What is the single most congested/incapable of handling high volumes/screw up the whole freeway/delay-prone ramp in your area?
For Rochester, I 490 West to NY 590 North gets the honorable title.
For Albany I'll say the "ramp" from I-87 south to I-90 west (actually the I-87 mainline). Only one lane at the start (the option lane was removed in order to slow trucks down, since they were tipping over on the curve), and it ends with a very tight curve because the toll booths are just after it.
Quote from: ParrDa on August 29, 2017, 09:53:55 PM
What is the single most congested/incapable of handling high volumes/screw up the whole freeway/delay-prone ramp in your area?
The 'screw up the whole freeway' wipes out some of the ones I was going to nominate for Chicagoland since some of the ramps would be from C-D (NB I-294 to WB I-290) or local lanes (WB I-290 to WB I-90). I will though nominate I-290 to SB I-294.
1. The ramp from I-91 North to US 5/CT 15 North in Hartford, CT. It's an integral link in the drive from New York to Boston as it acts as the de facto connection between I-91 North and I-84 East and vice versa.
2. Mass Pike Exit 9 westbound. Might get better over time with the removal of the toll barrier, but it's still a bottleneck.
Newhall Pass interchange
Yes, so congested it messes up two entire freeways for miles in every direction.
Hands down -- the loop ramp from South I-880 to South US 101 (an interchange I've condemned many times previously!). There's even a sign indicating that the actual radius of the ramp curvature changes (tightens) during the transition process. The fact that it consistently backs up onto SB I-880 during the peak commute only adds to the misery.
It's not really in my area but I am in Chicago enough to say the Circle Interchange where the Dan Ryan, Kennedy and Eisenhower all come together.
Every single ramp in a line on August 21, 2017
From my experience, I would say the worst in the SLC area is from 215 west to 15 south in the afternoon. 80 west to 15 south is also pretty bad.
Maryland Route 24 northbound out of Bel Air to U.S. Route 1 (the Bel Air Bypass). Everyone goes that way instead of U.S. 1 south.
This may be exaggerating the problem, but the little, 100 foot left lane slip ramp from I-295 South to NJ 42 South will backup traffic 10 miles or more!
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 30, 2017, 12:45:32 AM
It's not really in my area but I am in Chicago enough to say the Circle Interchange where the Dan Ryan, Kennedy and Eisenhower all come together.
Congested, but that's the whole area. For a single ramp, I'd say the one from I-294 north to I-290 west. That is, hands down, the worst single ramp in Chicagoland.
The Twin Cities has three options that I'm aware of:
1. Northbound MN 77 to westbound MN 62
2. Eastbound I-394 to eastbound I-94
3. Northbound I-35W to westbound I-94
I find that #2 is almost always a mess, even if it's not rush hour. The other two have been a bit more variable in my experiences.
I-83 North to PA 581 West (Exit 41A) near Harrisburg. Lack of merge area creates backups, I have seen it as far back as Exit 39B (I-76) during morning rush hour.
Nexus 6P
One (pre-Interstate) interchange in Maryland comes to mind:
The junction of U.S. 50 (John Hanson Highway), MD-201 (Kenilworth Avenue), the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (unsigned MD-295) and MD-459 (Tuxedo Road) (https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B055'07.8%22N+76%C2%B055'57.1%22W/@38.918839,-76.9412847,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.918839!4d-76.93253) in Tuxedo, Maryland.
Two ramps in the interchange are terrible. Their creaking design can cause backups for several miles.
In the AM commute period, Westbound U.S. 50 to Southbound MD-201 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B055'12.2%22N+76%C2%B056'02.2%22W/@38.920066,-76.9361237,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.920066!4d-76.933935); and
In the PM commute period, Northbound MD-201 to eastbound U.S. 50 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B055'03.3%22N+76%C2%B055'51.4%22W/@38.917578,-76.9331307,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.917578!4d-76.930942).
In Goldsboro, NC it was the single lane ramps carrying US-70 thru traffic at the US-70/Grantham Street interchange. US-70 in that area was a parking lot during rush hour, epescially westbound traffic, which would sometimes back up all the way to the William Street interchange. I drove through there many times over the years when I lived there and I hated it. Since the new US-70 Bypass (Future I-42) opened last year, it doesn't back up nearly as bad anymore, but the design is still woefully out of date. If you look at the older Streetview images on the US-70 West ramp, you can get an idea of what the backups were like before the US-70 Bypass opened.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3965307,-78.0016885,15.7z?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3965307,-78.0016885,15.7z?hl=en)
In Charleston area: the ramp from I-526 to I-26 going from Daniel Island/Mt. Pleasant in North Charleston. Terrible traffic backups, especially during afternoon rush hour. Can backup for 20-30 minutes at a time.
Charlotte, NC: I-277 Outer to I-77 North. The construction on 77 plus the existing horrible traffic causes backups for almost a mile in the right lane of 277.
For Indianapolis I'm going to guess the one-lane loop ramp from EB I-465 to NB I-69 on the northeast side. It's no wonder that INDOT is planning on building a flyover ramp in a few years the only question is why they haven't done it already. Previously the loop ramp from WB I-465 to SB I-65 on the south side was bad enough to jam up I-465 for several miles to the east but a new flyover ramp built there has almost completely taken care of that problem.
I nominate I-285 east to I-85 north at Spaghetti Junction. Passing through there on I-285, I know that if I'm not in the far left lane, I'm gonna have a bad time.
Quote from: roadguy2 on August 30, 2017, 12:54:27 AM
From my experience, I would say the worst in the SLC area is from 215 west to 15 south in the afternoon. 80 west to 15 south is also pretty bad.
Almost every ramp in SLC is that way...
KIW-L24
Just about every ramp on and off the Schuylkill Expressway.
Quote from: ekt8750 on August 31, 2017, 03:19:30 PM
Just about every ramp on and off the Schuylkill Expressway.
I was trying to decide which ones in the Philly area were the worst. I came up with three toss ups:
I-676 West to I-76 West
US 1 South/US 1 North/City Ave ramps to I-76 West
I-476 North to I-76 West
Common demoninator? Shocker.
The ramp that carries US 101 in San Francisco from the eastbound Central Freeway to the southbound Bayshore Freeway is backed up at rush hour daily due to extraordinarily short merge distances twice in 500 feet (10th Street onramp followed almost immediately by the west terminus of I-80).
SAMSUNG-SM-J327A
In Seattle's South Sound region, there's a couple that seem to jockey for first place:
- Hwy 518 EB towards I-5 SB -- there's a ramp meter so the traffic backs up pretty far
- 405 SB towards Hwy 167 SB -- congested loop ramp. It can be slow even at 3 AM
- 705 SB towards I-5 SB -- the now-single-lane ramp (former dual-lane ramp) creates jams as far back as the start of the interstate.
I'd need another Seattleite to confirm these, since none seem to be worse than the others. Luckily, the second and third ramps are due for some remodelling, so they should get better soon.
Quote from: jakeroot on August 31, 2017, 07:28:52 PM
In Seattle's South Sound region, there's a couple that seem to jockey for first place:
- Hwy 518 EB towards I-5 SB -- there's a ramp meter so the traffic backs up pretty far
- 405 SB towards Hwy 167 SB -- congested loop ramp. It can be slow even at 3 AM
- 705 SB towards I-5 SB -- the now-single-lane ramp (former dual-lane ramp) creates jams as far back as the start of the interstate.
I'd need another Seattleite to confirm these, since none seem to be worse than the others. Luckily, the second and third ramps are due for some remodelling, so they should get better soon.
I can definitely attest to the fact that 518 EB to 5 SB has been congested for decades now; have friends in West Seattle and used to visit about every other week when I was living in Portland ('93-'97), and that ramp was often backed up to the SeaTac interchange on 518 -- even during off-peak hours -- and well before metering! Much of the problem seemed to originate with local "bobtail" delivery trucks encountering the SB grade on I-5 beginning a bit before the end of the ramp -- the trucks would be back in 1st or 2nd gear by the time they hit I-5 itself, slowing whatever was strung out behind them!
That issue notwithstanding -- I can't believe that SB 405 to SB 5 remains a tight loop as it was 35+ years ago when I first used that interchange.
Quote from: vdeane on August 29, 2017, 10:11:57 PM
For Albany I'll say the "ramp" from I-87 south to I-90 west (actually the I-87 mainline). Only one lane at the start (the option lane was removed in order to slow trucks down, since they were tipping over on the curve), and it ends with a very tight curve because the toll booths are just after it.
Generally, I agree with that, but the ramps from I-90 WB to I-787 NB, I-787 NB to NY 7 WB and NY 7 WB to I-87 NB are definitely honorable mentions. The last one backs up onto the NY 7 mainline for at least a mile daily.
Hmm... Portland...
I-5 north to I-84.
Quote from: sparker on August 31, 2017, 08:00:42 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on August 31, 2017, 07:28:52 PM
In Seattle's South Sound region, there's a couple that seem to jockey for first place:
- Hwy 518 EB towards I-5 SB -- there's a ramp meter so the traffic backs up pretty far
- 405 SB towards Hwy 167 SB -- congested loop ramp. It can be slow even at 3 AM
- 705 SB towards I-5 SB -- the now-single-lane ramp (former dual-lane ramp) creates jams as far back as the start of the interstate.
I'd need another Seattleite to confirm these, since none seem to be worse than the others. Luckily, the second and third ramps are due for some remodelling, so they should get better soon.
I can definitely attest to the fact that 518 EB to 5 SB has been congested for decades now; have friends in West Seattle and used to visit about every other week when I was living in Portland ('93-'97), and that ramp was often backed up to the SeaTac interchange on 518 -- even during off-peak hours -- and well before metering! Much of the problem seemed to originate with local "bobtail" delivery trucks encountering the SB grade on I-5 beginning a bit before the end of the ramp -- the trucks would be back in 1st or 2nd gear by the time they hit I-5 itself, slowing whatever was strung out behind them!
I suppose if the ramp meter improved anything, it was that truck issue (one I never experienced). Although they probably wouldn't use the meter if it didn't improve traffic on the 5 (which can be hideous from just past the merge from the 518, particularly after the exit for Orillia Road).
From Historic Aerials, it appears the meter was installed around 97-98. Definitely one of Seattle's older meters (although quite a lot were installed around that time, IIRC).
Quote from: sparker on August 31, 2017, 08:00:42 PM
That issue notwithstanding -- I can't believe that SB 405 to SB 5 remains a tight loop as it was 35+ years ago when I first used that interchange.
That movement could be on my list as well; truthfully, I forgot about it. The easiest way to improve that movement would be to (of course) eliminate the loop. Have all traffic going towards the 5 exit at the first ramp (the one going towards 5 NB). Elevate the ramp slightly, and construct a large flyover that would go under the 518 WB overpass, but over the 518 EB underpass. A bit hard to explain through words.
I-10 west of the I-605 in the San Gabriel Valley. The ramps there (what I call "scrunched cloverleafs") may have been state-of-the-art when they were built in the early '50s (that's "may have been"), but today, they just completely gum up the traffic on the mainline.
NY Thruway Exit 51
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4123/4931476468_fd4dd70dbe_b.jpg (https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4123/4931476468_fd4dd70dbe_b.jpg)
I say the Forth Street Ramp in San Francisco is the most clogged because its the Last San Francisco Exit prior to the Bay Bridge.
In the Sacramento Area its the US-50 @ CA-99 interchange that gets clogged.
Quote from: hm insulators on September 21, 2017, 03:31:37 PM
I-10 west of the I-605 in the San Gabriel Valley. The ramps there (what I call "scrunched cloverleafs") may have been state-of-the-art when they were built in the early '50s (that's "may have been"), but today, they just completely gum up the traffic on the mainline.
So true. It's a surprise that they never updated these. There are many cloverleafs in Cal that were converted to parclos because of weaving issues, but they never bothered with this corridor.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 29, 2017, 10:57:18 PM2. Mass Pike Exit 9 westbound. Might get better over time with the removal of the toll barrier, but it's still a bottleneck.
Even with the tollbooths gone & the area restriped with continuous lanes;
I-84 eastbound approaching that Pike interchange
still backs up for miles.
Quote from: PHLBOS on January 03, 2018, 02:14:35 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 29, 2017, 10:57:18 PM2. Mass Pike Exit 9 westbound. Might get better over time with the removal of the toll barrier, but it's still a bottleneck.
Even with the tollbooths gone & the area restriped with continuous lanes; I-84 eastbound approaching that Pike interchange still backs up for miles.
Certainly. The problems are the weave between US 20 and I-90 and the merge onto I-90, not the booths themselves. You have 3 lanes of I-84 merging into 2 for the ramp, then the right lane ends 3/4 mile later. The auxiliary lane should continue to the Charlton service area instead of the police barracks. Or even better: 4 lane the damn thing between I-84 and I-290/395, because that's where a decent amount of EB traffic exits. In the meantime, traffic from US 20 to the WB Pike needs to cut across every lane of I-84. It's a mess far larger than the tollbooths.
As I have mentioned in other threads, I 490 West to NY 590 North gets this title for the Rochester area.
I can also confirm the thruway Exit 51 near Buffalo.
Quote from: Bickendan on September 01, 2017, 03:35:22 AM
Hmm... Portland...
I-5 north to I-84.
That or I-405 to US 26 or vice versa.
Quote from: cl94 on January 03, 2018, 02:30:41 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on January 03, 2018, 02:14:35 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 29, 2017, 10:57:18 PM2. Mass Pike Exit 9 westbound. Might get better over time with the removal of the toll barrier, but it's still a bottleneck.
Even with the tollbooths gone & the area restriped with continuous lanes; I-84 eastbound approaching that Pike interchange still backs up for miles.
Certainly. The problems are the weave between US 20 and I-90 and the merge onto I-90, not the booths themselves. You have 3 lanes of I-84 merging into 2 for the ramp, then the right lane ends 3/4 mile later. The auxiliary lane should continue to the Charlton service area instead of the police barracks. Or even better: 4 lane the damn thing between I-84 and I-290/395, because that's where a decent amount of EB traffic exits. In the meantime, traffic from US 20 to the WB Pike needs to cut across every lane of I-84. It's a mess far larger than the tollbooths.
As one who has relatives that have lived in Sturbridge for at least 20 years; most motorists using those on-ramps from US 20 to I-84 eastbound are usually getting on I-90 eastbound. Those (i.e. the locals) along US 20 seeking to get on I-90 westbound will
usually use US 20 West into Palmer (& take MA 32 North) and then get on I-90 there. Outside of three flea market festivals a year; that stretch of US 20 isn't too bad trafficwise.
The Circle Interchange in downtown Chicago. This is the interchange where the Ike, Kennedy and Dan Ryan all come together.
69 between 465 and SR 37 in Fishers, Indiana is crazy. The 69 SB to 465 SB ramp is crazy, too - Good thing I don't live on the northeast side!
I’m sure there’s worse, but the flyover ramp from Florida’s Turnpike Extension to I-75 North gets maddeningly backed up in the evening rush hour. It’s finally getting a complete set of movements, but hopefully the mid-ramp lane drop and immediate merge with 75 will be taken care of.
Ironically, the merge with I-75 North at the northern mainline Turnpike terminus is equally frustrating, but I don’t really consider them ramps, as the road (ideally) just flows into the Interstate. Weekends and holiday weeks are where the design fails to impress.
Quote from: Interstate 69 Fan on January 04, 2018, 02:12:48 PM
69 between 465 and SR 37 in Fishers, Indiana is crazy. The 69 SB to 465 SB ramp is crazy, too - Good thing I don't live on the northeast side!
I have often bypassed that by taking SR 9 in between I-69 and I-70 and then I-70 to Indy or vice versa and it's worked out plenty of times. I found that way out by being rerouted due to traffic by my GPS.
There's that one ramp off I-95 N in the Pelhams, Bronx, NY, that causes delays every rush hour. Then once you get past it traffic opens up.
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on January 04, 2018, 01:19:10 AM
Quote from: Bickendan on September 01, 2017, 03:35:22 AM
Hmm... Portland...
I-5 north to I-84.
That or I-405 to US 26 or vice versa.
Yup. Those ramps are total turds. I'd probably rank US-26 EB onto 405 as the worst of the bunch, from ample personal experience. That whole bit where I-84 WB does that "turn off to stay on" bit with I-205 is also a hot mess.
Quote from: Tarkus on January 04, 2018, 10:25:01 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on January 04, 2018, 01:19:10 AM
Quote from: Bickendan on September 01, 2017, 03:35:22 AM
Hmm... Portland...
I-5 north to I-84.
That or I-405 to US 26 or vice versa.
Yup. Those ramps are total turds. I'd probably rank US-26 EB onto 405 as the worst of the bunch, from ample personal experience. That whole bit where I-84 WB does that "turn off to stay on" bit with I-205 is also a hot mess.
At least I-84 WB at I-205 has an excuse.
US 26 through the western end of the Ross Island Maze... not so much.
All ramps on highways that lead to and away from the 401.
Always congested during rush hour.
In Seattle proper:
Mercer Street and Stewart Street during the AM commute can muck up the I-5 express lanes all the way to the Ship Canal Bridge, since they are the only non-HOV ramps to downtown. Generally a bad time all around.
Quote from: Eth on August 30, 2017, 09:49:49 PM
I nominate I-285 east to I-85 north at Spaghetti Junction. Passing through there on I-285, I know that if I'm not in the far left lane, I'm gonna have a bad time.
I'd vote for the I-285 East to Georgia 400 North ramp: one lane from 285 that splits into a lane for 400 North and 400 South, except the 400 North ramp has to do an immediate left merge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9104566,-84.3569606,283m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9098158,-84.3574005,3a,75y,65.26h,78.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szlxE-lW1253ye_d43WMXYA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9107051,-84.3567622,3a,75y,65.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4jtAvUAvHhfh6akR7SAu9Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
WB I-94 to Rawsonville Rd. 95% of traffic using that ramp wants to go southbound on Rawsonville, causing long backups at times when the light is red: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2199017,-83.5446823,16.96z?hl=en
It doesn't help that there is a strip mall (with one of the last Kmarts left) and several fast food joints on Rawsonville south of 94
In Denver, I-225 ramps to I-25, Santa Fe Dr (US 85) northbound to I-25 N (new flyover that is more like a crawlover), Colfax (BL I-70/US 40/287) to northbound I-25 in the evening rush hour.
For Seattle, I was going to say I-90 west to I-5 north.
Quote from: kkt on January 31, 2018, 12:41:43 AM
For Seattle, I was going to say I-90 west to I-5 north.
90 west to 5 south can be just as bad. On the few occasions that I have to perform that maneuver, I will sometimes exit at Rainier, wind through the backstreets, and enter at Spokane Street. Probably not any faster, but at least I'm getting something better than 0 MPG.
167 northbound towards the 405 (in both directions) sucks too.
I-75 to I-94 backs up pretty good during rush hour as does I-75 to I-696. I-75 itself sees most of the traffic in the Detroit area but isn't as bad as I-94 for traffic even though it sees more traffic. I-94 itself between I-96 and Connor gets pretty backed up in both directions going through the middle of Detroit causing backups on any ramp entering it.
About two weeks ago I was in Detroit, heading SB on I-75 in Oakland County there was an accident at 14 Mile backing traffic up all the way around the Rochester Curve, I got off at Rochester Road and took Stephenson Highway which turns into the I-75 Chrysler Freeway Service Drive south of 12 Mile, I got back on I-75 at the 11 Mile exit and the traffic to get on I-696 was backed up all the way to where I got on causing backups in the right two lanes. Nothing ever moves during rush hour on these freeways and Detroit has a poor mass transit system to boot.
Quote from: jakeroot on January 31, 2018, 01:12:25 PM
Quote from: kkt on January 31, 2018, 12:41:43 AM
For Seattle, I was going to say I-90 west to I-5 north.
90 west to 5 south can be just as bad. On the few occasions that I have to perform that maneuver, I will sometimes exit at Rainier, wind through the backstreets, and enter at Spokane Street. Probably not any faster, but at least I'm getting something better than 0 MPG.
167 northbound towards the 405 (in both directions) sucks too.
If I'm heading downtown (from my Wenatchee family), we'll go straight. Same with merging to I-5 south should SR 18 be busy OR they're going to SEA Tac and 405 is backed up (PDX and connections or bust for my location, I'm going from their perspective).
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 31, 2018, 06:34:07 PM
I-75 to I-94 backs up pretty good during rush hour as does I-75 to I-696. I-75 itself sees most of the traffic in the Detroit area but isn't as bad as I-94 for traffic even though it sees more traffic. I-94 itself between I-96 and Connor gets pretty backed up in both directions going through the middle of Detroit causing backups on any ramp entering it.
About two weeks ago I was in Detroit, heading SB on I-75 in Oakland County there was an accident at 14 Mile backing traffic up all the way around the Rochester Curve, I got off at Rochester Road and took Stephenson Highway which turns into the I-75 Chrysler Freeway Service Drive south of 12 Mile, I got back on I-75 at the 11 Mile exit and the traffic to get on I-696 was backed up all the way to where I got on causing backups in the right two lanes. Nothing ever moves during rush hour on these freeways and Detroit has a poor mass transit system to boot.
Detroit has THE worst mass transit system among large cities. In fact, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing might even have better bus systems than Detroit!
NJ 55 at its northern terminus where it turns into a single lane on NJ 42, which eventually becomes the exit ramp to I-295. NJ 55 is jammed there every morning and even other times during beach season
The Buckhead Interchange in Atlanta between I-75/85 for me. It's not as bad as it used to be, but it still is pretty much guaranteed to add an hour to your trip. With the normal amount of time it takes GDOT to fix roads it likely won't be made any better in my lifetime.
Quote from: ftballfan on February 01, 2018, 11:16:42 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 31, 2018, 06:34:07 PM
I-75 to I-94 backs up pretty good during rush hour as does I-75 to I-696. I-75 itself sees most of the traffic in the Detroit area but isn't as bad as I-94 for traffic even though it sees more traffic. I-94 itself between I-96 and Connor gets pretty backed up in both directions going through the middle of Detroit causing backups on any ramp entering it.
About two weeks ago I was in Detroit, heading SB on I-75 in Oakland County there was an accident at 14 Mile backing traffic up all the way around the Rochester Curve, I got off at Rochester Road and took Stephenson Highway which turns into the I-75 Chrysler Freeway Service Drive south of 12 Mile, I got back on I-75 at the 11 Mile exit and the traffic to get on I-696 was backed up all the way to where I got on causing backups in the right two lanes. Nothing ever moves during rush hour on these freeways and Detroit has a poor mass transit system to boot.
Detroit has THE worst mass transit system among large cities. In fact, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing might even have better bus systems than Detroit!
They do. Flint even has a pretty good bus system. I've rode on the bus in Ann Arbor and Lansing but not Grand Rapids. Ann Arbor's is pretty good but I think Lansing has the best bus system in the state. CATA runs the route that goes between downtown Lansing and Meridian Mall every 10 minutes and they are almost always on time it was the bomb having that service while I was down there.