The Holy Grails of Roadgeekdom

[Scott5114]

So what are the things a U.S. roadgeek simply must see at one time or another in their life? The major things that we love and hate, and talk about non-stop. I'm not talking about things an average tourist might want to see, like the Golden Gate Bridge or a scenic route, but attractions that would probably only be sought out specifically because someone in the car is a roadgeek.

Here's some that come to mind for me:

• OK 20/AR 43 (AR/OK)
• I-238 (CA)
• Zzyzx Rd. (CA)
• Glenwood Canyon (CO)
• Eisenhower Tunnel (CO)
• U.S. 400 (CO/KS/MO)
• I-70's Park-n-Ride terminus (MD)
• Wellston toll plaza (OK)
• Breezewood (PA)
• I-99 (PA)

What are some others?

[Alps]

Strike US 400.  What's special about the Wellston toll plaza?

I would add:

• Pulaski Skyway
• At least one National Road bridge in Maryland
• Big Dig/Bunker Hill Bridge at night
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

[florida]

US 1 from Florida City to Key West.
Old US 30 in Oregon.
Old US 99 in California.

[agentsteel53]

definitely the Arroyo Seco Parkway in LA

[yanksfan6129]

Needmore Road in Dayton, OH!

[deathtopumpkins]

I-93 through Franconia Notch, NH, of course, and also probably NC 12 on the Outer Banks for the scenery, and I-10 and 20 in Texas and 15 in Utah for the speed limits.
And probably the Merrit Parkway too...
I could think of a lot more for various reasons.

[Scott5114]

Wellston has the onramp that lets out into a McDonald's parking lot, from which you must pull onto I-44 via another ramp.

[Scott5114]

ah, yes, the Arroyo Seco, how could I forget about that? Isn't that where the Ankrom sign is as well?

In this list I'm thinking mainly of things that you would go "Oh, sweet, I finally get to see _________!"

[SSOWorld]

The Interstate Triplex in WI.
Suffixed interstates in DFW and MSP
Cheyenne I-180
I-90 Wallace Idaho - the former surface road version of....
All of Montana - often find Speed limit 70 on a two lane road?

[Jim]

The northern terminus of US 1.
The southern terminus of US 1.
The Alaska Highway (and pretty much any other roads of the far north).
The Hana Highway and Piilani Highway on Maui.
Any stretch of historic US 66 in the southwest.
Any road that completes your clinch of a major highway.
All those close-together exits and their numbers with high letter suffixes in KC.
The George Washington Bridge.
Any of the old parkways in the NYC metro area.
US 50 across Nevada.

[getemngo]

Jim, you stole half my ideas! 

Seriously though...

• The "wrong-way" section of I-8 in Arizona
• The upside down traffic light at Tipperary Hill, Syracuse, NY
• Clinching the Dixie Highway, National Road, or any major auto trail
• My choice of highway in Alaska would have to be the Dalton Highway.  It crosses the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle, ends almost within sight of the Arctic Ocean, and I believe this is a record:

(photo by Dan Gullickson and posted on Oscar Voss' site)

[yanksfan6129]

Dalton Highway, Alaska
Dempster Highway, Yukon and Northwest Territories
New Jersey Turnpike

[agentsteel53]

where is the wrong-way section of I-8 in Arizona?  I know where old US-80 crosses the Gila River "backwards" but as far as I know, I-8 stays relatively well-aligned with its nominal direction.

and yes, 244 miles is the US record for distance between services.  There is this sign, however, which has been modified quite fancifully.

[agentsteel53]

All of Montana - often find Speed limit 70 on a two lane road?

in west Texas, you can find 75 on a two-lane road.

[Crewdawg]

where is the wrong-way section of I-8 in Arizona?  I know where old US-80 crosses the Gila River "backwards" but as far as I know, I-8 stays relatively well-aligned with its nominal direction.

It is east of yuma
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=32.657948~-114.333&style=r&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

[agentsteel53]

oh, the mountain pass section?  that is a very cool drive.  there is a similar section in California, where I-8 goes between San Diego and Imperial counties several times. 

too bad about the border patrol checkpoint just to the east; totally ruins the ambiance.

[Crewdawg]

I-8 is also on my list for being the lost point on the interstate 

[Crewdawg]

in west Texas, you can find 75 on a two-lane road.

but who wants to be in west Texas not much out there.

[Scott5114]

I-8 is also on my list for being the lost point on the interstate

Whaaaaaat??

[agentsteel53]

Big Bend is really quite scenic, as is west Texas in general.  Yes, there is nothing out there, and that is the point!

[J N Winkler]

I do definitely recommend the Arroyo Seco Parkway (hurry up if you want to see it while it is still the Pasadena Freeway!) and also the Grapevine section of I-5.  Actually, I would like to see the abandoned alignments of the Ridge Route and also former US 99 in the Sacramento River Valley.

In New Mexico, I would also like to see the Big Cut and La Bajada Hill alignments of former NM 1 (superseded by US 85 and later by I-25).

My personal holy grail, however, is access to a complete construction plans archive for all fifty state DOTs.  This already exists for MN, KY, and GA, but unfortunately the latter two would sooner die than do pattern-accurate signing plans.  Where historical signing plans are available from a state DOT, however, and are pattern-accurate, it is possible to assemble an archive of pattern-accurate sign design sheets which runs to thousands of pages for a single state.

[froggie]

All of Montana - often find Speed limit 70 on a two lane road?

Most of rural Texas...not just out in west Texas...

[74/171FAN]

A few in VA:
Springfield Interchange(I-95/I-495/I-395)
and all 3 bridge-tunnels (HRBT, MMMBT, and CBBT)

[Crewdawg]

I-8 is also on my list for being the lost point on the interstate

Whaaaaaat??

it was late the lowest point on the interstate system 

[njroadhorse]

- East L.A. Interchange
- Dan Ryan Expressway where all the on and off-ramps are within 1 mile of each other
- I-676's at-grade junction
- Autobahns