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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: Some_Person on October 23, 2012, 06:50:21 PM

Title: Interesting stuff
Post by: Some_Person on October 23, 2012, 06:50:21 PM
I always love reading interesting things about highways, such as the most amount of lanes or the highest speed limit, stuff like that, so I made a thread for everyone to share some interesting stuff. It doesn't have to be anything specific, just something you find to be cool, interesting, abnormal, awesome, or anything of that nature.

For example, this ramp to the GSP Northbound is unusually long http://goo.gl/maps/bvNmL

Also, this is one of the biggest amount of lanes I've seen http://goo.gl/maps/ChpZC

This section of the Lehigh Valley Thruway is correctly labelled as a freeway, but surprisingly the speed limit is only 25mph http://goo.gl/maps/KtZbo http://goo.gl/maps/BuPCf (street view) it's mostly due to the dangerous curves before it, but the fact that the limit goes down (from 35) rather than up after those curves is interesting.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on October 24, 2012, 08:09:42 AM
Though I consider it freeway, there's actually no barrier over the bridge because it's so narrow.

Was the bridge built before the freeway? The bridge appears to have been designed to feed straight into one of the local streets in Easton.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on October 24, 2012, 03:56:45 PM
I also noticed that both Nevada and Rhode Island have a lot in common.  There are no US Route terminuses in their states where all US Routes pass through and never stop.

Then, the States of FL,CA, WA, and ME have all US routes terminate  at one end and NO routes pass through, although US 1 and US 2  in Maine do  enter at one end and then make it to the Candian Border on the other side continuing as NB Provincial roads and in Washington some make it to continue into Canada.  FL  has two US routes that terminate  at both ends within itself and do not leave the Sunshine State.

NJ, once had only one US Route pass through it until US 9 was extended in DE.  US 1 was the only route to pass over two state lines as every other US Route terminates in NJ.

Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mgk920 on October 24, 2012, 10:47:43 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 24, 2012, 03:56:45 PM
I also noticed that both Nevada and Rhode Island have a lot in common.  There are no US Route terminuses in their states where all US Routes pass through and never stop.

Then, the States of FL,CA, WA, and ME have all US routes terminate  at one end and NO routes pass through, although US 1 and US 2  in Maine do  enter at one end and then make it to the Candian Border on the other side continuing as NB Provincial roads and in Washington some make it to continue into Canada.  FL  has two US routes that terminate  at both ends within itself and do not leave the Sunshine State.

NJ, once had only one US Route pass through it until US 9 was extended in DE.  US 1 was the only route to pass over two state lines as every other US Route terminates in NJ.

US 202 transits New Jersey.

Mike
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Crewdawg on October 25, 2012, 03:26:29 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 24, 2012, 03:56:45 PM
I also noticed that both Nevada and Rhode Island have a lot in common.  There are no US Route terminuses in their states where all US Routes pass through and never stop.

Then, the States of FL,CA, WA, and ME have all US routes terminate  at one end and NO routes pass through, although US 1 and US 2  in Maine do  enter at one end and then make it to the Candian Border on the other side continuing as NB Provincial roads and in Washington some make it to continue into Canada.  FL  has two US routes that terminate  at both ends within itself and do not leave the Sunshine State.

NJ, once had only one US Route pass through it until US 9 was extended in DE.  US 1 was the only route to pass over two state lines as every other US Route terminates in NJ.


US 95 transits CA
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on October 25, 2012, 04:04:40 PM
I cannot believe that I forgot US 202.  Considering I lived in New Jersey for 25 years of my life I should have know that one like the back of my hand.  US 95 in California, I easily forgot about that one as I have not lived there, and that one is acceptable, but US 202 a road I even clinched within the Garden State. 
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on October 25, 2012, 10:01:12 PM
Quote from: Crewdawg on October 25, 2012, 03:26:29 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 24, 2012, 03:56:45 PM
I also noticed that both Nevada and Rhode Island have a lot in common.  There are no US Route terminuses in their states where all US Routes pass through and never stop.

Then, the States of FL,CA, WA, and ME have all US routes terminate  at one end and NO routes pass through, although US 1 and US 2  in Maine do  enter at one end and then make it to the Candian Border on the other side continuing as NB Provincial roads and in Washington some make it to continue into Canada.  FL  has two US routes that terminate  at both ends within itself and do not leave the Sunshine State.

NJ, once had only one US Route pass through it until US 9 was extended in DE.  US 1 was the only route to pass over two state lines as every other US Route terminates in NJ.


US 95 transits CA
As does the top part of 395, on a technicality.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 12:05:47 AM
Also a thing to note that Rhode Island has no 3 digit US routes within its borders.

I was thinking about US 395 in CA as it really does transit on its top segment and another thing about it is the fact that because it enters Nevada in the middle, US 281 has to hold the title of the longest three digit route within a state.  California is longer than Texas if you go north to south as I-5 is longer in mileage in the Golden State than I-35 is in the Lone Star State.   I believe that in the early days when US 395 went all the way to San Diego, if it never entered Nevada, US 395 would be the longest 3 digit to be within one state then.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on October 27, 2012, 02:09:30 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 12:05:47 AM
Also a thing to note that Rhode Island has no 3 digit US routes within its borders.

I was thinking about US 395 in CA as it really does transit on its top segment and another thing about it is the fact that because it enters Nevada in the middle, US 281 has to hold the title of the longest three digit route within a state.  California is longer than Texas if you go north to south as I-5 is longer in mileage in the Golden State than I-35 is in the Lone Star State.   I believe that in the early days when US 395 went all the way to San Diego, if it never entered Nevada, US 395 would be the longest 3 digit to be within one state then.
... but US 395 enters Oregon. How is that within one state? Or are you saying "most miles of a single 3 digit US route in one state?" US 380 in Texas must be up there, too.

EDIT: Wow, as long as 380 is, even if it extended all the way to Arkansas, it'd STILL be 70 miles short of 281.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 05:46:46 PM
Yeah I am saying most miles of a single 3 digit US route within one state.  Not being solo in one state.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Some_Person on October 27, 2012, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.
That's crazy, just south though, US 64 runs 604 miles through North Carolina.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 09:59:45 PM
I think the fact that I-10 journey through Texas is longer than that through the three states of CA, AZ, and NM together.  So El Paso is much closer to Santa Monica than it is with the LA Border on the other end of Texas via I-10.

Also, I-10 is shorter from the TX- LA Border to Jacksonville than it is to the TX- NM State Line at the opposite end of the state as well. Over one third of I-10 is located within the Lone Star State.

It is also the longest roadway maintained by one  agency: The Texas Department of Transportation.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Takumi on October 27, 2012, 10:58:08 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.
For a few years, it was the longest single-state US route in the country, between US 290's truncation (198x) and 1996, when it was rerouted into Tennessee at its west end, a rerouting that also removed US 25W from Virginia). Now I believe US 158 is the longest single-state US route.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: hbelkins on October 27, 2012, 11:01:40 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.

And I have driven every mile of it, and its alternate route in the southwestern corner of the state.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 12:22:32 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 09:59:45 PM
It is also the longest roadway in the United Statesmaintained by one  agency: The Texas Department of Transportation.

FTFY.

As has recently been demonstrated in other threads, there are roads in Canadian provinces much longer than that (Quebec Route 138, Ontario King's Highway 17 & 11, for example).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on October 28, 2012, 02:32:25 AM
Quote from: Some_Person on October 27, 2012, 07:15:30 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.
That's crazy, just south though, US 64 runs 604 miles through North Carolina.
DOIiiiiiiiiiiii I knew that because there are exit numbers.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vdeane on October 28, 2012, 11:37:01 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 12:22:32 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 09:59:45 PM
It is also the longest roadway in the United Statesmaintained by one  agency: The Texas Department of Transportation.

FTFY.

As has recently been demonstrated in other threads, there are roads in Canadian provinces much longer than that (Quebec Route 138, Ontario King's Highway 17 & 11, for example).
I'm amazed that Alaska doesn't have anything longer.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 01:21:44 PM
Quote from: deanej on October 28, 2012, 11:37:01 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 12:22:32 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 09:59:45 PM
It is also the longest roadway in the United Statesmaintained by one  agency: The Texas Department of Transportation.

FTFY.

As has recently been demonstrated in other threads, there are roads in Canadian provinces much longer than that (Quebec Route 138, Ontario King's Highway 17 & 11, for example).
I'm amazed that Alaska doesn't have anything longer.

I believe the longest in Alaska is Route 1 at 540 miles. And there are several others up in the 400s (AK 2, the Dalton / AK 11, AK 98) and 300s. But driving across the state requires multiple routes.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on October 28, 2012, 01:25:09 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 01:21:44 PM
AK 98
24 miles per Wikipedia.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 01:28:46 PM
Quote from: NE2 on October 28, 2012, 01:25:09 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 01:21:44 PM
AK 98
24 miles per Wikipedia.

Whoops, my bad, in a quick glance I hadn't noticed that the mileage was for the entire Klondike Highway, not just the Alaska portion.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on November 01, 2012, 03:41:24 PM
I think the wye interchange north of Ocala where US 301 and US 441 split is interesting.  NB US 441 is dominate with US 301 having to exit into one lane.  SB US 301 is the dominate one with two lanes continuing while US 441 SB narrows to one lane and merges into the 301 traffic.  Usually, one route is dominate over the other, but here it is evenly split.

While on the subject of US 301, both of its ends are at two US routes that are consecutive in numbering.
US 40 at is north end in DE and US 41 at its south end in FL.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kkt on November 01, 2012, 06:27:21 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on October 28, 2012, 12:22:32 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 09:59:45 PM
It is also the longest roadway in the United Statesmaintained by one  agency: The Texas Department of Transportation.

FTFY.

As has recently been demonstrated in other threads, there are roads in Canadian provinces much longer than that (Quebec Route 138, Ontario King's Highway 17 & 11, for example).

B.C. highway 97, 2081 km (1293 miles), the longest provincial highway in Canada says Wikipedia.  I've been on the part from Dawson Creek to Cache Creek, and a spectacular drive it was.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Some_Person on November 02, 2012, 12:20:44 PM
This interchange between US 222 Business and US 422 seems to be a diamond interchange, but with its ramps in between the carriageways of 422, rather than outside them, almost like the interchanges on the Pulaski Skyway: http://goo.gl/maps/TEUqP it seems pretty convenient, as there is only one intersection instead of two with traffic going on and off the highway.

Is there any place where two mainline toll plazas are so close to each other like this? http://goo.gl/maps/63lDY

And this has to be one of the craziest cloverleaf-like interchanges I've seen... http://goo.gl/maps/bHHLa
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 02, 2012, 01:16:50 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 02, 2012, 12:20:44 PM
This interchange between US 222 Business and US 422 seems to be a diamond interchange, but with its ramps in between the carriageways of 422, rather than outside them, almost like the interchanges on the Pulaski Skyway: http://goo.gl/maps/TEUqP it seems pretty convenient, as there is only one intersection instead of two with traffic going on and off the highway.
It's a sort of internal SPUI. I-290 in Chicago has them, and there are others in various places.

Quote from: Some_Person on November 02, 2012, 12:20:44 PM
And this has to be one of the craziest cloverleaf-like interchanges I've seen... http://goo.gl/maps/bHHLa
Just park-and-ride lots. This one poos more: http://maps.google.com/?ll=40.499997,-74.406205&spn=0.00372,0.008256&t=k&z=18

The cloverleaf has replaced the hammer and sickle as symbol of Mother Russia: http://maps.google.com/?ll=55.882424,37.726729&spn=0.005488,0.016512&t=k&z=17
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on November 02, 2012, 01:24:30 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 02, 2012, 12:20:44 PM
This interchange between US 222 Business and US 422 seems to be a diamond interchange, but with its ramps in between the carriageways of 422, rather than outside them, almost like the interchanges on the Pulaski Skyway: http://goo.gl/maps/TEUqP it seems pretty convenient, as there is only one intersection instead of two with traffic going on and off the highway.
I wonder why they don't do that more often.  I can't think of any disadvantages offhand.  maybe sight lines of the exiting traffic, due to the supports of the freeway?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 02, 2012, 01:33:03 PM
Maybe left-side ramps...?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on November 02, 2012, 03:08:39 PM
Quote from: NE2 on November 02, 2012, 01:33:03 PM
Maybe left-side ramps...?

good point.  had completely failed to think about that!
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on November 02, 2012, 04:00:44 PM
That one backs up quite a bit. There's also no acceleration/deceleration lanes. I think PennDOT wants to make it a regular diamond.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: sipes23 on November 02, 2012, 04:23:27 PM
Quote from: NE2 on November 02, 2012, 01:16:50 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 02, 2012, 12:20:44 PM
This interchange between US 222 Business and US 422 seems to be a diamond interchange, but with its ramps in between the carriageways of 422, rather than outside them, almost like the interchanges on the Pulaski Skyway: http://goo.gl/maps/TEUqP it seems pretty convenient, as there is only one intersection instead of two with traffic going on and off the highway.
It's a sort of internal SPUI. I-290 in Chicago has them, and there are others in various places.

Yes, it does. Though I've heard they're going away.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on November 02, 2012, 05:04:52 PM
what about reversing the carriageways, and having a standard right-side X-shaped intersection with a single point in the middle?

or is building carriageways "backwards" just plain too radical a notion?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 02, 2012, 05:22:08 PM
It's expensive to build the bridges. And the ramps would be on the wrong side at the intersection - right turns would cross the other ramp.

Perhaps the DDI came from someone thinking along your lines, then realizing reversing the surface road carriageways makes more sense.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on November 03, 2012, 11:16:37 AM
Well, there is this (now reconfigured) interchange in Baltimore...

http://binged.it/WjjjoS (http://binged.it/WjjjoS)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: cjk374 on November 04, 2012, 04:17:34 PM
US 80 in Ruston, LA is interesting.  The stretch of US 80 west of the US 167/LA 146 multiplex is named California Ave.  The stretch east of the multiplex is named Georgia Ave.  Do you see the strange correlation?  :-P
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 04, 2012, 04:23:59 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on November 04, 2012, 04:17:34 PM
US 80 in Ruston, LA is interesting.  The stretch of US 80 west of the US 167/LA 146 multiplex is named California Ave.  The stretch east of the multiplex is named Georgia Ave.  Do you see the strange correlation?  :-P
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanroads.us%2Froutemaps%2FDixieOverlandHwy.png&hash=d8d79a63d7bc756eec623bee7e01d80b1c618388)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: cjk374 on November 04, 2012, 04:29:02 PM
^^ There ya go!    :cheers:
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: 1995hoo on November 05, 2012, 10:21:57 AM
I like the "DOH" at the top of that. Obviously a map created long before Homer Simpson came along, but that doesn't matter.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kurumi on November 05, 2012, 11:29:22 AM
On a side note, this might be the most generic thread ever:

* Title: Interesting Stuff
* Author: Some_Person
* Board: General Highway Talk
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 05, 2012, 03:10:48 PM
The longest road in NJ is about 170 miles, but yet NJ has a mileage-based Exit 354 (coming off the Walt Whitman Bridge, the first exit in NJ actually uses PA I-76's exit numbering standards.  Thank the DRPA, which does just about nothing by the book).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 05, 2012, 08:40:14 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on November 04, 2012, 04:29:02 PM
^^ There ya go!    :cheers:
Agreed - US 80, from California to the west to Georgia to the east.

DOH! Portions of old US 80 east of Monroe are called Dixie Overland Coach Road, and are fun to drive along.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Ian on November 05, 2012, 09:14:42 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc

Here's one at the I-93/US 1 interchange to the north of the Zakim Bridge in Boston.
http://goo.gl/maps/BgtSa
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on November 05, 2012, 09:19:15 PM
Quote from: PennDOTFan on November 05, 2012, 09:14:42 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc

Here's one at the I-93/US 1 interchange to the north of the Zakim Bridge in Boston.
http://goo.gl/maps/BgtSa
The former 90 East ramp to 93 South was another left turn ramp, IIRC - 90 crossed under 93, the ramp came up on the east side, then looped over and headed back south to 93S.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: deathtopumpkins on November 06, 2012, 12:48:59 AM
Quote from: Steve on November 05, 2012, 09:19:15 PM
Quote from: PennDOTFan on November 05, 2012, 09:14:42 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc

Here's one at the I-93/US 1 interchange to the north of the Zakim Bridge in Boston.
http://goo.gl/maps/BgtSa
The former 90 East ramp to 93 South was another left turn ramp, IIRC - 90 crossed under 93, the ramp came up on the east side, then looped over and headed back south to 93S.

Still is: http://goo.gl/maps/xj4rB
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on November 06, 2012, 06:00:07 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on November 06, 2012, 12:48:59 AM
Quote from: Steve on November 05, 2012, 09:19:15 PM
Quote from: PennDOTFan on November 05, 2012, 09:14:42 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc

Here's one at the I-93/US 1 interchange to the north of the Zakim Bridge in Boston.
http://goo.gl/maps/BgtSa
The former 90 East ramp to 93 South was another left turn ramp, IIRC - 90 crossed under 93, the ramp came up on the east side, then looped over and headed back south to 93S.

Still is: http://goo.gl/maps/xj4rB
Oh, THAT'S what merges in on the left!
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: 1995hoo on November 06, 2012, 06:10:00 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc

As of November 17 there will be a part-time left-turn loop ramp in Virginia from the Outer Loop of I-495 to the southbound HOV carriageway on I-95. It's part-time because the HOV lanes on I-95 are reversible and so the ramp will function as a left-turn loop only when the HOV lanes are pointing south–at other times, it will serve as a right-turn loop from the northbound HOV lanes to I-495.

Click on "K" for the HOV ramps and then watch the animations. (https://www.495expresslanes.com/using-the-lanes)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Billy F 1988 on November 06, 2012, 07:15:28 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.

Route 200 is one of the longer state routes from Minnesota through Idaho. I live nearby Montana Rt. 200 in Missoula. The total mileage of MT 200 is 707 miles rounded up.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on November 07, 2012, 04:20:42 AM
Quote from: Roadsguy on November 03, 2012, 11:16:37 AM
Well, there is this (now reconfigured) interchange in Baltimore...

http://binged.it/WjjjoS (http://binged.it/WjjjoS)
Your link only lets you see the finished result for a brief second.  It immediately goes back to the old configuration.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on November 07, 2012, 07:24:50 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on November 07, 2012, 04:20:42 AM
Quote from: Roadsguy on November 03, 2012, 11:16:37 AM
Well, there is this (now reconfigured) interchange in Baltimore...

http://binged.it/WjjjoS (http://binged.it/WjjjoS)
Your link only lets you see the finished result for a brief second.  It immediately goes back to the old configuration.

Kinda the point. I was talking about the old configuration, which is why I set it to birds-eye view. :P
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kphoger on November 07, 2012, 09:41:35 AM
Quote from: PennDOTFan on November 05, 2012, 09:14:42 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
This ramp in Delaware from US 202 North to I-95 North is very unique in the fact that it has a left turn loop ramp. I feel like this is one of the only freeway to freeway left turn loop ramps in the US that exists, does anyone know of another?

http://goo.gl/maps/5FZXc

Here's one at the I-93/US 1 interchange to the north of the Zakim Bridge in Boston.
http://goo.gl/maps/BgtSa

Does this one (https://maps.google.com/?ll=32.908938,-96.896968&spn=0.005269,0.006899&t=k&z=17) in Dallas count?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on November 07, 2012, 12:26:27 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 07, 2012, 09:41:35 AM


Does this one (https://maps.google.com/?ll=32.908938,-96.896968&spn=0.005269,0.006899&t=k&z=17) in Dallas count?

that's different.  you exit the road on the left, but you are turning right.  the Delaware and Massachusetts examples have you turning left as you go around the curve.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on November 07, 2012, 12:38:27 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 07:00:06 PM
US 58 runs 508 miles in Virginia. That's gotta be the longest in any Eastern state.

depending on your definition of "eastern": US-64 in North Carolina is 604, and US-98 in Florida is 659.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 07, 2012, 02:22:41 PM
Hell, US 1 in Florida is 547 (per Wikipedia). Florida's big.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on November 07, 2012, 04:29:28 PM
When Columbus's I-270 opened completely, NMSL was in effect, so it took exactly one hour to drive one 55-mile lap around the city.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: pianocello on November 07, 2012, 08:04:18 PM
If you do about 19 over, you'll make it around I-275 in Cincy in exactly an hour.

(Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean.)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on November 09, 2012, 11:35:41 AM
Quote from: Some_Person on November 05, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
does anyone know of another?

I somehow found myself browsing the expressway system of Portland. :P

https://maps.google.com/?ll=45.51688,-122.661222&spn=0.001092,0.002642&t=k&z=19 (https://maps.google.com/?ll=45.51688,-122.661222&spn=0.001092,0.002642&t=k&z=19)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: bugo on November 09, 2012, 12:15:12 PM
Quote from: vtk on November 07, 2012, 04:29:28 PM
When Columbus's I-270 opened completely, NMSL was in effect, so it took exactly one hour to drive one 55-mile lap around the city.

It takes 3 hours almost to the minute to drive from my apartment in Tulsa to the family home in Mena, AR if you do the speed limit.  I made it in 2 hr 25 minutes one time.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 10, 2012, 10:18:42 PM
Interesting fact - Louisiana's route descriptions can be lengthy. This route is about 5 miles long.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8205%2F8173944976_a9a452390b_b.jpg&hash=40d08a756e009c4b8051cc871a0aed82fe7f258e)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on November 10, 2012, 10:25:59 PM
I wonder which would be bigger: the ASCII encoding of the above route definition, or a KML file...
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 10, 2012, 10:29:59 PM
Quote from: vtk on November 10, 2012, 10:25:59 PM
I wonder which would be bigger: the ASCII encoding of the above route definition, or a KML file...
Probably the IQ of anyone who can understand that. Confuses the heck out of me.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 10, 2012, 11:18:54 PM
Property descriptions are much worse.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 10, 2012, 11:21:26 PM
Quote from: NE2 on November 10, 2012, 11:18:54 PM
Property descriptions are much worse.
How about these two routes? Very, VERY different routes.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8488%2F8174047491_6c16be4384_c.jpg&hash=c9395d65dbfae46cda30461ff11db13321c2a4fe)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 10, 2012, 11:37:31 PM
Those descriptions are both the same (modulo typos) and both nonsense. Every point in Township 7 North is north of every point in Township 6 North.

At least Route 6 did cut across the corner of S4T6NR6E, where LA 3037 now ends. But the other end of LA 3037 in S11T6NR6E, and is east, not south. And Peachland Lane is off to the south, nowhere near any S1.

The 1937 county map (http://1940census.archives.gov/search/?search.census_year=1940&search.city=&search.county=Catahoula%20County&search.page=1&search.result_type=map&search.state=LA&search.street=#city=&filename=m-a3378-00024-00293.tif&type=map&county=catahoula-county&state=LA&index=3&pages=4&bm_all_text=Bookmark&searchby=location&searchmode=browse&year=1940) shows that they were in fact the same (and so was Route 1009, which has almost the same fucked-up description). The route on the map of course doesn't match the legal description at all, except for beginning at Route 116 (Black River Road) and following Peachland Lane.

Route 1009. Beginning at a point on Route No. 116 Section 1, Township 7 North Range 6 East, running in a northerly direction to a point of intersection Route No. 6, in Section 4 Township 6 North Range 6 east.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprod-nara-bp-20120330-464832304.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com%2Fhandlers%2Fbp.ext.file.tileproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdnkp1xoly3rev.cloudfront.net%252F8b%252Fb6%252Fcc%252F05%252F8bb6cc0541fea4df3451fc2ffd62a900%26amp%3Bbyte_range%3D348894-380415&hash=125bb628b01c61908591820e224384fea7060a9c)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprod-nara-bp-20120330-464832304.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com%2Fhandlers%2Fbp.ext.file.tileproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdnkp1xoly3rev.cloudfront.net%252F8b%252Fb6%252Fcc%252F05%252F8bb6cc0541fea4df3451fc2ffd62a900%26amp%3Bbyte_range%3D454422-482914&hash=311e8a1a16110eefdf20b0ff95ecefe548c899c8)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 11, 2012, 12:15:54 AM
Quote from: NE2 on November 10, 2012, 11:37:31 PM
Those descriptions are both the same (modulo typos) and both nonsense. Every point in Township 7 North is north of every point in Township 6 North.

At least Route 6 did cut across the corner of S4T6NR6E, where LA 3037 now ends. But the other end of LA 3037 in S11T6NR6E, and is east, not south. And Peachland Lane is off to the south, nowhere near any S1.

The 1937 county map (http://1940census.archives.gov/search/?search.census_year=1940&search.city=&search.county=Catahoula%20County&search.page=1&search.result_type=map&search.state=LA&search.street=#city=&filename=m-a3378-00024-00293.tif&type=map&county=catahoula-county&state=LA&index=3&pages=4&bm_all_text=Bookmark&searchby=location&searchmode=browse&year=1940) shows that they were in fact the same (and so was Route 1009, which has almost the same fucked-up description). The route on the map of course doesn't match the legal description at all, except for beginning at Route 116 (Black River Road) and following Peachland Lane.

Route 1009. Beginning at a point on Route No. 116 Section 1, Township 7 North Range 6 East, running in a northerly direction to a point of intersection Route No. 6, in Section 4 Township 6 North Range 6 east.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprod-nara-bp-20120330-464832304.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com%2Fhandlers%2Fbp.ext.file.tileproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdnkp1xoly3rev.cloudfront.net%252F8b%252Fb6%252Fcc%252F05%252F8bb6cc0541fea4df3451fc2ffd62a900%26amp%3Bbyte_range%3D348894-380415&hash=125bb628b01c61908591820e224384fea7060a9c)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprod-nara-bp-20120330-464832304.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com%2Fhandlers%2Fbp.ext.file.tileproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdnkp1xoly3rev.cloudfront.net%252F8b%252Fb6%252Fcc%252F05%252F8bb6cc0541fea4df3451fc2ffd62a900%26amp%3Bbyte_range%3D454422-482914&hash=311e8a1a16110eefdf20b0ff95ecefe548c899c8)

Where'd you get that photo? My 1946 maps show something similar, I believe...

Anyways, SR 116/297 is designated as such because SR 297 is the number for the completed portions, and SR 116 is the general Marksville-Jonesville Highway (which actually was never finished). It seems that 1009/1118/1119 were designated as the same road because the engineers in the district sent the same proposal, but were unaware.

SR 18 met SR 49 in the middle of nowhere, and SR 18 south of Jonesville goes nowhere but one small community. Makes you wonder if these routes were truly important enough to be designated as the "original 98" routes.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on November 11, 2012, 12:30:09 AM
Quote from: mcdonaat on November 11, 2012, 12:15:54 AM
Quote from: NE2 on November 10, 2012, 11:37:31 PM
1937 county map (http://1940census.archives.gov/search/?search.census_year=1940&search.city=&search.county=Catahoula%20County&search.page=1&search.result_type=map&search.state=LA&search.street=#city=&filename=m-a3378-00024-00293.tif&type=map&county=catahoula-county&state=LA&index=3&pages=4&bm_all_text=Bookmark&searchby=location&searchmode=browse&year=1940)
Where'd you get that photo?
Linked above...

Incidentally, Florida also had this sort of duplicate routes before the 1945 renumbering, though not as badly as Louisiana.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on November 11, 2012, 02:34:10 AM
I was noticing that the NB Palisades Parkway was closed to all traffic the day the google car captured the Parkway at Exit 19 inside Bear Mountain State Park.  If you take the virtual drive NB along the PIP at Exit 19 you will see the road barricaded directing the PIP and US 6 traffic onto Seven Lakes Drive.  If you look at the google map, you will see no blue line on the PIP/ US 6 concurrency north of Exit 19 because of it.

I have no idea why the road was closed, but it is very interesting how it affected the google street view.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on November 12, 2012, 10:11:53 PM
Quote from: NE2 on November 10, 2012, 11:37:31 PM

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprod-nara-bp-20120330-464832304.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com%2Fhandlers%2Fbp.ext.file.tileproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdnkp1xoly3rev.cloudfront.net%252F8b%252Fb6%252Fcc%252F05%252F8bb6cc0541fea4df3451fc2ffd62a900%26amp%3Bbyte_range%3D348894-380415&hash=125bb628b01c61908591820e224384fea7060a9c)

In terms of Interesting stuff, a triplex of 4-digit routes that are completely concurrent on the same little farm road loop is up there.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 12, 2012, 10:51:05 PM
Not only that, but look just to the northeast, and you'll see SR 1009/1118/1119 meeting SR 116/297, which technically ended at SR 6-D. Follow SR 18 north to SR 295-D (I think), which was actually completed in 1958 as a LA highway.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: The High Plains Traveler on November 12, 2012, 11:14:41 PM
More than anything, I'm surprised that Louisiana has township/section/range coordinates. I know Florida does and Texas doesn't, and I'm surprised that U.S. land survey system made it to Louisiana.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: mcdonaat on November 12, 2012, 11:17:37 PM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on November 12, 2012, 11:14:41 PM
More than anything, I'm surprised that Louisiana has township/section/range coordinates. I know Florida does and Texas doesn't, and I'm surprised that U.S. land survey system made it to Louisiana.
I never knew what they were until recently. The descriptions for SR 1000+ are way more exact than the original 98 routes, which usually referred to the state taking over Road ____ in ______ Parish.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: empirestate on November 13, 2012, 12:31:05 AM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on November 12, 2012, 11:14:41 PM
More than anything, I'm surprised that Louisiana has township/section/range coordinates. I know Florida does and Texas doesn't, and I'm surprised that U.S. land survey system made it to Louisiana.

They do in some parts of the state, but much of it is still under the old French arpent system.

I wish there was a comprehensive web tool or GIS dataset for viewing the different land survey systems across the U.S. in one place. Not only the PLSS/rectangular survey, but the Louisiana arpents, Spanish and Mexican ranchos and grants in CA and elsewhere, Hawaiian ahupua'a, and so forth. Hopefully the USGS will continue to collect this information and eventually add it as a layer in US Topo.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: doogie1303 on November 25, 2012, 09:07:28 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 12:05:47 AM
Also a thing to note that Rhode Island has no 3 digit US routes within its borders.

I was thinking about US 395 in CA as it really does transit on its top segment and another thing about it is the fact that because it enters Nevada in the middle, US 281 has to hold the title of the longest three digit route within a state.  California is longer than Texas if you go north to south as I-5 is longer in mileage in the Golden State than I-35 is in the Lone Star State.   I believe that in the early days when US 395 went all the way to San Diego, if it never entered Nevada, US 395 would be the longest 3 digit to be within one state then.

Officially RI has no 3 digit US routes unless you want count the mistakenly marked RI 403 with a US shield at an interchange in Quonsett, RI.  :D
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on December 03, 2012, 04:35:29 PM
How about this. Google Satellite not only capturing I-190 in Illinois here, but a jet plane flying over the Westbound lanes just south of a parking lot in between I-190 and its parent to the north.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Countryside,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.985095,-87.857924&spn=0.004035,0.009345&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.834914,19.138184&oq=coun&t=h&hnear=Countryside,+Cook,+Illinois&z=17
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on December 03, 2012, 06:03:23 PM
Why don't they time flights to avoid satellite photos?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on December 04, 2012, 11:57:48 AM
It's probably not even a satellite picture, but imagery taken from another (higher) airplane.  You just don't get 6in resolution from space (with civilian equipment).  People get needlessly freaked out about what the "satellite" view can see, but in reality someone has to commission an imagery flight for $$$ to get fresh pictures...
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on December 04, 2012, 12:42:23 PM
interesting.  it looks like the aerial camera took three separate black and white photos, using three filters, and combined them to make a single color photo.

the plane moved slightly between each photo, as planes tend to do.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on December 04, 2012, 12:44:49 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 12:05:47 AM
Also a thing to note that Rhode Island has no 3 digit US routes within its borders.

I was thinking about US 395 in CA as it really does transit on its top segment and another thing about it is the fact that because it enters Nevada in the middle, US 281 has to hold the title of the longest three digit route within a state.  California is longer than Texas if you go north to south as I-5 is longer in mileage in the Golden State than I-35 is in the Lone Star State.   I believe that in the early days when US 395 went all the way to San Diego, if it never entered Nevada, US 395 would be the longest 3 digit to be within one state then.

does US-101 count as a three-digit?  I believe its original routing was just shy of 1000 miles in California, before various curves were straightened.  before the decommissioning of the southern segment in 1966, it was about 935.

that said, if you want to measure the height of Texas, US-83 is far more accurate a representation than I-35.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kkt on December 04, 2012, 01:15:24 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on December 04, 2012, 12:44:49 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 12:05:47 AM
Also a thing to note that Rhode Island has no 3 digit US routes within its borders.

I was thinking about US 395 in CA as it really does transit on its top segment and another thing about it is the fact that because it enters Nevada in the middle, US 281 has to hold the title of the longest three digit route within a state.  California is longer than Texas if you go north to south as I-5 is longer in mileage in the Golden State than I-35 is in the Lone Star State.   I believe that in the early days when US 395 went all the way to San Diego, if it never entered Nevada, US 395 would be the longest 3 digit to be within one state then.

does US-101 count as a three-digit?  I believe its original routing was just shy of 1000 miles in California, before various curves were straightened.  before the decommissioning of the southern segment in 1966, it was about 935.

that said, if you want to measure the height of Texas, US-83 is far more accurate a representation than I-35.

US-101 counts as two digits.  It's not a branch of US-1, it's the 2-digit route west of US-99.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on December 04, 2012, 04:43:02 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on December 03, 2012, 04:35:29 PM
How about this. Google Satellite not only capturing I-190 in Illinois here, but a jet plane flying over the Westbound lanes just south of a parking lot in between I-190 and its parent to the north.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Countryside,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.985095,-87.857924&spn=0.004035,0.009345&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.834914,19.138184&oq=coun&t=h&hnear=Countryside,+Cook,+Illinois&z=17
Now that I look at that - pan to the left. What's causing that next shadow?  :confused: :paranoid: :crazy:
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on December 04, 2012, 04:49:41 PM
Quote from: Steve on December 04, 2012, 04:43:02 PM

Now that I look at that - pan to the left. What's causing that next shadow?  :confused: :paranoid: :crazy:

do you mean the overpass?  if so, the unusual shadow has to do with the road and the railroad tracks all being elevated above the north-south road.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on December 04, 2012, 05:19:52 PM
He means this (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Countryside,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.984995,-87.862569&spn=0.001158,0.002642&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.834914,19.138184&oq=coun&t=h&hnear=Countryside,+Cook,+Illinois&z=19), I think.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on December 04, 2012, 05:26:44 PM
Quote from: Roadsguy on December 04, 2012, 05:19:52 PM
He means this (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Countryside,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.984995,-87.862569&spn=0.001158,0.002642&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.834914,19.138184&oq=coun&t=h&hnear=Countryside,+Cook,+Illinois&z=19), I think.
Two shadows, one plane. Giggity.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: empirestate on December 04, 2012, 08:37:24 PM
Quote from: Roadsguy on December 04, 2012, 05:19:52 PM
He means this (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Countryside,+IL&hl=en&ll=41.984995,-87.862569&spn=0.001158,0.002642&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.834914,19.138184&oq=coun&t=h&hnear=Countryside,+Cook,+Illinois&z=19), I think.

Could be the same plane, seconds later. These orthoimages are typically mosaics of several different scenes, so it wouldn't be out of the question for a shadow to appear in an image, cast by an object that has been cropped out of the picture.

As for the color blur on the plane itself, I wish I could recall where I read an article that explains exactly this phenomenon...
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on December 05, 2012, 09:57:17 AM
Quote from: empirestate on December 04, 2012, 08:37:24 PM

As for the color blur on the plane itself, I wish I could recall where I read an article that explains exactly this phenomenon...

http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/aerial/aerial.html

while this link does not make it explicit, it seems to imply that RGB images are produced by taking three black-and-white film shots, as color film is more affected by atmospheric haze.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Some_Person on December 08, 2012, 01:47:23 PM
Here's something I don't ever think I've seen before, an at grade train track on an otherwise limited access freeway: http://goo.gl/maps/dT597 US 322 & US 22 in Lewistown PA
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Big John on December 08, 2012, 03:36:07 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on December 08, 2012, 01:47:23 PM
Here's something I don't ever think I've seen before, an at grade train track on an otherwise limited access freeway: http://goo.gl/maps/dT597 US 322 & US 22 in Lewistown PA
There are a couple on US 151 by Waupun and Beaver Dam, WI.  But there were more prior to crossings being removed at the Madison Beltline (more recent) and US 41 (1980s and 1090s).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on December 08, 2012, 05:32:39 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on December 08, 2012, 01:47:23 PM
Here's something I don't ever think I've seen before, an at grade train track on an otherwise limited access freeway: http://goo.gl/maps/dT597 US 322 & US 22 in Lewistown PA

Also on US 322 at Hummelstown, PA. OSM shows the freeway ending there, but I'm not sure whether or not it's correct. (I say it ends a bit to the west at the first real intersection.)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on December 08, 2012, 05:33:31 PM
Quote from: Roadsguy on December 08, 2012, 05:32:39 PM
Also on US 322 at Hummelstown, PA. OSM shows the freeway ending there, but I'm not sure whether or not it's correct.
I'm not sure there is a 'correct'.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on December 08, 2012, 05:51:51 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on December 08, 2012, 01:47:23 PM
Here's something I don't ever think I've seen before, an at grade train track on an otherwise limited access freeway: http://goo.gl/maps/dT597 US 322 & US 22 in Lewistown PA
For a long while NY 17 had a grade crossing near Middletown, NY where the rest  of this highway from Harriman to Liberty was a continuous freeway (or still may be if NYSDOT did not eliminate those at grade signalized intersections near there).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadfro on December 08, 2012, 06:24:08 PM
Quote from: Some_Person on December 08, 2012, 01:47:23 PM
Here's something I don't ever think I've seen before, an at grade train track on an otherwise limited access freeway: http://goo.gl/maps/dT597 US 322 & US 22 in Lewistown PA

Railroad Pass on US 93/US 95 (just south of the end of I-515), which is limited access. Used to have tracks in the road for the rail line spur that went through Boulder City for the construction of Hoover Dam. The tracks in the pavement are long gone (likely when I-515 was designated, if not before), but the railroad crossing signals are still there (with "exempt" plaques) for posterity.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on December 08, 2012, 08:22:54 PM
I think we already had a thread about RR crossings on freeways.  Too lazy to dig for it, though...
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on December 12, 2012, 09:26:01 AM
I know this is trivial, but I cannot help find it interesting that I-99 literally does not connect to any other interstate. We all know the two Breezewoods at both current terminuses, and soon it will be remedied at the I-80 end, hopefully.  FHWA obviously has a technicality that allows it to be considered connected to the three other interstates it interchanges with spite its direct ramp connections.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Mr_Northside on December 12, 2012, 02:52:02 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on December 12, 2012, 09:26:01 AM
I know this is trivial, but I cannot help find it interesting that I-99 literally does not connect to any other interstate. We all know the two Breezewoods at both current terminuses, and soon it will be remedied at the I-80 end, hopefully. FHWA obviously has a technicality that allows it to be considered connected to the three other interstates it interchanges with spite its direct ramp connections.

I think that technicality is that the designation was written into law.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on December 12, 2012, 07:57:43 PM
Besides, we all know about the extension to I-86 in upstate NY.

Do they still want to extend it down to I-68?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: PurdueBill on December 12, 2012, 10:12:27 PM
I find it interesting on I-76 EB approaching Akron's central interchange that there are consecutive overheads in 2003 reflective, 90s button copy, and 2010 Clearview for the exit for OH 8 NB.  They all have recent Clearview-based exit tabs with the yellow LEFT field (thankfully in FHWA lettering), and the Clearview tabs replaced three button copy tabs (yes, the reflective 2003 sign kept a 90s or older button-copy tab even).  No nearby exit offers such variety.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on December 12, 2012, 10:14:27 PM
Quote from: Roadsguy on December 12, 2012, 07:57:43 PM
Besides, we all know about the extension to I-86 in upstate NY.

Do they still want to extend it down to I-68?
Died. I'm sure it's eventually going to happen, but not for 30 years or so.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on December 15, 2012, 12:34:59 PM
Quote from: Mr_Northside on December 12, 2012, 02:52:02 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on December 12, 2012, 09:26:01 AM
I know this is trivial, but I cannot help find it interesting that I-99 literally does not connect to any other interstate. We all know the two Breezewoods at both current terminuses, and soon it will be remedied at the I-80 end, hopefully. FHWA obviously has a technicality that allows it to be considered connected to the three other interstates it interchanges with spite its direct ramp connections.

I think that technicality is that the designation was written into law.
I guess you do have the point!  I forgot that I-99 is not your typical interstate. 

Although, I think if I-99 was designated the proper way, being that I-176 did not directly connect its parent at one time, and would be one to be considered literally to NOT connect with the rest of the system; I am sure they would have allowed it.  Maybe, not use the number 99, but a 3 digit spur of I-70 or I-80.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on December 15, 2012, 01:47:05 PM
I'd number it 686 or 868. :sombrero:

Neither of which have a 3di that I can think of.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on December 15, 2012, 02:05:26 PM
I wonder if they will ever drop US 220?  With both I-99 and I-73 taking over parts of its corridor, it would seem logical to do so, especially in PA.  US 220 north of Williamsport could become PA 220, as most would not even notice the change in designation anyway.  Between Roanoke and Cumberland, it would not be that much to keep it as it would remain independent of any other through highway.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vdeane on December 16, 2012, 09:06:44 AM
It would be logical, but I don't think PA will do it.  They're not even planning to truncate US 15, which will be entirely superseded.

As for I-99, I think it's current length if too long for a 3di, but if we could break it up, I'd do the following:
-Current I-99: I-x80
-US 220 west of Williamsport: extension of I-180
-US 15: I-486

Or, I just had another thought enter my head:
-Current I-99: same as above
-US 220 west of Williamsport: I-280
-US 15: extension of I-180
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on December 16, 2012, 09:39:40 AM
If it were up to me, I'd end US 15 at PA 581 at Harrisburg. Most of it north of there is either multiplexing another route (US 11, future I-99), or close to a better route. Perhaps from Williamsport to the US 11 split it could be replaced by a state route.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on December 16, 2012, 06:18:13 PM
Quote from: deanej on December 16, 2012, 09:06:44 AM
It would be logical, but I don't think PA will do it.  They're not even planning to truncate US 15, which will be entirely superseded.

As for I-99, I think it's current length if too long for a 3di, but if we could break it up, I'd do the following:
-Current I-99: I-x80
-US 220 west of Williamsport: extension of I-180
-US 15: I-486

Or, I just had another thought enter my head:
-Current I-99: same as above
-US 220 west of Williamsport: I-280
-US 15: extension of I-180
Actually the extension of I-180 would be the best for future I-99 north of Williamsport along with a I-280 for it west of Williamsport, but east of I-80.

Too bad, Pa won't go for it as NY would be willing as they did when I-390 got started.  Many of us know or perhaps remember when US 15 actually went to Rochester, NY.  Plus, I heard from some roadgeeks here, that NYSDOT really does not like US routes, hence none of them being on Long Island and most major through routes in New York are state routes. Even NY 299 is the primary route over US 44 in Ulster County which not only takes second, but does not even interchange with the NYS Thruway like its big brother does.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vdeane on December 17, 2012, 03:16:21 PM
Yeah, every multiplex between a US route and NY route has the NY route on the reference markers even.  This isn't the case for interstates and other routes in NY.  NY also treats US routes like NY routes but interstates as a separate (but integrated) system.  I suspect US 11 exists in NY because of the north country (and because it's transcontinental); I'm not sure how US 9 has survived north of Albany, though.  Maybe regions 1 and 7 don't care as much as regions 4 and 6 (heck, when US 15 got truncated, it was to NY 17, which was decades away from becoming I-86!).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: theline on December 18, 2012, 02:51:20 AM
Quote from: Roadsguy on December 15, 2012, 01:47:05 PM
I'd number it 686 or 868. :sombrero:

Neither of which have a 3di that I can think of.

666?  :spin:
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Roadsguy on December 18, 2012, 07:45:43 AM
Maybe, if it were connected to I-66.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on January 10, 2013, 01:49:19 PM
I found out that if you cross the border into Canada, via the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, you can buy gas at the Ammex Duty Free shop.  I always knew you could buy tobacco, liquor, and perfume, but this is unusual.

Also, the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit Tunnel both have a twist in logic due to the Detroit River running East and West.  If you are Americanbound, you actually head north into the country south of you.  If you head into Canada, as well, from the US, you are in turn going south to head into the northern country.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on January 10, 2013, 04:38:33 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 10, 2013, 01:49:19 PM
Also, the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit Tunnel both have a twist in logic due to the Detroit River running East and West.  If you are Americanbound, you actually head north into the country south of you.  If you head into Canada, as well, from the US, you are in turn going south to head into the northern country.

The Niagara River does the same thing near the falls.

If Canada wanted to physically separate from the US, it couldn't, because Ontario would get hung up on Michigan and New York.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on January 10, 2013, 09:19:28 PM
Tonight, The Big Bang Theory posed the following trivia question: Which 4 state capital cities aren't served by the Interstate system?

Without looking at a map, Mom and I thought of Juneau, AK and maybe Frankfort, KY.  Wait, where the heck is Carson City, NV?  Is it not on an Interstate?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: akotchi on January 10, 2013, 09:24:52 PM
Montpelier, VT, and Dover, DE, are two of them.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Sanctimoniously on January 10, 2013, 09:35:20 PM
Jefferson City, Missouri.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: theline on January 10, 2013, 09:41:46 PM
I-89 goes through Montpelier, and Frankfort is served by I-64. Juneau, Dover, Pierre SD, and Jefferson City MO lack interstates
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: TheStranger on January 10, 2013, 11:43:45 PM
Quote from: vtk on January 10, 2013, 09:19:28 PM
  Wait, where the heck is Carson City, NV?  Is it not on an Interstate?

As of the last few months, it's on recently signed I-580 (the long-planned US 395 freeway extension from Reno).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on January 12, 2013, 12:07:09 AM
Discussion of largest cities without Interstate service has been moved to its own thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=8462.0)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on January 12, 2013, 02:11:51 AM
Good call.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on January 12, 2013, 10:08:23 AM
 I just found out that the I-70 & US 40 overlap from Ellicot City, MD to Frederick, MD was not built for interstate standards, but as an expressway for US 40 back in the mid 1950s.

   It turns out that it was only made to interstate in 1974, with it being 20 years with at grade intersections and "TO I-70 or I-70N" signs along it depending on the times each route number was designated for I-70 east of Frederick at the time.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: haljackey on January 13, 2013, 12:02:31 PM
A parade of snowplows!

Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Michael on January 14, 2013, 08:33:16 AM
^^^ So everyone else doesn't have to count, I counted 24 snowplows in the video.

While looking around Elmira, NY on Google Maps last night, I came across a pair of what I'd call "reverse jughandles" (http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.12288,-76.993132&spn=0.005467,0.011362&t=h&z=17).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on February 14, 2013, 10:55:02 AM
I was noticing that on I-295 southbound near Wilmington, DE that there is a bridge over nothing just before it crosses US 13 & US 40 (WB).  It is seen on Google from the air and on street view as well.

It is obvious that there was another road that was to be built here that never got off the ground just in the same manner as I-69 intersecting both I-65 and I-70 in Indianapolis where you have a bridge over nothing as Indy killed the plans for I-69 entering the 464 loop,
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on February 14, 2013, 11:51:37 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 14, 2013, 10:55:02 AM
It is obvious that there was another road that was to be built here that never got off the ground
It's obvious that you're wrong: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.69698,-75.57504&z=17&t=O
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on March 02, 2013, 04:26:24 PM
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Amarillo,+TX&hl=en&ll=35.229451,-101.831363&spn=0.00425,0.010568&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.892242,21.643066&oq=ama&t=h&hnear=Amarillo,+Potter,+Texas&z=17&layer=c&cbll=35.229136,-101.831359&panoid=TUmNs1QuBVav76xW6g_QZA&cbp=12,205.64,,0,0

Here is something interesting in Amarillo, TX.  You have the US 87 & 287 Freeway split into Pierce and Taylor Streets where you have each road signed for different routes.  US 287 to I-40 on Taylor and US 87 to I-27 on Pierce, but both roads lead to all from here.

Then you have US 60 join in the four street pairs where it runs WB with US 87 SB on Pierce and EB with US 287 NB on Buchanan to make it more interesting. 
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on March 02, 2013, 04:33:46 PM
Don't forget the lack of a direct freeway-to-freeway connection from I-40 east to I-27 south.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 02, 2013, 06:31:30 PM
Quote from: Steve on October 27, 2012, 02:09:30 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2012, 12:05:47 AM
Also a thing to note that Rhode Island has no 3 digit US routes within its borders.

I was thinking about US 395 in CA as it really does transit on its top segment and another thing about it is the fact that because it enters Nevada in the middle, US 281 has to hold the title of the longest three digit route within a state.  California is longer than Texas if you go north to south as I-5 is longer in mileage in the Golden State than I-35 is in the Lone Star State.   I believe that in the early days when US 395 went all the way to San Diego, if it never entered Nevada, US 395 would be the longest 3 digit to be within one state then.
... but US 395 enters Oregon. How is that within one state? Or are you saying "most miles of a single 3 digit US route in one state?" US 380 in Texas must be up there, too.

EDIT: Wow, as long as 380 is, even if it extended all the way to Arkansas, it'd STILL be 70 miles short of 281.

US287 in TX is also a long way, ~504 miles...
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on March 02, 2013, 06:38:37 PM
Quote from: NE2 on March 02, 2013, 04:33:46 PM
Don't forget the lack of a direct freeway-to-freeway connection from I-40 east to I-27 south.
Yeah there is always something interesting out there.

Has anyone checked out the new I-405 and Willshire Boulevard Interchange in LA configuration design?  I love the way the eliminated the weave problem in the plans being it is a cloverleaf in an urban environment.  Check this out for a good overview.
http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/I405/images/wilshire_bi_ramps_final.jpg
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 02, 2013, 06:40:24 PM
Quote from: vtk on November 07, 2012, 04:29:28 PM
When Columbus's I-270 opened completely, NMSL was in effect, so it took exactly one hour to drive one 55-mile lap around the city.

So there was never a traffic jam in those days? :poke:
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 02, 2013, 06:50:33 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 10, 2013, 01:49:19 PM
I found out that if you cross the border into Canada, via the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, you can buy gas at the Ammex Duty Free shop.  I always knew you could buy tobacco, liquor, and perfume, but this is unusual.

Also, the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit Tunnel both have a twist in logic due to the Detroit River running East and West.  If you are Americanbound, you actually head north into the country south of you.  If you head into Canada, as well, from the US, you are in turn going south to head into the northern country.

None of which, interestingly enough, give me even the least bit of reason to ever return to Detroit!
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Mdcastle on March 02, 2013, 07:55:24 PM
Some Minnesota state highways contain stretches where the general public is not allowed to drive on, short routes serving state prisons and the security hospital. A couple I got pictures of the actual terminus years ago before they were gated off, and MN 289 I just too a picture as far as I could go before it's blocked by a fence.

Although probably well known here  there, are a number of "secret" unsigned routes the 800A series which are short stubs, usually less than a block, and the 900A series which are routes for turnback which have had their numbers stripped off in the field, but not removed from the trunk highway system. Robert Street, MN 952A is the most prominant example.

MN 197 no one, not even Mn/DOT apparently knows where the number came from. I asked them and the district went as far as too ask some of the old timers around the office if they knew. It's not the legislative route number and is a lot higher than the series assigned arbitrarily that ends in the 120s. Aside from someone lost to history who happened to like that number, the only thing I can think is numbers 201 and 202 were former short sections through business districts, so maybe the thinking was to assign a number near them (200 was already used), but why not 198 or 199 or 203 I don't know.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: jeffandnicole on March 04, 2013, 08:50:51 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 14, 2013, 10:55:02 AM
I was noticing that on I-295 southbound near Wilmington, DE that there is a bridge over nothing just before it crosses US 13 & US 40 (WB).  It is seen on Google from the air and on street view as well.

It is obvious that there was another road that was to be built here that never got off the ground just in the same manner as I-69 intersecting both I-65 and I-70 in Indianapolis where you have a bridge over nothing as Indy killed the plans for I-69 entering the 464 loop,

Actually, the overpass you're referring to truly did have a road under it at one point.  There used to be a ramp from US 13 South to I-295 North that went under this overpass, and met up with 295 North to become the left-most lane over the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

The ramp was removed and replaced with an unsignalized left turn across US 13 North, leading traffic onto the ramp from US 40 East to I-295 North instead.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: 1995hoo on March 04, 2013, 01:00:21 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on March 04, 2013, 08:50:51 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 14, 2013, 10:55:02 AM
I was noticing that on I-295 southbound near Wilmington, DE that there is a bridge over nothing just before it crosses US 13 & US 40 (WB).  It is seen on Google from the air and on street view as well.

It is obvious that there was another road that was to be built here that never got off the ground just in the same manner as I-69 intersecting both I-65 and I-70 in Indianapolis where you have a bridge over nothing as Indy killed the plans for I-69 entering the 464 loop,

Actually, the overpass you're referring to truly did have a road under it at one point.  There used to be a ramp from US 13 South to I-295 North that went under this overpass, and met up with 295 North to become the left-most lane over the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

The ramp was removed and replaced with an unsignalized left turn across US 13 North, leading traffic onto the ramp from US 40 East to I-295 North instead.


Try this Bing Maps "Bird's Eye view" of that interchange (http://binged.it/ZX146u). You can clearly see both the stub ramp and the newer left turn.

If you view that spot on HistoricAerials.com and choose the 1970 image, you'll see the old configuration. (I'd link it but for some reason it's balking when I click on "Share.")
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: empirestate on March 04, 2013, 01:14:36 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 04, 2013, 01:00:21 PM
If you view that spot on HistoricAerials.com and choose the 1970 image, you'll see the old configuration. (I'd link it but for some reason it's balking when I click on "Share.")

Google Earth historical imagery shows the change between 2002 and 2005. Also, grading and pavement stubs seem to appear for a new loop ramp; I assume this was temporarily built and used during the interchange reconstruction?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: jeffandnicole on March 04, 2013, 01:46:42 PM
The ramp stub '95 referred to was the old 295 South to US 13/40 South/West ramp.  It was rebuilt as a very sharp right turn, then a fairly sharp left turn.  The right turn has tricked many motorists, which in turn spin out or wind up on the grassy median.  A large lighted right arrow and 'Your Speed' box have since been installed to advise motorists as they approach the 35 mph curve. 

From the attached link, I can't see any visible evidence of the old ramp, other than the overpass.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: 1995hoo on March 04, 2013, 04:54:45 PM
No, the stub and the overpass appear, based on looking at HistoricAerials.com, to be the old ramp from southbound US-13 to northbound I-295. I finally got the "Share" button to work. Seems it was error on my part–I just got a new Logitech touchpad to replace my mouse and the way I was trying to click was the wrong way to do it.

Take a look at this 2002 aerial view and follow the ramp that goes underneath where that overpass still is. It definitely runs from southbound US-13 to northbound I-295 and joins I-295 from the left. You may have to zoom in. (I'll warn you, the site has been very slow today.)

http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=1.6E-05&lat=39.6958570814298&lon=-75.5737907750572&year=2002
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on March 04, 2013, 04:57:58 PM
Or you can just use the old USGS aerials:
Quote from: NE2 on February 14, 2013, 11:51:37 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 14, 2013, 10:55:02 AM
It is obvious that there was another road that was to be built here that never got off the ground
It's obvious that you're wrong: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.69698,-75.57504&z=17&t=O
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: 1995hoo on March 04, 2013, 05:33:57 PM
When I click that link all I get is a green screen.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on March 04, 2013, 06:01:21 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 04, 2013, 05:33:57 PM
When I click that link all I get is a green screen.
Does this work for you? It's the same imagery but with a worse interface.
http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=18&X=1127&Y=10985&W=3
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on March 05, 2013, 05:07:13 PM
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Doylestown,+PA&hl=en&ll=40.364139,-74.953279&spn=0.01599,0.042272&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.892242,21.643066&oq=doyl&hnear=Doylestown,+Bucks,+Pennsylvania&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=40.364088,-74.956586&panoid=7BdY6p_0RxceZHzAZcKEnw&cbp=12,180,,0,0

This sign always interested me in New Hope, PA.  I am still amazed that it still stands today especially with the many changes in the MUTCD over the years.   
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kphoger on March 05, 2013, 09:04:41 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 02, 2013, 04:26:24 PM
Amarillo, TX.  You have the US 87 & 287 Freeway split into Pierce and Taylor Streets where you have each road signed for different routes.  US 287 to I-40 on Taylor and US 87 to I-27 on Pierce, but both roads lead to all from here.

It reminds me of NB I-35 in San Antonio, where only the lower level is signed as I-35 to Austin (http://goo.gl/maps/LMtIf), yet upper and lower levels reunite (http://goo.gl/maps/NRpsC) before the I-10 interchange (http://goo.gl/maps/7lxKV).  Then it happens again (http://goo.gl/maps/SnKzr) with I-37, reuniting (http://goo.gl/maps/1ssz2) just barely before the interchange (http://goo.gl/maps/N6OVl).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on March 11, 2013, 12:21:20 PM
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Miami,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.812368,-80.215041&spn=0.001752,0.002642&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.892242,21.643066&oq=mi&t=h&hnear=Miami,+Miami-Dade,+Florida&z=19&layer=c&cbll=25.812353,-80.214779&panoid=udSWtWKTYYLiww5xPJCqZQ&cbp=12,63.58,,0,-22.5

Interesting that Orlando is signed from the Miami International Airport.  I do not see the fact that many destined for Central Florida would fly into Miami unless certain overseas origins do not fly into MCO and thus many arrive in the US from here.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 11, 2013, 12:33:42 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 11, 2013, 12:21:20 PM
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Miami,+FL&hl=en&ll=25.812368,-80.215041&spn=0.001752,0.002642&sll=27.698638,-83.804601&sspn=9.892242,21.643066&oq=mi&t=h&hnear=Miami,+Miami-Dade,+Florida&z=19&layer=c&cbll=25.812353,-80.214779&panoid=udSWtWKTYYLiww5xPJCqZQ&cbp=12,63.58,,0,-22.5

Interesting that Orlando is signed from the Miami International Airport.  I do not see the fact that many destined for Central Florida would fly into Miami unless certain overseas origins do not fly into MCO and thus many arrive in the US from here.
That is exactly the case. There are hundreds of thousands who fly internationally and arrive in MIA, who are headed to the US almost exclusively to visit WDW.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kphoger on March 11, 2013, 01:02:56 PM
Yep, Miami is one of the gateways to Central America and the Caribbean.  Even if airlines fly into MCO, the ticket price is usually cheaper into Miami.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 11, 2013, 02:07:23 PM
I see tons of Brits flying into MIA from the UK. A huge number of WDW visitors are from Brazil or Britain.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on March 28, 2013, 12:40:51 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8597167587/in/set-72157633111861632/

Recently, Florida has been painting exit numbers on the pavement of freeways.  Now Texas has done the same thing.  The only difference between the Lone Star State and the Sunshine State is one paints the number on the shoulder to the side while the other (as far as this photo goes) paints it in the gore.

How many other states will do it and who is next?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kphoger on March 28, 2013, 12:47:12 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 28, 2013, 12:40:51 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8597167587/in/set-72157633111861632/

Recently, Florida has been painting exit numbers on the pavement of freeways.  Now Texas has done the same thing.  The only difference between the Lone Star State and the Sunshine State is one paints the number on the shoulder to the side while the other (as far as this photo goes) paints it in the gore.

How many other states will do it and who is next?

Oh, is that a recent thing in Texas?  I've been noticing it for a few years now.  When did it start?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 28, 2013, 01:20:36 PM
I am pretty sure that Texas was the first, saw them there either 2006 or earlier. Colorado is also starting to do this, but they use a smaller shield than TX or FL. It seems fine, but overhead signage being so legible these days I can't help but wonder if this is all just a waste of money.

I have been complaining to myself (inside the car) about (mostly small towns in some Northeastern states) which paint arrows for designation of legal turns on the pavement at intersections with no corresponding overhead signage. Once there is a car on top of the legend, stopped at the red light, it is impossible for a traveler to know which is the through lane of the two lanes available...
I guess it works well for the locals of that town, though, since they already know.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: NE2 on March 28, 2013, 01:45:04 PM
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5391.0
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on March 29, 2013, 09:31:44 AM
Quote from: kphoger on March 28, 2013, 12:47:12 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 28, 2013, 12:40:51 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8597167587/in/set-72157633111861632/

Recently, Florida has been painting exit numbers on the pavement of freeways.  Now Texas has done the same thing.  The only difference between the Lone Star State and the Sunshine State is one paints the number on the shoulder to the side while the other (as far as this photo goes) paints it in the gore.

How many other states will do it and who is next?

Oh, is that a recent thing in Texas?  I've been noticing it for a few years now.  When did it start?
Well, you know what I mean.  Recent means in the past several years, or at least to me it does.  Maybe its that I am getting old now and when you pass 30 the years start to fly lol!
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kendancy66 on March 30, 2013, 01:14:42 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 28, 2013, 12:40:51 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8597167587/in/set-72157633111861632/

Recently, Florida has been painting exit numbers on the pavement of freeways.  Now Texas has done the same thing.  The only difference between the Lone Star State and the Sunshine State is one paints the number on the shoulder to the side while the other (as far as this photo goes) paints it in the gore.

How many other states will do it and who is next?

On I-40 in California, on the zero mile mark (such as mile post 90,80,70 ...) , the are painting the mile number on the pavement on the right shoulder.  I haven't seen that anywhere else in CA, and I am not sure how many of miles are marked.  I thought I also saw an 88 also. 
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on March 30, 2013, 03:12:44 AM
I have seen that in CA for decades. It is (or was) mostly used for aircraft using a stopwatch to catch speeders. They would clock them (me in Desert Center once,) and radio down to the waiting CHP car.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kendancy66 on April 03, 2013, 11:00:40 AM
Funny you should mention Desert Center.  I drove through there last Sunday.  And they have the same markers there.  However I realize that the markers correspond to post miles, not mile markers.  I think that on I-40 they match the mile markers because I-40 only traverses one county (San Bernadino) in California
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on April 05, 2013, 07:19:40 AM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8621916714/in/photostream

This is a misuse of a standard one way sign inside a shopping center near Downtown Orlando.  Apparently the MUTCD does not have authority over private property, so any developer can use whatever sign he or she chooses.

Anyway, its interesting because no one else, that I have seen, has done something exactly like this.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on April 05, 2013, 08:43:08 AM
Yet the MUTCD does talk about treatment of stop-controlled intersections of parking lot aisles and associated service roads which are not on the public ROW.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on April 05, 2013, 09:27:51 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 05, 2013, 07:19:40 AM

Anyway, its interesting because no one else, that I have seen, has done something exactly like this.

definitely a standard* in the 20s and 30s.  the ONE WAY arrow had many purposes before (IIRC) the 1935 MUTCD clamped down on it.

* or, more precisely, a common behavior found in the absence of a standard
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on April 05, 2013, 09:29:57 AM
Quote from: vtk on April 05, 2013, 08:43:08 AM
Yet the MUTCD does talk about treatment of stop-controlled intersections of parking lot aisles and associated service roads which are not on the public ROW.

parking lot aisles need stop* signs, badly.  people seem to drive their most poorly in parking lots.  the concept of "priority to the right" at an uncontrolled intersection is so virtually unknown that it is best treated as a nonexistent law.  (why yes, it is on the books in the US!)  in the absence of traffic control devices, priority devolves to "priority to whoever is moving faster on what seems to be a more important road".

* technically, they need yield signs, but the average Black Friday corporate slave yields to no one.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vdeane on April 05, 2013, 11:29:56 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 05, 2013, 07:19:40 AM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8621916714/in/photostream

This is a misuse of a standard one way sign inside a shopping center near Downtown Orlando.  Apparently the MUTCD does not have authority over private property, so any developer can use whatever sign he or she chooses.

Anyway, its interesting because no one else, that I have seen, has done something exactly like this.
One-ways are signed this way everywhere and nowhere in Alanland.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: empirestate on April 05, 2013, 02:49:27 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 05, 2013, 07:19:40 AM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/8621916714/in/photostream

This is a misuse of a standard one way sign inside a shopping center near Downtown Orlando.  Apparently the MUTCD does not have authority over private property, so any developer can use whatever sign he or she chooses.

Anyway, its interesting because no one else, that I have seen, has done something exactly like this.

Ah, so if I'm turning left I'd keep to the left-hand side of the roadway, turning into the closest lane available to traffic. Which, since it's a one-way road heading away from the intersection, would be against the left curb. :-)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kphoger on April 06, 2013, 02:32:36 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 05, 2013, 09:27:51 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 05, 2013, 07:19:40 AM

Anyway, its interesting because no one else, that I have seen, has done something exactly like this.

definitely a standard* in the 20s and 30s.  the ONE WAY arrow had many purposes before (IIRC) the 1935 MUTCD clamped down on it.

* or, more precisely, a common behavior found in the absence of a standard


I believe I've seen similar signage in México, but I can't remember for absolute certain.  At an intersection where one cannot continue straight but can turn in either direction, I believe common practice is to post a black right arrow, a black left arrow, and a red straight-ahead arrow.  And a faint bell is ringing in the back of my mind that sometimes the red straight-ahead arrow is ommitted.  I really wish I had more certainty about this (especially since I've found myself going the wrong way on a Mexican street more than a couple of times).
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vdeane on April 06, 2013, 03:11:12 PM
Here's a similar one in Maine: http://goo.gl/maps/YRZvO
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kkt on April 06, 2013, 07:09:49 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2013, 03:11:12 PM
Here's a similar one in Maine: http://goo.gl/maps/YRZvO

I feel an overwhelming temptation to go to Maine, find that intersection, and change the paint on one of the "one way" signs to say "another way".
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: djsinco on April 06, 2013, 07:20:07 PM
Quote from: kkt on April 06, 2013, 07:09:49 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2013, 03:11:12 PM
Here's a similar one in Maine: http://goo.gl/maps/YRZvO

FTFY. I feel an overwhelming temptation to go to Maine, find that intersection, and eat a mess of lobster! change the paint on one of the "one way" signs to say "another way".
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: kphoger on April 08, 2013, 01:38:19 PM
Quote from: djsinco on April 06, 2013, 07:20:07 PM
Quote from: kkt on April 06, 2013, 07:09:49 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2013, 03:11:12 PM
Here's a similar one in Maine: http://goo.gl/maps/YRZvO

FTFY. I feel an overwhelming temptation to go to Maine, find that intersection, and eat a mess of lobster! and change the paint on one of the "one way" signs to say "another lobster".
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: jeffandnicole on April 08, 2013, 01:53:44 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 08, 2013, 01:38:19 PM
Quote from: djsinco on April 06, 2013, 07:20:07 PM
Quote from: kkt on April 06, 2013, 07:09:49 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2013, 03:11:12 PM
Here's a similar one in Maine: http://goo.gl/maps/YRZvO

FTFY. I feel an overwhelming temptation to go to Maine, find that intersection, and eat a mess of lobster! and change the paint on one of the "one way" signs to say "another lobster".


FTFY. I feel an overwhelming temptation to go to Maine, find that intersection, and repost the One Way signs on the opposite posts.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Big John on April 08, 2013, 03:18:34 PM
I would want to replace it with this (except with the proper font)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbelievingthomas.files.wordpress.com%2F2006%2F11%2Fone-way.jpg&hash=43d2eacdac742dfb60e72378822568cd5382d00c)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: 1995hoo on April 08, 2013, 05:27:06 PM
That makes me remember this sign near Peggy's Cove (it's completely accurate, you can get to Halifax either way):

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi31.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc378%2F1995hoo%2FRoad%2520sign%2520pictures%2F020819c7.jpg&hash=7bcaa4ac116901fbca05390a1f4a28e3d3949f69)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: Alps on April 08, 2013, 07:36:29 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2013, 03:11:12 PM
Here's a similar one in Maine: http://goo.gl/maps/YRZvO
I think in that case the ONE WAY signs were supposed to be rotated at 90 degrees so that Bayview traffic knew not to turn there.
On the topic of one-way signs, US 52 in Ohio down by the Ashland KY road meet has some tapered one-way arrows, old-style in a sense but definitely not to any former spec: http://goo.gl/maps/cJn1s
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on April 09, 2013, 12:20:23 AM
Quote from: Steve on April 08, 2013, 07:36:29 PM
tapered one-way arrows, old-style in a sense but definitely not to any former spec: http://goo.gl/maps/cJn1s

I'm sure I've seen more of those around.  West Jefferson comes to mind.  Might have been an Ohio-specific standard at one time, or maybe just a prolific fabricator's off-spec pattern.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: agentsteel53 on April 09, 2013, 01:21:36 PM
Quote from: vtk on April 09, 2013, 12:20:23 AMMight have been an Ohio-specific standard at one time, or maybe just a prolific fabricator's off-spec pattern.

never seen it as an Ohio standard, but it does bring to mind the flared arrows used on older Ohio guide signs and supplementary signs.

(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/OH/OH19620331i1.jpg)

Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vtk on May 05, 2013, 01:05:41 PM
A few weeks ago, I realized that every offramp at every interchange (not with another freeway) along I-71 from Columbus to Mansfield has a traffic light at the end.  Compare to I-71 south of Columbus, with almost no signals at interchanges, or rural I-70, with traffic signals at less than half of the interchanges.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on May 05, 2013, 06:30:20 PM
I think that it is very interesting how the GSV car always manages to never get a caption of many road signs.  You either see it from a distance, then you go past it when moving, but it does not stop in between.

Then you have TX Highway 44 Westbound at US 77 in Robstown, Texas where you come up to the intersection with the shield assembly of SH 44 and US 77 and the GSV moves to across the street.  If I did not know better, I would say GSV does not want us to use them to read road signs, even though in reality it is not.

Also, good luck in trying to read the Ranch-to-Market Road signs in many places along I-20 in Western Texas.  Even the shield assemblies at the end of the service roads (most Texas interstate ramps lead to the frontage road rather than the actual road) you cannot even get GSV to be at a point to read the RANCH ROAD wording with just barely  even seeing the route number on the shields.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: vdeane on May 06, 2013, 04:09:47 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 05, 2013, 06:30:20 PM
I think that it is very interesting how the GSV car always manages to never get a caption of many road signs.  You either see it from a distance, then you go past it when moving, but it does not stop in between.
Not really surprising given how grainy the older imagery is.  On the newer imagery, you can use the "zoom in" feature (useless on older imagery) to read the signs.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff
Post by: roadman65 on May 06, 2013, 10:47:10 PM
Quote from: vdeane on May 06, 2013, 04:09:47 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 05, 2013, 06:30:20 PM
I think that it is very interesting how the GSV car always manages to never get a caption of many road signs.  You either see it from a distance, then you go past it when moving, but it does not stop in between.
Not really surprising given how grainy the older imagery is.  On the newer imagery, you can use the "zoom in" feature (useless on older imagery) to read the signs.
You know, I have noticed that in one particular town along US 281 way north of San Antonio, I did zoom in to a Ranch Road sign where you can get crystal clear imagery like you said.  However, still have a lot of old though.  I am still waiting for the old traffic circle in my home town in New Jersey to be updated to its new configuration considering that particular intersection has been modified several years ago.