Why is I-190 in SD an interstate?

[bugo]

It's basically a long ramp.  It has one onramp and one offramp.  It should just be a part of US 16.

[roadman65]

Better question, why is I-180 in WY an interstate?  Its not even freeway grade plus it is concurrent the entire length with BR I-25, US 85, and US 87.  At least this one is freeway grade.

[M86]

http://www.sddot.com/transportation/highways/planning/specialstudies/i190/default.aspx

That should answer your question.

[SD Mapman]

It should just be a part of US 16.

Well, it IS. It's also the fastest way to get to downtown Rapid.

[roadman65]

I was in Rapid City back in 01, I remember where it started and ended.  It is part of US 16 since it was truncated years back.  There was an erroneous sign where it used to turn right onto present day Business I-90 when I visited there (hopefully removed since then) that was once US 14 where it and US 14 both began to head east of there.

I-90 caused US 16 that once went to Detroit to end at Rapid City and the logical place is at that interchange with I-190 and its parent.   It was realigned along the new spur interstate from that place it once went east with US 14, that is now on I-90.  The main point is that interstate is the connection to Downtown as the interstate is a mile or so away.  So it is warranted!

[mgk920]

It also has an intermediate interchange between I-90 and its south end.  BTW, when it was first built, the I-90/190 interchange was a three-level directional 'Y'.

I agree, it is a worthy part of the I-system.

Mike

[corco]

That designation probably helps to feed tourists heading to the Black Hills and Rushmore into downtown Rapid instead of using the faster 16 Truck. Its not the sexiest interstate in the system, but i thought part of the point of odd 3dis was to connect downtowns to the interstate, which this does.

[roadman65]

Not to mention that it does connect I-90 to the Black Hills.

[SD Mapman]

That designation probably helps to feed tourists heading to the Black Hills and Rushmore into downtown Rapid instead of using the faster 16 Truck. Its not the sexiest interstate in the system, but i thought part of the point of odd 3dis was to connect downtowns to the interstate, which this does.

Yeah, Rapid would hate it if anyone tried to remove the designation, as they are REALLY trying to boost the downtown.

And besides, does anyone really want to get rid of I-90's only 3di west of the Mississippi River?

[Henry]

That designation probably helps to feed tourists heading to the Black Hills and Rushmore into downtown Rapid instead of using the faster 16 Truck. Its not the sexiest interstate in the system, but i thought part of the point of odd 3dis was to connect downtowns to the interstate, which this does.

Yeah, Rapid would hate it if anyone tried to remove the designation, as they are REALLY trying to boost the downtown.

And besides, does anyone really want to get rid of I-90's only 3di west of the Mississippi River?

I agree, it works pretty well for this part of SD.

[roadman65]

I liked Rapid City when I visited there and I think many people who visit Rushmore and the region also like it.  It is the largest city in Western SD, and it should be promoted.  It is one of the largest settlements in the region and most of all along I-90 west of the Miss and east of Spokane! 

[corco]

Well, besides Billings and Missoula anyway

[roadman65]

Well, besides Billings and Missoula anyway

That is why I said "one of the largest" in my post. 

Also it hundreds of miles away in each direction along I-90 to the others like you just pointed out.  It is a good meal and lodging stop along the way!

[corco]

For sure, and it is growing at a healthy rate- a lot of the white collar Bakken related jobs are ending up there (and in the Biz and in Billings) - its certainly emerging as the banking/healthcare hub of that region moreso than the other communities.

[roadman65]

The weather is ideal as I heard the Black Hills is cooler in the Summer and warmer in the Winter than a few miles east on the Prairie.  That, I am sure, plays a great fact in its being ideal too!

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

It's an interstate grade freeway which provides a connection from a primary Interstate route to the downtown of the state's second largest city. Seems viable enough as an Interstate to me.

[SD Mapman]

The weather is ideal as I heard the Black Hills is cooler in the Summer and warmer in the Winter than a few miles east on the Prairie.  That, I am sure, plays a great fact in its being ideal too!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Don't believe everything you hear about our weather. We have no definition of climate.

[DandyDan]

It's an interstate grade freeway which provides a connection from a primary Interstate route to the downtown of the state's second largest city. Seems viable enough as an Interstate to me.

This exact logic works perfectly for I-180 in Lincoln, Nebraska as well, oddly enough, and no one wants to eliminate that.

[SD Mapman]

It's an interstate grade freeway which provides a connection from a primary Interstate route to the downtown of the state's second largest city. Seems viable enough as an Interstate to me.

This exact logic works perfectly for I-180 in Lincoln, Nebraska as well, oddly enough, and no one wants to eliminate that.

Hear, hear!

[on_wisconsin]

Well, besides Billings and Missoula anyway

Don't forget Rochester, MN and Sioux Falls, SD as well. (I-90 between Spokane and the Mississippi River)

[SD Mapman]

Well, besides Billings and Missoula anyway

Don't forget Rochester, MN and Sioux Falls, SD as well. (I-90 between Spokane and the Mississippi River)

To call that a region is kinda stretching it... but whatever.

[M86]

BTW, when it was first built, the I-90/190 interchange was a three-level directional 'Y'.

What?  You are very much mistaken.

[NE2]

BTW, when it was first built, the I-90/190 interchange was a three-level directional 'Y'.

What?  You are very much mistaken.

Ahem. http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=13&X=1603&Y=12212&W=3

[Mapmikey]

plus here's a photo, taken by usroadman in 1996, showing the left exit from I-90 WB

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadandrailpictures/8093454350/in/set-72157631782939928

Mapmikey

[roadman65]

What I find interesting is not only that the Exit 57 interchange was not only a three level directional interchange, but still the fact that Rushmore Road and the short I-190 freeway are in line with each other.

As soon as you exit on to I-190 you can see US 16 lined directly in front of you heading up the hill into the Black Hills Area.  The same when you come down from the Black Hills EB on US 16 as you see the I-190 freeway down ahead of you.

Its because the street grid in Rapid City is not completely N-S to E-W.  If you look both north and south of the downtown area you see I-190 bend to the SW slightly before you reach the southern terminus at Omaha Street.  Then US 16 heading north (signed east) it bends slightly  to the NE as it heads into downtown.  However, both straightaways are in line as seen here or if you have ever driven US 16 in person.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Rapid+City,+SD&hl=en&ll=44.081296,-103.230972&spn=0.053888,0.122223&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=8.494959,15.644531&oq=rapi&hnear=Rapid+City,+Pennington,+South+Dakota&t=m&z=13