I have no quarrel with I-505.
I haven't completed many. I do love the mountain interstates such as 15, 25, 70, 90 but haven't explored the whole route of any of them.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 20, 2013, 03:30:41 PM
I have no quarrel with I-505.
I do. The old two-lane was cut in several places north of SR 16, forcing local and slow traffic onto the freeway.
I also have not seen much of the country on roads. However,
I-93 in New Hampshire looks wonderful going north at about exit 30. There are beautiful mountains. I saw this when going to Franconia Notch State Park.
I-88 in New York also looks beautiful.
The Mass Pike has "Home of Friendly Ice Cream" in Wilbraham between exits 7 and 8. I love it, but it's only a very small part of the Mass Pike.
I-238 gets my approval. The sheer number of elaborate proposals re-signing most of California's interstates just to eliminate it in Fictional Highways makes it golden.
Quote from: NE2 on August 20, 2013, 03:38:00 PM
I do. The old two-lane was cut in several places north of SR 16, forcing local and slow traffic onto the freeway.
I don't think I've ever encountered traffic on 505. might just have been driving it at fortuitous times.
but yes, you are right that old CA-28/128 is in little pieces.
I have not travelled enough of the ones out west to be able to comment, but of the ones on the East Coast, I like I-87 from Albany to the Canadian border for its scenic value (especially during the winter); while I find the strange sequential exit numbering to be extremely annoying, the scenic value trumps that.
Unsigned I-595 in Maryland is high on my list because I remember what the road was like before it was rebuilt to Interstate standards. Maryland did an excellent job on that project.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 20, 2013, 03:49:42 PM
but yes, you are right that old CA-28/128 is in little pieces.
28/128 actually went east from Winters to Davis on what was never state-maintained.
and here I thought I once saw a map that has 28 routed up along what is now the road paralleling 505.
Not seeing it on Caltrans maps (1956, 1961, 1966), but it could have. Definitely went to Davis in 1934: "Jct. Rte. 1 near Albion to Jct. U. S. 40 near Davis, via Sage Canyon."
I-664 or Virginia's I-195.
If Arkansas ever signs AR 549 as I-49, that will be the best interstate ever as it is brand new. You cannot argue that all new roads are the best until nature and trucks ruin the pavement.
The Pa Turnpike (I-76) is great west of Carlisle and along its concurrency with I-70 through the mountains. I like driving through the twin tunnels in Franklin County the best!
Quote from: roadman65 on August 20, 2013, 05:58:55 PMYou cannot argue that all new roads are the best until nature and trucks ruin the pavement.
Heh. How about no. Best by one (out of many) criteria, perhaps, but I'd say that unless the road is absolute shite, quality of pavement is among the least important criteria you could rank an interstate on.
If I had to choose one in it's entirety, it'd be I-90. It isn't totally fair as I haven't clinched it, but even in Indiana, I kept my eyes peeled for a chance to look into Michigan; it's a flat route across Indiana, but not boring. In Illinois, you get that awesome bridge on the skyway that lights up at night, and the Des Plaines and Belvidere oases. In Wisconsin, you get into the bluff country and the Madison lakes area. In Minnesota, there's a neat area where the roadway splits and private property exists in the median. Even if you don't get off the road in South Dakota, the scenery of the plains is still worth the drive. Same goes for Wyoming.
I haven't been on I-90 west of Gillette, WY or east of Cleveland, OH, but in New York it appears to be similar in terrain to I-80 across Pennsylvania, which I also really enjoyed. West of Wyoming, it appears to go through a mountainous area that I would enjoy; I can't wait to totally clinch I-90! :spin: :spin:
I'm not well-traveled enough to give a good answer, but I-40 is the one that most interests me and I'd love to clinch it one day. You get basically every landscape type in the contiguous U.S.
I-295 (VA) is near the top of my list. Never any traffic, and has the Varina-Enon Bridge which is really scenic.
As for scenery, I-17 is arguably the most scenic one, at least per mile.
Quote from: Thing 342 on August 20, 2013, 07:17:02 PM
As for scenery, I-17 is arguably the most scenic one, at least per mile.
I'd argue H-3, but I don't remember what it's like east of, say, 83. it may be boring.
The east end of H-3 is a military base, so yeah.
I-480, CA.
Much too large of a network to have one winner.
West: I-8 in San Diego and Imperial Counties in California or I-70 in Colorado and Utah.
Honorable mention to I-5 across the Grapevine.
East: I-664 across Hampton Roads, Virginia or the I-95 section of the New Jersey Turnpike mainline (proof positive that you can build it and improve it, no matter what the obstructionists say).
Honorable mention to I-68 in Maryland and West Virginia.
I-24 is pretty cool with the East and West roadbeds aligned pretty far apart. The fireworks stand is pretty cool in the median of the interstate. The interstate dips into Georgia for a brief moment as well.
I-35 between Emporia and Kansas City is a joy to drive. The curves are banked perfectly, the signs are laid out wonderfully, and the scenery is pretty nice for Kansas (better than the flat pancake land that I-70 traverses). Traffic isn't that bad either. Also, no Clearview.
I'm surprised to see multiple mentions of 664 on here. Maybe it's because I grew up near it, and sat in traffic on it regularly for most of my childhood, but I never thought it was anything at all special. From a 6-lane suburban freeway, to a tangle of disused ramps in a dead downtown, across an endless trestle broken up by one ugly tunnel, then down ten miles of congested suburban freeway. Apart from the bridge-tunnel, I can't think of much exciting about it.
I think if I had to pick one BEST interstate, of what I've driven, I'd have to pick 95, simply because of the huge diversity it passes through from Florida to Maine, the sheer number of people who live along it and use it, directly or indirectly, every day, and all the cool things you can find along and around it.
If we're looking at this as if we had to pick only one Interstate we could drive for the rest of our lives, I would easily pick I-80. On a personal level, it connects my current home and my childhood home and is the genesis of my interest in highways. But in a much greater sense, it spans the content, connects two of the country's greatest cities, and covers perhaps the widest range of landscapes of any Interstate. I've driven the entire length a few times and never tire of it–except maybe the OH-IN-IL section.
If we're trying to pick a more specific segment or judge based on the qualities of the roadway itself, I'd probably pick I-280 (California). It's incredibly scenic and runs on an alignment well concealed from the cities along its route. And yet it serves an important metropolitan traffic corridor. Comparing it with the parallel Bayshore Freeway is startling.
I'm going to have to agree with whoever said I-24. It's very scenic, especially with the sun rising over the Tennessee River west of Chattanooga.
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 20, 2013, 03:52:22 PM
Unsigned I-595 in Maryland is high on my list because I remember what the road was like before it was rebuilt to Interstate standards. Maryland did an excellent job on that project.
On that note, I'll give an honorable mention to the Borman Expressway and I-74 in Peoria. I'll admit I'm not old enough to actually remember what the old roads were like, but by hearing stories and looking at maps, I can tell the DOTs did a great job.
I'm partial to I-787 up in Albany. It's a cool number first off, and I like the way it snakes through the city. Other interstates that I like include I-68 (especially through Sideling Hill), the Northway portion of I-87, I-93 through Boston and the Big Dig project, and I-95 through Providence.
How about I-535 in Duluth, Superior. It's only a bridge crossing the river, 100% scenery!
I say I-180 in WY because it is different.
I like I-82 in Washington. Because it's newer it was built to more recent standards and things flow nicely.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on August 21, 2013, 10:46:14 AM
I say I-180 in WY because it is different.
Agreed. Having grown up in Cheyenne, I have a soft spot for I-180.
I-90, hands down! Besides going from Seattle to Boston (and through my hometown of Chicago), there's great variety in the scenery.
I-5 from Redding to Eugene. The 'Cascade Wonderland Highway' I've seen floating around is silly, but it does fit.
I-375 in MI. Gets me to where I need tpo go, and in a hurry! :-D
Quote from: elsmere241 on August 21, 2013, 11:15:54 AM
I like I-82 in Washington. Because it's newer it was built to more recent standards and things flow nicely.
I was just going to post this. It goes through some pretty nice country. My choice if we're picking one for the whole length of the interstate.
Also worth mentioning: I-280 from San Bruno to Cupertino. I-84 (western). I-80 through Wyoming.
I-64.
No Love for I-195 in NJ?
Condition is great, plenty of large 1970s spec state shields, traffic isn't too bad, the ends are a bit of a let down due to ending and transforming into a state route.
Only thing i would improve other than the eastern end to extend it further, add a third lane between trenton and CR537/six flags, to help six flags traffic.
Edit: Forgot to give a reason why
I'll nominate I-80 for such a long, cross-country route from Youngstown, Ohio to West Wendover, Nevada (the part I've been on). It crosses deserts, plains, prairie, forests, comes close to the Great Lakes, goes through the mountains, and has a combination of urban and rural areas.
Quote from: pianocello on August 21, 2013, 12:09:38 AM
On that note, I'll give an honorable mention to the Borman Expressway and I-74 in Peoria. I'll admit I'm not old enough to actually remember what the old roads were like, but by hearing stories and looking at maps, I can tell the DOTs did a great job.
Good call on the Borman. Since I am old enough (by plenty) to have driven it multiple times before the rebuild, I initially scoffed at the idea it qualifies as "best." On further reflection, I realized that it is now an absolute pleasure to drive, even with heavy traffic. As a bonus, it's part of I-80, so all those praising that route are included.
The Borman is one of several recent reconstructions on which INDOT has done a great job in recent years. I-465 in Indy also comes to mind.
The Borman may be fast to drive now, but it is still full of a bunch of crazy nutjobs driving it. If we have a thread for looniest drivers, the Borman drivers certainly qualify in the top five.
Quote from: Brandon on August 21, 2013, 02:55:35 PM
The Borman may be fast to drive now, but it is still full of a bunch of crazy nutjobs driving it. If we have a thread for looniest drivers, the Borman drivers certainly qualify in the top five.
I haven't noticed a higher than normal proportion of nutjobs on the Borman. I hope that doesn't mean that I'm one. :crazy:
Quote from: theline on August 21, 2013, 04:45:25 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 21, 2013, 02:55:35 PM
The Borman may be fast to drive now, but it is still full of a bunch of crazy nutjobs driving it. If we have a thread for looniest drivers, the Borman drivers certainly qualify in the top five.
I haven't noticed a higher than normal proportion of nutjobs on the Borman. I hope that doesn't mean that I'm one. :crazy:
I saw more than a few acts of idiocy coming back from the Flint meet on Saturday. Everything was sane until we got up to I-65. Then it's like a crazy switch was flipped with a variety of driving styles - fast in the right, slow in the left, etc. Then we got up to Burr where the two right lanes were closed through Cline. After Cline, it was a free-for-all for about a mile or two as trucks had moved left for the construction and had to get back to the right as the FIBs cut them off.
Now that my head's clearer, best Interstate is I-895 NY. It's the only urban Interstate I know of that never, ever gets a traffic jam.
Missouri's I-229, for the double decker bridge through downtown.
Quote from: Brandon on August 21, 2013, 02:55:35 PM
The Borman may be fast to drive now, but it is still full of a bunch of crazy nutjobs driving it. If we have a thread for looniest drivers, the Borman drivers certainly qualify in the top five.
I don't think the current 55 mph speed limit on the Borman is appropirate. It has been a few years since I have driven it, and I am far from a regular driver, but I remember a wide range of speeds being traveled on that road. Some drivers want to stick close to the 55 mph limit, while other drivers are quite content doing 75 mph despite the low limit. There doesn't seem to be a ton of slower traffic keeping to the right either.
In my experience, a lot of larger 5+ lane per direction roadways operate similarly.
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on August 24, 2013, 09:51:29 AM
I don't think the current 55 mph speed limit on the Borman is appropirate.
You could say that about almost every suburban freeway in Illinois and Indiana.
(I haven't had the chance to drive the Borman yet, but I've been wanting to. Perhaps I'll have the opportunity this year.)
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 24, 2013, 01:10:08 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on August 24, 2013, 09:51:29 AM
I don't think the current 55 mph speed limit on the Borman is appropirate.
You could say that about almost every suburban freeway in Illinois and Indiana.
(I haven't had the chance to drive the Borman yet, but I've been wanting to. Perhaps I'll have the opportunity this year.)
I just drove the Borman this weekend. 55 was reasonable before the rebuild, but it's ridiculous now. Most traffic was way over the limit. I started out around 63 in the next-to-right lane and had folks zooming past on both sides. When a yellow school bus screamed past, I picked it up. The limit needs to be 65-70.
I-70 from Denver west to I-15:
Plenty of canyons, tunnels, architectural feats (The Eishenhower Tunnel, Glenwood Canyon & the San Rafael Swell), and pretty much every kind of terrain and landscape imaginable in that 500 mile stretch -- from desert to mountains.
I-70 from about Vail Pass to I-15. Glenwood Canyon was a marvel of engineering, the San Rafael Swell is beautiful (especially around sunset), I-15 from Cedar City to Vegas (including the Virgin River Gorge), I-84 from the I-80 split to I-15, I-5 from Redding to Roseburg, and I-84 from Troutdale to Hood River (Multnomah Falls!) are some of my favorites.
Also I-25 from Trinidad to Raton is beautiful but slow. I-93 in NH (been as far north as Lincoln) is my favorite eastern interstate.
Quote from: thenetwork on August 26, 2013, 10:14:18 PM
I-70 from Denver west to I-15:
Plenty of canyons, tunnels, architectural feats (The Eishenhower Tunnel, Glenwood Canyon & the San Rafael Swell), and pretty much every kind of terrain and landscape imaginable in that 500 mile stretch -- from desert to mountains.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Quote from: thenetwork on August 26, 2013, 10:14:18 PM
I-70 from Denver west to I-15:
Plenty of canyons, tunnels, architectural feats (The Eishenhower Tunnel, Glenwood Canyon & the San Rafael Swell), and pretty much every kind of terrain and landscape imaginable in that 500 mile stretch -- from desert to mountains.
I've only been through there at night. I guess I should make some plans.
Quote from: Mark68 on September 05, 2013, 06:17:35 AM
I-93 in NH (been as far north as Lincoln) is my favorite eastern interstate.
It's prettier and less traveled north of Lincoln.
I've always liked the section of I-5 between Redding, CA and Medford, OR. It transitions rather quickly from the Sacramento Valley into the mountains, gaining a good bit of elevation and becoming very scenic. Shasta Lake, Mt. Shasta, Klamath River, Mt. Ashland, all within sight of the freeway.
Quote from: DSS5 on August 20, 2013, 06:40:27 PM
I'm not well-traveled enough to give a good answer, but I-40 is the one that most interests me and I'd love to clinch it one day. You get basically every landscape type in the contiguous U.S.
I've driven from North Carolina to Los Angeles 8 or 9 times. I took I-40 many times. The distance is greater than you think and smaller than you think at the same time. It involves 4 days of hard driving (12-14 hours each day), and 3 nights in a cheap motel for sleep. I highly recommend it, it's amazing to see the East Coast's tall trees slowly fizzle away down to nothing. (Crossing the Mississippi River marks a big transition). Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle mark the start of a completely flat and barren landcsape. You can see for miles in any direction. Then you notice the first little rock or outcrop (may 50 feet tall) which slowly transitions into the mighty Rockies. Oh, and Oklahoma marks the end of any green tree whatsover. It's all brown (and stunningly beautiful) from then on. I remember staying the night in Kingman, Arizona. A tiny town beside the interstate in a landscape that's so barren it feels like you're on the surface of the moon.
Driving cross country will make NC seem super populated with terrible traffic, compared to most of the rest of the country.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder:
I have cousins from Canada that were absolutely captivated by the flat empty expanses visible from I-80 across Nebraska.
They grew up in a mountainous, forested area, and could not get over the flatness and lack of trees across Nebraska.
Takes all kinds, but it is embarrassing to be related to them. :-D
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 20, 2013, 03:52:22 PM
I have not travelled enough of the ones out west to be able to comment, but of the ones on the East Coast, I like I-87 from Albany to the Canadian border for its scenic value (especially during the winter); while I find the strange sequential exit numbering to be extremely annoying, the scenic value trumps that.
Unsigned I-595 in Maryland is high on my list because I remember what the road was like before it was rebuilt to Interstate standards. Maryland did an excellent job on that project.
I-87 is probably my favorite interstate as well. I've only done it as far north as Saratoga so far.
Quote from: Steve on August 21, 2013, 07:39:50 PM
Now that my head's clearer, best Interstate is I-895 NY. It's the only urban Interstate I know of that never, ever gets a traffic jam.
Also the only interstate in the NYC area of New York State that I haven't been on. Let's try to include it in the road meet next summer somewhere along the way.
Quote from: dgolub on October 26, 2013, 08:04:35 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 20, 2013, 03:52:22 PM
I have not travelled enough of the ones out west to be able to comment, but of the ones on the East Coast, I like I-87 from Albany to the Canadian border for its scenic value (especially during the winter); while I find the strange sequential exit numbering to be extremely annoying, the scenic value trumps that.
I-87 is probably my favorite interstate as well. I've only done it as far north as Saratoga so far.
The ride along the Adirondack Northway from Lake George to Plattsburgh is mountainous serenity, literally as old as time itself. :nod:
Try AuSable Forks. Clinton County, despite including part of the Adirondack Park (which extends that far north to include AuSable Chasm), has surprisingly few mountains. That said, the Clinton County portion is interesting for another reason - French signage and A-15 shields.
New Hampshire Turnpike (I-95). 15 miles of freeway perfection for $2.
I vote for I-77 from the NC/VA state line to I-64 through Charleston, WV. Bridges, tunnels, mountains, rivers, and cities all along a couple highways.
Quote from: PColumbus73 on October 28, 2013, 03:27:07 PM
I vote for I-77 from the NC/VA state line to I-64 through Charleston, WV. Bridges, tunnels, mountains, rivers, and cities all along a couple highways.
I love that one too, especially coming down the mountain in Virginia shortly before the NC state line.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 20, 2013, 07:32:03 PM
I'd argue H-3, but I don't remember what it's like east of, say, 83. it may be boring.
It is. Rock quarry on the way to the military base, with some scenic pullouts to view not-overly-scenic Kaneohe Bay. The west end (passing the state prison and other industrial places) isn't too great either. But in-between it's gorgeous, topped only by (IMHO) I-70 through Colorado's Glenwood Canyon.
North of Palo Alto where the freeway pulls away from the suburban sprawl, I-280 in California is pretty cool as well. I was just there, but didn't notice if the boastful "world's most beautiful freeway" sign is still up (well, maybe most beautiful eight-lane -- topped at least by Interstate H-3, I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, and CA 163 through Balboa Park in San Diego).
I-540 between Alma, AR and Bentonville, AR is a masterpiece of a freeway - especially this time of year.