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Emergency use of Median U-turns

Started by webny99, September 13, 2024, 08:13:58 AM

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webny99

Have you ever personally used a median U-turn on a freeway to turn around and head back the other direction? If so, was it due to an emergency, congestion, or something else?

What about using one as directed by police/law enforcement? This happened yesterday on NY 104 WB when there was a major accident just past this U-turn. Police closed off the roadway at previous exit (Salt Rd), and rerouted all traffic that was already past that exit through the U-turn and back to exit at Salt Rd in the other direction, which of course inundated Salt Rd and Ridge Rd with traffic for a while (seemingly no one remembered San Jose Dr, my go-to alternate for this section of 104).


I recall at least twice that I've used a median U-turn, once many years ago on I-81 NB near Marathon to get around a major accident, and once on US 30 in PA, also to get around a major accident as described in the post below.

Quote from: webny99 on September 03, 2024, 11:14:24 PM...
There was a major accident on the US 30 freeway near the Susquehanna River crossing in Columbia, PA. We were heading east and came to a total standstill just past the Wrightsville exit. We eventually started to inch along but my dad had had enough of it by the time we reached a median U-turn about a mile from the river bridge, so we joined a whole line of other cars waiting to make a U-turn. It was rather dicey trying to pull out into WB traffic moving at 65 mph to say the least, but we eventually found a gap and sped back to the Wrightsville exit, which had backed up due to the left turn onto PA 462. We eventually worked our way onto PA 462, through Wrightsville, across the river bridge, and back to US 30. By that point though, the initial accident had cleared up and traffic had started to move through, so we were well behind where we would have been just staying on US 30. I think we must have re-entered just as the heaviest wave of traffic from the cleared incident was coming through, as it was an absolute rat race from there to Lancaster. I don't think I've ever seen such heavy traffic moving so fast before or since. There was seemingly no speed too fast, as we were getting passed constantly whenever we moved right despite speeding well over the 55 mph limit. It was an unforgettable experience to be sure.


1995hoo

#1
I remember when I was a little kid, my father used this one on what is now I-895 in Maryland (it wasn't an Interstate yet) because of extremely heavy traffic heading for the Harbor Tunnel, which was very common in those days (the Fort McHenry Tunnel didn't open until just before Thanksgiving in 1985). He turned around and headed back to take I-695 around Baltimore. My mother was decidedly Not Amused by that maneuver. Before anyone says, "What? It's only a bit over three miles to the toll plaza," take note that this was long before E-ZPass. It used to take 45 minutes to an hour to go those three miles when traffic was heavy.

I once used this one seen here in the I-95 express lanes in Virginia back when the express lanes ended just south of VA-234. Those yellow pylons weren't there yet. Traffic in the mainline was at a standstill, the express lanes were backed up at least to that point, and we were trying to make it to Lee's Hill south of Fredericksburg without being late for our tee time. So I cut a median U-turn, used the next exit back to the north to cut over to US-1, and took that all the way south. We somehow still made it in time—just barely, but we made it. We seldom play golf courses down I-95 anymore, even with the express lanes having been extended, though I've been thinking about going to Forest Greens sometime (it's just west of I-95 at the Triangle exit and during the winter you can see the course through the bare trees). That one's easier to reach because we can take the express lanes, use the flyover just before that exit, and then reach the exit without having to merge into traffic.

In a similar vein, while it's not a median U-turn, I once used this gravel service entrance to enter eastbound I-66 instead of looping around to VA-7 a mile or two to the east. That was really stupid. Just total dumb luck there was no cop coming down I-66 when I did it.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

Max Rockatansky

I've used the median a couple times on CA 198 to turn around when I received emergency calls from work.  There isn't any real barrier nor anything that says I couldn't do it, so why not?

jeffandnicole

I've only used them *officially*, while in a DOT truck plowing. 

And I wouldn't use them when traffic was heavy - I'd just go up to the next exit, even if it was several miles away.


1995hoo

Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 13, 2024, 09:02:40 AMI've only used them *officially*, while in a DOT truck plowing. 

And I wouldn't use them when traffic was heavy - I'd just go up to the next exit, even if it was several miles away.

The boldfaced was precisely the problem that motivated my father in the first scenario noted in my comment. The road in question was the Harbor Tunnel Thruway and there were (and still are) no exits until the far side of the tunnel.

I wouldn't likely do this if traffic coming the other way were also heavy.

I'm trying to remember whether I've ever used the cut-thrus between the two roadways on the Jersey Turnpike in exceptionally heavy traffic. I don't think so, but I've certainly seen other people do it—and I've also seen people drive over the very low curbs on the segment of I-95 between the Turnpike and the GW Bridge when the local roadway was running significantly better than the express roadway.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

TheHighwayMan3561

I used one on I-25 in Wyoming to return to the nearest settlement because it started hailing during a severe storm and I was driving a rental car.
I make Poiponen look smart

jeffandnicole

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 13, 2024, 09:08:39 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 13, 2024, 09:02:40 AMI've only used them *officially*, while in a DOT truck plowing. 

And I wouldn't use them when traffic was heavy - I'd just go up to the next exit, even if it was several miles away.

The boldfaced was precisely the problem that motivated my father in the first scenario noted in my comment. The road in question was the Harbor Tunnel Thruway and there were (and still are) no exits until the far side of the tunnel.

I wouldn't likely do this if traffic coming the other way were also heavy.

That's what I meant.  I wouldn't care if the traffic I was in was heavy.  Our DOT trucks accelerated very slowly, so I would be putting too many people in danger if I'm pulling out at 10 mph and they're coming up at 75 mph.  That gap closes very quickly.

webny99

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 13, 2024, 08:57:39 AMI've used the median a couple times on CA 198 to turn around when I received emergency calls from work.  There isn't any real barrier nor anything that says I couldn't do it, so why not?

Is this type of sign not used in CA?

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: webny99 on September 13, 2024, 09:59:44 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on September 13, 2024, 08:57:39 AMI've used the median a couple times on CA 198 to turn around when I received emergency calls from work.  There isn't any real barrier nor anything that says I couldn't do it, so why not?

Is this type of sign not used in CA?

Probably, but it isn't on the part of 198 I'm talking about.  There just plain isn't any kind of barrier in a lot of places on the freeway segments.

webny99

#9
Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 13, 2024, 09:39:40 AMOur DOT trucks accelerated very slowly, so I would be putting too many people in danger if I'm pulling out at 10 mph and they're coming up at 75 mph.  That gap closes very quickly.

A bit off topic, but this reminds me of something that happened yesterday while driving at about 40 mph down a local road, a large slow moving dump truck pulled out in front of the car ahead of me. It would have probably been fine if it was a small car that could accelerate quickly, but considering the acceleration rate of the truck, it was pretty egregious: both I and the car ahead had to slam the brakes and slow down to about 25 mph before s-l-o-w-l-y regaining our speed. Down the road, it widens out to two lanes and both the truck and car in front kept left so I immediately used the empty right lane to pass them both, despite approaching a red light. I was turning left ahead, and decided to cut back in front of the truck to stop first in line at the light rather than merging at speed later. He was c-r-a-w-l-i-n-g by that point and I had plenty of space to get in so it wasn't an egregious merge by any stretch, but of course, the truck driver then has the nerve to honk at me. I rolled down my window and gave him a thumbs down. He then honked again, shouted something like "That's how people get killed!" and honked again before the light turned green.

Two problems with that: first, maneuvers that occur at less than 5 mph are not how bad accidents that could result in fatality happen, and secondly and more importantly, what is dangerous is causing drivers to brake unexpectedly and that's exactly what he just did (whereas what I did occurred when he was already slowed way down and actively braking for the light) so I guess he was preaching to himself. We both turned left at the next light without incident and I put some distance between us to make the next light while he missed it, so that was the end of that. I normally have a lot of respect for truck drivers but I sure would have like to have a word with that one (though his shouting at me did give me a tad bit of a scare at the time),

hbelkins

I've only used one in my personal vehicle once. It was when I was getting pictures of the revamped Western Kentucky-Pennyrile interchange when I-69 was signed as the through route and the ramps were modified to make it so. The next westbound exit was several miles away, so I put on my KYTC hat and my KYTC vest and pulled a U-ey. I had my KYTC badge and one of my  business cards in view in case I got stopped by a cop, but there were no issues.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

DandyDan

I personally have not, but I remember Dad doing so once. We lived in the Chicago area during my high school years and we were going to my grandparents in SW Minnesota when he blew a tire in their old Chevy station wagon just west of the Sparta, WI exit. He turned around and got his tire repair in Sparta.

I also remember my grandpa doing so the year we went to my uncle's farm west of Watertown, SD on I-29, just so grandma could use the rest room at the one rest area off of I-29 going towards Watertown.
MORE FUN THAN HUMANLY THOUGHT POSSIBLE

Rothman

That last post reminded me of my family and another car of relatives using one on I-64 due to the mismatched exit ramps there were in the Lewisburg/White Sulphur Springs, WV area in the mid-1980s.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

Scott5114

One time in the middle of the night my roommate and I got a wild hair to go for a drive, and ended up choosing New Mexico as our destination, coming from Central Oklahoma. As soon as we crossed the TX/NM line, I did a U turn at the first available opportunity, because I didn't know how far into New Mexico the first exit would be.
uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef

webny99

Quote from: DandyDan on September 15, 2024, 06:51:50 AMI also remember my grandpa doing so the year we went to my uncle's farm west of Watertown, SD on I-29, just so grandma could use the rest room at the one rest area off of I-29 going towards Watertown.

Seeing a rest area in the other direction when you need to use the bathroom is the worst, though if it's dire enough it may constitute "emergency" use of a median U-turn.  :sombrero:

But it is crazy to think that on roads like the Thruway, trying to legally access a rest area in the other direction would waste half an hour in the best case scenario and well over an hour in the worst case scenario. You're always better off waiting for the next one in your direction or finding something at the next exit, considering you'd have to use the next exit anyways to turn around.

1995hoo

Quote from: webny99 on September 16, 2024, 08:33:29 AM....

But it is crazy to think that on roads like the Thruway, trying to legally access a rest area in the other direction would waste half an hour in the best case scenario and well over an hour in the worst case scenario. You're always better off waiting for the next one in your direction or finding something at the next exit, considering you'd have to use the next exit anyways to turn around.

Or pull off at one of these and head over to the tree line.

I remember back in the 1980s, some of these pulloffs on the Thruway had pay phones set up so that the driver could pull up and make a call without getting out of the car. On one occasion when my father was doing that (calling our relatives in Brooklyn regarding our anticipated arrival time), my brother hopped out and ran over to the far side of the pavement to puke in a plastic bag. It must have been August of 1984 because the writing on the bag was all in French and that was the year we took a family vacation to Montreal, Quebec City, the Saguenay, and the Magog area.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

SectorZ

Once on I-93 S/B north of Concord NH. Road was closed ahead due to an accident and it was either sit for what ended up being six hours of road closure or use the u-turn.

About a decade before, on a similar stretch of 93, I almost nailed at freeway speed an elderly Chevy S10 driver that used it for reasons unknown and then proceeded out at a dangerously slow speed.

webny99

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2024, 11:11:37 AM
QuoteBut it is crazy to think that on roads like the Thruway, trying to legally access a rest area in the other direction would waste half an hour in the best case scenario and well over an hour in the worst case scenario. You're always better off waiting for the next one in your direction or finding something at the next exit, considering you'd have to use the next exit anyways to turn around.

Or pull off at one of these and head over to the tree line.

Yep, that works when solo, but much less so on family trips when females are in attendance. :)

1995hoo

Quote from: webny99 on September 16, 2024, 11:24:23 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2024, 11:11:37 AM
QuoteBut it is crazy to think that on roads like the Thruway, trying to legally access a rest area in the other direction would waste half an hour in the best case scenario and well over an hour in the worst case scenario. You're always better off waiting for the next one in your direction or finding something at the next exit, considering you'd have to use the next exit anyways to turn around.

Or pull off at one of these and head over to the tree line.

Yep, that works when solo, but much less so on family trips when females are in attendance. :)


If the question is whether the females can avail themselves of the opportunity to head over to the tree line, I suppose that's a question of how badly they have to go. If it's a case of the men not wanting to do this themselves when female family members are in attendance....ehhhh, it's not like they haven't seen it at some point.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

webny99

Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2024, 11:51:03 AM
Quote from: webny99 on September 16, 2024, 11:24:23 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 16, 2024, 11:11:37 AMOr pull off at one of these and head over to the tree line.

Yep, that works when solo, but much less so on family trips when females are in attendance. :)


If the question is whether the females can avail themselves of the opportunity to head over to the tree line, I suppose that's a question of how badly they have to go. If it's a case of the men not wanting to do this themselves when female family members are in attendance....ehhhh, it's not like they haven't seen it at some point.

Without getting too far into the weeds (pun noted but not intended), it's not a case of the guys being uncomfortable with it so much as that usually if one person has to go, another does as well. And I have certainly never known any of the women in my life to go in the woods or consider doing so, but absolutely no comment as to whether they can or not, LOL.

Kulerage

My Dad used one once during a family road trip ages ago. Think we either missed an exit or there was traffic we didn't want to deal with.

thenetwork

#21
Now on the Colorado divided highways, all the medians only have the EMERGENCY OR AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY sign.  CDOT does not use NO U-TURN signage at any of their median turnarounds.

Local jurisdictions may still use the official NO U-TURN signs, so your mileage may vary

SSR_317

#22
Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 13, 2024, 09:02:40 AMI've only used them *officially*, while in a DOT truck plowing. 

And I wouldn't use them when traffic was heavy - I'd just go up to the next exit, even if it was several miles away.


This reminds me of being on a ski trip charter bus heading home to Indy from a weekend at Boyne Mountain ski resort in Michigan in the mid-1980s. We had just stopped in Mount Pleasant, MI for dinner and for some unexplained reason when we departed, our bus driver inexplicably headed back north on old US 27 (BR 27) - presumably to get to the interchange we had exited the US 27 (now US 127) Freeway from, not realizing it was only a partial junction (SB off, NB on). So rather than heading south, we were then going back north on the freeway. Rather than going another 2 or 3 miles to the next exit, this guy decided to use the first median crossover and made a U-turn onto the SB lanes. Being winter, the roadway was clear but the shoulders were snow-covered and slick. Needless to say, this was a highly questionable decision by our driver, especially given the relatively heavy SB traffic on a Sunday evening. The first SB vehicle managed to miss our heavily loaded bus (though he nearly lost control on the slick shoulder), but the second or third one plowed into us. Fortunately, no one was injured, but we had to wait until the state police came to the scene to investigate and the poor driver who hit us had major damage to his car thanks to our incompetent chauffeur.

baugh17

Quote from: webny99 on September 13, 2024, 08:13:58 AMHave you ever personally used a median U-turn on a freeway to turn around and head back the other direction? If so, was it due to an emergency, congestion, or something else?

Once...on I-684 near Mount Kisco in 2018.  Traffic was backed up due to an accident.  I was in the far left lane when the backup began and couldn't get to the exit for NY 172.  I decided to use the U-turn to get back to NY 172 and bypass the accident scene via the Saw Mill Parkway.



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