Some interstates and other freeways, even in our own local areas, are positioned such that we never, or rarely, have a reason to use them.
So I ask, what is the nearest freeway segment to you that you've never been on?
I live on the east side of the Rochester, NY, metro, which makes this segment (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43.0116216,-77.439058/NYS+Thruway+Exit+46,+Henrietta,+NY+14467/@43.0804496,-77.6766361,11.21z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d14bf900cd0c5f:0x4cd4a59bc05121d5!2m2!1d-77.6502608!2d43.050892) of the thruway particularly hard to find a use for. I'd only use it when traveling between two places other than home - say Buffalo to Syracuse, or maybe even Henrietta to Victor. In my case, that set of circumstances never aligned until just a few years ago. So there was 12 miles of freeway that was a mere 8 miles from home, that I had never seen in person up until I was 15. As for now, I think this segment of NY 33 in Buffalo (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.9238553,-78.8422582/42.932446,-78.7683733/@42.9285807,-78.8349183,13.27z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0), at 68 linear miles away, takes the cake. I've been on every freeway closer than that multiple times.
The tip of the Circumferential Highway in Nashua, about 15 miles away.
While I know I've been on at least some of Ronald Reagan Pkwy in Gwinnett County, I'm fairly sure I haven't clinched it. That's about 15 miles from me.
A recently opened (July 2nd) section of (Spanish) A-23 North of me. However I'll be clinching it next Sunday. Before and after, it is a large chunk of AP-2. I didn't get to see the parallel N-2 road until two years ago, and the fact it's tolled makes it even harder for me to use it.
As an inhabitant of the Chicago area, for me, it's either the part of I-355 south of I-55, or that little bit of I-65 between I-90 and I-80/94.
For both of these, it's due to these segments being out of the way for the routings I commonly travel.
Since I'm right in between them, it's a toss-up:
- I've never driven any of the Vancouver Island freeways. I've only been there on foot. Only a couple hours drive/boat ride from Seattle.
- Never driven OR-217 (the Beaverton-Tigard Hwy). About 2.5 hrs from Seattle.
I've driven every freeway in Vancouver (the Lower Mainland) and Seattle. Most recent clinch was BC-11 (the Abbotsford-Mission Hwy); both sections in Abbotsford and Mission.
Although my family has driven me down the 580 segment from Altamont to Vernalis numerous times (to reach 5) during trips to Southern California, I've never actually myself used it as a driver - I've taken 4 Bay Area to SoCal roadtrips via US 101, and one Sacramento to LA trip via 99. (It's about 61 miles east of me)
I'm not sure if I've traveled along the Route 12 freeway in Santa Rosa (62 miles to my north), I think I may have briefly a few years back.
On the other hand, I've never even been on the short Route 132 freeway (as noted by sparker in another thread, part of the originally proposed I-5W corridor of the 1950s!) from 580 to 5, and that is approximately 73 miles east of me.
I-580 between CA 132 and I-205.
US 131 North of Exit 91, US 127 North of Lansing are the two closest to me.
Probably parts of I-96 south of the Davison.
Part of All American Freeway in Fayetteville.
The eastern end of the Intercounty Connector (MD-200) between I-95 and US-1.
For the nearest one never travelled at all in whole or in part, I'm pretty sure it'd be I-795 near Baltimore.
WA SR 14 between mp 1-3 is my closest. It is about 40 minutes away.
LG-TP260
My answer is easy. It's the toll road along the south end of TX 360 (the highway runs only along the frontage roads, which I've been on many times), about 20 miles away. This is because it's only been open for 2 months.
Other than that, it's probably US 80 in east Dallas, about 50 miles away. I live south of Dallas and have never had a reason to go that way.
The closest for me is MA 57 near Springfield.
I-22 between AL 233 and MS 23; the only bit of interstate left for me to clinch, in order to "complete" both states' interstate networks.
>> Completed, 10/2018
There's some parts of I-40 west of Nashville I don't think I've driven before; west of I-24 and TN 100. I haven't completed all of the nearby Briley Parkway (TN 155).
For me, would have to be parts of the STL Beltway, mainly I/IL 255 from its Northern Terminus, South and then West to I-270 (at the MO I-55 junction) and then North on I-270 until about I-64...Matter of fact, I don't think I have ever traveled on any segment of the I/IL 255 Freeway
I-44 leaving STL to the Southwest
And some of the Kentucky Parkways in Western KY (until very recently, pretty much all the Kentucky Parkways) such as the Purchase and the Pennyrile (depending on how the Pennyrile is defined, I may have traveled one Exit length between the Audubon and KY 425)
The old I-164 in Indiana, now known as I-69 between I-64 and Evansville
Nearest to me would be parts of I-69 between Flint and Port Huron, MI.
Any freeway portions of the Ronald Reagan Cross-County Highway in Cincinnati.
Quote from: vdeane on July 16, 2018, 08:03:53 PM
The closest for me is MA 57 near Springfield.
I think that I clinched that when I was in my 20s, worked 2nd shift, and took pointless drives. I'll have to check, but if I
didn't clinch that, it's the closest one. Otherwise, it might be the Northway north of Saratoga. or some freeway in Maine.
I can't think of any freeway segment in Virginia, Maryland or D.C. that I have not driven.
Probably the NC-540 Triangle Expressway in N.C. I almost used it as part of an alternate routing on a trip to Florida in Sept. 2016 when I-95 near Fayetteville was closed due to tropical storm flooding, but the segment reopened a couple days before my trip.
Within Washington: only Interstate 82 between Yakima and Oregon (plus I-182).
Vancouver Island's freeways would technically be closer, along with some other roads in the Fraser Valley.
The spur of I-895 that leads to I-97 and MD 2.
The part of I-540 between US 1 (in the north) and US 64/264.
For me it's the segment of I-640 in Knoxville east of the I-75/275 interchange. Given that I live in West Knoxville and use I-40 when I need to head east and I-75 when I need to head north, it should really come as no surprise.
Pfft. Freeway segment? Northern end of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, maybe. I have never been to Bear Mountain.
Hard to tell here in NY. Too many short little segments everywhere that are easy to miss.
In terms of interstates, the resigned section of I-95/I-295 in NJ/PA and I-781 are basically equidistant from me (I will wait for the entire I-95 project to be done to re-clinch those segments). After that is the very end of I-190 between the last exit and the border crossing (got my passport, finally).
Then comes a section of I-95 in Maine between exits 217 and 286.
From there it is probably the northwest quarter of the I-270 loop or I-75 south of the Ohio Turnpike.
The Toll 540 or Toll 147 in the RDU area because tolls-well that and the fact that I never need to go anywhere served by those roads. I am not a shunpiker per se, but I'm not going out of my way to use a road that costs money for no good reason either.
Nearest (to where I've ever lived): also MA 57, about 35 miles away.
Given that I've touched just about every freeway segment in my immediate area (Greater Philly); the nearest one that I haven't been on at all would be MD 10 just south of Baltimore.
There's a 1 mile section of I-295 in NJ I'm rarely on since I can access the road via the exits just north and south of there.
Same with the NJ Turnpike between Exits 2 & 3.
I'm gonna say there's probably some odd freeway roadway in Delaware County or Chester County, PA that I've never been on; about 30 or 45 minutes away. Otherwise, I don't believe I've ever driven much of I-78 in NJ; about 70 miles from me.
Great thread.
I just remembered I have yet to drive the short stretch of VA 267 inside the beltway.
I think mine is the remaining freeway section of US 14 west of US 169 in Mankato.
The WI 26 bypass of Watertown. I've driven all the other freeway segments of WI 26, but I took the business route the one time I was in the Watertown area.
Quote from: kurumi on July 17, 2018, 11:26:28 AM
Nearest (to where I've ever lived): also MA 57, about 35 miles away.
Heh. Not too many Riverside/Six Flags fans on here. :D
Is this as the crow flies? It might be the eastern part of the LIE, but I'd have to take a ferry to get there.
CA-4 between I-80 and CA-242... the 4/80 junction is about 25 miles away by road.
The CA 37 freeway around the north side of Vallejo, particularly the portion between the fairgrounds and the Napa River bridge including the interchange with CA 29. Built while I was still living in SoCal; haven't had the need nor opportunity to drive on it as of yet since I moved up here at the end of 2012. One of these days.............
Quote from: Rothman on July 17, 2018, 08:05:23 AM
Pfft. Freeway segment?
What would you have preferred to answer? Nearest road in general? Nearest Hudson River Crossing? :-D
Quote from: jon daly on July 17, 2018, 11:57:58 AM
Is this as the crow flies? It might be the eastern part of the LIE, but I'd have to take a ferry to get there.
Sure, why not? Generally, I was thinking of over land, but whatever floats your boat (see what I did there?).
^^ Thanks. I may've driven to the entire LIE back in the 90s, but I didn't keep a diary of these things. If I did, then the Sunrise Highway is probably my answer.
If we're not counting tollways, probably I-14 by Temple (we live in South Austin). Keeping tollways in, the stretch of toll 130 near here.
Probably parts of I-676 in Philadelphia and New Jersey plus parts of I-264 and VA-164 in Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia.
Curious, since I have driven all of the parent routes in the respective states (I-76 in Pennsylvania is pretty long as is I-64 (I am counting it as a parent of VA-164 too) across Virginia.
Any of the I-x10s in NOLA. Also the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (shameful).
I've never been on US 15 in MD north of Exit 13 (the freeway segment near Frederick). For me, that's 53 miles away (37 as the crow flies).
The nearest freeway I've never been on at all is the Patuxent Freeway, which would be 87 miles away (63 as the crow flies).
There is a very small section of I-355 between the NB355->EB88 and the WB88->NB355 ramps that I haven't covered yet. 46 miles from home.
I'm surprised to find out that my closest untraveled freeway segment is only 7 miles away. Living in Kentwood, I never have a reason to drive the portion of I-196 between Chicago Drive and Lake Michigan Drive. Living in Grand Rapids 19 years, I may have been on this segment at some point, but I have no clear memory of doing so.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm2.staticflickr.com%2F1786%2F43472266051_6ea4136030_b.jpg&hash=edf0e6810874a48830fb814be8f6db4638da3e79)
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 17, 2018, 01:17:40 PM
Probably parts of I-676 in Philadelphia and New Jersey plus parts of I-264 and VA-164 in Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia.
Curious, since I have driven all of the parent routes in the respective states (I-76 in Pennsylvania is pretty long as is I-64 (I am counting it as a parent of VA-164 too) across Virginia.
I didn't 'clinch' I-381 and my last section of VA I-81 (about 20 miles just south of Pulaski) until 2017 (TN eclipse trip).
It was raining so hard on my one previous I-81 trip thru the Bristol area (1991) that I skipped I-381.
Hard to say...probably something in Montreal.
Quote from: adwerkema on July 17, 2018, 02:03:42 PM
I'm surprised to find out that my closest untraveled freeway segment is only 7 miles away. Living in Kentwood, I never have a reason to drive the portion of I-196 between Chicago Drive and Lake Michigan Drive. Living in Grand Rapids 19 years, I may have been on this segment at some point, but I have no clear memory of doing so.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm2.staticflickr.com%2F1786%2F43472266051_6ea4136030_b.jpg&hash=edf0e6810874a48830fb814be8f6db4638da3e79)
That's funny, because when I was a young pup in the 1970's living in Jenison (Georgetown Township) that very segment of I-196 was the freeway I spent the most time riding on. I can even vaguely remember when I-196 ended at Chicago Dr.
Quote from: slorydn1 on July 17, 2018, 02:38:28 PM
Quote from: adwerkema on July 17, 2018, 02:03:42 PM
I'm surprised to find out that my closest untraveled freeway segment is only 7 miles away. Living in Kentwood, I never have a reason to drive the portion of I-196 between Chicago Drive and Lake Michigan Drive. Living in Grand Rapids 19 years, I may have been on this segment at some point, but I have no clear memory of doing so.
That's funny, because when I was a young pup in the 1970's living in Jenison (Georgetown Township) that very segment of I-196 was the freeway I spent the most time riding on. I can even vaguely remember when I-196 ended at Chicago Dr.
That's hilarious and quite ironic :-D
MA 240, which is the only inch of freeway in my state I've never been on.
Quote from: plain on July 17, 2018, 11:36:17 AM
Great thread.
Thanks!
The idea popped into my head, and I was honestly quite surprised to find it hadn't been done before.
Quote from: Rothman on July 17, 2018, 11:48:43 AM
Quote from: kurumi on July 17, 2018, 11:26:28 AM
Nearest (to where I've ever lived): also MA 57, about 35 miles away.
Heh. Not too many Riverside/Six Flags fans on here. :D
MA-57 has a weird layout where all the exits are westbound and all the entrances are eastbound.
It's almost certainly the Bishop Ford Freeway, which is less than 45 minutes from me. I have no reason to take it since it runs circumferential to where I live!
Nearest freeway I've yet to drive on? Oh 4, west of Springfield Ohio. (Northern end is 61 miles from home)
Nearest interstate I've yet to drive on? I-75 between I-70 and US 33 (the nearest point on I-75 from me would be 67 miles)
For me, it's probably the 104 Freeway in Rochester. There's some mileage in Cleveland that I haven't finished as well, but I think Rochester is closer, certainly it's closer to me as the crow flies.
It might be the short segment of I-78 between PA 343 and US 22. I don't think I've ever been on that part at all. If I have, it'd be PA 283 between the Airport Spur and PA 230. I've never driven it all the way from Harrisburg to Lancaster.
From Wayland NY, mine would be the Lake Ontario Parkway east of NY 390, followed by a bit of NY 400 around East Aurora.
From where I live, it would have to be the southern leg of I-684 leading to I-287. Might have on a bus on a field trip to NYC, but I've never driven it. I always use the Saw Mill when I head toward NYC and points southwest, and I'll use the Hutch connection going to Long Island. That would be about 70 miles from me. Next closest is the Thruway between Exits 17 and 19, about 80 miles. The whole 17-21A stretch is out of the way. I've only driven 19-21A once driving from Lancaster PA to Lake George, but took US 209 as the hypotenuse of the 84/87 triangle between Port Jervis and Kingston.
MA 57 can be desolate, especially at night. I would take it as part of the backway home from Springfield if there was night construction on I-91 or I-84. The west end reminds me of how I-691 (then CT 66) used to end at Exit 4. You can see where it was meant to extend beyond MA 187. There is one EB Exit at MA 75 (creating a palindrome).
Quote from: SectorZ on July 17, 2018, 03:39:13 PM
MA 240, which is the only inch of freeway in my state I've never been on.
MA 240 is not a freeway. It's similar to Industrial Ave. in Haverhill (most people on this forum aren't familiar with it, but I know you are).
Quote from: 1 on July 18, 2018, 07:40:33 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on July 17, 2018, 03:39:13 PM
MA 240, which is the only inch of freeway in my state I've never been on.
MA 240 is not a freeway. It's similar to Industrial Ave. in Haverhill (most people on this forum aren't familiar with it, but I know you are).
One set of ramps followed by two traffic signals does not a freeway make.
Quote from: webny99 on July 17, 2018, 12:28:50 PM
Quote from: Rothman on July 17, 2018, 08:05:23 AM
Pfft. Freeway segment?
What would you have preferred to answer? Nearest road in general? Nearest Hudson River Crossing? :-D
Quote from: jon daly on July 17, 2018, 11:57:58 AM
Is this as the crow flies? It might be the eastern part of the LIE, but I'd have to take a ferry to get there.
Sure, why not? Generally, I was thinking of over land, but whatever floats your boat (see what I did there?).
If Long Island doesn't qualify, then eastbound RI-37 might. I've driven the entire westbound portion, but not the eastbound one. If it doesn't matter which direction I took, then the answer may be the Huntington Expressway (RI-10.)
I-185, I'm pretty sure I drove it from I-85 to US-80 but haven't been on it south of there.
For me:
-- Geographically ('As the Crow Flies') closest - US 31 north of Muskegon, MI.
-- Driving distance closest - US 12 Baraboo, WI bypass.
(those two are close, distance wise)
-- Nearest tollway - IL 390 east of I-290.
An interesting case, due to where I grew up I was never on US (now 'I') 41 between Northland Ave (WI 15/County 'OO') and Richmond St (WI 47) here in Appleton, WI until after I was granted a driving license.
:meh:
Mike
This was a tough one...but from SE PA, for me it's the NJ Turnpike between Exits 1 and 6, which is maybe 45 miles from me.
I-95 in DE between the northern I-495 split and US 202, is closer, and I've only driven that once.
Unless the US 58 Emporia bypass counts, it’s either the US 29 bypass of Lynchburg or the newly-extended segment of VA 164, whichever is closer. I’ve driven every bit of freeway in the Richmond area and the rest of the freeways in Hampton Roads.
Honestly a large majority of the DFW area has freeways I've never driven. Most of Dallas and the mid-cities, especially. I-20 out west from here as well. Didn't realize until recently that the 20/30 merge was actually the western terminus of I-30, so that was neat to learn.
CA-13 Warren Freeway, CA-163 and CA-110 are the nearest freeways I never been to.
Something in Chicago; IL 53 probably. Was a passenger on part of it, but never drove.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on July 18, 2018, 01:11:45 PM
Something in Chicago; IL 53 probably. Was a passenger on part of it, but never drove.
Looking at the OP, "drive" probably wasn't literal.
From where I live (Wakefield, MA), the nearest freeway segment I've never driven is I-295 in Maine.
Quote from: roadman on July 18, 2018, 01:21:38 PM
From where I live (Wakefield, MA), the nearest freeway segment I've never driven is I-295 in Maine.
Just making sure you have been on all of these:
- Everything in Greater Providence, including:
- PVD airport connector
- RI 10 east of I-95
- RI 37 west of I-295 and east of I-95
- Circumferential Highway, Nashua, NH
- MA 18 in New Bedford (unlike MA 240, this is a freeway for one mile)
- Manchester NH airport connector
- I-89 east of I-93
Quote from: Takumi on July 18, 2018, 11:13:31 AM
Unless the US 58 Emporia bypass counts, it's either the US 29 bypass of Lynchburg or the newly-extended segment of VA 164, whichever is closer. I've driven every bit of freeway in the Richmond area and the rest of the freeways in Hampton Roads.
Indeed the US 58 Emporia bypass is not a full freeway as the connections to both Davis St and Reese St meets the bypass at at-grade intersections. However, I do consider the Lawrenceville bypass, about 20 miles to the west, a freeway (not sure if you've driven that or not).
Quote from: plain on July 18, 2018, 02:47:06 PM
Quote from: Takumi on July 18, 2018, 11:13:31 AM
Unless the US 58 Emporia bypass counts, it's either the US 29 bypass of Lynchburg or the newly-extended segment of VA 164, whichever is closer. I've driven every bit of freeway in the Richmond area and the rest of the freeways in Hampton Roads.
Indeed the US 58 Emporia bypass is not a full freeway as the connections to both Davis St and Reese St meets the bypass at at-grade intersections. However, I do consider the Lawrenceville bypass, about 20 miles to the west, a freeway (not sure if you've driven that or not).
Correct on both. These US-58 bypasses are full freeways -- Courtland, Franklin and Suffolk.
The Dulles Greenway portion of VA 267.
For me, it's the section of I-469 from the US-24 interchange north and west to I-69 in Fort Wayne.
There are several very close to me:
1. NJ Turnpike south of Exit 4. Since it's my answer to the "what exit?" question, there's no reason not to take I-295 instead unless it's jammed, and I just don't traverse that area frequently enough to have encountered that.
2. I-676 south of the US 30 split. It's extremely local, so unless your destination is right on it, it doesn't make sense
3. I-295 between Exit 34 and 36. This one is "almost never" since I remember driving it at least once, when the southbound entrance was jammed, and I decided to go north instead (didn't help me a bit, got into a worse jam, won't be repeating it any time soon). It's actually the closest segment of Interstate to me, but because of that, I enter at 36 to go north and 34 (or sometimes 32) to go south.
I-195 east of NJ 18, never had a need to go past there.
Quote from: 1 on July 18, 2018, 01:15:45 PM
Looking at the OP, "drive" probably wasn't literal.
Well, if so, then my entire list might be disqualified. Even I-676. Back when Admiral Wilson Blvd (US 30) flooded frequently I remember my school bus driver being forced onto 676 instead. Though I'm pretty sure we never went all the way south to I-76 on it. Then I'd have to say DE 1/7.
Before the I-57/I-294 partial interchange was built, my answer would probably be I-94 from I-57 to I-80. I still rarely travel it, but once the 57/294 interchange was opened, I-294 from I-57 to I-80 would be the new winner. Using the Harlem/IL 43/Exit 148 point of entry, I go to I-57, then 294 north when going to Rosemont for various games/shows. If I'm going to points east (like another location of my workplace), I'll stay on Interstate 80, even if I'm paying tolls to be stuck behind trucks that don't follow IL lane restrictions that the cops won't enforce, along with the illogical use of 294's exit numbers instead of I-80's.
TL;DR: The short stretch of I-294 from I-80 to I-57.
Quote from: 1 on July 18, 2018, 07:40:33 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on July 17, 2018, 03:39:13 PM
MA 240, which is the only inch of freeway in my state I've never been on.
MA 240 is not a freeway. It's similar to Industrial Ave. in Haverhill (most people on this forum aren't familiar with it, but I know you are).
I guess that explains why I need to drive on it so I would actually know that! In that case mine is probably RI 10 down near 95, which may actually be closer than MA 240 anyways.
Quote from: 1 on July 18, 2018, 01:15:45 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on July 18, 2018, 01:11:45 PM
Something in Chicago; IL 53 probably. Was a passenger on part of it, but never drove.
Looking at the OP, "drive" probably wasn't literal.
Correct.
I actually considered phrasing it as "been on" instead of "driven", but decided the latter was more concise. I try to avoid wordy thread titles.
Quote from: GenExpwy on July 18, 2018, 04:15:45 AM
mine would be the Lake Ontario Parkway east of NY 390
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on July 17, 2018, 10:47:06 PM
For me, it's probably the 104 Freeway in Rochester.
Irony of all ironies, I use the NY 104 freeway every day, and the east end of the LOSP quite frequently as well.
I guess Rochester's highway network isn't particularly well-suited to clinching if you're not from the area. I imagine I've clinched a lot more of the Buffalo/Syracuse freeway networks than someone from there has clinched of Rochester's, simply because we're further from the beaten path.
I-95 from Riveria Beach to Fort Lauderdale.
I don't think I have ever been on the section of Nicolls Road south of the LIE (I-495). But it is difficult for me to say definitively since I do not actively keep track of what county roads I have or have not been on.
If I have, then the next closest is the short freeway spur to the Walt Whitman Bridge from NJ 168 (internal designation NJ 76C, but no signed number).
If I say it then I'll probably be making plans to go drive on it to clinch it. I'd guess that it's I-94 between Port Huron and Detroit since I don't ever recall going to Port Huron and Detroit in the same day before. It's nowhere on I-75 that's for sure since I have that highway clinched all the way from Sault Ste. Marie to Fort Myers.
Quote from: webny99 on July 16, 2018, 03:06:17 PM
Some interstates and other freeways, even in our own local areas, are positioned such that we never, or rarely, have a reason to use them.
So I ask, what is the nearest freeway segment to you that you've never been on?
I live on the east side of the Rochester, NY, metro, which makes this segment (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43.0116216,-77.439058/NYS+Thruway+Exit+46,+Henrietta,+NY+14467/@43.0804496,-77.6766361,11.21z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d14bf900cd0c5f:0x4cd4a59bc05121d5!2m2!1d-77.6502608!2d43.050892) of the thruway particularly hard to find a use for. I'd only use it when traveling between two places other than home - say Buffalo to Syracuse, or maybe even Henrietta to Victor. In my case, that set of circumstances never aligned until just a few years ago. So there was 12 miles of freeway that was a mere 8 miles from home, that I had never seen in person up until I was 15. As for now, I think this segment of NY 33 in Buffalo (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.9238553,-78.8422582/42.932446,-78.7683733/@42.9285807,-78.8349183,13.27z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0), at 68 linear miles away, takes the cake. I've been on every freeway closer than that multiple times.
I always like it when you open up these threads...
While you didn't drive on that section of I-90 for many years, I did many times when we would take the Thruway from Buffalo to NYC.
Also, with regards to NY 33, I probably first rode on that when I was an infant.
I think the 2 closest segments of highway I've never driven are I-390 from I-90 to Mount Morris and I-86 west of Broad St in. Jamestown. Just as you have no reason to ride on I-90 east of that interchange to I-490, it doesn't make sense for me to backtrack from there unless I have to go to the Coneseus area.
I would say the same with I-86. I would doubt many people in the Buffalo area have a reason to use it.
Quote from: GenExpwy on July 18, 2018, 04:15:45 AM
mine would be the Lake Ontario Parkway east of NY 390
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on July 17, 2018, 10:47:06 PM
For me, it's probably the 104 Freeway in Rochester.
Quote from: Buffaboy on July 19, 2018, 07:54:22 AM
I-390 from I-90 to Mount Morris
This is getting better and better! :-D :clap:
Quote from: Buffaboy on July 19, 2018, 07:54:22 AM
I always like it when you open up these threads...
Thanks!
86 replies in 48 hours is not too bad. I find it intriguing, the way some of us don't even have a use for freeways near to home that long-distance travelers use all the time.
QuoteI would say the same with I-86. I would doubt many people in the Buffalo area have a reason to use it.
Very true. And since you say that, this section of I-86 (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.3721849,-77.6744859/42.3888203,-77.3846937/@42.7067013,-77.7621314,9.54z) just popped into my mind. I've
never driven it and quite possibly never will: If we're headed southeast we take I-390, and if we're headed southwest we take NY 36. People from Rochester have zero use for that section in the middle.
Where else does this happen? I imagine it happens more frequently than we tend to think.
IL-394 and anything north of Golf Road on the Edens (I-94)
Quote from: webny99 on July 19, 2018, 08:26:59 AM
QuoteI would say the same with I-86. I would doubt many people in the Buffalo area have a reason to use it.
Very true. And since you say that, this section of I-86 (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.3721849,-77.6744859/42.3888203,-77.3846937/@42.7067013,-77.7621314,9.54z) just popped into my mind. I've never driven it and quite possibly never will: If we're headed southeast we take I-390, and if we're headed southwest we take NY 36. People from Rochester have zero use for that section in the middle.
Where else does this happen? I imagine it happens more frequently than we tend to think.
From where I am (Decatur, GA), I have no likely use for:
- about half of I-285 (from I-75 down the west side and around to I-675, and also between US 78 and US 278 on the east side)
- I-75 between the southern I-85 split and I-675
- I-85 between the northern I-75 split and I-285, unless traffic on I-285 is particularly horrible (even if bound for Buckhead, I'm likely to use surface streets rather than I-85 to GA 400)
- I-20 between Maynard Terrace (exit 61A) and I-285 on the east side
I've covered all of those, but currently traveling on any of those segments would have to be an intentional thing.
Outside metro Atlanta, I can't think of any reason for me (other than intentionally doing so) to use
- I-59 north of Birmingham
- I-26 between Columbia and Spartanburg
- I-77 south of Charlotte
- I-95 between Savannah and Florence
(and sure enough, I have not been on any of those, except for little bits of I-59 and I-95 I picked up specifically to clinch Georgia's Interstate system).
I'd say US 14 west of I-35 in MN.
I-155 between Peoria and Lincoln, IL
Quote from: webny99 on July 18, 2018, 10:14:34 PM
Quote from: GenExpwy on July 18, 2018, 04:15:45 AM
mine would be the Lake Ontario Parkway east of NY 390
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on July 17, 2018, 10:47:06 PM
For me, it's probably the 104 Freeway in Rochester.
Irony of all ironies, I use the NY 104 freeway every day, and the east end of the LOSP quite frequently as well.
I guess Rochester's highway network isn't particularly well-suited to clinching if you're not from the area. I imagine I've clinched a lot more of the Buffalo/Syracuse freeway networks than someone from there has clinched of Rochester's, simply because we're further from the beaten path.
Depends on where you live too. My first time on I-590 between exits 1 and 2 would have been much later than just about everything else in the area. Likewise, I may well have been in high school by the time I saw the Thruway between 45 and 46, and that may have been Mom allowing me to structure some errands specifically to see it. I can still count on one hand the number of times I've been there. And aside from pieces I saw on the way to and during the Salamanca meet, the only two times I've been on I-86 west of I-390 were to clinch and photograph it (and that clinch is remarkable for me somehow convincing Mom to spend a day driving me on it; I'm still not sure how I did that, and I may well have been joking when I first suggested it).
These days, living in Albany, I have little use for the Quickway. I did a couple of short hops when clinching things in the area, but that was it.
I-185 Columbus GA
Quote from: 1 on July 18, 2018, 01:33:33 PM
Quote from: roadman on July 18, 2018, 01:21:38 PM
From where I live (Wakefield, MA), the nearest freeway segment I've never driven is I-295 in Maine.
Just making sure you have been on all of these:
- Everything in Greater Providence, including:
- PVD airport connector
- RI 10 east of I-95
- RI 37 west of I-295 and east of I-95
- Circumferential Highway, Nashua, NH
- MA 18 in New Bedford (unlike MA 240, this is a freeway for one mile)
- Manchester NH airport connector
- I-89 east of I-93
Yep, I've been on all of those. Have family in both the Manchester NH and Providence RI areas.
Quote from: vdeane on July 19, 2018, 01:26:35 PM
Depends on where you live too. My first time on I-590 between exits 1 and 2 would have been much later than just about everything else in the area.
See, in my case no matter what direction I'm headed (except for due east or northeast), I get on the freeway at NY 590 Exit 7. I don't have a "bottom of the triangle" segment like that (aside from the aforementioned Thruway, but that's on more of a macro-scale).
Quote from: vdeane on July 19, 2018, 01:26:35 PM
And aside from pieces I saw on the way to and during the Salamanca meet, the only two times I've been on I-86 west of I-390 were to clinch and photograph it.
I travel down to Cleveland fairly regularly, and if it so happens we're headed there in the summer, or especially fall, on a non-binding schedule, we'll take I-86 for the scenery. However, it is Allegany State Park that is responsible for most of my travels on that part of I-86.
That one segment I mentioned earlier, between I-390 and NY 36, is the only segment of I-86/NY 17 that haven't seen at all. Corning to Binghamton is the only other stretch that I can still easily count how many times I've been on - just three, to be exact.
For some reason, we never traveled west often when I was young. Even Buffalo was rare, and never west of there (aside from one trip to Toronto when I was in high school and the previously mentioned trip to clinch I-86). Most of our vacations were to the 1000 Islands, though we also did Boston and Philadelphia when I was in middle school (and DC in college, following up on my 7th grade field trip). The vast majority of my travels have been college and after.
These days, my long-range travels seems to have a south-west bias into the mid-Atlantic the the South. For the most part, the midwest is still unexplored for me, with my only foray west of Erie north of the Ohio River being part of my return from Florida this year. Even New England I haven't traveled significantly deep in as of late, and I haven't been to Canada in four years.
I think that some of the highways in Jefferson city are freeways, so that would be mine. Otherwise, the next closest would be I-55 in St. Louis (everything south from the I-270/I-255 interchange).
Quote from: vdeane on July 19, 2018, 03:45:01 PM
These days, my long-range travels seems to have a south-west bias into the mid-Atlantic the the South. For the most part, the midwest is still unexplored for me, with my only foray west of Erie north of the Ohio River being part of my return from Florida this year.
Funny, because my travels are pretty much the opposite (http://www.mob-rule.com/user-gifs/USA/webny99.gif), being tilted heavily
towards the Midwest due to family in MN and ND.
I wouldn't say there's a certain direction we specifically
don't travel towards or avoid, although the most glaring gap seems to be west/southwest towards Missouri and southern Illinois and Indiana. Weekend trips tend to be either Canada, Cleveland, or Rockland County/Northern Jersey, along with several to Philly and Baltimore.
Quote from: webny99 on July 20, 2018, 01:32:51 PM
I wouldn't say there's a certain direction we specifically don't travel towards or avoid, although the most glaring gap seems to be west/southwest towards Missouri and southern Illinois and Indiana.
Come on down for a visit! Southern IL And Southeast Missouri is a nice area! Lots of local breweries and wineries, if you care for such things
Quote from: roadman on July 19, 2018, 02:04:14 PM
Quote from: 1 on July 18, 2018, 01:33:33 PM
Quote from: roadman on July 18, 2018, 01:21:38 PM
From where I live (Wakefield, MA), the nearest freeway segment I've never driven is I-295 in Maine.
Just making sure you have been on all of these:
- Everything in Greater Providence, including:
- PVD airport connector
- RI 10 east of I-95
- RI 37 west of I-295 and east of I-95
- Circumferential Highway, Nashua, NH
- MA 18 in New Bedford (unlike MA 240, this is a freeway for one mile)
- Manchester NH airport connector
- I-89 east of I-93
Yep, I've been on all of those. Have family in both the Manchester NH and Providence RI areas.
What about the East Shore Expressway? I've got that covered because I work off of the Wampanoag Trail.
Quote from: ilpt4u on July 20, 2018, 01:43:28 PM
Quote from: webny99 on July 20, 2018, 01:32:51 PM
I wouldn't say there's a certain direction we specifically don't travel towards or avoid, although the most glaring gap seems to be west/southwest towards Missouri and southern Illinois and Indiana.
Come on down for a visit! Southern IL And Southeast Missouri is a nice area! Lots of local breweries and wineries, if you care for such things
I am under 21 at the moment... But yeah, maybe someday, and I'm sure there are other attractions! :-D
Here are my five closest:
1. US-127 between US-10 and M-55
2. I-75 between M-55 west and M-32; however, I HAVE been on the short section between US-127 and the south end of Grayling
3. I-475 south of I-69
4. I-69 east of I-475
5. Indiana Toll Road between I-94 and US-131
Until recently, I hadn't been on US-131 south of I-94 or I-75 between US-10 and M-55 west.
The section of the US 63 bypass of New Hampton, IA north of US 18 has definitely been missed. Until a couple weeks ago, I hadn't been on US 20 between US 65 and IA 14. The only piece of Iowa interstate I have never driven is I-380 between US 20 and downtown Cedar Rapids. As for Minnesota, the only section of I-90 I have not driven is between MN 43 north and US 61. As for the Twin Cities area, that's a mass of undriven freeways.
EDIT: Forgot about US 14 to Mankato. I did drive to the first exit west of I-35, but not beyond that.
OH 8 between I-271 and OH 303
For me, it would have to be the section of I-65 between its north junction with I-465 (exit 123) near Eagle Creek Park and I-865 (SB exit 129). Since I live in NE Indy, have never had a reason to do that particular stretch of freeway.
Next would be I-74 to the southeast of Post Rd (exit 96). I have FLOWN over the entirety of I-74 between Indy & Cincy many times, back when Delta had a hub at CVG, but have never driven it. Used to do an over/under bet on that flight between taxi time at both ends and the actual flight time (which was 18-22 minutes, depending on air traffic). Especially before the midfield terminal opened here at IND in 2008, when you could have a 4-mile taxi from the original terminal to the farthest runway end. One humorous pilot actually came on the aircraft's PA during such a taxi and reassured us that we were actually gonna FLY to Cincy, and not DRIVE (we WERE paralleling a freeway... but it was WB I-70 heading to Terre Haute & St. Louis).
Quote from: catch22 on July 18, 2018, 05:03:01 PM
For me, it's the section of I-469 from the US-24 interchange north and west to I-69 in Fort Wayne.
You're not missing much there, unless you want to "clinch" I-469. ;)
Probably one of the numerous toll roads near Austin. If by freeway you mean something that is actually free, it would more likely be in Houston, or possibly one of the 3DIs in OKC.
I didn't intend for "freeway" to be interpreted so literally. Toll roads count, as far as I'm concerned. I mentioned one in the OP as a - free - "controlled access" road I had never been on until recently.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 16, 2018, 06:57:50 PM
The eastern end of the Intercounty Connector (MD-200) between I-95 and US-1.
For the nearest one never travelled at all in whole or in part, I'm pretty sure it'd be I-795 near Baltimore.
The eastern end of ICC is mine as well. Others that I have not touched (I don't think) are I-66 between Dulles Access Road and I-495. Dulles Toll Road west of Tysons (but have used the DAAR to reach the airport). Never been on I-70 between I-270 and US 29.
When I lived in LA (West Hollywood area), I never had occasion to drive on the CA-14 freeway. (I'm sure my father used it when I was 6 and we took a trip to Mammoth Lakes.) I'm also pretty sure that there are parts of the 60, and the 605 that I have never driven either. The part of I-5 between the 170 and Dodger Stadium seems like an area that I may have driven but it would be rare, given the freeway configuration and difficulty to reach that section from where I lived. I can definitely say that I never drove on the OC toll roads, even though CA-73 was completed before I left LA.
Oddly enough I've driven on every stretch of freeway in the state of Michigan.
The winner for me is the Ohio Turnpike between the Indiana state line and Toledo. I avoid the Ohio Turnpike at all costs but have driven it east of Toledo. I would take US-20 between Toledo and the Indiana line, it's a little shorter and only takes 15 minutes longer to drive.
Probably I-80 west of Oswego.
Quote from: SSR_317 on July 21, 2018, 09:24:29 PM
Quote from: catch22 on July 18, 2018, 05:03:01 PM
For me, it's the section of I-469 from the US-24 interchange north and west to I-69 in Fort Wayne.
You're not missing much there, unless you want to "clinch" I-469. ;)
I've clinched I-469 and must agree that it's nothing special.
I clinched it in January 2014 and it was during one of our deep freeze winters of course, I remember pumping gas at the Flying J in New Haven and looking at my phone at the temp and it was -13 with a wind chill of -35 at 2 in the morning.
I have never been on the West Seattle Freeway/Bridge. I have been on I-705 (WA) precisely once in my life, as a passenger.
When living in Flint, I never once went north of M-21/Court St. on I-475.
Have never driven on myself (but I have traveled on in some way):
- I-86 in Idaho (170 mi): I prefer US-20 if going to Idaho Falls or beyond, and never had a reason to go specifically to Pocatello
- US-20 east of Idaho Falls (253 mi)
Have never been on at all:
- I-80 in Nevada (except from Reno to CA state line), 234 mi to Elko, 241 mi to Wells, or 257 mi to Winnemucca: I have however crossed I-80 via US-93 in Wells. Inevitably I will drive the section west of Winnemucca sometime, but I'm not sure if I'll ever have a good reason to drive any of it between Winnemucca and Salt Lake City
- I-84 east of Ogden, UT (304 mi)
- Also many freeway segments in Salt Lake City, such as most of I-215, Legacy Parkway, most of I-80, UT-201: Being the closest major city to Boise, but I have only been here a few times and generally just use I-15. I have been on all Portland freeways, FWIW; that's also farther from Boise though.
I live in the Birmingham metro area, so I'm not sure which is the closest:
* I-55 south of Jackson to Laplace, LA
* I-10 east of AL-59 towards Pensacola
* I-55 north of Jackson to Senatobia, MS
Probably the section of PA 283 between Toll House Road and PA 743.
That or US 30 between York and Lancaster.
Quote from: Flint1979 on September 07, 2018, 12:03:54 PM
Quote from: SSR_317 on July 21, 2018, 09:24:29 PM
Quote from: catch22 on July 18, 2018, 05:03:01 PM
For me, it's the section of I-469 from the US-24 interchange north and west to I-69 in Fort Wayne.
You're not missing much there, unless you want to "clinch" I-469. ;)
I've clinched I-469 and must agree that it's nothing special.
I clinched it in January 2014 and it was during one of our deep freeze winters of course, I remember pumping gas at the Flying J in New Haven and looking at my phone at the temp and it was -13 with a wind chill of -35 at 2 in the morning.
Burr! Remember skiing once up at Boyne Highlands when the temperature was below zero. Cold, but manageable. But the worst was skiing at Paoli Peaks in southern IN when the air temp was -21°F. At least the good thing was the 100% sunshine that morning and the only wind chill was that generated by my skiing down the hill. ;-)
This one is tough . . . I live northeast of Philadelphia, but the closest open freeway segment I have not driven is probably the section of Route 100 between U.S. 30 and U.S. 202 . . .
Mmm. I don't think I've ever been on the OR 22 freeway segment east of Salem. The closest interstate I've never been on would be I-710 in Tacoma.
I think I can safely say I've driven on all the freeways in the San Diego area at least once. I haven't been on the new segment of SR 905 since it opened to traffic; ditto with SR 11. The closest highways I've never been on would be mostly in Orange or Riverside Counties.
From a locus of Orange County: the 58 between Mohave and Kramer Junction, the short freeway stub of the 138 that runs east from the 5, and the portion of the 94 down in inland San Diego that's east of the 125.
I'm not sure what's the closest of those three. But the runner-ups to those would be much further away; they probably would be outside Fresno.
Much of E-470, but that's toll, so I guess that might not count. Otherwise, everything in Denver. Statewide, all of 76, all of 25 except the last 20-25 miles into Wyoming, and all of I-70 east of Vail.
I guess nothing around Colorado Springs except 25 on my through it. But there's nothing there I want to see anyway.
I haven't lived long enough in Palm Springs (<2 months) to say anything in So Cal. So I'll instead refer to the >25 years in St Louis. Nearest was I-57 between Salem and Effingham. I'd taken I-57 as an alternative drive to Chicago (it's only 15 miles longer via I-57 and I-70 than via I-55, and much less busy). I'd taken it from Mt Vernon south to I-24. I'd even taken the bit south of Salem when I dated someone from there. I also never drove the I-72 section west of Springfield, IL.
I think the nearest freeway I haven't driven on yet is either the portion of the US 15 Gettysburg bypass north of PA 97, or I-495 around Wilmington.
I-80 between NE-71 and I-76. That's about 250 miles from me, and I haven't driven it because I-76 provides a way more direct route from Denver to Nebraska and points east. If I ever drive this stretch, I will have clinched I-80 between San Francisco and central Pennsylvania. Likewise, there are segments of I-40 between Santa Rosa NM and Texas that I drove when it was U.S. 66, but not since the Interstate was built.
From where I'm sitting it's most likely I-79 between I-77 and US-19. From Newport News, it's likely I-66 inside the beltway (the only section of interstate I'm missing in the state). That, the US-360 Keysville Bypass, the US-23 Big Stone Gap and Norton Bypasses, and VA-267 are pretty much the only sections of freeway in VA that I have not driven (aside from a few stubs I'm probably blanking on)
I think for me, it's the US-8 freeway stub off I-35 north of the Twin Cities. Otherwise, I do believe I've hit every bit of freeway in the Cities. This includes:
Ayd Mill Rd when it was still a pseudo-freeway
MN-121 and CSAH-122 when they were still freeways
The short freeway stub of MN-65 in Blaine
All three freeway sections of MN-51 (St. Paul, Roseville, near I-694/US-10)
The short bit of Warner Rd that's freeway
The brand new St. Croix Crossing
Both Twin Cities-area freeway sections of MN-13
The MN-55 Hiawatha freeway stub in Downtown Mpls
Quote from: DJ ParticleAll three freeway sections of MN-51 (St. Paul, Roseville, near I-694/US-10)
Last one's not a freeway...there are RIRO's on both sides between County Road E and 694.
QuoteBoth Twin Cities-area freeway sections of MN-13
One of these isn't MN 13 but instead is unsigned MN 801.
Now here's a question...have you hit the freeway stub of now-MN 62 coming off 494 in Inver Grove Heights since it was changed from MN 110?
Quote from: froggie on September 11, 2018, 10:36:13 AM
Last one's not a freeway...there are RIRO's on both sides between County Road E and 694.
Forgot about that O.o
QuoteOne of these isn't MN 13 but instead is unsigned MN 801.
I meant the section containing MN-13 Exits 94/95A/95B (CSAH-5/I-35W)... and the section containing the exit to MN-77 (don't know the number offhand) *heh*
QuoteNow here's a question...have you hit the freeway stub of now-MN 62 coming off 494 in Inver Grove Heights since it was changed from MN 110?
Yup! :) I think that would make MN-3 Exit 122? :-D
I've recently (within the last 2+ months) clinched two of the three closest to me (E-470 from Pena Blvd north to I-25 and the Powers Blvd freeway segment in Colorado Springs), so now I have the NW Pkwy between I-25 and US 36, and then?
I guess the next closest would be I-76 northeast of Fort Morgan to I-80 (then maybe a return on I-80 to Cheyenne...but I'd have to go all the way to Laramie to clinch that whole non-driven segment).
Quoteand the section containing the exit to MN-77 (don't know the number offhand) *heh*
That's not a freeway. It just happens to be a cloverleaf in the middle of an at-grade arterial...
Mine is I-25 south of Buffalo (~170 miles away); it always makes more sense to use WY 387 if I want to go to Casper.
The section of US-35 in Dayton from Main St to I-675.
It's about 50 miles from home.
CT 349, Clarence B. Sharpe Highway.
I've never driven I-94 between I-196 and Mattawan, which is the only section of I-94 I haven't been on between the Six Flags Great America exit north of Chicago and Hall Rd (M-59) in Macomb County
For me it's I-5 between the I-580 junction near Tracy to CA-33 interchange in Santa Nella.
US-51 north of Wausau but I plan to clinch that in October.
Quote from: cabiness42 on July 17, 2018, 01:39:55 PM
There is a very small section of I-355 between the NB355->EB88 and the WB88->NB355 ramps that I haven't covered yet. 46 miles from home.
Finally got this bit today. Now it's I-74 west of I-55, 122 miles away.
Only freeway I've yet to drive in NC is the section of I-26 west of Asheville to the TN border.
The Birmingham end of I-22. I'm near Atlanta.
No, wait: I've also never driven the I-20 to I-59 north stretch of I-459. That's 169 miles from my house.
EDIT: Nope, it's I-26 near Spartanburg, a mere 150 miles away.
I don't if this really counts EOE from I-290 to US-20 (AS TOLL ROAD*)
*really pulling as I was on it while the tolling points where up but not changing. and I did drive on the I-290 to IL-83 part.
MA 213, I think.
Quote from: DJ Particle on September 11, 2018, 06:48:58 AM
I think for me, it's the US-8 freeway stub off I-35 north of the Twin Cities.
I have now driven this mini-freeway.
I guess that makes US-14 in Albert Lea the closest I haven't driven on yet.
I think that the nearest freeway segment I have never been on would definitely have to be Tennessee Highway 111 from US 27 to the end of that freeway segment in Dunlap.
The interesting thing, though, is that despite myself never having been on it in real life, I still have road videos from part of this stretch of road (and other parts of TN 111 as well heading north to Cookeville), thanks to my other family members, from when some of them once went on a trip up to Cookeville, Tennessee.
I have, however, been on all the US 27 freeway north of Chattanooga (off of which TN SR 111 splits off, and takes the limited-access specification with it), en route to the Dayton, Tennessee area (so we continued on US 27 North instead of taking the TN 111 freeway).
My submission on the first page has now become CA 262.
I-30 anywhere southwest of US-70.
FL 429 above US 441, as I was a passenger in someone else car after it opened last year. Have not yet driven it myself, but near me.
(From central Maryland) I-95 in Pennsylvania north of I-476 (near the Philly airport).
Quote from: roadman65 on January 07, 2019, 11:18:44 PM
FL 429 above US 441, as I was a passenger in someone else car after it opened last year. Have not yet driven it myself, but near me.
"Driven" could, but does not have to, be taken literally. You could also include the nearest freeway you've never been on period.
Quote from: webny99 on January 08, 2019, 08:09:25 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 07, 2019, 11:18:44 PM
FL 429 above US 441, as I was a passenger in someone else car after it opened last year. Have not yet driven it myself, but near me.
"Driven" could, but does not have to, be taken literally. You could also include the nearest freeway you've never been on period.
If driven is literal, I-95 for me.
Until about last year, I had driven on every Hampton Roads freeway except the VA-168 toll road. Finally took it, and realized it's just the same as the shunpiking route, only it's four lanes, nobody on it, and a $3 toll.
NJ 133, never had any need to use that road.
Since I drive Lyft/Uber and get all over Austin is covered. Probably I-10 from Columbus to San Antonio.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 08, 2019, 06:45:55 PM
Until about last year, I had driven on every Hampton Roads freeway except the VA-168 toll road. Finally took it, and realized it's just the same as the shunpiking route, only it's four lanes, nobody on it, and a $3 toll.
And it's going to continue to suck until Chesapeake decides to raise the speed limit. Until then it's not even worth the toll.
Quote from: plain on January 09, 2019, 06:15:55 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 08, 2019, 06:45:55 PM
Until about last year, I had driven on every Hampton Roads freeway except the VA-168 toll road. Finally took it, and realized it's just the same as the shunpiking route, only it's four lanes, nobody on it, and a $3 toll.
And it's going to continue to suck until Chesapeake decides to raise the speed limit. Until then it's not even worth the toll.
Agreed, the current speed limit of 55 MPH on a rural freeway is absurdly slow. The more "developed" parts of the highway north of Exit 11 (Mt. Pleasant Rd) is more understandable, but even that could handle an increase. The entire highway should be posted at 65 MPH, minimum 60, the design speed.
Most people actually do about 55-60 MPH on a regular day, but if you get on the bypass on any weekend in the summer, you'll get ran off the road or tailgated if you're not doing at least 70 MPH. Mix local traffic with that, and there's been some pretty close accidents. That's when a higher speed is warranted to meet the 85th percentile, but I don't think above 65 is reasonable since the highway terminates near the border. If it was continuously a freeway to OBX or at least into North Carolina, I would say 70 MPH starting on the toll road.
The toll is worth it sometimes, especially because rush hour traffic on Battlefield Blvd can be backed up due to shunpikers, and if you're part of the discount program ($0.75 tolls) it's worth it if you can afford. During the summer months, most of the tourists flying down at 70+ MPH are already paying hundreds of dollars to stay in OBX, they have no problem paying $16 (round-trip) just to stay on the freeway and continue doing 70+. I've never driven on the at-grade NC-168 on a summer weekend, though I imagine speeds stay above at least 65 MPH, even though it's still posted at 55 MPH.
1) I've only once been on I-90 between MA 146 and I-495, 2) I-290 between I-90 and MA 146, with the exception of going north to exit 9 on 290, 3) I-95 between I-395 in CT and RI 4 and finally, 4) I-95 between I-295 and US 6 in RI.
I am based in Wichita, so the nearest is probably US 69 Pleasanton-Fort Scott. (I actually have the construction plans for part of it, and drove it in 1999 when it was a two-lane single-carriageway freeway, but have not been on it since it was dualized.) Close runners-up include K-10 (SLT), K-7 Bonner Springs, K-5 Fairfax, US 50 Lee's Summit, and Missouri SR 152.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 06:53:48 PM
Agreed, the current speed limit of 55 MPH on a rural freeway is absurdly slow. The more "developed" parts of the highway north of Exit 11 (Mt. Pleasant Rd) is more understandable, but even that could handle an increase. The entire highway should be posted at 65 MPH, minimum 60, the design speed.
8-foot paved right shoulders, narrow clear roadsides. Not built to Interstate standards. Probably 60 mph limit max.
US 151 between Sun Prairie and Waupun.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 08:35:15 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 06:53:48 PM
Agreed, the current speed limit of 55 MPH on a rural freeway is absurdly slow. The more "developed" parts of the highway north of Exit 11 (Mt. Pleasant Rd) is more understandable, but even that could handle an increase. The entire highway should be posted at 65 MPH, minimum 60, the design speed.
8-foot paved right shoulders, narrow clear roadsides. Not built to Interstate standards. Probably 60 mph limit max.
The shoulders on the Great Bridge Bypass are 8 foot, whereas on the southern extension and Oak Grove Connector it is 10 foot. The only part not built to interstate standards fully would be the median size on the southern extension (why 30 feet??). The road section is interstate standard. I've never noticed the roadsides being an issue, they seem to be fine as is. I can think of numerous examples of highways with a 65 or 70 MPH speed that have the same "issue".
You've also mentioned in the past that US-58 could theoretically have 70 MPH posted on their bypasses. It's important to note that those bypasses are built to less standards than VA-168 is and have narrow clear sides.
VA-168 could easily handle a 65 MPH speed limit. Even if the shoulder was smaller than it is, most freeways in North Carolina have 4 foot outer and inner shoulders and are posted at 65 and 70 MPH.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 09:02:27 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 08:35:15 PM
8-foot paved right shoulders, narrow clear roadsides. Not built to Interstate standards. Probably 60 mph limit max.
The shoulders on the Great Bridge Bypass are 8 foot, whereas on the southern extension and Oak Grove Connector it is 10 foot. The only part not built to interstate standards fully would be the median size on the southern extension (why 30 feet??). The road section is interstate standard. I've never noticed the roadsides being an issue, they seem to be fine as is. I can think of numerous examples of highways with a 65 or 70 MPH speed that have the same "issue".
Take a close look ... the roadsides south of the Great Bridge Bypass are narrow and abrupt. Has a major effect on the whole cross-section.
30 feet is an odd median width, I have the same issue with the Powhite Parkway Extension, I was one of the 6 designers on the project and I complained about it but the engineers left it as is. A 30-foot grass median has steep slopes, about 4:1 to establish drainage; it is too wide for a paved median as for 4 lanes the ideal would be 14 to 16 feet wide and with a concrete median barrier; it is too narrow to be an ideal grassed median as the steep slopes could flip a vehicle over. Actually the Powhite Parkway Extension was to have a 60-foot median but after the toll feasibility study the whole cross section and R/W was narrowed to save some money.
Powhite Parkway is another highway that I would not recommend for Interstate designation.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 09:02:27 PM
You've also mentioned in the past that US-58 could theoretically have 70 MPH posted on their bypasses. It's important to note that those bypasses are built to less standards than VA-168 is and have narrow clear sides.
The bypasses at Suffolk, Franklin and Courtland. Built to higher standards than VA-168.
I merely said that they could legally be considered for 70 mph, when another poster kept saying that NC I-87 could have 70 and he kept comparing that to -existing- limits on US-58, as if the speed limits on US-58 could never increase, when current law would allow higher.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
Take a close look ... the roadsides south of the Great Bridge Bypass are narrow and abrupt. Has a major effect on the whole cross-section.
I commute on the bypass daily from Exit 8 northward, and have used the toll road before. I've never noticed an issue with the roadsides in regards to speed limits.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
30 feet is an odd median width, I have the same issue with the Powhite Parkway Extension, I was one of the 6 designers on the project and I complained about it but the engineers left it as is. A 30-foot grass median has steep slopes, about 4:1 to establish drainage; it is too wide for a paved median as for 4 lanes the ideal would be 14 to 16 feet wide and with a concrete median barrier; it is too narrow to be an ideal grassed median as the steep slopes could flip a vehicle over. Actually the Powhite Parkway Extension was to have a 60-foot median but after the toll feasibility study the whole cross section and R/W was narrowed to save some money.
I'm pretty sure the VA-168 extension was supposed to have a consistent 42 foot median throughout the entire project, but was only built to 42 feet from Exit 10 to Exit 8. Just north of exit 8, the road abruptly changes median sizes, the northbound lanes do a weird shift to the right. The size would have ideally changed going around a bend rather than on a straight-away, but who knows.
I think I read somewhere they reduced it to 30 feet on the bottom section to lessen the environmental impact and reduce costs, similar to the Powhite. I have always thought the Powhite Extension's design was weird as well, 30 feet part of it, and a barrier section for the rest. At least a consistent 30 ft would've been more ideal, but as you mentioned 60 foot (or at minimum 40 ft) would've been the best.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
The bypasses at Suffolk, Franklin and Courtland. Built to higher standards than VA-168.
The Franklin, Suffolk, and Courtland bypasses have similar amount of narrow roadside as VA-168 does. Also, the Franklin Bypass has a couple of narrow curves which VA-168 does not.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
I merely said that they could legally be considered for 70 mph, when another poster kept saying that NC I-87 could have 70 and he kept comparing that to -existing- limits on US-58, as if the speed limits on US-58 could never increase, when current law would allow higher.
That poster was me, but that's besides the point. I don't see them increasing the speeds on US-58 any time soon, though it would be nice if they would.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 10:04:14 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
Take a close look ... the roadsides south of the Great Bridge Bypass are narrow and abrupt. Has a major effect on the whole cross-section.
I commute on the bypass daily from Exit 8 northward, and have used the toll road before. I've never noticed an issue with the roadsides in regards to speed limits.
Seeing it intermittingly IMO helps it be more noticeable. Maybe it could be higher than 60 mph but only maybe...
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 10:04:14 PM
I'm pretty sure the VA-168 extension was supposed to have a consistent 42 foot median throughout the entire project, but was only built to 42 feet from Exit 10 to Exit 8. Just north of exit 8, the road abruptly changes median sizes, the northbound lanes do a weird shift to the right. The size would have ideally changed going around a bend rather than on a straight-away, but who knows.
I think I read somewhere they reduced it to 30 feet on the bottom section to lessen the environmental impact and reduce costs, similar to the Powhite. I have always thought the Powhite Extension's design was weird as well, 30 feet part of it, and a barrier section for the rest. At least a consistent 30 ft would've been more ideal, but as you mentioned 60 foot (or at minimum 40 ft) would've been the best.
The Powhite Extension section with the 10-foot median was originally designed much wider, IIRC it was 40 feet and near Jahnke Road the median widened out for 1/2 mile to almost 100 feet with Powhite Creek in the median. Much nicer design if they had listened to me!
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 10:04:14 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
The bypasses at Suffolk, Franklin and Courtland. Built to higher standards than VA-168.
The Franklin, Suffolk, and Courtland bypasses have similar amount of narrow roadside as VA-168 does. Also, the Franklin Bypass has a couple of narrow curves which VA-168 does not.
I would estimate in fill sections, 20 to 25 feet for Suffolk, Franklin and Courtland. VA-168 toll, in some places only 10 feet and steep slope. (Just checked Google aerials)
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 10:04:14 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
I merely said that they could legally be considered for 70 mph, when another poster kept saying that NC I-87 could have 70 and he kept comparing that to -existing- limits on US-58, as if the speed limits on US-58 could never increase, when current law would allow higher.
That poster was me, but that's besides the point. I don't see them increasing the speeds on US-58 any time soon, though it would be nice if they would.
My point was to not plan I-87 on a basis that US-58 limits would never increase, because they surely could.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 10:31:37 PM
Seeing it intermittingly IMO helps it be more noticeable. Maybe it could be higher than 60 mph but only maybe...
A study could be conducted to see how safe it would be. A report done on the Expressway in the past mentioned the average speed on a section of the toll road was above 60 MPH, but apparently that didn't mean anything to them. They wanted to do one in the past but the city didn't want to go through the lengthy process of a study and then having to amend the city ordinance to allow speed limits faster than 55 MPH on city maintained roadways. They instead lowered the speed limit on Battlefield Blvd to 45 - 50 MPH which did about nothing.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 10:31:37 PM
The Powhite Extension section with the 10-foot median was originally designed much wider, IIRC it was 40 feet and near Jahnke Road the median widened out for 1/2 mile to almost 100 feet with Powhite Creek in the median. Much nicer design if they had listened to me!
A lot nicer of a design definitely, though I will mention about a mile of the highway at the northern end of the extension has a median over 200 feet and no smaller than 40 feet. Then it shrinks down to 10 feet south of there. At least it is done on a curve and not abrupt. Part of the beauty of a freeway is having a wide grassy median, I've never cared for smaller medians or even barrier sections, especially on 4-lane highways. I like VA-168's design north of Exit 8, but south of there I've always felt like it's way too small. That highway could've been designed better. Also, the reason they decided the bottom two miles would only be an at-grade expressway instead of extending the freeway design all the way to NC beats me. At minimum wider curves could've been constructed instead of the tight ones (yet still 55?) that are there today. Again, poor designing IMHO.
Was the Powhite Pkwy ever considered for 65 MPH? I would think because of its location, VDOT building it, etc. it would've been designed with that spec. Instead I believe it's only 60 MPH.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 10:31:37 PM
I would estimate in fill sections, 20 to 25 feet for Suffolk, Franklin and Courtland. VA-168 toll, in some places only 10 feet and steep slope. (Just checked Google aerials)
I really wouldn't be able to say, I've never really noticed it.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 10:31:37 PM
My point was to not plan I-87 on a basis that US-58 limits would never increase, because they surely could.
I wouldn't really say I-87 is officially being planned against US-58, it was originally a need for the project "to divert traffic off of I-95" which implies US-58 as well, but they removed that "need". I think now the focus is providing a freeway corridor to the northeastern section of NC which currently is not served by an interstate besides a sliver of I-95 near Roanoke Rapids. Not a direct routing to Hampton Roads though could open up new business along its path, including port related facilities and distribution centers. The real driver of it though is for a blue shield to come to northeastern NC and the fact Hampton Roads businesses & port officials believe it truly is a "new, unobstructed direct routing to I-95 South". Either way, NCDOT will eventually get it funded.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 11:00:30 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 10:31:37 PM
The Powhite Extension section with the 10-foot median was originally designed much wider, IIRC it was 40 feet and near Jahnke Road the median widened out for 1/2 mile to almost 100 feet with Powhite Creek in the median. Much nicer design if they had listened to me!
A lot nicer of a design definitely, though I will mention about a mile of the highway at the northern end of the extension has a median over 200 feet and no smaller than 40 feet. Then it shrinks down to 10 feet south of there. At least it is done on a curve and not abrupt. Part of the beauty of a freeway is having a wide grassy median, I've never cared for smaller medians or even barrier sections, especially on 4-lane highways.
The very wide median is mostly on the original RMA Powhite Parkway, and then it transitions to the Extension section. The original RMA Powhite Parkway ended at VA-150 with a trumpet interchange. The very wide median was built so that a scenic overlook could be built there (I have copies of the planning design documents), with left hand ramps accessing it. It never was built, and part of the median was used for the open road tolling project a few years ago.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 09, 2019, 11:00:30 PM
The real driver of it though is for a blue shield to come to northeastern NC and the fact Hampton Roads businesses & port officials believe it truly is a "new, unobstructed direct routing to I-95 South".
If they think that they are deceived.
I-5 between Orange County (CA) and San Diego, the part that runs by Camp Pendleton. I live in the Inland Empire, so I've just never had an excuse to take that particular route to go anywhere.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 11:59:31 PM
The very wide median is mostly on the original RMA Powhite Parkway, and then it transitions to the Extension section. The original RMA Powhite Parkway ended at VA-150 with a trumpet interchange. The very wide median was built so that a scenic overlook could be built there (I have copies of the planning design documents), with left hand ramps accessing it. It never was built, and part of the median was used for the open road tolling project a few years ago.
A scenic overlook? I wouldn't expect that on an urban / suburban highway, but I suppose I could see it.
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 11:59:31 PM
If they think that they are deceived.
Somewhat agree, due the mileage difference. The "new, unobstructed direct routing to I-95 South" is more true in sense of a passenger vehicle however. People will drive "more distance" if it's the same time and allows them to go faster. The route will likely attract new traffic, and over time new businesses, etc.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 04:46:37 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 09, 2019, 11:59:31 PM
The very wide median is mostly on the original RMA Powhite Parkway, and then it transitions to the Extension section. The original RMA Powhite Parkway ended at VA-150 with a trumpet interchange. The very wide median was built so that a scenic overlook could be built there (I have copies of the planning design documents), with left hand ramps accessing it. It never was built, and part of the median was used for the open road tolling project a few years ago.
A scenic overlook? I wouldn't expect that on an urban / suburban highway, but I suppose I could see it.
The original highway was designed as a parkway with grass shoulders and west of Forest Hill Avenue it only had 4 lanes. Always carried full mix of vehicle types with cars, buses and trucks.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 04:46:37 PM
Somewhat agree, due the mileage difference. The "new, unobstructed direct routing to I-95 South" is more true in sense of a passenger vehicle however. People will drive "more distance" if it's the same time and allows them to go faster. The route will likely attract new traffic, and over time new businesses, etc.
As I have pointed out before the 20 to 25 miles more distance won't be overcome by higher speed limits, and they might not be much higher if the limits on US-58 are increased.
Basically the NC I-87 proposal is a "super arterial", a rural arterial connecting some small towns, having modest traffic volumes that can be handled by a rural arterial design, being converted to a freeway. I don't think that a "super arterial" is a wise design.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 06:40:03 PM
The original highway was designed as a parkway with grass shoulders and west of Forest Hill Avenue it only had 4 lanes. Always carried full mix of vehicle types with cars, buses and trucks.
Was it actually built that way or proposed that way initially?
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 06:40:03 PM
As I have pointed out before the 20 to 25 miles more distance won't be overcome by higher speed limits, and they might not be much higher if the limits on US-58 are increased.
Somewhat comparable to my drive from Roanoke to Hampton Roads a couple weeks ago. There's two options - I-81 to I-64 or U.S. 460. They both take the same time (actually 460 was a couple minutes faster), but U.S. 460 is about 40 miles less. The option that Google recommended to me and the most preferable was the interstate route, despite U.S. 460 taking less mileage, 2 mins faster, and being 60 MPH mostly. I chose to take I-81 to I-64 on my drive.
I would imagine the average driver would take I-81 to I-64 over U.S. 460 simply because it's mainly a 70 MPH freeway with no obstructions. The mileage isn't a huge factor.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 06:40:03 PM
Basically the NC I-87 proposal is a "super arterial", a rural arterial connecting some small towns, having modest traffic volumes that can be handled by a rural arterial design, being converted to a freeway. I don't think that a "super arterial" is a wise design.
Welcome to North Carolina, where a freeway is the preferable option over an arterial. They are doing the same method on other highways in the state currently, upgrading 4-lane arterials into interstate-standard freeways or straight up signed interstates (I-795, I-42, I-87, etc.)
They simply run on a different system then Virginia does - they prefer freeway routings over arterial even when they are adequate. They have more funding, and therefore have room to play. Because of this, they have a much larger continuous freeway system then Virginia does. It's not a bad thing Virginia doesn't, it's just how it is.
As for the Virginia connection to I-64, Chesapeake has heavy interest in it, and could probably do upgrades over time themselves because of the existing 17 being essentially a freeway with a few intersections here and there.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:04:21 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 06:40:03 PM
The original highway was designed as a parkway with grass shoulders and west of Forest Hill Avenue it only had 4 lanes. Always carried full mix of vehicle types with cars, buses and trucks.
Was it actually built that way or proposed that way initially?
Built that way, later widened.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:04:21 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 06:40:03 PM
As I have pointed out before the 20 to 25 miles more distance won't be overcome by higher speed limits, and they might not be much higher if the limits on US-58 are increased.
Somewhat comparable to my drive from Roanoke to Hampton Roads a couple weeks ago. There's two options - I-81 to I-64 or U.S. 460. They both take the same time (actually 460 was a couple minutes faster), but U.S. 460 is about 30 miles less. The option that Google recommended to me and the most preferable was the interstate route, despite U.S. 460 taking less mileage, 2 mins faster, and being 60 MPH mostly. I chose to take I-81 to I-64 on my drive.
I would imagine the average driver would take I-81 to I-64 over U.S. 460 simply because it's mainly a 70 MPH freeway with no obstructions. The mileage isn't a huge factor.
It's pretty much a wash, for Norfolk to Christiansburg, 4:55 using US-460 and 4:42 using I-64 and I-81, per Google Maps.
Every corridor is different. I might favor US-460 since it means avoiding HRBT, avoiding I-64 between HRBT and Richmond, and most of I-81.
I-64 and I-81 are original Interstate highways, so your point is moot. That route has been completed since 1976, and the completion of the US-460 widenings was much later.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:04:21 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 06:40:03 PM
Basically the NC I-87 proposal is a "super arterial", a rural arterial connecting some small towns, having modest traffic volumes that can be handled by a rural arterial design, being converted to a freeway. I don't think that a "super arterial" is a wise design.
Welcome to North Carolina, where a freeway is the preferable option over an arterial. They are doing the same method on other highways in the state currently, upgrading 4-lane arterials into interstate-standard freeways or straight up signed interstates (I-795, I-42, I-87, etc.)
I am not familiar with the US-70 corridor but from what I have read it definitely has the volumes for a freeway design.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:04:21 PM
They simply run on a different system then Virginia does - they prefer freeway routings over arterial even when they are adequate.
That is wasteful. Look, I really don't care what N.C. does with its highways for the most part, but they do share a border and over 20 highway crossings, and in the case of the US-17 crossing their highway policies are directly impacting Virginia, so I do care in that case, and they are being annoying.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:04:21 PM
They have more funding, and therefore have room to play. Because of this, they have a much larger continuous freeway system then Virginia does. It's not a bad thing Virginia doesn't, it's just how it is.
And Virginia's non-Interstate freeway mileage and 4-lane limited access bypass mileage, plus its Interstate mileage, is about equal to that of N.C. Plus N.C. has nothing remotely on the cost scale of the bridge-tunnels in Virginia, short but super expensive to build.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:04:21 PM
As for the Virginia connection to I-64, Chesapeake has heavy interest in it, and could probably do upgrades over time themselves because of the existing 17 being almost freeway with a few intersections here and there.
I doubt that that one city would want to spend the money (maybe 1/2 billion) for something that really is not needed.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
Built that way, later widened.
Huh, I always thought it was a full freeway-standard roadway from the beginning. Interesting.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
It's pretty much a wash, for Norfolk to Christiansburg, 4:55 using US-460 and 4:42 using I-64 and I-81, per Google Maps.
From Christiansburg to Norfolk, yes, but I mentioned from Roanoke. You're a little more in and close to US-460, little bit from I-81, and the times are the same.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
I-64 and I-81 are original Interstate highways, so your point is moot. That route has been completed since 1976, and the completion of the US-460 widenings was much later.
It doesn't matter when the highways were built or widened, I'm talking from a standpoint of going on a road trip on January 10, 2019, not 1976. By this point, all the highways are there, and is comparable.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
I am not familiar with the US-70 corridor but from what I have read it definitely has the volumes for a freeway design.
Average AADT of 25,000 with 5-10% large trucks from Raleigh to New Bern. From your talking points about US-58 (similar numbers), you could build interchanges at the few traffic signals and have an adequate corridor. Different story south of New Bern to Morehead City, over 30,000 AADT and warrants freeway due to numerous signals and businesses on the roadside.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
That is wasteful. Look, I really don't care what N.C. does with its highways for the most part, but they do share a border and over 20 highway crossings, and in the case of the US-17 crossing their highway policies are directly impacting Virginia, so I do care in that case, and they are being annoying.
Creating a freeway corridor from Virginia to Elizabeth City has been in the talks for years, and has never posed an issue until they slapped the I-87 number on it. If they want to build a freeway to the Virginia line and flow traffic onto an at-grade US-17, then they can do that. I don't understand how it "impacts Virginia". Local leaders and Chesapeake have discussed extending that idea into the area to connect with I-64, but it doesn't mean NCDOT is being annoying. We're the ones wanting an extension to their freeway.
Complaining about how it's useless to upgrade US-17 in North Carolina seems to be caring about what they do w/ their highways - at that point it's not impacting Virginia what happens down in Windsor or Edenton, per se.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
And Virginia's non-Interstate freeway mileage and 4-lane limited access bypass mileage, plus its Interstate mileage, is about equal to that of N.C.
Notice I said continuous meaning it's one long freeway (20+ miles) that flows into the interstate system. Virginia has a lot of non-interstate mileage and limited-access bypasses, but a lot do not connect in the way of more freeway and into the interstate system but instead at-grade arterial routes.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
I doubt that that one city would want to spend the money (maybe 1/2 billion) for something that really is not needed.
At what point would constructing 5 interchanges and about a miles of frontage road on an already limited-access roadway cost $500 million? $50-70 million max, the bulk of the work is already now done (Dominion Blvd & Veterans Bridge).
I also mentioned over time, meaning constructing one interchange at the most needed location (Scenic Pkwy IMHO, an existing traffic signal), then over the course of 10-15 years funding other interchanges.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:59:35 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
Built that way, later widened.
Huh, I always thought it was a full freeway-standard roadway from the beginning. Interesting.
The RMA Powhite Parkway was a full freeway-standard roadway from the beginning, it just didn't have paved shoulders.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:59:35 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
I am not familiar with the US-70 corridor but from what I have read it definitely has the volumes for a freeway design.
Average AADT of 25,000 with 5-10% large trucks from Raleigh to New Bern. From your talking points about US-58 (similar numbers), you could build interchanges at the few traffic signals and have an adequate corridor. Different story south of New Bern to Morehead City, over 30,000 AADT and warrants freeway due to numerous signals and businesses on the roadside.
13,000 to 15,000 on US-58 between Emporia and Courtland. Higher figures east of there but much of the mileage is already freeway, but 6-lane expressway between Suffolk Bypass and I-64/I-664.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:59:35 PM
I don't understand how it "impacts Virginia".
N.C. wants an Interstate highway. Their economic boosters are publishing bogus claims about connecting Norfolk with Raleigh, as I have refuted many times here. When they want Virginia to participate and apply pressure to them that does indeed impact Virginia.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 07:59:35 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
And Virginia's non-Interstate freeway mileage and 4-lane limited access bypass mileage, plus its Interstate mileage, is about equal to that of N.C.
Notice I said continuous meaning it's one long freeway (20+ miles) that flows into the interstate system. Virginia has a lot of non-interstate mileage and limited-access bypasses, but a lot do not connect in the way of more freeway and into the interstate system but instead at-grade arterial routes.
A quick count shows almost 200 miles of Virginia non-Interstate freeway mileage that does connect to the Interstate system. Just because most limited-access bypasses do not connect to the Interstate system, doesn't change the point that mile by mile they are close to the cost and complexity of Interstate mileage, and Virginia has almost 400 miles of them in total.
What about HRBT, MMMBT, CBBT, ERT, I-77 tunnels, where is the equivalent in N.C.? MMMBT when it was built was equal to the cost of about 100 miles of rural Interstate, HRBT Expansion will be about 120 miles, second Midtown Tunnel about 35 miles, second CBBT tunnel about 25 miles. For that matter there are very few major river bridges on N.C. freeways even of the low-level mile-long type. Hampton Roads tunnels accommodate ocean-going ships up to the size of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
Major transportation barriers are usually very expensive to cross, and if you don't build a crossing then you have a major hole in the system, and if you don't expand them when needed you have a major bottleneck.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 09:46:36 PM
13,000 to 15,000 on US-58 between Emporia and Courtland. Higher figures east of there but much of the mileage is already freeway, but 6-lane expressway between Suffolk Bypass and I-64/I-664.
Between Suffolk and Courtland, figures are over 20,000 AADT, and out of that 30 mile stretch, only 10 miles are freeway, only 1/3 of it.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 09:46:36 PM
N.C. wants an Interstate highway. Their economic boosters are publishing bogus claims about connecting Norfolk with Raleigh, as I have refuted many times here. When they want Virginia to participate and apply pressure to them that does indeed impact Virginia.
And is there an issue with creating a freeway into North Carolina? Hampton Roads has never had interstate access to the south (unlike where you are in Richmond who has direct interstate access in all directions) and when one opportunity to create such connection (even if slightly longer), it shouldn't be shoved off the table simply because of that regard. The cost to upgrade US-17 is a small cost to pay for a link in the interstate system in Virginia. There's also other avenues for future growth to the south and into NC because of such interstate designation, but I should stop focusing on that cause it means nothing apparently. I'm just trying to say, I don't think it's worth trying to fight over something that is not going to get changed, and if you do want a change, then stating everything negative about I-87 over the forum whenever it's brought up isn't the best way to go about it.
I ask - is there anything you think is good about I-87, or any positives to it?
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
What about HRBT, MMMBT, CBBT, ERT, I-77 tunnels, where is the equivalent in N.C.?
The CBBT and ERT were toll fianced, so I'm not even going to consider those. As for the I-77 tunnels, I-40 has tunnels in the western part of North Carolina, and while NC does not have any major water crossings that warrant costs like the HRBT and MMMBT has, they have spent over $6 billion across the state on creating toll-free urban loops around metro areas (Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem, Wilmington) over the past 20 years, and have created over 200+ miles of new freeway because so, and are continuing to expand it.
They've also built a significant portion of I-26 through the mountains that opened new-location in the early 2000s, at least $1 billion IIRC.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
Major transportation barriers are usually very expensive to cross, and if you don't build a crossing then you have a major hole in the system, and if you don't expand them when needed you have a major bottleneck.
The HRBT and MMBT have been bottlenecks for many decades, they are now just getting around to expanding one of them.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 10:12:19 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 09:46:36 PM
13,000 to 15,000 on US-58 between Emporia and Courtland. Higher figures east of there but much of the mileage is already freeway, but 6-lane expressway between Suffolk Bypass and I-64/I-664.
Between Suffolk and Courtland, figures are over 20,000 AADT, and out of that 30 mile stretch, only 10 miles are freeway, only 1/3 of it.
The 4 bypasses total 26 miles of freeway.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 10:12:19 PM
I'm just trying to say, I don't think it's worth trying to fight over something that is not going to get changed, and if you do want a change, then stating everything negative about I-87 over the forum whenever it's brought up isn't the best way to go about it.
So it's "my way or the highway". Just like the engineers who built the Cross-Bronx Expressway.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 10:12:19 PMThe CBBT and ERT were toll fianced, so I'm not even going to consider those. As for the I-77 tunnels, I-40 has tunnels in the western part of North Carolina, and while NC does not have any major water crossings that warrant costs like the HRBT and MMMBT has, they have spent over $6 billion across the state on creating urban loops around metro areas (Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Winston-Salem, Wilmington) over the past 20 years, and have created over 200+ miles of new freeway because so, and are continuing to expand it.
Because they waited so long before building any supplementary Interstate highways. None in either the 1956 or 1968 Interstate system.
Virginia has 10 supplementary Interstate routes and 7 were in the original Interstate system, and 2 added in the 1968 system.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 10:12:19 PM
They've also built a significant portion of I-26 through the mountains that opened new-location in the early 2000s, at least $1 billion IIRC.
No way. I-26 was about $230 million.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 10, 2019, 10:12:19 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 07:28:42 PM
Major transportation barriers are usually very expensive to cross, and if you don't build a crossing then you have a major hole in the system, and if you don't expand them when needed you have a major bottleneck.
The HRBT and MMBT have been bottlenecks for many decades, they are now just getting around to expanding one of them.
I wouldn't call the MMMBT a bottleneck yet. The HRBT will cost $3.5 billion to expand.
It is a shame that some people here can't do what I did, and look across Hampton Roads, and wonder how they will ever build 8 Interstate lanes and 4 arterial lanes across 4 miles of deep water (as in deep enough and wide enough to accommodate a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier or a fleet of them for that matter).
The Capital Beltway was several years old the first time I drove on it. I suppose it is hard to conceive of what it was like before it existed when you never saw the area back then.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
The 4 bypasses total 26 miles of freeway.
Between the US 13/58/460 Business exit east of Suffolk and the US 58 Business exit west of Courtland, it's 38 miles. 20 miles of that is freeway (Courtland, Franklin, and Suffolk), and 18 miles is arterial. Another thing to note is one of most congested segments is on an arterial section, not freeway.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
So it's "my way or the highway".
I'm not necessarily saying that, but I'm just saying complaining on here isn't going to help the "issue".
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
Because they waited so long before building any supplementary Interstate highways. None in either the 1956 or 1968 Interstate system.
Raleigh has always had I-440 (was a state route originally, but was designated in the 80s), Charlotte had I-277, Asheville had I-240 (again, a state route initially, designated later on), and Winston-Salem has always had I-40 Business (originally I-40 until 1991). They started in the 1990s constructing the Charlotte Outer Loop and Raleigh Outer Loop, and early 2000s with the Wilmington Loop, Greensboro Loop, and Fayetteville Loop. Still under construction is the Greensboro Loop and Raleigh Outer Loop (this doesn't count though because it's toll financed), and they recently starting construction on the Winston-Salem Loop.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
No way. I-26 was about $230 million.
Looks like I over estimated that. Nowadays $1 billion for sure, but that's a different topic.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
I wouldn't call the MMMBT a bottleneck yet. The HRBT will cost $3.5 billion to expand.
The MMMBT is a significant bottleneck, not as bad as the HRBT, but it sure does have its issues. Daily backups of up to 3 miles each direction, etc., 4 lanes of traffic carrying 70,000 AADT, etc.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
It is a shame that some people here can't do what I did, and look across Hampton Roads, and wonder how they will ever build 8 Interstate lanes and 4 arterial lanes across 4 miles of deep water (as in deep enough and wide enough to accommodate a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier or a fleet of them for that matter).
I wasn't around to see any of it built sadly. Now the question is how will they ever build 8
more interstate lanes across 4 miles of deep water.
I think the most impressive construction that tops all of it was the CBBT. That's 17 miles of open water.
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
The Capital Beltway was several years old the first time I drove on it. I suppose it is hard to conceive of what it was like before it existed when you never saw the area back then.
The only new highways I've seen open here is Dominion Blvd, MLK Extension, and I-564 Intermodal Connector. Been here for about 10 years. I was hoping to see the opening of US-460, Southeastern Parkway, and Pleasant Grove Parkway by this time back then, but we see how those went.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
The 4 bypasses total 26 miles of freeway.
Between the US 13/58/460 Business exit east of Suffolk and the US 58 Business exit west of Courtland, it's 38 miles. 20 miles of that is freeway (Courtland, Franklin, and Suffolk), and 18 miles is arterial. Another thing to note is one of most congested segments is on an arterial section, not freeway.
Courtland -- 4 miles
Franklin -- 10 miles
Holland -- 1.5 mile
Suffolk -- 10 miles
7 miles of 6-lane expressway between Suffolk Bypass and I-64/I-264/I-664.
The congested arterial section will soon be widened to 6 lanes and with intersection improvememts.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
So it's "my way or the highway".
I'm not necessarily saying that, but I'm just saying complaining on here isn't going to help the "issue".
This is a discussion group, where discussions take place!
People from the highway professional and political community may well be reading these posts.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
Because they waited so long before building any supplementary Interstate highways. None in either the 1956 or 1968 Interstate system.
Raleigh has always had I-440 (was a state route originally, but was designated in the 80s), Charlotte had I-277, Asheville had I-240 (again, a state route initially, designated later on),
Still none of those built to Interstate standards originally. The Beaucatcher Cut section wasn't completed until 1982.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
and Winston-Salem has always had I-40 Business (originally I-40 until 1991).
Built as a mainline Interstate, not a supplementary Interstate highway.
Raleigh, the state capital, didn't even have I-40 in the original 1956 Interstate system, or any Interstate highway, the I-40 extension was authorized in 1968.
All I am saying is that it would have really helped the development history of the highway program if N.C. had gotten 6 to 8 supplementary Interstate highways authorized in the 1956 system, and maybe 2 more in 1968.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
They started in the 1990s constructing the Charlotte Outer Loop and Raleigh Outer Loop, and early 2000s with the Wilmington Loop, Greensboro Loop, and Fayetteville Loop. Still under construction is the Greensboro Loop and Raleigh Outer Loop (this doesn't count though because it's toll financed), and they recently starting construction on the Winston-Salem Loop.
Of course toll financing counts! It is all part of the mix of highway funding. N.C. may get its third major tollroad, plus a major tolled bridge.
Still this was way short of the curve of nearly all other states, and they are a lot more expensive to build in the eras that they were built.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
It is a shame that some people here can't do what I did, and look across Hampton Roads, and wonder how they will ever build 8 Interstate lanes and 4 arterial lanes across 4 miles of deep water (as in deep enough and wide enough to accommodate a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier or a fleet of them for that matter).
I wasn't around to see any of it built sadly. Now the question is how will they ever build 8 more interstate lanes across 4 miles of deep water.
I've said before that Interstate funding built I-664 and the parallel HRBT, and that hasn't been available in any major quantity for these projects since about 2000, and that the massive federal military presence in the region should justify at least 50% federal funding over and above normal FHWA funding for those crossing projects.
As it is HRBT will get 4 more lanes with the project starting this year.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
I think the most impressive construction that tops all of it was the CBBT. That's 17 miles of open water.
HRBT was the model for CBBT, the HRBT was the first bridge-tunnel in the world of the type that has a manmade portal island at each end of the underwater tunnel. CBBT was amazing, but the concept had already been demonstrated by the 4-mile-long HRBT in estuarial waters of similar depth.
Did you know that the James River Bridge (US-17) at 4.5 miles, when opened in 1928, was the longest open water bridge crossing in the world?
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
The Capital Beltway was several years old the first time I drove on it. I suppose it is hard to conceive of what it was like before it existed when you never saw the area back then.
The only new highways I've seen open here is Dominion Blvd, MLK Extension, and I-564 Intermodal Connector. Been here for about 10 years. I was hoping to see the opening of US-460, Southeastern Parkway, and Pleasant Grove Parkway by this time back then, but we see how those went.
US-460 was killed by The Punk, and the Southeastern Parkway has never yet been close to even having a completed NEPA EIS/location process, let alone construction, and the parkway truly does have questionably high environmental impacts.
Regions go thru major highway development cycles, some of building new freeways, some of mostly widening freeways. Either way involves major capacity expansion. The last 10 years has mostly been in the latter, plus expanding crossings across the Elizabeth River ($2.1 billion).
I-64 widening in Chesapeake, I-64 widening Newport News to Williamsburg, the new parallel Midtown Tunnel, major rehabs to the 3 older Elizabeth River tunnels, the new Jordan Bridge, the new Gilmerton Bridge, the new Dominion Blvd. bridge, the expanded I-64 bridge over Elizabeth River under construction, the new parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel under construction, and soon the HRBT expansion to 8 lanes.
Quote from: Beltwayand the Southeastern Parkway has never yet been close to even having a completed NEPA EIS/location process,
Have to disagree (http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/resources/sepg%20feis%20december%202008.pdf) there. A Final EIS was completed and signed by VDOT and FHWA in 2008.
Quote from: froggie on January 12, 2019, 04:42:04 PM
Quote from: Beltwayand the Southeastern Parkway has never yet been close to even having a completed NEPA EIS/location process,
Have to disagree (http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/resources/sepg%20feis%20december%202008.pdf) there. A Final EIS was completed and signed by VDOT and FHWA in 2008.
I stand corrected. It cites 243 acres of wetlands impacts (i.e. destruction) in 22 miles for the preferred alternate. Given how built up Virginia Beach is, how are they going to compensate for that?
As a comparison, the legitimate FEIS for the US-460 Freeway was 128 acres in 55 miles, in a mostly rural area where it would have been a lot easier to compensate for those losses.
Given that both FEIS were completed in 2008, what did The Punk do about the Southeastern Parkway?
Southeastern Parkway was largely a Virginia Beach-led effort. The city is still interested AFAIK but ACoE questions about the wetland impacts, plus the lack of $1B (at the time...probably higher now) to pay for it have been stumbling blocks.
I live around Seattle. If you take "driving" to include "riding while someone else drives," the closest stretch of freeway I haven't been on would probably be SR 519, 99, and 599 in southern Seattle.
If you require me to have been personally behind the wheel, there're a whole lot more places, including the Alaskan Way Viaduct that I just missed my last chance to drive before it comes down. I'm planning to go walk on it at the celebration next month, though.
Quote from: froggie on January 12, 2019, 05:03:30 PM
Southeastern Parkway was largely a Virginia Beach-led effort. The city is still interested AFAIK but ACoE questions about the wetland impacts, plus the lack of $1B (at the time...probably higher now) to pay for it have been stumbling blocks.
Tolling would be problematic given the toll-free I-264 in the same broad corridor.
Always has faced high hurdles, which was my overall point.
The city doesn't have much to say about it and doesn't mention the 2008 FEIS --
https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/planning/areaplans/Pages/Southeastern-Parkway-Greenbelt-Location-Study.aspx
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
Courtland -- 4 miles
Franklin -- 10 miles
Holland -- 1.5 mile
Suffolk -- 10 miles
You proved my point - 26 miles.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
The congested arterial section will soon be widened to 6 lanes and with intersection improvememts.
But it goes back to the original topic - does it warrant freeway or not with traffic volumes. This segment does warrant freeway construction, but currently no "good" place for it let alone costs. Remember 4 miles was going to cost $250+ million as of that 2008 study?
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
Because they waited so long before building any supplementary Interstate highways. None in either the 1956 or 1968 Interstate system.
Raleigh has always had I-440 (was a state route originally, but was designated in the 80s), Charlotte had I-277, Asheville had I-240 (again, a state route initially, designated later on), [/quote]
Still none of those built to Interstate standards originally. The Beaucatcher Cut section wasn't completed until 1982.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
and Winston-Salem has always had I-40 Business (originally I-40 until 1991).
Built as a mainline Interstate, not a supplementary Interstate highway.[/quote]
Actually I-40 Business in Winston-Salem was originally built as US 421 and US 158 in the 50s before the interstate system. The Winston-Salem Bypass was opened in 1992 and received federal funding because the original I-40 segment was state-funded.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
Raleigh, the state capital, didn't even have I-40 in the original 1956 Interstate system, or any Interstate highway, the I-40 extension was authorized in 1968.
Correct. The first segment of I-40 through the area opened in 1971 from Exit 279 to 289. The rest from I-85 to south of Raleigh didn't start opening until 1983 and opened in segments until 1989. The last segment to open to Wilmington was from Exit 328 (I-95) to Exit 369 in 1991.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
N.C. may get its third major tollroad, plus a major tolled bridge.
What third toll road? Are you referring to the NC-540 extension back to I-87? I'd consider that an extension of the existing toll road, not a new route. Also, two bridges at least are proposed. The Mid-Currituck Bridge and the Cape Fear Skyway in Wilmington.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
As it is HRBT will get 4 more lanes with the project starting this year.
This year? The way the concepts keep changing every few months (let's make the new tunnel four lanes, let's make a 4th HO/T shoulder, let's make a direct I-564 flyover), I would think it would get pushed back farther to accommodate receiving more funding (as project costs increase) and having to design these things. As it is, I've not seen any refined designs for the new bridges over the water and the I-564 flyover.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
Did you know that the James River Bridge (US-17) at 4.5 miles, when opened in 1928, was the longest open water bridge crossing in the world?
Didn't know that, that's real interesting. This area sure does have some impressive water crossings and history.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
the Southeastern Parkway has never yet been close to even having a completed NEPA EIS/location process.
As froggie mentioned, there was a Final EIS in 2008.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
Regions go thru major highway development cycles, some of building new freeways, some of mostly widening freeways. Either way involves major capacity expansion. The last 10 years has mostly been in the latter, plus expanding crossings across the Elizabeth River ($2.1 billion).
I-64 widening in Chesapeake, I-64 widening Newport News to Williamsburg, the new parallel Midtown Tunnel, major rehabs to the 3 older Elizabeth River tunnels, the new Jordan Bridge, the new Gilmerton Bridge, the new Dominion Blvd. bridge, the expanded I-64 bridge over Elizabeth River under construction, the new parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel under construction, and soon the HRBT expansion to 8 lanes.
Can't argue with that, there are some big projects going on now. I'm looking forward to seeing them completed in the next 5 years.
Quote from: froggie on January 12, 2019, 05:03:30 PM
Southeastern Parkway was largely a Virginia Beach-led effort. The city is still interested AFAIK but ACoE questions about the wetland impacts, plus the lack of $1B (at the time...probably higher now) to pay for it have been stumbling blocks.
Believe it or not, the figures actually up to over $5 billion as of recent estimates. I don't know if the city is still interested per se, I've not heard anything on it. As for Chesapeake's portion, the 2050 Master Transportation Plan here still shows it, though was told it's going to get removed in the next update of it.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 05:12:43 PM
Tolling would be problematic given the toll-free I-264 in the same broad corridor.
A lot of trips currently exist within the region of the now dead parkway that do not involve getting near I-264. Local traffic would have benefited the most from, and shunpiking would've existed not on I-264, but the parallel surface routes.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 05:12:43 PM
Always has faced high hurdles, which was my overall point.
The idea for it was good when initially proposed, and would certainly help traffic flow today, but there are issues with it. Good idea, good concept, not easy to put into reality.
The two 2-lane roads (Elbow Rd and Mt. Pleasant Rd) heading into Virginia Beach carry substantial traffic volumes that would've been significantly reduced if this was built, but nonetheless, those roads will eventually be improved and widened. Not in the next 5 years, but eventually.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 12, 2019, 07:46:35 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
The congested arterial section will soon be widened to 6 lanes and with intersection improvememts.
But it goes back to the original topic - does it warrant freeway or not with traffic volumes. This segment does warrant freeway construction, but currently no "good" place for it let alone costs. Remember 4 miles was going to cost $250+ million as of that 2008 study?
Adam F. ("Froggie") worked out an alignment that he posted that would connect the Holland and Suffolk bypasses with a continuous freeway and full connectivity with the Suffolk Bypass southwest quadrant and with existing US-58 and Business US-58.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 12, 2019, 07:46:35 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
N.C. may get its third major tollroad, plus a major tolled bridge.
What third toll road? Are you referring to the NC-540 extension back to I-87? I'd consider that an extension of the existing toll road, not a new route. Also, two bridges at least are proposed. The Mid-Currituck Bridge and the Cape Fear Skyway in Wilmington.
The Cape Fear Skyway would cost over $1 billion is on indefinite hold.
The extension of the Raleigh outer loop would almost triple the length of the existing tollroad, in effect another major tollroad. N.C. is pushing forward on toll roads.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 12, 2019, 07:46:35 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 04:33:35 PM
As it is HRBT will get 4 more lanes with the project starting this year.
This year? The way the concepts keep changing every few months (let's make the new tunnel four lanes, let's make a 4th HO/T shoulder, let's make a direct I-564 flyover), I would think it would get pushed back farther to accommodate receiving more funding (as project costs increase) and having to design these things. As it is, I've not seen any refined designs for the new bridges over the water and the I-564 flyover.
Final design still being negotiated. The developer determination that a 4-lane double bore tunnel could be built for about the same cost as a single 3-lane box tube, occurred within the last year.
Per June 2018 briefing to the CTB, execute Comprehensive Agreement in March 2019, Construction Complete in December 2024.
From the briefing --
"A preliminary design was developed as a proof-of-concept for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). In 2018, VDOT will request proposals from bidders to develop innovations that refine this design concept, which will be finalized when the construction contract is awarded in 2019."
Three scope options included in Draft RFP:
- Direct connect ramps from I-64 HOT to I-564
- Increase height clearance at the existing WB Tunnel
- Replace existing marine approach bridges
Marine Construction Considerations
- Marine bridges have risks but are largely conventional
- Tunnel work is less conventional and will generate greatest risks from cost and schedule standpoint
- This is a rare location where both immersed-tube and bored tunnel construction methods are feasible
- All ten Hampton Roads tunnels to date have been immersed tubes
- Until recently, bored tunnels were not feasible in soft soils
- But recent advances in technology now make bored tunnels possible in soft soils
- Both tunnel methods were directly compared in the nearby CBBT - Thimble Shoal Tunnel procurement in 2015
- Received Bored Tunnel proposals only
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 11:11:44 PM
Adam F. ("Froggie") worked out an alignment that he posted that would connect the Holland and Suffolk bypasses with a continuous freeway and full connectivity with the Suffolk Bypass southwest quadrant and with existing US-58 and Business US-58.
Oh, I know, I've seen it, I also did a design as part of my "US-58 freeway" to I-85, but the issue is cost, especially the junction with the Suffolk Bypass. It's workable, as seen by both of our ideas, but it's position combined with the US-13 interchange creates a challenge on a seamless design.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 11:11:44 PM
The Cape Fear Skyway would cost over $1 billion is on indefinite hold.
It's up for environmental studies & planning again, those being funded in the STIP. https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/cape-fear-crossing/Pages/default.aspx
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 11:11:44 PM
The extension of the Raleigh outer loop would almost triple the length of the existing tollroad, in effect another major tollroad.
It's all Toll NC-540 in the end, tolled from its eastern end at I-87 to the western end at NC-147. A new road in my mind would be a new route, not an extension of an existing tolling road.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 11:11:44 PM
N.C. is pushing forward on toll roads.
To an extent, there's still major projects that are being done without tolls. US-1 is going to be converted to an urban arterial to a six-lane freeway starting at I-540 northwards, and will not be toll financed, all of the I-42, I-87, I-795, I-74, I-73, I-840, I-295 freeways that have to be built eventually will not be tolled, the massive I-95 expansion will not include tolls, etc.
I'm curious as to what their criteria for choosing which projects get tolled is.
Quote from: Beltway on January 12, 2019, 11:11:44 PM
Final design still being negotiated. The developer determination that a 4-lane double bore tunnel could be built for about the same cost as a single 3-lane box tube, occurred within the last year.
Per June 2018 briefing to the CTB, execute Comprehensive Agreement in March 2019, Construction Complete in December 2024.
From the briefing --
"A preliminary design was developed as a proof-of-concept for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). In 2018, VDOT will request proposals from bidders to develop innovations that refine this design concept, which will be finalized when the construction contract is awarded in 2019."
I'm willing to bet it won't start construction for another year, but I guess we'll see how it goes. I-64 High Rise Bridge was about 4 months late on construction, though it's plans were fully finalized in advance.
QuoteI'm curious as to what their criteria for choosing which projects get tolled is.
State law. The initial legislation authorized 9 toll projects. Subsequent legislation mandated that any future toll projects require legislative approval.
Quote from: froggie on January 13, 2019, 10:34:42 AM
QuoteI'm curious as to what their criteria for choosing which projects get tolled is.
State law. The initial legislation authorized 9 toll projects. Subsequent legislation mandated that any future toll projects require legislative approval.
What were the initial 9? Did it include the HO/T lanes as well?
The only tolls I can think of are NC-540, Mid-Currituck Bridge, and U.S. 74 Bypass.
^ You'd have to look it up. I think there's a link somewhere on NCDOT's website.
Quote from: froggie on January 13, 2019, 06:34:25 PM
^ You'd have to look it up. I think there's a link somewhere on NCDOT's website.
10 tollroads ... the rest are Interstate highway express lanes.
https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/turnpike/turnpike-projects/Pages/default.aspx
Quote from: Beltway on January 13, 2019, 06:39:28 PM
10 tollroads ... the rest are Interstate highway express lanes.
https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/turnpike/turnpike-projects/Pages/default.aspx
Interstate express lanes for the most part, but U.S. 74 is a weird situation I've never seen, but really interesting. It's a 6-lane at-grade roadway with businesses, etc. along the side with direct driveway access, but has express lanes in the median and every crossroad is grade separated and access is provided at tight urban interchanges. Like a freeway, but not... It's located south of Charlotte inside the beltway (I-485)
I've got two, none of I 64 east of lexington and I 24 east of the western kentucky parkway. I only managed 75 from the 71 split to the 64 split only because going through cincy on a road trip I decided f it, take 75 cause it's not as though I'm planning for anything in the northeast anytime soon.
i just need to go north on 75 from lex and find a way to get all of 24 west and 24 east to clarksville and I have all of kentucky done, fully completed highways and non x69 3di interstates included.
US 395 freeway in Spokane. I have not been up that way in quite a while. Also have not been on the US 95 freeway stretch north of Coeur d'Alene yet since that was finished.
I-580 and I-238 are freeways I never driven on.
Quote from: Thunderbyrd316 on February 09, 2019, 10:36:20 AM
US 395 freeway in Spokane. I have not been up that way in quite a while.
Thanks for reminding me. That, and the WA-240 freeway in the Tri-Cities, are the only WA freeways that I haven't driven. I never seem to make my way east of the cascades.
The U.S. 301 Middletown Bypass in Delaware.
Quote from: epzik8 on February 10, 2019, 10:58:44 AM
The U.S. 301 Middletown Bypass in Delaware.
I'd imagine there are still a few of us on the forum for whom that is now the case, myself included.
WI-16 freeway in the Milwaukee area, 55 miles.
There's several short sections of freeway I'm missing in Toronto
- The 400 south of the 401
- Allen Road
- The Gardiner east of Jarvis St
- The DVP south of Danforth Ave
An example similar to the OP would be the 403 between Woodstock (the 401) and Hamilton (RR 52). I've only driven that segment once or twice and it was for going between job sites.
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
It is a shame that some people here can't do what I did, and look across Hampton Roads, and wonder how they will ever build 8 Interstate lanes and 4 arterial lanes across 4 miles of deep water (as in deep enough and wide enough to accommodate a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier or a fleet of them for that matter).
I wasn't around to see any of it built sadly. Now the question is how will they ever build 8 more interstate lanes across 4 miles of deep water.
There is nowhere in Hampton Roads area except the CBBT where four miles of deep water is crossed. (The CBBT is mostly in waters 40'-50' deep.) (https://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12245.shtml) Most of the water within the Hampton Roads basin (https://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12245.shtml) is under 30 feet deep. It's only in the dredged deep-water channels where depth exceeds 30 feet. The widest deep water is the turnaround deep basin alongside the navy base which is a mile across. The approaches to the MMMBT and HRBT are in waters less than 30 feet deep. Building new crossings of Hampton Roads would be fairly simple if the USN didn't prohibit bridges across the channel between the shipyards and the ocean.
It's bugging me to death, but at this point it's the new (<2 mile) AR612 north of Fayetteville, AR.
I pass it 5 days out of the week, but I have never needed to head west there.
(It's basically a bypass to XNA Airport that is a few miles off the road.)
Quote from: 7/8 on March 31, 2019, 02:24:29 PM
An example similar to the OP would be the 403 between Woodstock (the 401) and Hamilton (RR 52). I've only driven that segment once or twice and it was for going between job sites.
Quite the opposite for me -- been on that stretch countless times (including yesterday!) but I have never been on the
other side of the triangle - 401 between Woodstock and Cambridge.
Quote from: skluth on March 31, 2019, 07:56:02 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on January 11, 2019, 05:17:51 PM
Quote from: Beltway on January 10, 2019, 10:29:40 PM
It is a shame that some people here can't do what I did, and look across Hampton Roads, and wonder how they will ever build 8 Interstate lanes and 4 arterial lanes across 4 miles of deep water (as in deep enough and wide enough to accommodate a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier or a fleet of them for that matter).
I wasn't around to see any of it built sadly. Now the question is how will they ever build 8 more interstate lanes across 4 miles of deep water.
There is nowhere in Hampton Roads area except the CBBT where four miles of deep water is crossed. (The CBBT is mostly in waters 40'-50' deep.) (https://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12245.shtml) Most of the water within the Hampton Roads basin (https://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12245.shtml) is under 30 feet deep. It's only in the dredged deep-water channels where depth exceeds 30 feet. The widest deep water is the turnaround deep basin alongside the navy base which is a mile across. The approaches to the MMMBT and HRBT are in waters less than 30 feet deep. Building new crossings of Hampton Roads would be fairly simple if the USN didn't prohibit bridges across the channel between the shipyards and the ocean.
There is nothing simple about building a crossing 3.5 miles long or 4.6 miles long across a harbor that could moor 12 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers at once.
There is a massive area of deep water there --
http://www.roadstothefuture.com/HRBT_Nautical_Chart_L.jpg
I misworded some with the implication that it is 40+ feet deep all the way across, but my point remains.
The 1862 battle of the ironclads took place near Sewells Point, where the I-664 North Island is today, and that required water at least 22 feet deep.
A high-level bridge would be no piece of cake. Given the shipping requirements, the main span would need to be at least 2,000 feet wide and 180 feet high, and some of the high-level approaches would extend partway over land. The Navy and other maritime interests may request at least 3,000 feet wide.
Quote from: Beltway on April 01, 2019, 06:48:19 PM
The 1862 battle of the ironclads took place near Sewells Point, where the I-664 North Island is today, and that required water at least 22 feet deep.
FTFY
All of them.
I can't get my license until the end of April.
Quote from: 7/8 on March 31, 2019, 02:24:29 PM
There's several short sections of freeway I'm missing in Toronto
The 400 south of the 401Allen Road (EDIT: I'm still missing the part north of the 401)The Gardiner east of Jarvis StThe DVP south of Danforth Ave
I knocked a good portion of the above off my list last weekend. But I just noticed today that I'm missing a short segment of the 427 south of the Gardiner (and I was right there! :/)
After Toronto, the closest segments are in Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY:
- LaSalle Expressway
- I-990
- NY 33 south of NY 198
Quote from: 7/8 on April 13, 2019, 03:54:14 PM
But I just noticed today that I'm missing a short segment of the 427 south of the Gardiner (and I was right there! :/)
I am wondering if that's possible, considering the southern terminus of 427 is actually
at the Gardiner.
Quote from: webny99 on April 13, 2019, 09:51:58 PM
I am wondering if that's possible, considering the southern terminus of 427 is actually at the Gardiner.
Maybe not (http://travelmapping.net/hb/?u=vdeane&r=on.on427)
Quote from: vdeane on April 13, 2019, 11:21:46 PM
Quote from: webny99 on April 13, 2019, 09:51:58 PM
I am wondering if that's possible, considering the southern terminus of 427 is actually at the Gardiner.
Maybe not (http://travelmapping.net/hb/?u=vdeane&r=on.on427)
Interestingly, the MTO suggests it goes all the way down to Coules Ct (http://www.raqsb.mto.gov.on.ca/techpubs/TrafficVolumes.nsf/fa027808647879788525708a004b5df8/f51986ea499a13b08525745f006dd30b/$FILE/Provincial%20Highways%20Traffic%20Volumes%202016%20AADT%20Only.pdf). But it seems weird that the MTO would maintain the road south of this intersection (https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2dMt) :hmmm:
While not a segment that I've never driven on per se, the 2 mile section of I-94 in both directions just west of St. Cloud between the CSAH 75 interchange (exit 158) and the CSAH 2 interchange (exit 160) is a section of freeway that I've only ever been on two or three times despite having lived nearby for 15+ years. When I had to go eastbound, I'd use exit 160; when I had to go westbound, I'd use CSAH 75 via exit 158. Even now, I still bypass that section when headed westbound because of how accessible the CSAH 75 interchange is heading out of St. Cloud.
For reference, here's the section of freeway that I'm talking about. You can tell that the partial interchange for CSAH 75 is designed mainly to handle the inbound/outbound traffic for St. Cloud while the CSAH 2 interchange is designed mainly for local traffic. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/45.5582647,-94.3398356/45.5859642,-94.3621238/@45.5792002,-94.371759,5593m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0
But if you want me to stay completely true to the topic, the nearest freeway section that I've never been on would be I-90 between Rochester, MN and Tomah, WI.
The toll segment of I-185 in South Carolina, about 100 miles away from me.
Most likely something in Eastern NC. I don't think I've ever driven any of the freeway segments that are slated to one day become I-42, or been to Goldsboro or New Bern.
Quote from: 7/8 on April 14, 2019, 11:50:51 AM
Quote from: vdeane on April 13, 2019, 11:21:46 PM
Quote from: webny99 on April 13, 2019, 09:51:58 PM
I am wondering if that's possible, considering the southern terminus of 427 is actually at the Gardiner.
Maybe not (http://travelmapping.net/hb/?u=vdeane&r=on.on427)
Interestingly, the MTO suggests it goes all the way down to Coules Ct (http://www.raqsb.mto.gov.on.ca/techpubs/TrafficVolumes.nsf/fa027808647879788525708a004b5df8/f51986ea499a13b08525745f006dd30b/$FILE/Provincial%20Highways%20Traffic%20Volumes%202016%20AADT%20Only.pdf). But it seems weird that the MTO would maintain the road south of this intersection (https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2dMt) :hmmm:
Hmm. I don't keep track of my exact travels through travel mapping or anything like that, but I would consider myself to have clinched ON 427 without having been on that short segment, and for a few reasons:
(1) That segment is visible from the southbound to westbound flyover.
(2) ON 427 is not signed as continuing past the Gardiner (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6381311,-79.5604575,3a,75y,171.41h,88.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s74RU30uzwL9AoREpepUTtA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) (the sign on the right would need to have an ON 427 shield, and it doesn't).
(3) Google Maps identifies the connectors as ramps, not part of a mainline route.
Depends on what's closer to Cincinnati, I-75 North of Sydney, OH, US 35 between Chillicothe and Washington CH, or I-65 between Louisville and Indy.
This is tough. If you include roads that we've been on before any of us were old enough to drive, I don't think there's a single expressway, parkway or toll road in Long Island, New York City, or the Lower Hudson Valley that I haven't been on. If you were to add other parts of the New York Tri-State Area, there might've been some in New Jersey that I haven't been near. If we were to stick to New York State, probably Arden Valley Road (Parkway). And I was looking towards something much further upstate like I-787 or NY 85.
As for the Tampa Bay region, just the I-4/Lee Roy Selmon Connector. I was going to say that the nearest ones are in the Orlando Metro Area (FL Toll Road 417, the former FL Toll Road 4080, FL 551, a.k.a.; "Goldenrod Road," and Osceola Parkway), but I just realized I was wrong.
FYI, I have to add this to my post:
https://www.allmusic.com/album/2112-mw0000191702 (https://www.allmusic.com/album/2112-mw0000191702)
It hit me that if one counts Route 77 in Oakland as a short freeway, that was actually the nearest freeway segment I had never driven - until earlier this year.
(To be fair, with the free-flowing ramps from 880 to 77 replaced with a diamond in the 90s, this may be entirely debatable)
I-238 I never driven there
And CA-13 I never driven there and it's near my home.
The Jackie Robinson Parkway, formerly known as the Interboro Parkway. After that is probably the southernmost piece of the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) leading to Kennedy Airport.
You know, I just remembered that I still haven't been on the Long Mountain Parkway either, but Arden Valley Road is still the closer parkway I haven't been on when I lived on Long Island.
Two maybes, and one almost certain.
Maybe: The spur off the I-895 spur (honest!) that connects to MD-2 in the Glen Burnie area. You could argue that it's just a glorified on-ramp, but it does have 1 or 2 movements with the Baltimore Beltway (I-695).
Maybe: In the same vicinity, the MD-10 freeway between MD-100 and I-695. More likely to have never been north of MD-648, or perhaps Furnace Branch Rd.
More certain: the MD-702 freeway off the I-695 beltway in the Essex area. Come to thing of it, haven't been on the arc of I-695 east of I-97 and US-40 for quite a while. It might have still been a "super-2" the last time I took it across the Key Bridge, or the concrete might have just hardened.
For the nearest freeway of any significant length, that would be, hands down, the new US-301 toll road in Delaware.
In Greenville NC, US 17 New Bern bypass.
Quote from: X99 on April 01, 2019, 10:06:15 PM
All of them.
I can't get my license until the end of April.
Yes, I know I'm quoting myself. Still don't have my license, but the nearest freeway I haven't driven (with passenger, required on a learner's permit) is I-90 east of New Underwood, SD.
Quote from: webny99 on July 19, 2018, 08:26:59 AM
Quote from: Buffaboy on July 19, 2018, 07:54:22 AM
I would say the same with I-86. I would doubt many people in the Buffalo area have a reason to use it.
Very true. And since you say that, this section of I-86 (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.3721849,-77.6744859/42.3888203,-77.3846937/@42.7067013,-77.7621314,9.54z) just popped into my mind. I've never driven it and quite possibly never will: If we're headed southeast we take I-390, and if we're headed southwest we take NY 36. People from Rochester have zero use for that section in the middle.
Coming back to this very old quote for good reason: Just got back from a mini-road trip in which I FINALLY clinched that missing section of I-86/NY 17! :nod:
That completes a clinch of all of I-86 in NY and all NY interstate mileage west of I-81.
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on July 17, 2018, 01:39:55 PM
There is a very small section of I-355 between the NB355->EB88 and the WB88->NB355 ramps that I haven't covered yet. 46 miles from home.
I've since pushed this out quite a bit. It's now I-72 west of I-55, 198 miles away.
The section of I-575 north of Canton. And I don't expect to get there anytime soon
Quote from: plain on July 17, 2018, 11:36:17 AM
Great thread.
I just remembered I have yet to drive the short stretch of VA 267 inside the beltway.
Forgot about this thread. I finally got that stretch last year (and finally clinched VA 267).
Now my answer is the NC 11 bypass of Greenville.
Until recently, it was MA 2 inside 95/128. Now it's the Ted Williams Tunnel portion of the MassPike.
I-88 in Upstate NY; I-395 in Maine.
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on July 30, 2022, 11:12:46 AM
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on July 17, 2018, 01:39:55 PM
There is a very small section of I-355 between the NB355->EB88 and the WB88->NB355 ramps that I haven't covered yet. 46 miles from home.
I've since pushed this out quite a bit. It's now I-72 west of I-55, 198 miles away.
I spoke too soon. There's a short segment of US 12 between I-43 and WI 67 that's freeway that I'm still missing so it's 110 miles
The Toll Bypass US-74 Monroe Expressway in North Carolina. It's approximately 12 miles away, yet I've never driven it.
MN 36 between I-35W and I-694. I-35E north of I-694.
Edens Expressway Spur, about 40 miles north of me as the crow flies.
Highway 407: various segments I have not driven simply due to avoidance due to cost
North: US 101 west of Evergreen State College in Olympia
East: I-82 west of I-182; WA 240 south of I-182
South: CA 44 east of Redding
The emmet f Lowry expressway in Texas city. Only stretch of freeway in the Houston area I've never been on.
I-90 between Exit 57A in NY and Exit 36? (the I-86 exit) in Pennsylvania.
NJ-133 in Hightstown. It's about 15 miles from where I live.
IL 394 and I-180, may 'clinch' this month,
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on July 17, 2018, 10:45:09 PM
Nearest freeway I've yet to drive on? Oh 4, west of Springfield Ohio. (Northern end is 61 miles from home)
Nearest interstate I've yet to drive on? I-75 between I-70 and US 33 (the nearest point on I-75 from me would be 67 miles)
I guess I've expanded my travel bubble during covid.
Nearest freeway I've yet to drive on (now)? Oh 73 bypass of Wilmington
Nearest interstate I've yet to drive on (now)? I-74 west of I-275, west of Cincy.
Pretty sure it's I-94 between I-90 and MT47 about 8 hours away.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on August 02, 2022, 11:37:26 PM
Pretty sure it's I-94 between I-90 and MT47 about 8 hours away.
Funny, that was my missing section of I-94 in MT for about five years. I had planned to take 90 WB to 94 EB, but running out of time on my trip I had to cut the corner on MT 47. I cleaned up the missing section of 94 on a drive back from Oregon.
I-84 between Hood River and The Dalles, followed by some other gaps in Oregon.
i-26 west of I-385, 149 miles away.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on August 03, 2022, 03:07:09 AM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on August 02, 2022, 11:37:26 PM
Pretty sure it's I-94 between I-90 and MT47 about 8 hours away.
Funny, that was my missing section of I-94 in MT for about five years. I had planned to take 90 WB to 94 EB, but running out of time on my trip I had to cut the corner on MT 47. I cleaned up the missing section of 94 on a drive back from Oregon.
I did that drive with my grandparents back in 1996 or so, and while I've been through Billings since, I haven't had the need to go back east towards North Dakota. I just had some friends move to Missoula, so maybe I'll make my wife go I-90->MT47->I-94->I-90 to help relieve my anal-retentiveness.
Either I-64 between Louisville and Lexington or I-65 between Louisville and Indy. They're around the same distance in different directions from me.
Almost all of I-35 in Minnesota. Only have been on a few miles in the Twin Cities and Duluth areas.
Quote from: formulanone on July 16, 2018, 08:29:10 PM
There's some parts of I-40 west of Nashville I don't think I've driven before; west of I-24 and TN 100. I haven't completed all of the nearby Briley Parkway (TN 155).
I cleaned those up a few months after posting that...now my nearest undriven freeway segment is probably I-69 from Fulton, Kentucky to I-24. It's kind of out of the way for my convienence, but who knows...
The stretch of I-20 west of I-520 (similarly annoyingly unclinched) to I-26 also eludes me.
The closet would be the Pennyrile Parkway extension, I-169. I always just use ALT US 41 from I-24 to the old end of the Pennyrile in Hopkinsville, KY.
I thought I was missing some of SR 153 in Chattanooga but I just realized that the expressway portion peters out at the end I was one anyway.
Another one: the NH-101 freeway between Manchester and Hampton, NH.
Since my original contribution 4 years ago on this topic, I have eliminated a number of freeway segments. I believe the closest one I have missed is US 14 east of US 218 in Owatonna, MN and west of MN 56 northbound by Dodge Center.
Since my last post in this thread, I've since collected I-90 through the Ted Williams Tunnel (giving me a full clinch of the Mass Pike) and MA 2 from Lexington to Cambridge. I believe now the closest freeway I've never been on is I-391 in Chicopee.
There are a few closer segments on which I've only been on as a passenger, but the nearest freeway segment I've never been on is RI-138 over the Newport Bridge, about 24 miles away.
For my hometown, I would say it's likely US 59 between Wharton and Sugar Land. For college, it would be the Creek Turnpike even though it is only a couple miles away.
For "kinda-freeway" segments: a couple portions of the OH-4 Bypass around Hamilton
For freeway segments marked on Open Street Map: US-50/Columbia Parkway near Lunken Airport, unless you count the ramp segment from I-71 onto the Red Bank Expressway
Interstate-only: I-74 from Batesville, IN to I-465
Nearest freeway segment to here that I haven't driven on would be the 401 between Homer Watson and Highway 8. I've come from the west and exited onto Homer Watson, and I've headed east and entered from Highway 8, but I've never needed to use the segment in between.
for TOLLways its 130 south of Lockhart about 20 miles away. I'd have to go E then SW and it's expensive so make sense I haven't driven on it. Otherwise something in San Antonio since I haven't been on some of the roads on the SE side.
Probably the CA-241 tollway at just under 14 miles away
From home it's the Indiana Toll Road/Ohio Turnpike between South Bend and Perrysburg. For school, it's I-65 from SR 25 to US 30.