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Arizona

Started by Alps, March 04, 2015, 08:28:34 AM

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Sonic99

Quote from: kernals12 on November 14, 2023, 09:56:46 AM
Why do the roads serving Sky Harbor Airport cross over like this?

My hypothesis is that they want the parking garage to be accessible with right-hand ramps. Any other theories?

That's actually EXACTLY why they cross over. The Arrival and Departure curbside for both Terminal 3 and 4 (Terminal 2 was demolished in 2019/2020) is set up to be on the passenger side of the car. Most airports (which is exactly 4, KLAS, KPHX, KBWI, and KIAD) I've been to have a traffic pattern that's similar, curbside is on the right.
If you used to draw freeways on your homework and got reprimanded by your Senior English teacher for doing so, you might be a road geek!


kernals12

Quote from: Sonic99 on November 14, 2023, 09:03:24 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on November 14, 2023, 09:56:46 AM
Why do the roads serving Sky Harbor Airport cross over like this?

My hypothesis is that they want the parking garage to be accessible with right-hand ramps. Any other theories?

That's actually EXACTLY why they cross over. The Arrival and Departure curbside for both Terminal 3 and 4 (Terminal 2 was demolished in 2019/2020) is set up to be on the passenger side of the car. Most airports (which is exactly 4, KLAS, KPHX, KBWI, and KIAD) I've been to have a traffic pattern that's similar, curbside is on the right.

But no other airport I know of uses such a bizarre road layout to achieve that. Usually they just have a loop road

Max Rockatansky

Functionally you can loop Terminal 3 and 4 very easily in indefinite circles if so inclined.

kernals12

Arizona really likes to make people drive on the wrong side of the road. They have similar set ups on SR 87 at Rincon Pass and I-8 in Yuma, although in those case I'm guessing they did that due to terrain limitations.

Max Rockatansky

The northbound lanes of AZ 87 in Rincon Pass is the original highway and surprisingly steep.  Rincon Pass doesn't have a ton of room to build which is why the southbound lanes crossover.  The Beeline Highway in general is criminally underrated as an engineering feat and scenic highway.  I used to drive it several times a week on my way to Payson and Show Low. 

kernals12

#230
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 10:25:43 AM
The northbound lanes of AZ 87 in Rincon Pass is the original highway and surprisingly steep.  Rincon Pass doesn't have a ton of room to build which is why the southbound lanes crossover. The Beeline Highway in general is criminally underrated as an engineering feat and scenic highway.  I used to drive it several times a week on my way to Payson and Show Low.

That's the exact same story with I-5 north of Castaic.

Max Rockatansky

Correct, there is still some evidence of how the lane transition into Golden State Highway (AKA Ridge Route Alternate) approaching Piru Gorge north of the crossover transition.   

Plutonic Panda

Very happy to see this. Arizona is planning a big increase in truck parking. Not sure about I-10 but traveling I-40 quite frequently I see truck parking always packed. Good to see more added.

https://ktar.com/story/5552021/transportation-officials-to-expand-commercial-truck-parking-along-arizona-interstates/

JKRhodes

Quote from: kernals12 on November 15, 2023, 10:30:02 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 10:25:43 AM
The northbound lanes of AZ 87 in Rincon Pass is the original highway and surprisingly steep.  Rincon Pass doesn't have a ton of room to build which is why the southbound lanes crossover. The Beeline Highway in general is criminally underrated as an engineering feat and scenic highway.  I used to drive it several times a week on my way to Payson and Show Low.

That's the exact same story with I-5 north of Castaic.

To my understanding, the original four lanes of I-5 used to run along the northbound alignment.

California, having the explosive growth that it does, had to add more lanes.

Rather than tear down a bunch of businesses, they built a second carriageway for southbound traffic, and subsequently removed the median in the original freeway.

kernals12

Quote from: JKRhodes on December 09, 2023, 08:36:30 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on November 15, 2023, 10:30:02 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 15, 2023, 10:25:43 AM
The northbound lanes of AZ 87 in Rincon Pass is the original highway and surprisingly steep.  Rincon Pass doesn't have a ton of room to build which is why the southbound lanes crossover. The Beeline Highway in general is criminally underrated as an engineering feat and scenic highway.  I used to drive it several times a week on my way to Payson and Show Low.

That's the exact same story with I-5 north of Castaic.

To my understanding, the original four lanes of I-5 used to run along the northbound alignment.

California, having the explosive growth that it does, had to add more lanes.

Rather than tear down a bunch of businesses, they built a second carriageway for southbound traffic, and subsequently removed the median in the original freeway.

That doesn't explain why they put the southbound carriageway on the opposite of the usual side of the northbound: If they had put the northbound carriageway there, it would've created a dangerously steep incline. By putting the Southbound there instead, that incline becomes a decline and the problem is solved.

Pink Jazz

Now that Clearview (E-Modified Alternate) is now part of the 2023 MUTCD, I wonder if we can see ADOT re-adopt it. I think the reason why ADOT stopped using it was due to some uncertainty over its future, but now that it is part of the MUTCD, I wonder if ADOT might start using it again.

Pink Jazz

#236
I wonder also if Arizona lawmakers will eventually be open to allowing 70 or 75 mph speed limits on roads outside of Arizona's Interstates. It seems like US 93 (future I-11) would be a prime candidate for a speed limit increase.

Within the Phoenix area, several freeways can easily be raised to 70 mph. Examples include all of Loops 202 and 303, Loop 101 Agua Fria, I-10 east of US 60 and west of Loop 202 SMF, I-17 north of Loop 101, and US 60 east of Loop 101.

Plutonic Panda

One could only hope. They just need to do away with the criminal speeding thing or increase the threshold for it.

machias

Quote from: Pink Jazz on April 17, 2024, 06:48:38 PMNow that Clearview (E-Modified Alternate) is now part of the 2023 MUTCD, I wonder if we can see ADOT re-adopt it. I think the reason why ADOT stopped using it was due to some uncertainty over its future, but now that it is part of the MUTCD, I wonder if ADOT might start using it again.

Somewhere I read ADOT wasn't planning on going back to Clearview, but I don't remember where I read it. I'm not a fan of Clearview, but ADOT does a decent job with it for the most part. It looks better than the Series F that is popping up in random locations lately.

KeithE4Phx

Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 02, 2024, 03:04:39 PMI wonder also if Arizona lawmakers will eventually be open to allowing 70 or 75 mph speed limits on roads outside of Arizona's Interstates. It seems like US 93 (future I-11) would be a prime candidate for a speed limit increase.

Whenever I drive on it, the average speed on 93 on the 4-lane sections is 85-90 MPH.  Rarely are those stretches of highway patrolled.  There are cops at each end, but almost never in the middle stretch.

QuoteWithin the Phoenix area, several freeways can easily be raised to 70 mph. Examples include all of Loops 202 and 303, Loop 101 Agua Fria, I-10 east of US 60 and west of Loop 202 SMF, I-17 north of Loop 101, and US 60 east of Loop 101.

Same thing as 93.  The entire length of the Superstition Freeway is supposed to be some kind of safety zone, which is supposed to mean a strict 65 MPH speed limit, but the average speed is still around 75.  I-10 south (east) of the 60 might be raised, once all that construction is done.

The 202 is usually patrolled, at least at some times of the day.  In 20 years of driving the 303 (granted, it's only a few times a year), I have yet to see a cop.
"Oh, so you hate your job? Well, why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called "EVERYBODY!" They meet at the bar." -- Drew Carey

jdbx

Quote from: KeithE4Phx on May 22, 2024, 10:58:39 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 02, 2024, 03:04:39 PMI wonder also if Arizona lawmakers will eventually be open to allowing 70 or 75 mph speed limits on roads outside of Arizona's Interstates. It seems like US 93 (future I-11) would be a prime candidate for a speed limit increase.

Whenever I drive on it, the average speed on 93 on the 4-lane sections is 85-90 MPH.  Rarely are those stretches of highway patrolled.  There are cops at each end, but almost never in the middle stretch.

QuoteWithin the Phoenix area, several freeways can easily be raised to 70 mph. Examples include all of Loops 202 and 303, Loop 101 Agua Fria, I-10 east of US 60 and west of Loop 202 SMF, I-17 north of Loop 101, and US 60 east of Loop 101.

Same thing as 93.  The entire length of the Superstition Freeway is supposed to be some kind of safety zone, which is supposed to mean a strict 65 MPH speed limit, but the average speed is still around 75.  I-10 south (east) of the 60 might be raised, once all that construction is done.

The 202 is usually patrolled, at least at some times of the day.  In 20 years of driving the 303 (granted, it's only a few times a year), I have yet to see a cop.

I was driving home from Tempe along I-10 headed west, out in the desert around mile marker 50 and I passed a state trooper who was in the median.  I was traveling about 90 MPH when I spotted him and didn't have much time to slow down, as I passed him I fully expected to see lights in my rearview, but I guess he was either busy with something else, or I wasn't worth chasing down.  It does make me wonder what the chances are of getting a ticket on that stretch traveling at those speeds.  I know that if I had passed a CHP on I-5 going 90 MPH, I would surely have had to give my autograph to the observing officer.

Plutonic Panda

I passed CHP all the time going 90-100. The only place I've been pulled over for that is on I 80 near Truckee. Any other time I've been pulled over with for going over 100. I don't really see the California highway patrol is being that focused on speed.

jdbx

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on May 24, 2024, 12:03:58 AMI passed CHP all the time going 90-100. The only place I've been pulled over for that is on I 80 near Truckee. Any other time I've been pulled over with for going over 100. I don't really see the California highway patrol is being that focused on speed.

Ehhhh my last speeding ticket for 84 MPH on westbound I-80 at the CA-113 interchange near Davis would beg to differ.  Of course, that was back in 2015, so perhaps things have changed.  I have spoken to a couple of CHP officers over the pre-COVID years, and the consensus seemed to confirm that anything over 80 MPH is fair game.  Perhaps things are different now?

kwellada

Last time I got pulled over, someone passed me on the right going about 100 mph. But I had a bright red little hot hatch, so you can guess who actually got pulled over and accused of speeding. I even described the make, model and color of the car to the trooper, who visibly reacted to that. However, rather than apologizing, he wrote me a ticket for "wasting environment resources". I'm still cranky about that.

However, that was the last straw for that car. I sold it and eventually got a Civic SI, which is sporty enough but also generic enough that it doesn't get much attention. Plus it's easier to drive it like a sensible person than the hot hatch.

Max Rockatansky

#244
The only time I've been pulled over for speeding in general was in 2015.  I dusted someone in my Challenger that was holding up a line of cars in Hernando County, Florida.  I probably got up to 15 MPH over for a couple seconds.  I was given a minor verbal warning and was on my way shortly after. 

Suffice to say I got away with a lot more speeding in Arizona.  My top speed during my time there was 134 MPH on an empty stretch of I-10 during a car cruise.

brad2971

It is official: SR 95 through Bullhead City is now owned and maintained by the city:

https://thestandardnewspaper.online/bullhead-city-takes-over-sr-95/


Max Rockatansky

Long term that probably is a mistake.  Bullhead City isn't exactly super large to begin with.  That's a pretty heavy capacity stretch of road they want to take over from ADOT.

KeithE4Phx

Quote from: brad2971 on July 25, 2024, 09:57:01 PMIt is official: SR 95 through Bullhead City is now owned and maintained by the city:

https://thestandardnewspaper.online/bullhead-city-takes-over-sr-95/

So does that mean that all AZ 95 signage is removed, and AZ 68 takes over the half-block segment of 95 between 68's current terminus and the Laughlin Bridge/NV 163?
"Oh, so you hate your job? Well, why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called "EVERYBODY!" They meet at the bar." -- Drew Carey



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