Recent posts

#91

Mountain West / Re: Interstate 11

Last post by dbz77 - July 06, 2025, 12:15:55 PM

So it will be the first piece of the 11 to be constructed in Arizona.

#92

Northwest / Re: OR 22 to get interchange w...

Last post by dbz77 - July 06, 2025, 12:14:45 PM

I'm assuming the 8ft sidewalk is the current "multiuse path"?

I'd guess yes.

That path has also seen better days.  It has become a very uneven tread in a lot of places, and there's quite a bit of untended brush growing out into it, at least the last time I rode along it.  It's a smoother ride on 22's shoulder, and I see plenty of cyclists opting for that.  The trade-off is the thrill of 60+ mph traffic whizzing by a few feet away; but fortunately for them, the shoulder is generously wide through there.

I haven't been down there but roads like the original design (4+ lane undivided highways with driveways and unprotected cross traffic) are terrible and it's good to see plans to fix another one.

It was probably never a good design for that area, even when there were just a few rural homes, but its shortcomings got increasingly exposed once businesses began springing up along the way.  Now you definitely need to concentrate when you drive through there.   Way overdue for a fix.

amaziong that this intersection was not signalized already.

#93

General Highway Talk / Re: No more 'rainbow' crosswal...

Last post by mgk920 - July 06, 2025, 12:06:48 PM

As the OP for this thread, it is time to lock it down.  is well past the point where it has run its course.

Mike

#94

Off-Topic / Re: AARoads Wordle

Last post by Big John - July 06, 2025, 12:00:56 PM

BRAKE

       

You're up for the next word.

#95

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: Illinois notes

Last post by adt1982 - July 06, 2025, 11:57:57 AM

https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article308431715.html

https://illinois-department-of-transportation.prezly.com/i-5570-closure-in-madison-county-begins-june-13

IDOT closed 55NB/70EB yesterday June 13th between IL 157 and IL 159 in the St Louis Metro East near Collinsville for bridge repairs

Scheduled to be reopened June 30th.

Preferred detour is 255NB->270EB->55NB or 70EB or 55SB/70WB

I saw a secondhand post on Facebook that they will now be closing westbound 55/70 from IL 159 to IL 157 starting July 11th for bridge repairs.

#96

Off-Topic / Re: AARoads Wordle

Last post by davewiecking - July 06, 2025, 11:54:20 AM

BRAKE

#97

Suggestions and Questions / Re: Profile Avatars

Last post by oscar - July 06, 2025, 11:38:53 AM

I'd like to restore the avatar I've had for a long time. It was a route marker I photographed (heavy edits to comply with this forum's avatar guidelines), which I uploaded to the AARoads server.

If you'd prefer something hosted on a third-party server, I now have a Flickr account.

#98

General Highway Talk / Re: No more 'rainbow' crosswal...

Last post by kalvado - July 06, 2025, 10:33:28 AM

For Pete's sake, understanding the trees informs where and how cuts should be made.  Otherwise, you're just a toddler with a meat cleaver, which DOGE definitely was,
 given the subsequent negative effects of its actions.

Oh, believe it or not, I am with you here. What is better - inaction or idiotic action?
...
Imagine a hospital room with a very sick patient. A door slams open and a new doctor walks in.
-Ok, what we got here... Let me look at your file... khm.... let me palpate your belly. khhhm... You have a late stage cancer! How are they treating you? ASPIRIN??? You need urgent surgery!! GOOD THING I HAVE MY BIG KNIFE WITH ME!!! ANESTHESIA??? NO TIME FOR THAT CRAP!

#99

General Highway Talk / Re: No more 'rainbow' crosswal...

Last post by Rothman - July 06, 2025, 10:26:11 AM

Usual response is that while some top brass are political appointes, lower level bureaucracy stays and keeps things going. But looks like those lower level professionals are no longer there, most likely boomers going into sunset.

A few reasons why there are a lot fewer people there.  I'm most familiar with the NY division since I know people there, but they lost a very large chunk of people in the last six months.  Not many retirements, either.  They lost a couple (which percentage-wise is a lot, since division offices aren't very big) in the DOGE layoffs, and between those, the current administration making working conditions a lot worse (r/FedNews can summarize that a lot better than I can, but suffice to say this isn't a case of "they won't let us telecommute any more so I quit"), and threats of future, more wide-scale layoffs, a very large chunk of staff took the last deferred resignation offer.  Two of the displaced feds now work for NYSDOT.

You are talking about short term trends, which are largely driven by desperate need for budget cuts. There are also a long term trends, you actually gave a very interesting insight at some point when talking about very nysdot conservative design approaches.... That was a few years ago...

This b.s. stinks very, very strongly.

ETA:  Egads...Trade deficit...tied to layoffs at FHWA?  The absurdities abound.

I am just tired of crap like this...

Ok, simplified version for DOT engineers: in 2024, highway trust fund balance was $26.7B in red. That is $85 a year per capita.
Of course, you would say "step up taxes to close the gap", and of course I would be with you if it was an isolated issue.  but it's one of many soars.  And I am not sure too many people can pay a few more thousand in taxes a year as required to start closing gaps. Even if they can afford another $100 in gas taxes.
With that, why do you need people in offices if there are no underlying budgets?

You have demonstrated little understanding of reality on this matter.  All I know is that FHWA is now crippled and projects are now being delayed because of the arbitrary layoffs inflicted by DOGE.  In other words, there are too few people to handle the funding that is available. 

I find the idea of the trust fund to be "in the red" to be a ridiculous reason to justify FHWA layoffs.  Ratchet back apportionments to states if that is somehow some portion of the federal deficit.  Firing FHWA employees doesn't help with that regard.

Of course, I note that your silly trade deficit argument's disappeared...

We really need to do something about misinformation in this country and how it affects voting and other actions.  That said, I don't have much hope in finding a solution to that, or the current increasing deficit in critical thinking...

Things will just get worse.

Trade deficit and budget deficit are certainly part of underlying economic situation. I am with you that implementation of cuts is crude at best, but the need for cuts is absolutely there
And there is certainly huge deficit in public critical thinking, moreso among government employees. But that is a different story.
 

Again, your post demonstrates a misunderstanding of how funding and payments are arranged and a lack of a sound logic chain given actual information.  But, as always, stubborness defeats reason and actuality...which is why I say things will get worse.

Looks like you are missing the forest behind the trees. You may look on detailed payment structure and all that, but remember to look at the totals. And if totals don't add up - it's not a problem with how payments work, it's a problem on a grand scale.

For Pete's sake, understanding the trees informs where and how cuts should be made.  Otherwise, you're just a toddler with a meat cleaver, which DOGE definitely was, given the subsequent negative effects of its actions.

#100

General Highway Talk / Re: XY Challenge

Last post by formulanone - July 06, 2025, 10:22:15 AM

Catching up...

US 130 and US 206 meet up in Bordentown, New Jersey:



US 6 and US 35 in the winter fog of Smiths Center, Indiana:



US 44 and US 202 in Avon, Connecticut: