Thought of this topic when a few people mentioned that US routes generally are higher quality than state routes in the "Short US Highways" thread, and I'm trying to find examples where a state route would be preferable over a US route between two points.
Here's three 4-lane SR examples that replaced 2-lane US routes for through traffic:
- OH 32 over US 50 between Cincinnati and Athens
- OH 2 over US 6 between Sandusky and Cleveland
- IN 63 over US 41 between Terre Haute and Carbondale, IN
Also from Indiana:
IN 49 is faster between US 30/Toll Road/I-94 than US 421
IN 2 is faster between South Bend and Rolling Prairie than US 20
In Pennsylvania, here is one example:
PA 272 preferred over US 222 between Wakefield and Willow Street in Lancaster County.
(At least I prefer it)
WA 231 bypasses the Spokane area, making it faster than US 395
WA 28 is an easier drive than US 97 for trips between I-90 and Wenatchee
M-65 is shorter and quicker than staying on US-23 north of Standish, MI. M-65 terminates at US-23 on both ends. Staying on US-23 takes you along the Lake Huron shoreline and through some smaller cities along the way making it a slower route.
WI-93 instead of US-53 between LaCrosse and Eau Claire, WI
GA 96/540 instead of US 80
VA 7 instead of US 50 could be one
VA 168 did this with US 60 until I-64 was fully finished in 1980
WV/PA 43 and US 119
^ You could also argue that VA 168 still does it for US 17 for Outer Banks traffic.
How about a County Route? US 395 in Susanville is effectively bypassed by Lassen County Route A3. A lot of traffic heading north/south just outright bypasses Susanville given how much mileage is saved by taking A3.
Nevada's SR 318 is a shorter and more direct way from Crystal Springs to Ely than staying on US 93 the whole way.
MN: MN 316 shortcutting US 61 between Hastings and where 316 rejoins 61 northwest of Red Wing
debatable for thread validity, because it involves the use of an interstate, but I-94/MN 101 between US 169 in Brooklyn Park and Elk River
VT/NH 9 over US 4
ME 3 over US 1 for travel to Acadia and parts of the Maine Coast.
Debateable on this example from Southern IL: IL 145 between Harrisburg and Metropolis over US 45, as IL 145 is much more direct N-S
I suspect a lot of these cases, at least with older construction, are where one route goes through towns and the other tends to avoid them:
- In the present day, traffic is split on US 30 and OH 172 between East Canton and Lisbon. For through traffic, OH 172 has the edge because it's slightly shorter and doesn't go through any major towns.
- In the pre-Interstate era, WV 73 was preferred for through traffic between Morgantown and Bridgeport/Clarksburg. US 19 goes through Fairmont and number of coal towns, where WV 73 mostly avoided them.
Another former VA one is VA 44 over US 58 in Virginia Beach (VA 44 is now just I-264 of course)
Quote from: Mapmikey on September 25, 2021, 10:07:18 PM
VA 7 instead of US 50 could be one
If traffic is bad enough it might be quicker to use VA 7 (and VA 267) over I-66!
Davenport moved US 61 to the Interstates 80 and 280. And got the old one made a business route.
Peoria asked US 24 be moved to the other side of the river and became a city street.
Both felt a lesser designation have them more flexibility. I don't know if either has done anything different yet.
I have to disagree on design. US 67 in Warren County was in such poor shape until it's current reconstruction is was worse than many county roads.
AASHTO needs to at least embarrass states that have horrible US routes.
California decommissioning most US route segments means this isn't common in this state, even historically:
- from SF to Sacramento, Route 24 (now a combination of 24, 680, 242, 4, 160) was always a better corridor than US 50 (which detoured into Sacramento via former US 48 and former US 99W) but the real through route was US 40 (now I-80).
- Route 154 (originally Route 150) between Los Olivos and Santa Barbara has been the shorter route from those two points compared to US 101 the whole time, but 101 was widened out to expressway/freeway. 154 is still a decent route between the two spots though and Google Maps often recommends it instead of staying on 101.
That inland corridor actually existed before the advent of the state route system too.
- This briefly existed in LA when the San Diego Freeway was Route 7 and thus a slightly more direct route from Sylmar to Long Beach compared to using US 6.
Pertaining to Arizona and the Mesa-Showlow corridor I would say the corridors of AZ 87/AZ 260 are now superior to that of US 60 given they have numerous new expressway segments. US 60 has a huge obstacle with Salt River Canyon.
Maine State Route 161 over US 1 in northern Maine
Quote from: TheStranger on September 26, 2021, 01:11:31 PM
California decommissioning most US route segments means this isn't common in this state, even historically:
- from SF to Sacramento, Route 24 (now a combination of 24, 680, 242, 4, 160) was always a better corridor than US 50 (which detoured into Sacramento via former US 48 and former US 99W) but the real through route was US 40 (now I-80).
- Route 154 (originally Route 150) between Los Olivos and Santa Barbara has been the shorter route from those two points compared to US 101 the whole time, but 101 was widened out to expressway/freeway. 154 is still a decent route between the two spots though and Google Maps often recommends it instead of staying on 101.
That inland corridor actually existed before the advent of the state route system too.
- This briefly existed in LA when the San Diego Freeway was Route 7 and thus a slightly more direct route from Sylmar to Long Beach compared to using US 6.
US-66 is a notable one where the Arroyo Seco Parkway section became CA-11 and now CA-110.
NC-11 is now much preferred over US-258 between Murfreesboro and Kinston, North Carolina. They are about the same distance.
Bonus: US-258 is also not the preferred route on the way further to its south terminus in Jacksonville, North Carolina, but that section is only partially covered by NC-58 from Kinston to Pollocksville (and from there multiplexed with US-17 to Maysville).
Quote from: bing101 on September 26, 2021, 02:19:26 PM
Quote from: TheStranger on September 26, 2021, 01:11:31 PM
California decommissioning most US route segments means this isn't common in this state, even historically:
- from SF to Sacramento, Route 24 (now a combination of 24, 680, 242, 4, 160) was always a better corridor than US 50 (which detoured into Sacramento via former US 48 and former US 99W) but the real through route was US 40 (now I-80).
- Route 154 (originally Route 150) between Los Olivos and Santa Barbara has been the shorter route from those two points compared to US 101 the whole time, but 101 was widened out to expressway/freeway. 154 is still a decent route between the two spots though and Google Maps often recommends it instead of staying on 101.
That inland corridor actually existed before the advent of the state route system too.
- This briefly existed in LA when the San Diego Freeway was Route 7 and thus a slightly more direct route from Sylmar to Long Beach compared to using US 6.
US-66 is a notable one where the Arroyo Seco Parkway section became CA-11 and now CA-110.
The thread isn't about US route corridors being remembered to state routes, but state route parallel alternates being more efficient than the US route in question (i.e. SR 63 in Indiana vs. US 41).
With that in mind...
Past example in Arizona:
AZ 84 (replaced by I-8), AZ 93 and AZ 86 (supplanted by I-10) vs. Now-former US 80 (now AZ 77, AZ 89 and AZ 80) between AZ 85 and New Mexico.
SM-G973U1
Not sure how much this actually gets utilized, but WV-10 and WV-80 is still a much shorter and slightly faster route between Huntington and Gilbert, West Virginia than US-52.
Also, NC-86 is preferred over US-421 between Sanford and Wilmington, North Carolina (not much different in time and distance). However, if you take US-421 to NC-27 (which keeps going as NC-50), you can cut over to I-40 and run the route in about the same time as well. NC-86 works better if you are headed for Southport and Oak Island, whereas I-40 works better if you are headed for Wrightsville or Topsail. Not much difference in time for those going to downtown Wilmington or on further to Carolina Beach or Kure (but I-40 is about 15 miles longer).
KY 114 over US 460 between Salyersville and Prestonsburg, because US 460 jogs north to Paintsville and then runs concurrently with US 23 to Prestonsburg, while KY 114 runs directly between Salyersville and Prestonsburg.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on September 26, 2021, 08:19:14 PM
Not sure how much this actually gets utilized, but WV-10 and WV-80 is still a much shorter and slightly faster route between Huntington and Gilbert, West Virginia than US-52.
WV 65 between Naugatuck and Delbarton instead of US 52 through Williamson.
If I am going to Gilbert or beyond on US 52, my normal route is to take WV 65 to US 119, then WV 73 to Logan and then WV 10 and WV 80 to rejoin US 52 at Gilbert. And I did that even before the four-laning of WV 10 was complete between Logan and Man.
Quote from: Dirt Roads on September 26, 2021, 08:19:14 PM
Not sure how much this actually gets utilized, but WV-10 and WV-80 is still a much shorter and slightly faster route between Huntington and Gilbert, West Virginia than US-52.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 26, 2021, 08:40:52 PM
WV 65 between Naugatuck and Delbarton instead of US 52 through Williamson.
That's exactly what locals did if they didn't need to stop in Williamson. When I was growing up, the part between Belo and Delbarton was WV-65 Spur. But it was all WV-65 back in the old days. Sounds like a theme for a new thread.
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
In Alabama, SR 169 is about 10 miles shorter and 10 minutes faster than US 431 between Seale and Opelika.
Former example in Utah: US 6 between Spanish Fork and Moark Junction, where US 6 was on its original route and SR 214 was the expressway from the mouth of the canyon down to I-15. In the mid 1990s, US 6 was moved onto that expressway and a concurrency with I-15, while the old alignment became SR 198.
Quote from: thspfc on September 26, 2021, 11:03:10 PM
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
That makes more logical sense since US-141 goes in a more direct route. US-41 looks like it goes all over the place and is 278 miles which seems like a lot for a N-S route in the U.P.
IA 9 and IA 51 looks like a faster set of roads than US 52 for getting from Decorah to Postville in Iowa. Actually, there may be a county road that makes it even faster.
DE 1 for US 13 from Dover on north.
In the future once the CSVT is complete, PA 147 (along with I-180 further north) will accomplish this for US 15 around Lewisburg.
Quote from: thspfc on September 26, 2021, 11:03:10 PM
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
Another UP example -- it's shorter and to jog over to M-28 than to follow US 2 all the way if you're driving from I-75 to Ironwood, or vice versa.
US 301 replaced by the Starke Bypass sort of. It never got official approval by AASHTO, so it's really a state designation.
It's not a signed state route, but the Garden State Parkway (NJ 444) is essentially the replacement for US 9 through much of NJ. Same deal for the Atlantic City Expressway (NJ 446) and US 30.
Functionally Florida's Turnpike has replaced US 441 between Orlando and Miami.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 27, 2021, 11:54:38 AM
Quote from: thspfc on September 26, 2021, 11:03:10 PM
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
Another UP example -- it's shorter and to jog over to M-28 than to follow US 2 all the way if you're driving from I-75 to Ironwood, or vice versa.
And another one. It's shorter to take M-69 from Crystal Falls to Escanaba than to use US-2.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 27, 2021, 11:54:38 AM
Quote from: thspfc on September 26, 2021, 11:03:10 PM
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
Another UP example -- it's shorter and to jog over to M-28 than to follow US 2 all the way if you're driving from I-75 to Ironwood, or vice versa.
Yeah but you don't stay on M-28 the entire way after you reach it either. M-94 comes in and joins M-28 in Shingleton on the west end of the Seney Stretch. Before you get to Munising you would continue to follow M-94 west to US-41 north to CR-480 west. This bypasses Munising and Marquette and you rejoin M-28 in Negaunee. It actually adds on a mile to do that but is 7 minutes quicker.
Quote from: Flint1979 on September 28, 2021, 07:53:58 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 27, 2021, 11:54:38 AM
Quote from: thspfc on September 26, 2021, 11:03:10 PM
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
Another UP example -- it's shorter and to jog over to M-28 than to follow US 2 all the way if you're driving from I-75 to Ironwood, or vice versa.
Yeah but you don't stay on M-28 the entire way after you reach it either. M-94 comes in and joins M-28 in Shingleton on the west end of the Seney Stretch. Before you get to Munising you would continue to follow M-94 west to US-41 north to CR-480 west. This bypasses Munising and Marquette and you rejoin M-28 in Negaunee. It actually adds on a mile to do that but is 7 minutes quicker.
We used M-28 the whole way. All those roundabouts on the downtown Marquette bypass don't help with the travel time, for sure.
Lots of cases in Pennsylvania:
- Before the new Somerset-Meyersdale section of US 219 opened in SW PA, PA 653 and Garrett Shortcut Road (SR 2031) were preferred for cars over US 219. It's much shorter and aside from a steep grade into Garrett, much straighter and flatter than old US 219.
- PA 43/WV 43 (Mon-Fayette Expressway), with a bit of I-68, are preferred over US 119 between Morgantown, WV and Uniontown, PA.
- PA Turnpike 66 and US 22 are favored over US 119 around Greensburg.
- PA 59 over US 6 between Warren and Smethport. Shorter distance and avoids towns, although there is some tourist traffic around Kinzua Dam.
- PA 64 over US 220 between I-80 and Mill Hall area. Shorter routing.
- PA 965 over US 62 between Jackson Center and Polk. More direct and avoids going through Sandy Lake.
- OH 85/PA 285 over US 6 near Pymatuning Lake. State routes cut across the lake, but US 6 goes out of its way around it.
Another WV entry for good measure:
- WV 28/WV 42/WV 93 are preferred over US 220 for through traffic between Petersburg and Keyser. It's a shorter alignment. Even throwing Patterson Creek Road into the mix, either between WV 42 and Corridor H or the full way up to US 50, is better than US 220.
Has anyone mentioned CO-17 over US285 in southern Colorado?
Quote from: Dirt Roads on September 26, 2021, 08:32:24 PM
Also, NC-86 is preferred over US-421 between Sanford and Wilmington, North Carolina (not much different in time and distance). However, if you take US-421 to NC-27 (which keeps going as NC-50), you can cut over to I-40 and run the route in about the same time as well. NC-86 works better if you are headed for Southport and Oak Island, whereas I-40 works better if you are headed for Wrightsville or Topsail. Not much difference in time for those going to downtown Wilmington or on further to Carolina Beach or Kure (but I-40 is about 15 miles longer).
*NC 87
Quote from: hbelkins on September 28, 2021, 10:28:34 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on September 28, 2021, 07:53:58 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 27, 2021, 11:54:38 AM
Quote from: thspfc on September 26, 2021, 11:03:10 PM
M-35 is faster than US-41 between Escanaba and Menominee. US-41 in Michigan in general just makes no sense, it should take over US-141's routing between US-141's northern terminus and Abrams, WI, with current US-41 between Abrams and US-141's northern terminus becoming state routes.
Another UP example -- it's shorter and to jog over to M-28 than to follow US 2 all the way if you're driving from I-75 to Ironwood, or vice versa.
Yeah but you don't stay on M-28 the entire way after you reach it either. M-94 comes in and joins M-28 in Shingleton on the west end of the Seney Stretch. Before you get to Munising you would continue to follow M-94 west to US-41 north to CR-480 west. This bypasses Munising and Marquette and you rejoin M-28 in Negaunee. It actually adds on a mile to do that but is 7 minutes quicker.
We used M-28 the whole way. All those roundabouts on the downtown Marquette bypass don't help with the travel time, for sure.
That's fine too it just adds about 7-10 minutes to the drive. That's why it's easier just to bypass Marquette if your destination isn't in Marquette.
I may be misunderstanding the question, but I think one could count Texas SH 75..its essentially the old route of US 75 and replaced it south of Dallas where IH 45 took over...
Also there's a SH 81 along IH 35 that replaced US 81
OK 112 from Poteau to Pocola is faster and shorter than US 271.
AR 51 used to be shorter than US 270 between Hot Springs and Malvern until they flip flopped the designations in 1986.
IL 336 is quicker between Tennessee and Macomb than US 136.
Another Carolina example is NC/SC 177 (using a short stretch of SC 9) being a shorter route than US 1 (between Southern Pines/Aberdeen NC and Cheraw SC)
In Georgia GA 172 (including part of GA 72) is shorter than US 29 (between Athens and Hartwell)