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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: webny99 on February 15, 2023, 09:24:09 PM

Title: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: webny99 on February 15, 2023, 09:24:09 PM
What road in your area (sticking to a single route number or road name) would you least like to have as part of your commute? Or if it already is part of your commute, what don't you like about it?

I want nothing to do with a commute that involves NY 441. I use it occasionally and sometimes take part of it as part of the "long way" home, and it annoys me every time...
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: jeffandnicole on February 15, 2023, 09:28:39 PM
Poorly timed lights drive me crazy.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Rothman on February 15, 2023, 10:10:07 PM
Ramps from I-81 to Adams/Harrison in Syracuse.  Only place where traffic really backs up in the area.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Techknow on February 15, 2023, 10:18:30 PM
A one-lane county road with a private drive section in-between. I had the pleasure of driving on this particular one three weeks ago before I just turned around:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4674753,-122.2747159,3a,82.3y,127.38h,88.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sokbc45ng8QgCaTQqNdiOtw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: webny99 on February 15, 2023, 10:23:38 PM
Quote from: Techknow on February 15, 2023, 10:18:30 PM
A one-lane county road with a private drive section in-between. I had the pleasure of driving on this particular one three weeks ago before I just turned around:

Wow. That didn't seem to stop the Street View car though!
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 15, 2023, 10:49:22 PM
Any freeway heading into San Francisco.  I'm past the age of being able to tolerate commuter traffic like that every day. 

I have done the last twenty miles of US Route 1 in the Florida Keys as my daily commute in the past.  People used to tell me that US 1 was super horrible to commute on.  I never found it to be too aggravating given I had a car with a powerful engine given it made passing easy. 
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Scott5114 on February 15, 2023, 11:14:51 PM
I had OK-9 in Norman as part of my commute for just under a decade. It includes such joys as randomly-timed lights and random events at the university that would cause so much traffic that it became impassible at unpredictable times.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: mgk920 on February 15, 2023, 11:19:29 PM
In Wisconsin I would not want I-94 (east-west Freeway) between downtown Milwaukee and the west suburbs - into the Sun and heaps of traffic BOTH WAYS.

Mike
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Great Lakes Roads on February 16, 2023, 01:38:43 AM
Chicago- Eisenhower Expressway from the Circle Interchange to the Hillside Strangler Interchange... Left-hand exits as well as not enough capacity from 8 lanes to six lanes.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: epzik8 on February 16, 2023, 05:25:19 AM
On part of my commute, I have a series of lights that are either all green or all red when I pass through them, and no mix of those.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Rothman on February 16, 2023, 06:45:15 AM
Quote from: epzik8 on February 16, 2023, 05:25:19 AM
On part of my commute, I have a series of lights that are either all green or all red when I pass through them, and no mix of those.
Is that a good or bad thing?
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: vdeane on February 16, 2023, 12:40:33 PM
I-87 over the Twin Bridges (between NY 7 and Clifton Park).  It is probably the single worst congestion point in the whole area, especially during tourist season in the Adirondacks and Saratoga.  It's also fairly prone to incident related congestion, which has been known to spill down south as far as the Thruway and I-90.

Quote from: Techknow on February 15, 2023, 10:18:30 PM
A one-lane county road with a private drive section in-between. I had the pleasure of driving on this particular one three weeks ago before I just turned around:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4674753,-122.2747159,3a,82.3y,127.38h,88.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sokbc45ng8QgCaTQqNdiOtw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192


You're going to give MMM nightmares and/or a heart attack with that road!
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: FrCorySticha on February 16, 2023, 01:12:11 PM
10th Ave S in Great Falls, MT (US 87/US 89/MT 200/MT 3 to I-315) is mostly 3 lanes each direction, and almost impossible to not be stopped by about a dozen stoplights. I avoid this street any time I can, which is easy because GF's street network is an almost perfect grid.

Any time I have to go from I-15 on the west side of GF to somewhere on the east side of the city, it's easier to exit I-15 at Central Ave. W (Exit 280) and go through downtown. 1st Ave N/2nd Ave N are a one-way pair with lights timed for 25 MPH. After downtown, there are only 3-5 more lights depending on how far I need to go.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Rothman on February 16, 2023, 02:02:50 PM
Quote from: vdeane on February 16, 2023, 12:40:33 PM
I-87 over the Twin Bridges (between NY 7 and Clifton Park).  It is probably the single worst congestion point in the whole area, especially during tourist season in the Adirondacks and Saratoga.  It's also fairly prone to incident related congestion, which has been known to spill down south as far as the Thruway and I-90.

Yep.  Could not pay me enough to work in Albany and live in Clifton Park.

Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: GaryV on February 16, 2023, 02:34:57 PM
NU 1 
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32520.msg2817341#msg2817341
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on February 16, 2023, 02:52:57 PM
In Minneapolis, anything involving Lyndale Avenue between 394 and the Crosstown, especially the Hennepin Avenue "duplex" area.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Some one on February 16, 2023, 03:07:15 PM
59/69 between Spur 527 and 45 in Houston. 45 inside the Beltway. In general, there are a lot of freeways in or around 610 that are unbearable.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: CoreySamson on February 16, 2023, 03:13:44 PM
Yeah, I would rather not commute on the Pierce Elevated in Houston (or I-45 in general).

As for Tulsa, the only road here that I don't really like is US 75 on the south side of town (which just so happens to be a route that I can take for my actual "commute" (if you count going to church as a "commute." I live and work on my college campus). It needs to be upgraded to 6 lanes given the traffic on it, it has gross signage in spots, and the at-grade in Glenpool is consistently annoying. Luckily, Tulsa's arterial street grid is so well planned out that I usually can avoid it.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Hobart on February 16, 2023, 07:14:03 PM
I'd have to go with I-80/94 (Kingery and Borman Expressways) near Chicago. I know I do not want these roads on my commute because I had them on there for a while. Issues include:
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: US 89 on February 16, 2023, 08:24:10 PM
Quote from: FrCorySticha on February 16, 2023, 01:12:11 PM
10th Ave S in Great Falls, MT (US 87/US 89/MT 200/MT 3 to I-315) is mostly 3 lanes each direction, and almost impossible to not be stopped by about a dozen stoplights. I avoid this street any time I can, which is easy because GF's street network is an almost perfect grid.

Any time I have to go from I-15 on the west side of GF to somewhere on the east side of the city, it's easier to exit I-15 at Central Ave. W (Exit 280) and go through downtown. 1st Ave N/2nd Ave N are a one-way pair with lights timed for 25 MPH. After downtown, there are only 3-5 more lights depending on how far I need to go.

YES. I drove through Great Falls last year and had this exact experience on 10th. The light at 6th St. SW was particularly horrendous. Unfortunately, I'm trying to clinch US 89, so it had to be driven once. At least I won't have to suffer that again.

My own contribution to this thread is going to be another road in Montana that I drove on that trip, for the same reason: US 93/Reserve Street in Missoula. My theory was that Montana is such a big rural empty state that MDT forgot they might have to hire a traffic engineer or two.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Bruce on February 16, 2023, 10:08:21 PM
Seattle: I-5 southbound in the afternoon. With the express lanes running opposite (and thus one lane fewer at Northgate), it is always terrible.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Techknow on February 17, 2023, 12:20:33 AM
Quote from: vdeane on February 16, 2023, 12:40:33 PM
Quote from: Techknow on February 15, 2023, 10:18:30 PM
A one-lane county road with a private drive section in-between. I had the pleasure of driving on this particular one three weeks ago before I just turned around:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4674753,-122.2747159,3a,82.3y,127.38h,88.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sokbc45ng8QgCaTQqNdiOtw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192


You're going to give MMM nightmares and/or a heart attack with that road!
I don't doubt that! I didn't even know such a road could exist in the Bay Area until I tried to drive to a county park so I just had to share it!

A more serious answer from me is driving within downtown San Francisco, or any major city with one-way streets. If one's destination is at the north end of the city, it won't be fun to get there in the afternoon (I'm going to there for a dentist appointment next month). Any freeway will be 2-3 miles from the destination, assuming one even endures the slog on US-101/I-80. Instead one will have to take a bunch of streets and arterials. Specific streets include Guerrero St, Van Ness Ave, Franklin St, Fell St, Oak St.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Rothman on February 17, 2023, 06:57:01 AM
Being afraid of one-way streets is interesting.  When I lived in San Francisco, I was impressed by how the grid was set up, especially with careful thought for intersections with no left turns, sending traffic around right turn blocks.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: 1995hoo on February 17, 2023, 09:49:57 AM
I would not want to commute on Maryland Route 210 (Indian Head Highway) in PG and Charles Counties. It's generally known as one of the most dangerous roads in the DC area because of the hyper-aggressive drivers and extreme speeds (not at all unusual to see people weaving in and out of traffic at triple-digit speeds and to see people driving at full speed on the shoulder to pass stopped traffic). The road itself is fine, it's the people who drive on it who are the problem. Channel 4 news had a report the other night about how the speed cameras on there are not having the desired effect because somehow none of the people who were exceeding 89 mph have received camera tickets (which, in some ways, is an unfortunate thing for the news to report because it tells you one potentially dangerous way to avoid a camera ticket!).
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: JayhawkCO on February 17, 2023, 10:19:30 AM
I-25 in Denver. About 20 miles of suck in both directions.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: JoePCool14 on February 17, 2023, 11:33:30 AM
Quote from: Hobart on February 16, 2023, 07:14:03 PM
I'd have to go with I-80/94 (Kingery and Borman Expressways) near Chicago. I know I do not want these roads on my commute because I had them on there for a while. Issues include:

  • Heavy traffic at all times of day; you either take the expensive Chicago Skyway, use side streets, drop down to I-74, or take this.
  • Orientation in and out of the sun, so you're blinded both ways while working day shifts.
  • Frequent construction (and associated delays and driving hazards).
  • Excessive speeding... everybody thinks you're driving too slow if you aren't 10 over.
  • Trucks illegally using the left two lanes, slowing all traffic to the speed of their governors.
  • Bad drivers... you're in Indiana so... yeah.
  • Bad memories from having sat in traffic for literally three hours due to an overturned truck.

Good answer. The Borman is almost always a mess.

I'm going to go with what's on the opposite side of Chicagoland: Lake County. Once you get west of I-94, there are effectively no through four lane roads. They stonewalled any expansions in hopes it would stop sprawl. Turns out that didn't work, and now they're stuck with a severely underdeveloped road network.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on February 17, 2023, 01:05:14 PM
Most roads in the Boston area.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: MATraveler128 on February 17, 2023, 01:08:16 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on February 17, 2023, 01:05:14 PM
Most roads in the Boston area.

Mine specifically are US 1 between Boston and Peabody and of course I-93 in Quincy.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: FrCorySticha on February 17, 2023, 10:31:22 PM
Quote from: US 89 on February 16, 2023, 08:24:10 PM
Quote from: FrCorySticha on February 16, 2023, 01:12:11 PM
10th Ave S in Great Falls, MT (US 87/US 89/MT 200/MT 3 to I-315) is mostly 3 lanes each direction, and almost impossible to not be stopped by about a dozen stoplights. I avoid this street any time I can, which is easy because GF's street network is an almost perfect grid.

Any time I have to go from I-15 on the west side of GF to somewhere on the east side of the city, it's easier to exit I-15 at Central Ave. W (Exit 280) and go through downtown. 1st Ave N/2nd Ave N are a one-way pair with lights timed for 25 MPH. After downtown, there are only 3-5 more lights depending on how far I need to go.

YES. I drove through Great Falls last year and had this exact experience on 10th. The light at 6th St. SW was particularly horrendous. Unfortunately, I'm trying to clinch US 89, so it had to be driven once. At least I won't have to suffer that again.

Yeah, that particular light is almost guaranteed to be a delay, especially coming from GF to I-315. It's a cause for celebration any time I'm able to get through it without being stopped by it.

Quote
My own contribution to this thread is going to be another road in Montana that I drove on that trip, for the same reason: US 93/Reserve Street in Missoula. My theory was that Montana is such a big rural empty state that MDT forgot they might have to hire a traffic engineer or two.

Well, that was the bypass of Missoula. Until Missoula built out that way. There are occasional rumors of another bypass further west, but those who don't want any kind of development in the valley are adamantly opposed to it.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: dgolub on February 18, 2023, 07:43:15 AM
The Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) because it's bumper-to-bumper around the clock.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Rothman on February 18, 2023, 09:42:55 AM
Quote from: dgolub on February 18, 2023, 07:43:15 AM
The Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) because it's bumper-to-bumper around the clock.
Ah, the couple of times that I've been on it when it was essentially free flow...miraculous.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: MultiMillionMiler on February 18, 2023, 09:56:36 AM
Actually I was able to go 70 mph on the cross bronx recently on the weekend in the middle of the day. During the weekday, yes it is black-red on googlemaps the whole length, but they also recently repaired it so it has some of the smoothest asphalt in the city now.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Declan127 on February 18, 2023, 10:24:15 PM
As a Mets fan, I would not want to ever commute via the Van Wyck. There only 4(!) times in my life where I have been on the Van Wyck and not had any traffic, and 3 of those were last year. Tight roadway, always road work, only route for trucks coming from JFK... it gets to the point where a VMS on the overpass at Rockaway Boulevard (the traffic typically starts right when you get in view of this sign) is almost always proclaiming "DELAYS TO (street name, usually MAIN ST)". If anyone's wondering, the stretch of road in question is NB between Exits 1B-2 (usually starts at a small bend in the express lanes and under the exit 2 BGS in the local lanes, about where the mainline loses a lane) and exit 8 (precisely where the ramp leaves).
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: SeriesE on February 21, 2023, 11:56:14 AM
Needing to drive due east in the morning and due west in the afternoon
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: GaryV on February 21, 2023, 11:59:02 AM
Quote from: SeriesE on February 21, 2023, 11:56:14 AM
Needing to drive due east in the morning and due west in the afternoon
Only in Sept and March.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: triplemultiplex on February 21, 2023, 12:20:12 PM
For this city, I'm glad I don't have to go downtown if I go to the office, because every few days, someone decides that the morning rush is a great time to slow roll a train through The Isthmus.  With zero grade separations along this railroad, these trains completely snarl traffic.  ALL traffic, not just cars.  Buses get held up, bikes can't get thru (unless they're coming from one or two specific directions and know how to sneak up Monona Terrace.)  It's a huge CF that I would be pulling my hair out if I had to deal with.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: ET21 on February 22, 2023, 09:35:34 AM
Poorly time traffic lights is the worst

For local routes, have to go with the Ike (I-290). I also share the same with JoePCool with Lake Co. Anything off I-94 to the west is a slog of 2 lane roadways
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: 7/8 on February 22, 2023, 09:50:28 AM
Definitely the 401 heading east into Toronto. It's gotten better with the recent widening through Milton and Mississauga, but still, commuting to Toronto is much worse than anything within Waterloo Region.

But if we want to keep it more local:
- The two-lane Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph is very busy. The freeway upgrade of this highway has been moving at a glacial pace, and often gets cancelled/restarted by various governments. I feel like we could've just widened the existing road to 4 lanes and been done with it.
- I've noticed that the loop ramp from 8 west to 7/8 west (https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/43.4341071,-80.4497273/43.4352633,-80.4574074/@43.4360909,-80.4535094,16.17z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0) gets backed up in the evening rush hour.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: webny99 on February 22, 2023, 10:41:56 AM
Quote from: 7/8 on February 22, 2023, 09:50:28 AM
Definitely the 401 heading east into Toronto. It's gotten better with the recent widening through Milton and Mississauga, but still, commuting to Toronto is much worse than anything within Waterloo Region.

I guess I hadn't been keeping up to date, is the big widening project on the 401 officially finished?
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: skluth on February 22, 2023, 11:50:05 AM
I moved to South County when I moved back to St Louis in 2007 specifically because I wanted to avoid the ugly commutes on I-70 and especially I-64 into the city. (This was also just before the I-64 rebuild (https://www.bdcnetwork.com/reconstructing-i-64-st-louis).) I also worked south of downtown near the Brewery, and the exit on NB I-55 at Broadway leading almost to the main gate made a South City/County home a no-brainer. I'm sure new hires will not use the same logic as my agency is building a new campus on the St Louis North Side (https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/17b-nga-facility-takes-shape-north-st-louis/63-be87b39e-8d47-492b-8692-3dc8e897c0b6). In fact, I'd guess a lot more new hires will be living in Illinois as commuters can take the Stan Span (https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/made-possible-by-buy-america-the-stan-span-is-quickly-becoming-an-american-icon/) to the Tucker exit, turn right at the end of the ramp onto Cass and take that wide, underutilized street to the new campus.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: StogieGuy7 on February 22, 2023, 12:13:12 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 17, 2023, 11:33:30 AM
Quote from: Hobart on February 16, 2023, 07:14:03 PM
I'd have to go with I-80/94 (Kingery and Borman Expressways) near Chicago. I know I do not want these roads on my commute because I had them on there for a while. Issues include:

  • Heavy traffic at all times of day; you either take the expensive Chicago Skyway, use side streets, drop down to I-74, or take this.
  • Orientation in and out of the sun, so you're blinded both ways while working day shifts.
  • Frequent construction (and associated delays and driving hazards).
  • Excessive speeding... everybody thinks you're driving too slow if you aren't 10 over.
  • Trucks illegally using the left two lanes, slowing all traffic to the speed of their governors.
  • Bad drivers... you're in Indiana so... yeah.
  • Bad memories from having sat in traffic for literally three hours due to an overturned truck.

Good answer. The Borman is almost always a mess.

I'm going to go with what's on the opposite side of Chicagoland: Lake County. Once you get west of I-94, there are effectively no through four lane roads. They stonewalled any expansions in hopes it would stop sprawl. Turns out that didn't work, and now they're stuck with a severely underdeveloped road network.
Bumping this up because I so agree with it. The Borman is horrible; and it's basically made to fail because it is one of only two freeways that transport traffic around the south side of Lake Michigan at from this latitude northward to the Canadian border. Not to mention that it travels through the scene of an apocalypse, so there's no real alternate surface streets for you as an alternate to take without worrying about your safety as you drive through Gary.

Lake County is tough to get across, you're so right. Basically a flaw in planning.

Lastly, I nominate the Stevenson Expy. (I-55). What a POS that thing is. It would often take me longer to get from the 294/55 junction to MDW than it took to get from Gurnee to that same junction.

Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: 7/8 on February 22, 2023, 12:23:22 PM
Quote from: webny99 on February 22, 2023, 10:41:56 AM
Quote from: 7/8 on February 22, 2023, 09:50:28 AM
Definitely the 401 heading east into Toronto. It's gotten better with the recent widening through Milton and Mississauga, but still, commuting to Toronto is much worse than anything within Waterloo Region.

I guess I hadn't been keeping up to date, is the big widening project on the 401 officially finished?

Yep, I assume it finished in December based on the article date.
https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/10810591-ontario-completes-highway-401-widening-from-milton-to-mississauga/ (https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/10810591-ontario-completes-highway-401-widening-from-milton-to-mississauga/)
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: webny99 on February 22, 2023, 02:40:30 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on February 22, 2023, 12:23:22 PM
Quote from: webny99 on February 22, 2023, 10:41:56 AM
Quote from: 7/8 on February 22, 2023, 09:50:28 AM
Definitely the 401 heading east into Toronto. It's gotten better with the recent widening through Milton and Mississauga, but still, commuting to Toronto is much worse than anything within Waterloo Region.

I guess I hadn't been keeping up to date, is the big widening project on the 401 officially finished?

Yep, I assume it finished in December based on the article date.
https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/10810591-ontario-completes-highway-401-widening-from-milton-to-mississauga/ (https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/10810591-ontario-completes-highway-401-widening-from-milton-to-mississauga/)

Great to see. I see there's already some Street View from December on part of it. Hopefully I get a chance to check it out soon!
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Sctvhound on February 22, 2023, 04:52:26 PM
In Charleston: I-26 eastbound in the AM from Summerville to downtown and pretty much the entire length of I-526 during rush hour. No real alternative routes for 526.

You at least have US 52 (Rivers Avenue) for 26.

All it takes is one accident to foul up the commute for the entire area. At least once a month it takes over an hour to go the 20 or so miles from Summerville. And a couple times a year you have a complete detour that effs up traffic all day.

SM-G998U

Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: thspfc on February 23, 2023, 08:15:32 PM
Madison: for a freeway, the Beltline by far. For a surface road, East Washington Ave.

Milwaukee: freeway, I-43 north of downtown. Surface road, Fond du Lac Ave.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AM
Quote from: thspfc on February 23, 2023, 08:15:32 PM
Milwaukee: freeway, I-43 north of downtown. Surface road, Fond du Lac Ave.

Agree, this one is absurd: a 4 lane freeway serving as the only freeway link between a major city and it's north suburbs (and points beyond). That thing is a travesty that appears to be stuck in 1965. I've heard that it's to be widened but unless it's to 8 lanes, it won't be enough.

If that's not bad enough, there's the occasional shooting that takes place on what we can call Milwaukee's answer to the Dan Ryan.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: triplemultiplex on February 24, 2023, 10:38:18 AM
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AM
Agree, this one is absurd: a 4 lane freeway serving as the only freeway link between a major city and it's north suburbs (and points beyond). That thing is a travesty that appears to be stuck in 1965. I've heard that it's to be widened but unless it's to 8 lanes, it won't be enough.

Been under construction for expansion to 6 lanes for over a year.  Though they are starting up in Ozaukee County for some reason.  Probably for staging reasons with the recent project to take out the viaduct over the former railyard by Koss.

Six lanes will be fine when it's all done.  It's the drop from 6 to 4 at Silver Spring that strangles 43.  That and a lack of aux lanes between ramps from North Ave thru Capitol.

Quote from: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AMIf that's not bad enough, there's the occasional shooting that takes place on what we can call Milwaukee's answer to the Dan Ryan.
Oh pul-eease.  That's such bullcrap to be worried about getting shot at on a freeway like that. You'll die a thousand times in a regular old car crash before some stray bullet comes near you driving thru "the ghetto".
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: RobbieL2415 on February 24, 2023, 10:50:28 AM
Two roads that come to mind are US 5 in South Windsor and East Windsor, and Buckland Road in South Windsor and Manchester. Both are always busy. Both are underpowered for the amount of traffic that they carry. Both have too many signals.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 11:25:12 AM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on February 24, 2023, 10:38:18 AM
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AM
Agree, this one is absurd: a 4 lane freeway serving as the only freeway link between a major city and it's north suburbs (and points beyond). That thing is a travesty that appears to be stuck in 1965. I've heard that it's to be widened but unless it's to 8 lanes, it won't be enough.

Been under construction for expansion to 6 lanes for over a year.  Though they are starting up in Ozaukee County for some reason.  Probably for staging reasons with the recent project to take out the viaduct over the former railyard by Koss.

Six lanes will be fine when it's all done.  It's the drop from 6 to 4 at Silver Spring that strangles 43.  That and a lack of aux lanes between ramps from North Ave thru Capitol.

Quote from: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AMIf that's not bad enough, there's the occasional shooting that takes place on what we can call Milwaukee's answer to the Dan Ryan.
Oh pul-eease.  That's such bullcrap to be worried about getting shot at on a freeway like that. You'll die a thousand times in a regular old car crash before some stray bullet comes near you driving thru "the ghetto".

While the odds of getting shot at on the road are minimal, it's still a possibility. And sometimes you never know, if you accidentally cut someone off and piss them off enough...

Yes, I-43 is an atrocity north of downtown. It really discourages me from wanting to explore more in that direction. I've considered jumping over to I-41 before just to avoid it.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 11:27:10 AM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on February 24, 2023, 10:38:18 AM
Oh pul-eease.  That's such bullcrap to be worried about getting shot at on a freeway like that. You'll die a thousand times in a regular old car crash before some stray bullet comes near you driving thru "the ghetto".

Eh, it's still a road through the worst section of a top 10 homicide rate city and I would avoid it at night - much like the Dan Ryan (ironically sited in a city with a lower homicide rate than Milwaukee).
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 11:27:26 AM
I-5 through downtown Seattle seems pretty unappealing given how much it backs up.  I-405 exists but isn't exactly the greatest alternate out there given how much traffic goes to Bellevue.  I feel as though every time I go to Washington for a work trip I do whatever I can to avoid either if possible (such as using the ferry routes).
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: zzcarp on February 24, 2023, 11:30:31 AM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on February 17, 2023, 10:19:30 AM
I-25 in Denver. About 20 miles of suck in both directions.

Agreed. Unfortunately, my company just moved to Inverness so I get to drive the I-25 funhouse every day from US 36 to County Line. I'll probably take 470 home since anytime after about 2 pm can be a $#!& show in central Denver.

Though if I had to drive I-270 through Commerce City every day, my head would explode.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: jmacswimmer on February 24, 2023, 11:41:42 AM
Definitely I-495/Capital Beltway specifically at the Legion Bridge over the Potomac. I've had to do it on a few one-off occasions over the years going to my company's headquarters in Fairfax, and northbound in the afternoon can be absolutely miserable. I think on one of my absolute worst experiences in summer 2017, it took a good 30 minutes to travel the 7 miles from VA 267 to I-270 (for those keeping score, that's an average of 14 mph). 495NEXT is underway on the Virginia side, but all that'll do is push the bottleneck a few miles downstream until Marylanf ever does anything on its side (if it all).
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: triplemultiplex on February 24, 2023, 12:19:44 PM
Because no one ever gets shot on the freeway in the suburbs?

I'm sorry, but I'm calling bullshit on this.  If anyone out there is such a scared little wuss that they won't drive on a FREEWAY through a city because they think someone is going to shoot at them, just go ahead and kindly fuck off forever.  Turn off the right-wing radio and relax.  That person clearly has zero ability to objectively assess actual threats and are simple buying into a narrative spoon-fed to them by zealots for fascism.

Frankly it's quite arrogant to think that one is so special that some "thug" is going to single them out among tens of thousands of vehicles whipping down the road for a random act of violence.  It's an extremely stupid thing to worry about and those people who do, even a little bit, are stupid.  If one is going to be worried about crime in the city, then fucking learn something about it; that it's rarely just some rando getting shot.  It's almost always a preexisting dispute that comes to violence.  "They" don't care about your timid, suburban ass driving along.  You are not special.  You are nobody.  So don't pretend like they're going to come after you.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:07:50 PM
Wait, people are actually worried about getting shot while driving on the freeway? What's the chances if that happening? Has to be much lower than the rates of dying in a normal car crash.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:07:50 PM
Wait, people are actually worried about getting shot while driving on the freeway? What's the chances if that happening? Has to be much lower than the rates of dying in a normal car crash.

People got paranoid about that happening during the I-10 Sniper incidents in Phoenix.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:40:07 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:07:50 PM
Wait, people are actually worried about getting shot while driving on the freeway? What's the chances if that happening? Has to be much lower than the rates of dying in a normal car crash.

People got paranoid about that happening during the I-10 Sniper incidents in Phoenix.
1 person was injured and nobody died. Now how many people are killed in car crashes every year?
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:41:45 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:40:07 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:07:50 PM
Wait, people are actually worried about getting shot while driving on the freeway? What's the chances if that happening? Has to be much lower than the rates of dying in a normal car crash.

People got paranoid about that happening during the I-10 Sniper incidents in Phoenix.
1 person was injured and nobody died. Now how many people are killed in car crashes every year?

I'm not saying it's logical.  It was all over the news and got sensationalized. 
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on February 24, 2023, 03:54:59 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:41:45 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:40:07 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:07:50 PM
Wait, people are actually worried about getting shot while driving on the freeway? What's the chances if that happening? Has to be much lower than the rates of dying in a normal car crash.

People got paranoid about that happening during the I-10 Sniper incidents in Phoenix.
1 person was injured and nobody died. Now how many people are killed in car crashes every year?

I'm not saying it's logical.  It was all over the news and got sensationalized. 

The vast majority of these sorts of incidents involve people who know each other. Your odds of being shot at on the freeway by some rando are basically zero.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:57:10 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on February 24, 2023, 03:54:59 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:41:45 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:40:07 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 03:07:50 PM
Wait, people are actually worried about getting shot while driving on the freeway? What's the chances if that happening? Has to be much lower than the rates of dying in a normal car crash.

People got paranoid about that happening during the I-10 Sniper incidents in Phoenix.
1 person was injured and nobody died. Now how many people are killed in car crashes every year?

I'm not saying it's logical.  It was all over the news and got sensationalized. 

The vast majority of these sorts of incidents involve people who know each other. Your odds of being shot at on the freeway by some rando are basically zero.

The Phoenix incidents on I-10 was someone trying to be a sniper.  It was someone who didn't really understand how ballistics worked with impact on glass.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:17:34 PM
Two years ago, there was a guy riding a motorcycle on northbound CA 41 with his wife as the passenger.  Someone rolled up to them in a car north of Elkhorn Avenue and blasted the wife off the back of the motorcycle with a gun shot out the passenger window.  I drove by the homicide investigation scene shortly after it happened.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:21:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.

That's what you don't understand about sensationalism.  Once a news story catches on and it captures the public imagination it tends to blow up even if it is some sort of unlikely danger. 
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:23:23 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:21:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.

That's what you don't understand about sensationalism.  Once a news story catches on and it captures the public imagination it tends to blow up even if it is some sort of unlikely danger.
I do understand how sensationalism works. I just want people to understand when it's happening and not fall for it.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:25:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:23:23 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:21:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.

That's what you don't understand about sensationalism.  Once a news story catches on and it captures the public imagination it tends to blow up even if it is some sort of unlikely danger.
I do understand how sensationalism works. I just want people to understand when it's happening and not fall for it.

You grossly overestimate the intelligence of the average person. 
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: GaryV on February 24, 2023, 04:27:17 PM
A road I would not want: a freeway with exits only every 3-5 miles.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:36:12 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:25:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:23:23 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:21:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.

That's what you don't understand about sensationalism.  Once a news story catches on and it captures the public imagination it tends to blow up even if it is some sort of unlikely danger.
I do understand how sensationalism works. I just want people to understand when it's happening and not fall for it.

You grossly overestimate the intelligence of the average person.
Hopefully my fellow AAroads users are smarter than the average person.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: skluth on February 24, 2023, 04:43:35 PM
Quote from: GaryV on February 24, 2023, 04:27:17 PM
A road I would not want: a freeway with exits only every 3-5 miles.

That's the norm around here. Of course, it doesn't hurt that much of the freeway goes through the desert a few miles north of town with a mile-wide arroyo/wadi between PS and I-10.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: thspfc on February 24, 2023, 06:15:18 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 11:25:12 AM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on February 24, 2023, 10:38:18 AM
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AM
Agree, this one is absurd: a 4 lane freeway serving as the only freeway link between a major city and it's north suburbs (and points beyond). That thing is a travesty that appears to be stuck in 1965. I've heard that it's to be widened but unless it's to 8 lanes, it won't be enough.

Been under construction for expansion to 6 lanes for over a year.  Though they are starting up in Ozaukee County for some reason.  Probably for staging reasons with the recent project to take out the viaduct over the former railyard by Koss.

Six lanes will be fine when it's all done.  It's the drop from 6 to 4 at Silver Spring that strangles 43.  That and a lack of aux lanes between ramps from North Ave thru Capitol.

Quote from: StogieGuy7 on February 24, 2023, 10:27:43 AMIf that's not bad enough, there's the occasional shooting that takes place on what we can call Milwaukee's answer to the Dan Ryan.
Oh pul-eease.  That's such bullcrap to be worried about getting shot at on a freeway like that. You'll die a thousand times in a regular old car crash before some stray bullet comes near you driving thru "the ghetto".

While the odds of getting shot at on the road are minimal, it's still a possibility. And sometimes you never know, if you accidentally cut someone off and piss them off enough...
This is the same flawed logic that lottery addicts use. "You know, I could win a billion dollars . . . "

And the area around the I-43 corridor isn't even that bad. North Ave and Locust St are exits I wouldn't take at night, but other than that it's actually quite nice.

As of now, the road itself simply sucks. The area around Silver Spring in particular is a mess of traffic.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 07:15:36 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:36:12 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:25:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:23:23 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:21:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.

That's what you don't understand about sensationalism.  Once a news story catches on and it captures the public imagination it tends to blow up even if it is some sort of unlikely danger.
I do understand how sensationalism works. I just want people to understand when it's happening and not fall for it.

You grossly overestimate the intelligence of the average person.
Hopefully my fellow AAroads users are smarter than the average person.

Probably true, but dudes like this sure counterbalance things, don't they?

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13802
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 07:36:25 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 07:15:36 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:36:12 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:25:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:23:23 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on February 24, 2023, 04:21:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 04:18:08 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on February 24, 2023, 04:14:52 PM
Just found this for Chicago.

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/man-30-injured-in-bishop-ford-freeway-shooting/

Granted, it was on the Bishop Ford Fwy on the south side, at around 11pm. But it does happen, and to not be at least aware of the possibility is naive.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/loving-family-mother-4-children-who-were-among-7-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-remembered/2903507/

This happened in uber safe I-90 in very white McHenry County. Shit can happen anywhere. What I'm saying are that thos isolated cases are not really the norm.

That's what you don't understand about sensationalism.  Once a news story catches on and it captures the public imagination it tends to blow up even if it is some sort of unlikely danger.
I do understand how sensationalism works. I just want people to understand when it's happening and not fall for it.

You grossly overestimate the intelligence of the average person.
Hopefully my fellow AAroads users are smarter than the average person.

Probably true, but dudes like this sure counterbalance things, don't they?

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13802
And a certain Long Island dweller who I won't mention.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: hotdogPi on February 24, 2023, 07:44:37 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 07:36:25 PM
And a certain Long Island dweller who I won't mention.

Mike2357?
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 07:45:53 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 24, 2023, 07:44:37 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 24, 2023, 07:36:25 PM
And a certain Long Island dweller who I won't mention.

Mike2357?
No, George Santos
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Bickendan on March 01, 2023, 04:36:08 AM
Any road in India.
Ok, UP 62 in Agra will be the stand in.
Heavy mixed use traffic. Lane markings are suggestions. Intersections are free for alls.
U turns required for a number of maneuvers.
Scooter riders riding the wrong way down a carriageway.
Driver indication virtually non-existent.
Elevated metro construction in the median.
Signals only observed for straight through traffic.
Vehicles turning from far lanes and cutting off traffic.
Taj Mahal and Fort Agra tourist traffic.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: roadman65 on March 01, 2023, 05:03:17 AM
I-4 in and around Champions Gate, Florida. Bottlenecks during most of the late PM and evenings as well as the AM drive due to the bedroom communities in the area as well as Polk County residents working in Orlando.  There are no alternates thanks to development on those once viable alternatives as they are just as overcrowded as the interstate now.

It's a drive I hardly recommend.
Title: Re: Roads you would NOT want on your commute
Post by: Scott5114 on March 01, 2023, 06:36:12 AM
Quote from: Rothman on February 17, 2023, 06:57:01 AM
Being afraid of one-way streets is interesting.  When I lived in San Francisco, I was impressed by how the grid was set up, especially with careful thought for intersections with no left turns, sending traffic around right turn blocks.

I'm not afraid of them, but they are pretty annoying if you're not familiar with the area, and/or if you are trying to get to a particular "you can't get there from there" type of spot.