US 131 was a 4-lane divided highway for about 15 miles north of Mancelona, Michigan from 1956 to 1968. The northbound lanes were original and the southbound lanes were built in 1956. During the winter, the northbound lanes were actually closed and the southbound lanes became two-way traffic. After 12 years, MDOT determined that it would take $1.5 million to upgrade the 1920s era northbound lanes to modern standards, and traffic counts didn't justify it... so the original lanes were torn up, and US 131 reverted to a 2-lane highway.
Similarly, M-121 runs from the western suburbs of Grand Rapids to Hudsonville. Right now it's divided with the westbound lanes over the original road and "modern" eastbound lanes. MDOT announced in 2008 a proposal to move everything to the eastbound lanes (albeit widening them and keeping the highway 4+ lanes), and convert the original lanes to a bike trail. This has yet to happen.
Where else have divided highways been "downgraded" to undivided highways?
Grand Avenue (KY 1892) in Fort Thomas KY used to have a median before about 1990, but it was just a little 3-foot-wide affair. It didn't really have the advantages of a real divided highway. Now it's 4 lanes undivided. They widened the lanes a little bit, to cover up the median.
Then there's roads where the median has become one of those irritating turn lanes.
One carriageway of old US 66 in western Oklahoma was abandoned, probably when I-40 opened. Too bad it's not still 4 lanes like Missouri Route Z through the Hooker Cut.
DE 7, former US 13
Literally hundreds of old sections of US highways where the Interstates were built
So, let's get away from that. Let's stick to divided roads that were made undivided without being superseded by a parallel Interstate or freeway. The OP's original 131 and 121 examples are good. So is Robert Moses Pkwy. in Buffalo-Niagara Falls.
NY 37 used to be divided between NY 56 and the Akwesasne Reservation. When the bridges over the Racquette River were replaced, NYSDOT opted to only rebuild one and the divided highway was cut back to just east of the border post. The divided highway got cut back again when the new customs station was built.
There's a small section of US 60 near Aurora, MO that used to be divided, but is now 2-Lanes.
Parts of old US 66 in Illinois were 4-Lane/divided, but one side got buried beneath I-55. Lexington, IL is a prime example. North and south of town, the SB Lanes (or technically WB) are gone. Through town, the lanes are "orphaned" and abandoned.
www.google.com/maps/@40.632473,-88.798825,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sqYwbgCkeraL3GPBfvvg2Hw!2e0
US30 running southwest from Dennison Iowa was divided for many years, but the southbound side needed quite a bit of work some years ago and it was ripped out instead.
ROW is still there if the traffic count ever justifies putting it back.
A short bit of US 33 east of Russels Point, OH appears to have previously been a divided highway. I personally observed what appeared to be abandoned WB lanes circa 2006 and since, removed circa 2010. I have not yet confirmed this with historic maps or aerials.
In the "superseded by nearby freeway so let's not include" category:
OH 158 between I-70 and US 40
Industrial Pkwy / Eiterman Rd just south of OH 161 in Dublin
KY 627 (Maple Street) in Winchester. It used to have a narrow median, but during a resurfacing project, it was removed in favor of striping and left turn lanes were added at intersections.
US 380 in Denton, TX. Form Bonnie Brae St to Cordell St.
Used to be four lane concrete divided with wide median. The median was recently paved over with asphalt, and it is now 3 lanes in each direction, with a center turn lane. I just drove it today, and they are doing utility locations along the sides. So maybe this is just temporary until they can rebuilt it correctly. It thought that it was strange for TxDOT to do a widening in such a jerry-rigged manner.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.229427,-97.153178&spn=0.000002,0.001549&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=33.229427,-97.153178&panoid=2f0fu04OE4RJhTzcDIp83g&cbp=12,246.86,,0,0 (https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.229427,-97.153178&spn=0.000002,0.001549&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=33.229427,-97.153178&panoid=2f0fu04OE4RJhTzcDIp83g&cbp=12,246.86,,0,0)
US (Dallas Dr) in Denton, Tx:
There used to be a narrow median on the section that now has a center turn lane (Johnson St SE to a little north of Teasley Ln. You can still see evidence of it if you look closely. Also notice the remnants of old black striping.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.20474,-97.130582&spn=0.000009,0.006196&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=33.20474,-97.130582&panoid=875mtQUWfCadxITIU_UYXg&cbp=12,135.86,,0,0 (https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.20474,-97.130582&spn=0.000009,0.006196&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=33.20474,-97.130582&panoid=875mtQUWfCadxITIU_UYXg&cbp=12,135.86,,0,0)
A little note to everybody else who posted in this topic...Please provide streetview or map links. It would be nice to be able to see what these roads look like
US 31 between South Bend and Lakeville, IN used to have one of those low, narrow medians. It allowed drivers to just drive over it to reach driveways. During one of the repavings, they just paved flat over it, replacing the median with a double center stripe with a gap in the middle: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.538038,-86.271308,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su_jpj8zXJy2Ugpgtf3YWBA!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.538038,-86.271308,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su_jpj8zXJy2Ugpgtf3YWBA!2e0?hl=en)
Later this year, this part of 31 will be replaced by the new-terrain freeway.
In Roseland, near South Bend, what is now SR-933 had a similar center median. Back then the road carried US 31. It was 4 lanes, plus parking on both sides. There the road was completely ripped out and replaced with 4 lanes plus a center turn lane, with no parking. A lot of rear-end accidents were alleviated: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.716373,-86.250406,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sASixDslxB5J5ZSo0HMowZw!2e0?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.716373,-86.250406,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sASixDslxB5J5ZSo0HMowZw!2e0?hl=en)
VA 114 over the New River. The westbound bridge is the original 1930s bridge, but was hit by an overweight truck about 10-12 years ago and has been closed since, forcing 2-way traffic on the eastbound side. This will soon no longer be the case, as VDOT is building a replacement westbound span (http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/salem/route_114_westbound_bridge_replacement.asp).
Quote from: Brian556 on April 05, 2014, 12:10:12 AM
US 380 in Denton, TX. Form Bonnie Brae St to Cordell St.
Used to be four lane concrete divided with wide median. The median was recently paved over with asphalt, and it is now 3 lanes in each direction, with a center turn lane. I just drove it today, and they are doing utility locations along the sides. So maybe this is just temporary until they can rebuilt it correctly. It thought that it was strange for TxDOT to do a widening in such a jerry-rigged manner.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.229427,-97.153178&spn=0.000002,0.001549&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=33.229427,-97.153178&panoid=2f0fu04OE4RJhTzcDIp83g&cbp=12,246.86,,0,0 (https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.229427,-97.153178&spn=0.000002,0.001549&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=33.229427,-97.153178&panoid=2f0fu04OE4RJhTzcDIp83g&cbp=12,246.86,,0,0)
Haven't seen a 7-laner in Texas before, so this is a first. But this is an overall improvement in capacity and not a reduction, so I don't know.
QuoteHaven't seen a 7-laner in Texas before, so this is a first. But this is an overall improvement in capacity and not a reduction, so I don't know.
Higher capacity, perhaps, but a reduction in safety.
In Ohio, SR 18 used to be a 4-lane divided highway between I-71 and I-77 east of Medina. One direction was the original lanes and were very rolling, the other was a newer set of lanes of ~1950s vintage. During the 2000s, ODOT eliminated the median and rebuilt the whole thing as 4+center turn lane.
It appears Winchester Virginia has done this by removing one-way splits and putting the routes (US 11-50-522) onto two-way traffic on the NB road. This may not be the intent of the OP and there are probably lots of examples of this nationwide.
I can think of another example in Virginia beyond Froggie's VA 114 citation that is not related to interstate construction, although it was undivided 4-lane reverting:
US 460 Business on Winfield Ave in southeastern Petersburg was 4-lane for many years but is now just two...
https://www.google.com/maps?q=petersburg,+VA&hl=en&ll=37.215275,-77.376419&spn=0.007903,0.016512&sll=38.969686,-77.383747&sspn=0.061727,0.132093&hnear=Petersburg,+Virginia&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=37.21528,-77.376589&panoid=xhD0pg8oOu6JRGnAhESZQQ&cbp=12,292.23,,0,0
An opposite example, as it were:
US 13-58-460 EB lanes from the Suffolk Bypass to Bowers Hill were once undivided 4-lane. Now it is 3 lanes EB only with a separate WB alignment built.
Here is the 1963 Historic Aerials look at the old Bowers Hill interchange. If you pan west you can (barely) tell it is a 4-lane undivided road. Incidentally, if you pan east you can see construction on the I-64/264 interchange.
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=3&lon=-76.41763959083984&lat=36.78413183329177&year=1963
Mapmikey
Illinois is loaded with former 4-lane divided stretches of both US-40 (especially just west of the Indiana line) and Historic US-66. In most cases, because of the opening of the nearby Interstate highway replacements, IDOT simply moved one direction onto the other's carriageway while leaving the "decomissioned" carriageway intact.
Many of the former carriageways are still accessible and drivable, but are not in good of shape as their maintained partner.
The still remaining part of Cajon Blvd (former US 66) north of San Bernardino, between Kenwood Rd and Devore Rd was formerly 4 lane divided, and one carriageway was closed after I-15 bypassed the road. What I call "old timey" guardrail, closes off the abandoned sections every 50 feet or so to give residences street access between the still open part of road and their property. It also prevents drivers from driving through on the closed part. The road north of there is now part of I-15
LA 112 was divided for the entrance of the abandoned Camp Claiborne, but reduced to two lanes when the camp was closed. The divided highway ran for about two miles.
http://goo.gl/maps/rbpMR
Nexus 7
NJ 173 where it climbs over Muscenetcong Mountain was divided then the median removed in the late 1980s' long after I-78 was built nearby.
Part of Orange Blossom Trail near the Florida Mall in Orlando, FL was divided, the median removed when it was widened to seven lanes ( 6 general plus center turn lane) from four original lanes, but since then was divided again as part of an FDOT safety campaign last year to eliminate the center turn lanes from the FL Turnpike to I-4.
River Rd in Utica, NY was cut from 4 lanes to 2 when NY 5 was moved to the section on I-790 straddling the Thruway. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Utica,+NY&hl=en&ll=43.117933,-75.21855&spn=0.00283,0.003884&sll=35.445024,-97.322893&sspn=0.008933,0.015535&oq=utica+ny&t=h&hnear=Utica,+Oneida+County,+New+York&z=18 (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Utica,+NY&hl=en&ll=43.117933,-75.21855&spn=0.00283,0.003884&sll=35.445024,-97.322893&sspn=0.008933,0.015535&oq=utica+ny&t=h&hnear=Utica,+Oneida+County,+New+York&z=18)
quote from froggie;
QuoteHigher capacity, perhaps, but a reduction in safety.
agreed. With the number of driveways on this road, removing the median greatly increased the potential for accidents.
Did they ever use the other carriageway on the Robert Moses Pkwy in Niagara Falls?
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 05, 2014, 06:42:16 PM
Did they ever use the other carriageway on the Robert Moses Pkwy in Niagara Falls?
Yes indeed.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 05, 2014, 06:42:16 PM
Did they ever use the other carriageway on the Robert Moses Pkwy in Niagara Falls?
Quote from: xcellntbuy on April 05, 2014, 06:55:49 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 05, 2014, 06:42:16 PM
Did they ever use the other carriageway on the Robert Moses Pkwy in Niagara Falls?
Yes indeed.
It was once a four lane freeway for its entire length, including a gap in Niagara Falls State Park. It was removed from Niagara falls and truncated to its present length a long time ago. The section between Niagara Falls and NY 104 was reduced from four lanes to two lanes when some work was done on the dam and the other lanes were never re-opened because Niagara Falls wanted to use them as a bike path. While the change has officially taken effect, aside from some work at the southern end, work to do the conversion properly still hasn't taken off and the road is signed and striped as a permanent work zone, especially at its northern end.
I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 07, 2014, 10:49:12 AM
I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3
Why is that section 4 lanes?
In Columbus, OH, I think US-33 was somewhat divided, perhaps with just a metal guardrail, in the area of the Spring-Sandusky Interchange (I-670 and OH-315). ISTR there was at least one underpowered interchange serving it. But when Spring-Sandusky was completely rebuilt in the late 1990s/early 2000s, US-33 was downgraded to a 4-lane arterial with traffic signals.
In Dayton, OH, DeWeese Parkway used to be two roads with a grass median. Sometime in the early 1980s, the road closest to the river was blocked off as a hiker-biker trail, while the remaining road became two-way. Note that this "parkway" is just that -- a road through a park, and never really had any importance as a commuter route or anything.
Quote from: Jardine on April 04, 2014, 10:51:34 PM
ROW is still there if the traffic count ever justifies putting it back.
Which it will.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ops.fhwa.dot.gov%2Ffreight%2Ffreight_analysis%2Fnat_freight_stats%2Fimages%2Flo_res_jpg%2Fnhslnghultrktraf2040.jpg&hash=39e723d78391ecd12112fd66a71b61b378342f85) (http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/nat_freight_stats/images/hi_res_jpg/nhslnghultrktraf2040.jpg)
Quote from: bugo on April 07, 2014, 07:29:25 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 07, 2014, 10:49:12 AM
I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3
Why is that section 4 lanes?
I have no idea. I've always wondered that too.
When I was in high school, we used to drive way too fast on that segment trying to pass people. Stupid, especially going eastbound due to a couple of small hills as you approach the eastern end of that area. Amazing we never got a ticket or into a wreck, especially since the car I had then (a '77 Granada) was a bit of a boat.
BUS US-127 (Old 27) in St. Johns, MI is similar to Brian556's Denton, TX example: http://goo.gl/maps/7hgqf
Apparently back in the 80s, this stretch between Sturgis and Townsend had a median with Michigan left turns, similar to what it is south of Townsend. I'm not sure when the transition was made. (Or why it was made, for that matter. This is a really odd setup, and there are driveways everywhere.)
Quote from: lepidopteran on April 07, 2014, 08:21:10 PM
In Columbus, OH, I think US-33 was somewhat divided, perhaps with just a metal guardrail, in the area of the Spring-Sandusky Interchange (I-670 and OH-315). ISTR there was at least one underpowered interchange serving it.
That underpowered interchange being the Spring-Sandusky. Unless you count some connections to the west end of Twin Rivers Dr to have been a separate interchange. Franklin County maps did indeed show a short bit of US 33 as a freeway through this area at the time.
Quote from: bugo on April 07, 2014, 07:29:25 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on April 07, 2014, 10:49:12 AM
I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3
Why is that section 4 lanes?
Part of a long-ago plan for a 4-lane US 50 from Winchester to Northern Virginia. That section west of Middleburg was built ca. 1960/61, but was never extended upon. There is no further 4-laning planned between Paris (US 17 South) and Lenah (near SR 600, where the current 4-lane into Northern Virginia begins). Keeping US 50 2 lanes, in conjunction with local town traffic calming projects and the 45 MPH, no-trucks-allowed segment of US 17 between US 50 and I-66, is part of a plan to encourage through traffic (especially trucks) to use I-66 instead of US 50.
Quote from: froggie on April 09, 2014, 11:25:15 AMno-trucks-allowed segment of US 17 between US 50 and I-66
I've often wondered about that. Is there a physical limitation on the roadway that would make truck traffic problematic, or is that just VDOT's preference not to have trucks on that route?
Not 100% sure whether this would count due to such coming about due to a highway relocation/interchange construction project & the roadbed is no longer part of the highway corridor itself, but 2-lane undivided Jubilee Drive in Peabody, MA was originally part of MA 128/Yankee Division Highway (4-lane, divided) prior to 1988 (http://goo.gl/maps/Arh19).