6D1G4zGTEshtZNKw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
It's showing its age a bit. I don't know if the City of South Bend or the ITR concessionaire is responsible, but it could use revitalization.

The new construction on US 31 South also has some attractive overpasses. Unfortunately, GSV doesn't have them yet. I'll try to get some shots.

[noelbotevera]

The 410 through San Antonio is amazing.  It is among the most interesting freeways that I have ever driven.  Texas does a good (and uniquely Texan) job with its freeway aesthetics.

Texas is the people to go to when building freeways. Check out Dallas and Houston (still in rivalry for over 50+ years...hmm this is a bad idea).

[Revive 755]

A few from Illinois:

* There are (were?) a few overpasses on I-74 east of Peoria that had a decorative arch design adjacent to the steel beams:  Streetview

* There's the overpasses without any piers on the southern stretch of I-39:  Streetview.

* Decorative abutment on an I-255 overpass:  Streetiew.

* A few older ones along I-57 used diagonal steel members for supports instead of the usual concrete piers:  Streetview.


They may not be aesthetically pleasing, but some of Michigan's overpasses use large steel bents:  Streetview of one on I-75 in the Upper Penusla.

[TEG24601]

I love the work for the bridge over the SPUI at I-94 and US-24 near Romulus, MI

[Rainking75]

The recently re-designed exit 28 overpass over I-77 in Cornelius / Lake Norman, NC was converted into a DDI. The town added a cool architectural element by rigging steel cables on the lamp poles to simulate the shape of a sailboat sail.

http://www.cornelius.org/DocumentCenter/View/176

It's very cool, especially at night or early morning.

[cappicard]

The 87th Street Parkway bridge over I-35 in Lenexa is quite nice. They have programmable LED lights in the columns.

https://goo.gl/maps/5pgrdW6aDtp
https://goo.gl/maps/X9MQKZsTkRm

And I think this traffic signal assembly at Renner Boulevard and 87th Street Parkway, also in Lenexa, is quite unique. Albeit, freaking expensive (over $1M).

https://goo.gl/maps/NADk3o4WTTn

[Buffaboy]

The 87th Street Parkway bridge over I-35 in Lenexa is quite nice. They have programmable LED lights in the columns.

https://goo.gl/maps/5pgrdW6aDtp
https://goo.gl/maps/X9MQKZsTkRm

And I think this traffic signal assembly at Renner Boulevard and 87th Street Parkway, also in Lenexa, is quite unique. Albeit, freaking expensive (over $1M).

https://goo.gl/maps/NADk3o4WTTn

Looks like a lighting gantry in a news studio

[cappicard]

The 87th Street Parkway bridge over I-35 in Lenexa is quite nice. They have programmable LED lights in the columns.

https://goo.gl/maps/5pgrdW6aDtp
https://goo.gl/maps/X9MQKZsTkRm

And I think this traffic signal assembly at Renner Boulevard and 87th Street Parkway, also in Lenexa, is quite unique. Albeit, freaking expensive (over $1M).

https://goo.gl/maps/NADk3o4WTTn

Looks like a lighting gantry in a news studio

Yeah, it sure does. I wonder if K-DOT decided to use the lighting from KCTV-5! LOL