AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: Voyager on March 21, 2009, 02:12:32 AM

Title: Congested freeways
Post by: Voyager on March 21, 2009, 02:12:32 AM
Name them.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: TheStranger on March 21, 2009, 02:16:53 AM
I-405 in the Los Angeles area, obviously

US 101 between I-280 and I-80 in SF, and I-80 from US 101 to Albany

Business 80 between Route 99 and the Marconi Curve in Sacramento
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: mapman on March 21, 2009, 03:05:33 AM
US 101 in San Jose, between I-280/I-680 and Capitol Expressway

I-580 from I-238 in Hayward to I-205 near Tracy, CA
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Chris on March 21, 2009, 06:00:52 AM
A lot of expressways/parkways in the New York area. But they also create congestion with the toll plazas.

I-95, I-278, I-495 and FDR Drive come to mind. I've looked up the traffic volumes of them, they mostly aren't exceptionally high for the number of lanes, so I guess it's mostly the 1930's alignment and offramp capacity...
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: SSOWorld on March 21, 2009, 09:09:11 AM
I-94 near Miller Park in Milwaukee
The Madison beltline highway
The interstates approaching the Circle Interchange in Chicago (downtown)
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: njroadhorse on March 21, 2009, 09:54:08 AM
Practically every freeway in NJ
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: yanksfan6129 on March 21, 2009, 10:17:20 AM
I-95 in the Bronx: The Cross Bronx Expressway

Congested at almost every hour of the day!  :no:
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Revive 755 on March 21, 2009, 12:10:51 PM
SB I-270 in Missouri, from 3pm to 6pm every non-holiday weekday, from US 40 to I-44, even before US 40 was closed for construction.  A few days it seem to start getting bad around 2:30.

The PSB and the associated approaches in St. Louis, thanks to too many trucks and  too many 20mph, one-lane ramps.  Then having something out for construction every year doesn't help either.

For Omaha, NB I-680 during the evening rush just north of I-80 seems to stop.  I-80 is generally just heavy through Omaha with some backed up ramps.  The exception is the Missouri River Bridge, which has some stopped traffic.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Ian on March 21, 2009, 03:03:30 PM
> I-91 in the Hartford area
> I-84 in Hartford
> I-476/ Mid-County Exp. (Plymouth Meeting to Chester)
> I-95 (Chester-Philadelphia, PA)
> I-76/Schuykill Exp. (King of Prussia, PA to Bellmawr, NJ)
> US 202 in King of Prussia
> I-95 in New Hampshire gets REALLY crowded in the summer time aswell as in southern Maine
> I-87/I-287 multiplex from Suffern, NY to Elmsford, NY gets crowded a lot
> sections of CT 15 (Merritt Pkwy/Wilbur Cross Pkwy/Berlin Tpke) get congested
> The NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE  :banghead: :banghead: gets crowded all the time on all sections (LITERALLY)
> I-287 in New Jersey gets crowded a lot
> I-95 in DELAWARE!!!!!!!!!  :banghead: :banghead:  OMG that gets crowded all the time especially at the "megachange" (I-95/I-495/I-295/US 202/DE 141)
> PA 100 in Exton and Downingtown-Drivers are terrible and drive slow. They obviosly don't know how to drive  :banghead:
> The Massachusetts Turnpike/I-90 gets crowded a whole lot. If you get stuck on the Mass Pike, your  :ded:, you'll be in traffic forever!
> Any metro Philadelphia, PA and Camden/Cherry Hill, NJ road is always crowded, no matter what time.
> I-87 gets really crowded in the Albany/Saratoga Springs/Glen Falls area
> I-90 in the Albany area
> I-787
> Along with the Mass Pike, if you get stuck anywhere in the NY Thruway, your  :ded:
> I-890 in Schenectady, NY
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: 74/171FAN on March 21, 2009, 03:54:35 PM
Every freeway in Northern Virginia east of VA 28 and US 29 and north of US 17
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Southern Illinois SKYWARN on March 21, 2009, 03:58:43 PM
Lloyd Expressway in Evansville, IN (SR 66 and SR 62)  Evansville is a city of 120,000, but the Lloyd is congested at all hours.  I-64 @ I-264 on the east side of Louisville, KY.  New Circle Road (SR 4) and every road on the south side of Lexington, KY.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: ComputerGuy on March 21, 2009, 06:49:37 PM
I-5 in Seattle
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: 74/171FAN on March 21, 2009, 07:46:55 PM
Quotefrom Froggie: Quote
Every freeway in Northern Virginia east of VA 28 and US 29 and north of US 17

I've never seen jams on VA 110 or VA 27...;o)
Me neither but I've only been on either once if at all.  Actually I didn't even think of those or the US 50 Arlington Blvd Freeway(I think it's a freeway).
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Scott5114 on March 22, 2009, 04:10:09 AM
I... can't... think of any.

You guys must hate me for that  :-D
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Chris on March 22, 2009, 05:22:25 AM
Is there an official definition for a "traffic jam" in the United States?

In the Netherlands, it's a traffic jam when traffic speed drop below 30 mph for at least 1.5 miles in a row.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Alex on March 22, 2009, 10:51:22 AM
Trying to cover ones not already mentioned where I have dealt with monumental congestion before:

Interstate 275 including the Howard Frankland Bridge and the east-west portion through Tampa.
Interstate 4 from Lee Road northward to Lake Mary Boulevard in Seminole County.
Interstate 10 from the merge with Interstate 610 to Causeway Boulevard in the NOLA area.
Interstate 75 leading northwest from Atlanta.
Interstate 85 leading northeast from Atlanta.
Interstate 77 leading north from Charlotte.
Interstate 93 throughout the Boston area.
Interstate 10 from the East L.A. interchange to San Bernardino
Interstate 15 through Ontario
Interstate 5 through Norwalk (only six lanes!).
U.S. 101 / Ventura Freeway and the Downtown Slot in L.A.
California 91 / Riverside Freeway east from Anaheim.
Interstate 5 from Encinitas to Carlsbad
U.S. 75 / Central Expressway through the Dallas area
Dan Ryan in Chicago
Kennedy Expressway in Chicago
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Chris on March 22, 2009, 04:10:14 PM
QuoteInterstate 5 through Norwalk (only six lanes!).

Isn't that one being widened at the moment?

Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Alex on March 22, 2009, 07:48:36 PM
QuoteIsn't that one being widened at the moment?

The city has always balked at any expansion of the freeway, but after reading Andy's page updates, I see that expansion is planned. Anyone have any details?
Quoting Andy's work on westcoastroads:

...Norwalk is a place of great freeway controversy, first because they were instrumental in ensuring that Interstate 105, the Century Freeway, would not continue very far east of Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River freeway). As such, the usefulness of Interstate 105 as a route to Los Angeles International Airport from Interstate 5 as an alternative to Interstate 405 is compromised, unless motorists use California 91 and Interstate 605 or passes through Norwalk, perhaps via former California 42 (Firestone Boulevard). In addition to its role in Interstate 105, Norwalk also had concerns with the original plans for the expansion of Interstate 5, saying it did not want its businesses and homes to be affected by the increased need for right of way. A compromise has since been reached, and Caltrans is already designing the replacement Interstate 5 freeway.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: deathtopumpkins on March 23, 2009, 06:08:43 PM
Surprisingly no one has mentioned any around here... I-64 is almost always backed up at the HRBT, usually for 5+ miles. And I-564 I've seen get pretty bad at rush hour, same with the MLK Freeway at the Midtown Tunnel. I-264 not so much, same with 664.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: deathtopumpkins on March 23, 2009, 07:09:24 PM
I've seen big traffic jams from the Terminal Blvd. exit on 564, and heard about many more from traffic reports.
As for the Downtown Tunnel/Berkeley Bridge mess, it never gets backed up that bad that I've seen. I've been stuck in traffic, but I usually get through after just a minute, unless it's due to like a bridge opening or something.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: CMHroads on March 23, 2009, 08:41:39 PM
I-270 (Northwest, East, North Sections) in Columbus.
I-70/I-71 Overlap.  I-670 East (evening), I-670 West (Morning).  SR 315, I-71.  Well, just about all the freeways in Columbus.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: un1 on March 23, 2009, 08:45:08 PM
Highway 401, 400, 403, 404, 427 and QEW in Ontario are congested almost everyday.

Not talking about freeways but Thunder Bay's Red River Road between Junot Ave and the Thunder Bay Expressway is horrible, there is almost always some sort of traffic jam there.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Voyager on March 24, 2009, 12:13:14 AM
US 101 at San Pedro Road in San Rafael. For some reason it always backs up there just over the hill and then traffic starts going again after that.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: SSOWorld on March 24, 2009, 12:33:57 PM
Poplar Street Bridge in St Louis
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: ComputerGuy on March 24, 2009, 05:52:36 PM
WA-520 over Lake Washington...its a nightmare :ded:
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Alex on March 24, 2009, 07:21:37 PM
You should tell people what happens to you if you run out of gas or break down on the WA-520 bridge.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: haljackey on March 24, 2009, 07:26:14 PM
401 on a light day:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg146.imageshack.us%2Fimg146%2F9599%2Fhighway401missqj6.jpg&hash=e6e1afcf2d4535b3b98648be6d8446e93073c97e)
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: ComputerGuy on March 24, 2009, 07:30:05 PM
aaroads: Hmm...never seen that happen...I guess a big pileup :D
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Voyager on March 24, 2009, 08:08:11 PM
Is that real?
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: ComputerGuy on March 24, 2009, 08:12:59 PM
IDK.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Voyager on March 24, 2009, 08:14:36 PM
Computerguy, please, put more into your posts. NOBODY likes reading an entire post that says "IDK".

Thank you.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Alex on March 24, 2009, 10:56:51 PM
Quoteaaroads: Hmm...never seen that happen...I guess a big pileup

From what Chris Kalina (seattleroadgeek) told us, you get towed and fined, regardless of whether you are broken down or out of gas. The lack of shoulders and traffic congestion mandate no obstructions.

When we took the bridge, there was a red pick-up broken down in the opposite direction. What a back-up for 11 am!
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: deathtopumpkins on March 26, 2009, 06:15:51 PM
I hate bridges with no shoulders, we have our good share of them. Specifically the James River Bridge on US-258/17.

QuoteMost likely this was the result of something on 64 East.  In my 4 years in Norfolk I never saw 564 jammed up in and of itself...
Nope. Heading towards the naval base, so WB.

As for that 401 picture, it's real. Look on Google Earth, at one point I found where that picture was taken.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Sykotyk on March 26, 2009, 08:10:27 PM
Congested freeways, oh let me count the headaches:

I-35 between San Antonio and Hillsboro (at the I-35E/I-35W split). I-35W through downtown Fort Worth (horrible bottleneck).
I-55/I-64/I-70 from downtown St. Louis, MO to E. St. Louis, IL.
I-80 through Joliet, IL (desperately needs a bypass built).
I-70 through downtown Columbus, OH (when a freeway shrinks to one lane near I-71/OH-315).
I-90 at the eastern tollbooth near Buffalo, NY (horrible backup during rushhour).
I-95 over the George Washington Bridge (not enough lead-up for all the toll booths causes backup by everyone going to the cash lanes)
I-10 through Baton Rouge (absolutely nightmarish)


Sykotyk
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Voyager on March 27, 2009, 01:01:15 AM
Oh yeah did I mention everything in the bay area? I actually mean everything.
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: travelinmiles on March 27, 2009, 06:04:24 PM
Is CA 87 Guadalupe Pkwy ever jammed in San Jose?
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: DrZoidberg on March 28, 2009, 01:22:22 PM
Just got back to Portland after a few days in So. Cal for spring break, visiting relatives, and taking the little one to Disney.

Wow! CA 91 was bad even on a Sunday afternoon! The HOT lanes look like they'd help, however.  Maybe I caught it on a bad day, but heading west from Yorba Linda to our hotel in Anaheim was horribly gridlocked! 
Title: Re: Congested freeways
Post by: Chris on March 28, 2009, 02:26:17 PM
Is traffic congestion decreasing now with the economic crisis and all? I can tell the amount of traffic jams in the Netherlands dropped significantly in the last 6 months, I guess it's the same in the United States.

I often check the "traffic" feature in Google Earth, you can show real-time traffic speeds. Even the Santa Monica freeway was moving at 30 mph at 8 am...