Regional Boards > Northeast
Vermont
shadyjay:
Actually, with US 7, the valley is pretty wide up to Dorset. The only major town center along the way is Wallingford (and S. Wallingford), but outside of that, you very well could have fit in a 4-lane. Which brings up the question, what was the reasoning behind a 4-lane expressway from Rutland south to Wallingford? There isn't much traffic once you get south of VT 103, definitely not enough to warrant 4 lanes. How did this section get 4 lanes, while the section from N Bennington to Manchester stay a "Super 2"?
BlueOutback7:
--- Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 20, 2023, 08:13:02 PM ---Any eastern extension of the US 4 freeway would not only require the demolition of the Diamond Run Mall but would also run through Aitken State and Rutland City Forests (which would make any route unconstructable). Also, what is the terrain like in the forementioned forests like? Would they be a barrier to theoretically constructing a US 4 eastward freeway (or any roadway) extension? Also, it seems like getting a US 4 westward freeway extension to Interstate 87 would be quite difficult to construct (which is probably why it doesn't exist). Forests and mountains are probably also the reason why the US 7 expressway ends in East Dorset, and doesn't continue past Rutland.
--- End quote ---
Actually, the Diamond Run Mall closed down a few years ago, so it could theoretically be demolished, but the aforementioned environmental costs are exactly why it hasn’t and won’t be extended not to mention VTrans doesn’t have that kind of money.
vdeane:
--- Quote from: shadyjay on February 20, 2023, 04:40:00 PM ---The few times I've taken US 4 in NY between the VT line and the Northway, there really isn't much between those two points to slow up traffic... outside of probably Whitehall itself and the light at Glens Falls. In between those points its pretty much a 55 MPH road (with some exceptions). The section in Vermont passes through Fair Haven, Castleton, and Center Rutland which are more "built up" and prone to more 30-40 mph speeds than in NY.
Its the same with US 11 across the "rooftop" in NY where an interstate has been talked about for awhile. Is one really needed? Probably not, as its 55 MPH most of the way, slowing down in the handful of towns along the way. The road is pretty straight with multiple opportunities for passing. (Though I think an interstate in that area is meant more to spur economic development than to relieve congestion).
Back to Rt 4, it would be nice if it looped around Rutland to rejoin Woodstock Rd on the "edge of development" just as you start climbing up to Killington, and in NY, if there was a bypass around Glens Falls or a more direct connection with the Northway. In a perfect world, it would be a freeway from the NY/VT line all the way to the Northway, but its not, so we have to deal with what we have, for now.
--- End quote ---
Have you ever driven on the US 4/NY 149 corridor, especially during tourist season? Fort Ann backs up to the point where it routinely takes several light cycles to get through, as does the whole strip where NY 149 overlaps US 9 near exit 20. The rest of the corridor is characterized by long lines of cars traveling at the pace of the slowest driver.
Interesting that you mention US 11... I used to think that road was bad (to be fair, it's not fun when people are arriving/leaving the area colleges), but it's nothing compared to the major corridors connecting NY to VT.
abqtraveler:
--- Quote from: BlueOutback7 on February 20, 2023, 09:04:19 PM ---
--- Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 20, 2023, 08:13:02 PM ---Any eastern extension of the US 4 freeway would not only require the demolition of the Diamond Run Mall but would also run through Aitken State and Rutland City Forests (which would make any route unconstructable). Also, what is the terrain like in the forementioned forests like? Would they be a barrier to theoretically constructing a US 4 eastward freeway (or any roadway) extension? Also, it seems like getting a US 4 westward freeway extension to Interstate 87 would be quite difficult to construct (which is probably why it doesn't exist). Forests and mountains are probably also the reason why the US 7 expressway ends in East Dorset, and doesn't continue past Rutland.
--- End quote ---
Actually, the Diamond Run Mall closed down a few years ago, so it could theoretically be demolished, but the aforementioned environmental costs are exactly why it hasn’t and won’t be extended not to mention VTrans doesn’t have that kind of money.
--- End quote ---
There are not really any feasible options to build a freeway for US-4 across the Green Mountains without spending a huge amount of money and causing a lot of environmental damage. Tunneling through the Green Mountains would have less impact on the environment, but the shear cost of a 20-30 mile long tunnel would be cost prohibitive.
roadman65:
https://goo.gl/maps/hq2ur5LCQbuWcZCcA
Vermonts answer to signing milebased exit numbers. Just have the sequential exit numbers and mile based numbers both coexist.
Real cheesy I must say.
:bigass:
--- Quote from: abqtraveler on March 13, 2023, 04:08:54 PM ---
--- Quote from: BlueOutback7 on February 20, 2023, 09:04:19 PM ---
--- Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 20, 2023, 08:13:02 PM ---Any eastern extension of the US 4 freeway would not only require the demolition of the Diamond Run Mall but would also run through Aitken State and Rutland City Forests (which would make any route unconstructable). Also, what is the terrain like in the forementioned forests like? Would they be a barrier to theoretically constructing a US 4 eastward freeway (or any roadway) extension? Also, it seems like getting a US 4 westward freeway extension to Interstate 87 would be quite difficult to construct (which is probably why it doesn't exist). Forests and mountains are probably also the reason why the US 7 expressway ends in East Dorset, and doesn't continue past Rutland.
--- End quote ---
Actually, the Diamond Run Mall closed down a few years ago, so it could theoretically be demolished, but the aforementioned environmental costs are exactly why it hasn’t and won’t be extended not to mention VTrans doesn’t have that kind of money.
--- End quote ---
There are not really any feasible options to build a freeway for US-4 across the Green Mountains without spending a huge amount of money and causing a lot of environmental damage. Tunneling through the Green Mountains would have less impact on the environment, but the shear cost of a 20-30 mile long tunnel would be cost prohibitive.
--- End quote ---
MMM would have loved that last suggestion. :sombrero:
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