Hi, my name's Tommy, and despite my user name, I'm actually from Pittsburgh. I've had an interest in roads ever since I was in my toddler years when I lived near Flemington Circle in New Jersey. My parents say I used to always say "up and down on 31." One of my uncles got the nickname "Uncle Detour" from my reading of a Detour sign when I was very young - the name has stuck to this day.
I always was observant of various things about roads that most younger kids wouldn't have noticed or even cared about. I always noticed how the signs on the PA Turnpike were a much darker green than the signs on Parkway East (I-376), and I was able to figure out at the time was that they must be a lot older. Of course all those classic signs are gone now. I even went as far as to draw a gigantic map out of dozens of taped-together pieces of paper, full of highways and signs.
My biggest obsession with roads when I was little was my search for the elusive "four-lane road." Of course, four-lane roads are common everywhere, but my definition of a "four-lane road" was one that had four lanes going in one direction. Those were quite rare in the Pittsburgh area. Needless to say, I would have been blown away by some of the roads in California!
My interest in roads was renewed back in 2009 when coming home from Columbus, Ohio. We got on I-79 to go to Pittsburgh, and suddenly we were on I-376. I was completely lost. That road had been I-279 as long as I could remember, and I couldn't figure out what was going on. It took a Wikipedia search for me to figure out why the signs were different. That got me to start looking up other highway-related things and to realize how much the highway system had changed since I was little.
However, it was not until 2012 that I went as far west as Indiana. But finally, I got to experience the trip of a lifetime as I went with my father and my sister all the way to Los Angeles this summer. That was truly an outstanding trip, and I was able to experience more in a matter of four days than I had my entire life.
Already I've enjoyed browsing the forums and reading some of the pic-filled threads. My favorite is the "Worst of Road Signs" thread where I killed four or so hours looking through all the bad signs.
Welcome to the board!
Hi, welcome, alot of your description sounds like me only 35 years ago. I was a "east street valley" kid. When I got my first car, i used to go the the SCA fighter practice in Cleveland just to be on an 8 lane freeway.
Hi!
Quote from: Crazy Packers Fan on November 15, 2013, 01:15:45 AM
Hi, my name's Tommy, and despite my user name, I'm actually from Pittsburgh. I've had an interest in roads ever since I was in my toddler years when I lived near Flemington Circle in New Jersey. My parents say I used to always say "up and down on 31." One of my uncles got the nickname "Uncle Detour" from my reading of a Detour sign when I was very young - the name has stuck to this day.
NJ 31 is one of the few highways that I've actually driven the entire length of. The Flemington Circle is one of my least favorite things to drive in New Jersey, only slightly preferred over the Somerville Circle.
QuoteMy biggest obsession with roads when I was little was my search for the elusive "four-lane road." Of course, four-lane roads are common everywhere, but my definition of a "four-lane road" was one that had four lanes going in one direction.
Welp. My definition of a x-laned road only refers to a single direction. That's why people look at me funny when I call a 2 lane road a 1 lane road because you can only use one for a single direction of travel. Oh well, I found some actual 4 laned roads when I was young still.
Anyways, welcome! :sombrero:
Pittsburgh is probably the most intriguingly three-dimensional city in the nation.
Welcome fellow Pittsburgher! I just joined as well and am excited to hear stories of other people like me who have to navigate this insane city every day (you get used to it after doing it for so long I guess!). :spin:
Welcome! I just hope you're not a Steeler fan. (I am a Bengal fan.)
The view coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel is the most striking view of a city that I've ever seen. You're in what looks like a semi-rural area, go through the tunnel, and BAM! The skyline just appears out of nowhere. If you haven't driven it, do it at night the first time. You won't be disappointed.
Quote from: bugo on January 18, 2014, 11:40:00 PM
The view coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel is the most striking view of a city that I've ever seen.
I second this.
Quote from: formulanone on January 19, 2014, 09:10:28 AM
The view coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel is the most striking view of a city that I've ever seen.
I've seen pictures of this view and want to experience it for myself. The city skyline looks beautiful.
The Fort Pitt view has the surprise factor and you should absolutely check it out, but once you're used to that, I recommend the Veterans' Bridge (I-579) for a city view that's better in and of itself.
Quote from: Zeffy on January 19, 2014, 12:08:32 PM
Quote from: formulanone on January 19, 2014, 09:10:28 AM
The view coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel is the most striking view of a city that I've ever seen.
I've seen pictures of this view and want to experience it for myself. The city skyline looks beautiful.
It's way cooler in person than in pictures. It will take your breath away the first time, especially at night. I highly recommend driving it at night the first time.
Quote from: US 41 on January 18, 2014, 07:52:29 PM
Welcome! I just hope you're not a Steeler fan. (I am a Bengal fan.)
Wow! I feel stupid! All I read was Hi from Pittsburgh. I didn't even notice his username was Crazy Packers Fan. Green Bay is cool. I'll usually cheer for them.
Next time I fly in, I'll try for night.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2FInt376eYellowBridgePIttsburghSkyline1.jpg&hash=7751864231c55cc3276385bd8627a8001b894a44)
Though, it's pretty cool from the skies, too:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2FPittsburghThreeRiversAerial3.jpg&hash=3f7b5778925f5e2758bff1a0c2a04280d427b9ec)
Quote from: formulanone on January 20, 2014, 06:27:48 AM
Next time I fly in, I'll try for night.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2FInt376eYellowBridgePIttsburghSkyline1.jpg&hash=7751864231c55cc3276385bd8627a8001b894a44)
I'm definitely going to try and visit Pittsburgh before Spring hits... that view just looks surreal.
Quote from: bugo on January 20, 2014, 03:41:17 AM
It's way cooler in person than in pictures. It will take your breath away the first time, especially at night. I highly recommend driving it at night the first time.
Cities in the night time is something I can look at for hours on end. Is traffic bad in the night hours around Pittsburgh? Or should I wait until it's past dark (10:00+) and drive it?
Quote from: Zeffy on January 20, 2014, 01:33:05 PM
Quote from: formulanone on January 20, 2014, 06:27:48 AM
Next time I fly in, I'll try for night.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2FInt376eYellowBridgePIttsburghSkyline1.jpg&hash=7751864231c55cc3276385bd8627a8001b894a44)
I'm definitely going to try and visit Pittsburgh before Spring hits... that view just looks surreal.
Quote from: bugo on January 20, 2014, 03:41:17 AM
It's way cooler in person than in pictures. It will take your breath away the first time, especially at night. I highly recommend driving it at night the first time.
Cities in the night time is something I can look at for hours on end. Is traffic bad in the night hours around Pittsburgh? Or should I wait until it's past dark (10:00+) and drive it?
I drove it about midnight and traffic was light.