What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system? One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.
I think in some states it's easy to identify what the most vital route would be (for example, 15 probably takes the cake in Utah, and North Dakota probably relies the most on 94) but what is the most important route in your state?
California is tough, for me. I think I-5 is a solid choice, though I'm sure there are valid arguments for 80, and maybe even 10.
Texas has two. For international and intrastate, it's I-35 without a doubt. For interstate traffic, though, I-10 is probably more important.
I would assume this would be easy to identify as it would likely be an interstate that interacts with most major cities in area.
For North Carolina --> I-85, it links Charlotte, the Triad and RTP areas; all major commercial centers.
For South Carolina --> I-26, it links Charleston (port), Columbia (capital) and Greenville/Spartanburg area.
For Georgia --> I-75, considered a vital corridor from Michigan to Florida; Also links Chattanooga, Atlanta and Macon areas.
For Florida --> I-95, links cities along Atlantic Coast with tourism and commerce to the northern states.
I'm gonna go with the Thruway for NY. The Cross-Bronx is also a contender, but both it and the Thruway are part of I-95, so I went with the Thruway.
New Jersey Turnpike without a doubt. Of course, I also would say the Garden State Parkway is extremely important as well.
I-5 in Washington and Oregon - Without it it, it would take forever to get anywhere, all the truck traffic would be so dangerous.
I-90 for most of the Country - Same Story
For Arizona, I'd have to say I-10. It is especially important to the phoenix area as it carries traffic between the urban core and the ever expanding outer suburbs.
Quote from: Zeffy on December 19, 2014, 05:28:43 PM
New Jersey Turnpike without a doubt. Of course, I also would say the Garden State Parkway is extremely important as well.
I'd argue that I-295 is more important than the parkway, as 295 handles a lot of local traffic and has a lot of warehouse type stuff along it.
Definitely I-10 in Arizona, since it connects Arizona's two largest metro areas (Phoenix and Tucson), plus connecting Phoenix to its growing exurbs.
For New Mexico, I would say I-25 since it connects Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe (the three largest metro areas in the state).
I-20 in Louisiana. The alternative, US 80, is all 2-lane (except for the Dixie Inn-Bossier City segment...4-lane divided since 1954) and goes straight thru many towns. Any time I-20 is detoured onto US 80 it is a total charlie-foxtrot.
In Kentucky, I-65 carries more truck traffic than any other interstate, so I'd say it would get the nomination from most folks. Myself, I'd lean to I-64 because it links the state's two biggest cities and the state capital.
Maryland:
(1) I-95 (since so much of the state's population and employment is along it); and
(2) I-70 (provides connection to western Pennsylvania and the Midwest, vital to the Port of Baltimore).
Michigan: I-94. (Although others might argue for I-75, but really all that does is connect Up North and Down South with Detroit.)
I'm going to cheat and say both I-55 and I-20 in Mississippi. I-20 links us with DFW to the west, and Birmingham and Atlanta to the east; I-55 with Memphis to the north, New Orleans to the south. Because of Jackson's proximity to these cities, we're seen as a key distribution center.
Quote from: GaryV on December 19, 2014, 07:17:09 PM
Michigan: I-94. (Although others might argue for I-75, but really all that does is connect Up North and Down South with Detroit.)
I'd go I-75 for Michigan simply because of the Mackinac Bridge. Literally the one road connection for 10% of the state's population to the other 90%.
Thoughts on a few other states I've spent a fair amount of time in:
Ohio: I-71. Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati
Pennsylvania: The Turnpike.
Kentucky: I-65
Nebraska: I-80
South Dakota: I-29. Even over I-90, just because eastern SD is more of the economic engine of the state.
North Dakota: I-94.
By far, it's I-95 in Maine. For the slower drive and/or tourists, I'd definitely go with US Route 1.
As for Connecticut, maybe I-91? It connects New Haven, Meriden, Hartford and Enfield. I-95 connects Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, New Haven and New London.
For New York:
If we're talking named roads, I agree with the Thruway because it connects every major city while providing an important freight route.
If numbers, probably I-87 (over I-90). The majority of the state's population lives within 20-30 miles of it, it's an important international freight corridor, and it directly connects the state's two most important cities (New York and Albany) with the second largest city in Canada (Montreal). Unless you leave the state to take I-80, it's difficult for goods or people to travel between downstate and upstate without I-87.
Colorado would be a fierce 50/50 split between I-25, since it connects most of Colorado's largest cities, and I-70, since it is the only real road connecting the front range with the western half of Colorado.
I have to rank I-70 above I-25 simply for the fact that there are far more stretches of I-70 that, if the road was to be closed or destroyed, there are no close parallel routes (quite a bit of the old US-6 alignments were paved over by the interstate). At least with I-25, there are multiple parallel routes running from Wyoming to New Mexico (US-85 & US-87 -- signed or not).
I-95 for Virginia.
Idaho I think is I-84, though a case could be made for US 95 since it is the ONLY road between southern and northern Idaho.
I'd go with I-80 for Wyoming, but a case could be made for I-25- I-80 wins because it has way more traffic.
Montana I think you have to go I-90.
Quote from: SteveG1988 on December 19, 2014, 06:09:55 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on December 19, 2014, 05:28:43 PM
New Jersey Turnpike without a doubt. Of course, I also would say the Garden State Parkway is extremely important as well.
I'd argue that I-295 is more important than the parkway, as 295 handles a lot of local traffic and has a lot of warehouse type stuff along it.
The GSP is the main route to the Shore from Northern Jersey and NY.
Quote from: thenetwork on December 20, 2014, 03:00:16 PM
I have to rank I-70 above I-25 simply for the fact that there are far more stretches of I-70 that, if the road was to be closed or destroyed, there are no close parallel routes (quite a bit of the old US-6 alignments were paved over by the interstate). At least with I-25, there are multiple parallel routes running from Wyoming to New Mexico (US-85 & US-87 -- signed or not).
I think you have that backwards. There's probably a lot more of US 85-87 under I-25 than US 6 under I-70.
For WYO, it would be I-80. That highway in the middle of B.F.E. is just lined with 18-wheelers.
Quote from: Takumi on December 20, 2014, 04:04:13 PM
I-95 for Virginia.
I would say it is a tossup between I-95 and I-64. Sure, I-95 connects Richmond to DC (indirectly via I-395), but I-64 connects Richmond to Hampton Roads and Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads is Virginia's second largest metro area after the DC area. The bulk of VDOT's funding goes to the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads districts.
I-70 for Missouri, no question. It handles a LOT of traffic, connects the state's two largest metro areas, and while a lot of fragments of old US 40 still remain (some signed, even!), they can't possibly accommodate I-70's traffic if something happens, especially in the more rural areas.
For WI - I-94 with I-90 a close second. I-94 connects Mad-Town to Beer-Town to the Windy City and the Twins. at the NW split in Tomah, the traffic favors 94, it's a tie at the other end (thanks to Mad-town being right next to it). US(I)-41 also is there and contents with I-90.
Quote from: keithvh on December 19, 2014, 09:29:13 PM
Quote from: GaryV on December 19, 2014, 07:17:09 PM
Michigan: I-94. (Although others might argue for I-75, but really all that does is connect Up North and Down South with Detroit.)
I'd go I-75 for Michigan simply because of the Mackinac Bridge. Literally the one road connection for 10% of the state's population to the other 90%.
I'd argue that if it weren't for the Mackinac Bridge, the UP may have actually succeeded at seceding at some point. It's kept the two peninsulas connected for 57 years now.
Arkansas: I-40
Oklahoma: the US 66 corridor.
Quote from: keithvh on December 19, 2014, 09:29:13 PM
South Dakota: I-29. Even over I-90, just because eastern SD is more of the economic engine of the state.
Having driven both, there is more traffic on I-90 than I-29, so I'll have to go with that.
Minnesota's is probably I-94 because it's the route between Minneapolis and St. Paul, but you could also argue against it because US 10 generally parallels it and is built to expressway standards for 90% of its length northwest of the Twin Cities so it could probably (though not ideally) handle an I-94 emergency for a short period. I-35 doesn't really have that luxury; expressway-grade routes US 169 (for north of the Twin Cities) and US 52 (south of MSP) are too far away to be effective detours.
Quote from: hbelkins on December 19, 2014, 07:04:02 PM
In Kentucky, I-65 carries more truck traffic than any other interstate, so I'd say it would get the nomination from most folks. Myself, I'd lean to I-64 because it links the state's two biggest cities and the state capital.
I'd echo I-65 for Kentucky. US 31E, US 31W, and KY 61 are completely incapable of handling I-65's traffic volume. If I-64 didn't exist, most non-local traffic in Kentucky would probably use US 150 to US 60 or KY 148 (to KY 44 and eventually US 62). If I-64 didn't exist it would probably also cut down on most of the cross-river commuting between Kentucky and Indiana.
Quote from: Pink Jazz
Quote from: Takumi
I-95 for Virginia.
I would say it is a tossup between I-95 and I-64. Sure, I-95 connects Richmond to DC (indirectly via I-395), but I-64 connects Richmond to Hampton Roads and Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads is Virginia's second largest metro area after the DC area. The bulk of VDOT's funding goes to the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads districts.
I think a stronger argument could be made for I-81 over I-64, given the volume of industry, shipping, and trucking along I-81. Remember, the OP also noted economic impact to the state, and I'd even argue that I-81 rivals I-95 in that regard.
For Minnesota, I'd say it's a toss-up between I-35 and I-94. Mississippi would be a toss-up between I-20 and I-55 (I'd lean towards I-20). Alabama is definitely I-65. Vermont is definitely I-89.
Quote from: froggie on December 21, 2014, 11:03:47 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz
Quote from: Takumi
I-95 for Virginia.
I would say it is a tossup between I-95 and I-64. Sure, I-95 connects Richmond to DC (indirectly via I-395), but I-64 connects Richmond to Hampton Roads and Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads is Virginia's second largest metro area after the DC area. The bulk of VDOT's funding goes to the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads districts.
I think a stronger argument could be made for I-81 over I-64, given the volume of industry, shipping, and trucking along I-81. Remember, the OP also noted economic impact to the state, and I'd even argue that I-81 rivals I-95 in that regard.
For Minnesota, I'd say it's a toss-up between I-35 and I-94. Mississippi would be a toss-up between I-20 and I-55 (I'd lean towards I-20). Alabama is definitely I-65. Vermont is definitely I-89.
Interstate 81 is definitely far more important than Interstate 64 in Virginia. The truck traffic volume is extremely high, the route is extremely efficient time-wise for travel and parallels an important rail freight corridor complimenting the commercial traffic emphasis of I-81. Interstate 64 is important for it serves the Richmond to Norfolk/Newport News corridor, but its western Virginia sections are much more quiet.
I'd say PR 75 to the border (connects to I-29) in ND. It's the main route for both trucks. Winnipeg is a large bus manufacturer. Also, many people prefer to shop in the US due to cheaper prices there, which supports the economy of Grand Forks.
I guess TCH 1 is a close second though.
I think I-55 is the most important interstate in Illinois since it connects St Louis with Chicago.
It's hard to say in Oklahoma because our three main Interstate highways are important for different reasons.
I-35 is important because it links Oklahoma City to Dallas, the largest adjoining metro area.
I-40 is important because it brings cross-country traffic through the state.
I-44 is important because it links Oklahoma's three largest metro areas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Lawton.
Which is most vital depends on what sort of scale you're looking at.
I-40 is definitely the most vital in Tennessee. Connects the three largest metro areas, and has the highest interstate mile marker east of the Mississippi (452).
I-24 would be second, since it links the 4th (Chattanooga), 6th (Murfreesboro), and 5th (Clarksville) largest cities in the state with Nashville.
If you're talking about a route's importance only within the state, then for Kentucky I'd have to go with I-64 over I-65.
And concerning Virginia, is I-81 really more important within the state than 64 or 95? It's a huge interstate freight route (ditto 65 in Kentucky) but would Virginia really suffer if I-81 was removed?
QuoteAnd concerning Virginia, is I-81 really more important within the state than 64 or 95? It's a huge interstate freight route (ditto 65 in Kentucky) but would Virginia really suffer if I-81 was removed?
Pretty much the entire western half of the state would suffer if I-81 was removed. Yes, I-81 is a huge interstate freight route, but a HUGE amount of that freight has origin or destination within Virginia. There's a large volume of industry and warehousing along the corridor. I'd say without a doubt that it's more important than I-64.
I-65 in Indiana. It connects Louisville, Indy, and Chicago.
In Nevada, clearly I-15 between Primm and Las Vegas. Full wallets in the northbound lanes, empty wallets in the southbound lanes.
I'll toss in Illinois and Iowa. I-80 tops them all of as it is a XC route that carries a high amount of trucks as well as cross country folk. I-35 is fairly important to Iowa having connctions to KC and MSP.
Illinois has LOTS of vital highways. Any, seriously ANY interstate that goes into Chicago is a vital route as Chicago is an economic hub so that puts 94 (to Milwaukee), 90 (to Rockford, Madison), 80 (to Iowa), 55 (To St Louis) and 57 (beyond StL) around the horn onto the map (along with 80/94 into Indiana (but not so much the Skyway due to the tolls). Sorry 88, but I-80 does essentially what you do - for free.
Outside Chicago the most vital highway I would say is - ironically - I-39 - as it gives Wisconsin freight and travelers shortcuts to St Louis and points beyond on a freeway without Chicago in the way.
For southern Illinois, 57 gives city free access to Memphis via 55 and Nashville via 24 (though one could also take 65 via Indy to get to the latter.
The question assumes "state" is a discreet entity with a hierarchy of importance. But states, of course, are all arranged differently, with different geography, population distributions, etc. If the question is "Most vital to the most people in the state," the answer is in some cases different than "Most vital to most of the area of the state."
Under the latter, it's unquestionably the Mass Pike here. But if the former, 95 or even 93 enters the running. In New York, the Thruway (arguably many different roads administrated separate from the rest, but whatever) meets the latter definition. But if weighted for population, Upstate ceases to exist and I think it's 278 all the way.
Quote from: xcellntbuy on December 21, 2014, 03:31:14 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 21, 2014, 11:03:47 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz
Quote from: Takumi
I-95 for Virginia.
I would say it is a tossup between I-95 and I-64. Sure, I-95 connects Richmond to DC (indirectly via I-395), but I-64 connects Richmond to Hampton Roads and Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads is Virginia's second largest metro area after the DC area. The bulk of VDOT's funding goes to the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads districts.
I think a stronger argument could be made for I-81 over I-64, given the volume of industry, shipping, and trucking along I-81. Remember, the OP also noted economic impact to the state, and I'd even argue that I-81 rivals I-95 in that regard.
For Minnesota, I'd say it's a toss-up between I-35 and I-94. Mississippi would be a toss-up between I-20 and I-55 (I'd lean towards I-20). Alabama is definitely I-65. Vermont is definitely I-89.
Interstate 81 is definitely far more important than Interstate 64 in Virginia. The truck traffic volume is extremely high, the route is extremely efficient time-wise for travel and parallels an important rail freight corridor complimenting the commercial traffic emphasis of I-81. Interstate 64 is important for it serves the Richmond to Norfolk/Newport News corridor, but its western Virginia sections are much more quiet.
Funding-wise, I-81 doesn't go through any of the districts that VDOT considers to be its top priorities (Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads). VDOT has allocated a significant portion of funding specifically for those two districts that the other districts lack (not even the Richmond district). Money talks, and this is a sign that VDOT considers I-64 to be more important than I-81 because I-64 serves one of VDOT's highest priority districts.
Florida I would say 95 since it links the Southeast coast and Jacksonville with points to northeast. Southeast Florida has large population and Jax is important for commerce and military. Similar argument could be made for 75 with its links to Tampa bay. I-4 could come in linking coasts with Orlando. But I think 75/95 are more important based on truck traffic. All the roads carry tourists . 10 is essentially a rural interstate outside Jacksonville, really the only part that I have seen high traffic volumes is east of 75.
Its a tie for 75/95 I think
QuoteFunding-wise, I-81 doesn't go through any of the districts that VDOT considers to be its top priorities (Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads). VDOT has allocated a significant portion of funding specifically for those two districts that the other districts lack (not even the Richmond district). Money talks, and this is a sign that VDOT considers I-64 to be more important than I-81 because I-64 serves one of VDOT's highest priority districts.
Of course VDOT is going to throw money at Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. It's the two most populated areas of the state. Doesn't mean that 64 or 95 or any of the multitude of state routes is any better as a result (I'd argue that 64 is even worse, having been stationed there twice as recently as this past May).
But the OP was looking at more than just population or traffic...he also specifically mentioned economic impact. And I'd argue that 81 provides more economic impact to the state than 64. If not for 81 and the industries along it, "RoVA" (rest of Virginia) would be leeching even more off of NoVA (Northern Virginia) than they already are...
QuoteI-5 in Washington and Oregon - Without it it, it would take forever to get anywhere, all the truck traffic would be so dangerous.
I agree with Oregon, and the argument for Washington is valid, but I think with the latter, I'd have to go I-90, simply because it links Seattle with Spokane. But it's close, really close in terms of which is more vital.
ON 401 for Ontario.
I second WashuOtaku with I-75 in Georgia. It's so important in fact that nearly all of I-75 in Georgia is continuously at least three lanes each way ;-)
I'll provide the easiest answer (for a state I lived in):
New Hampshire has to be I-93, it connects Boston to Manchester to Concord and to the Lakes Region. I-89 really only connects Vermont to Concord and I-93.
Quote from: froggie on December 22, 2014, 08:44:36 AM
QuoteFunding-wise, I-81 doesn't go through any of the districts that VDOT considers to be its top priorities (Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads). VDOT has allocated a significant portion of funding specifically for those two districts that the other districts lack (not even the Richmond district). Money talks, and this is a sign that VDOT considers I-64 to be more important than I-81 because I-64 serves one of VDOT's highest priority districts.
Of course VDOT is going to throw money at Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. It's the two most populated areas of the state. Doesn't mean that 64 or 95 or any of the multitude of state routes is any better as a result (I'd argue that 64 is even worse, having been stationed there twice as recently as this past May).
But the OP was looking at more than just population or traffic...he also specifically mentioned economic impact. And I'd argue that 81 provides more economic impact to the state than 64. If not for 81 and the industries along it, "RoVA" (rest of Virginia) would be leeching even more off of NoVA (Northern Virginia) than they already are...
As an economic driver for the state, I would also agree I-64 leads here. It connects to a major seaport to Richmond and onto Washington DC (via I-95). It is such an important corridor for the state, they want to build a high-speed rail along the same route (which will likely never be built). I-64 is also one of two interstates that links with the western half of the state.
Though I-81 is formidable with its heavy truck freight use, it's more transit. The gas/food/lodging locations along the route are doing well, but with only Roanoke and Bristol as major cities, there isn't much else than great views.
For Indiana (especially the Northern area), the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) is extremely vital since these interstates are the only ones that feed into Northern Ohio. If the highway shuts down for any reason, the only viable alternatives are US 20 or US 6 (I-94 pushes too far up north into Michigan once east of Michigan City to serve as an alternate route). US 20 is serviceable from Chicago to Elkhart, but east of there is only two lanes. Until maybe Cleveland (Youngstown definitely), it's THE fast route from Chicago to New York City.
The same argument can be said for I-65. It's the major link from Chicago to Indianapolis and major cities of the Southeast (Louisville, Nashville, and Montgomery. If this highway gets crippled north of Indy, you either have to find a route to cut across from I-57 to US 41 (a big reason for the Illiana), or use the original footprint of US 41 and 52.
I wasn't thinking this way at first, but I'm going to argue for I-15 for California:
I-5 doesn't connect many cities of import that aren't already connected by other freeway or multi-lane divided routes (CA-99 for the Central Valley, US-101 to connect L.A. and the Bay Area, I-15 as an slight detour between L.A. and San Diego), and the far northern state is rural enough that very few people would be affected.
I-15 is the route that gets trucks coming from the ports of L.A. and Long Beach connected to I-40, I-70 and I-80, and therefore gets goods to the rest of the country (excepting Oregon and Washington). Without hard facts, I'd opine that losing I-15 would have a huge impact on commerce for much of the country.
Quote from: Pink Jazz on December 19, 2014, 06:15:19 PM
Definitely I-10 in Arizona, since it connects Arizona's two largest metro areas (Phoenix and Tucson), plus connecting Phoenix to its growing exurbs.
For New Mexico, I would say I-25 since it connects Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe (the three largest metro areas in the state).
I understand I-25 since it does indeed connect the three largest cities, but I feel I -40 might be the most vital since it connects Albuquerque with the rest of the country and has the highest traffic volumne
Quote from: sandiaman on December 26, 2014, 02:09:19 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on December 19, 2014, 06:15:19 PM
Definitely I-10 in Arizona, since it connects Arizona's two largest metro areas (Phoenix and Tucson), plus connecting Phoenix to its growing exurbs.
For New Mexico, I would say I-25 since it connects Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe (the three largest metro areas in the state).
I understand I-25 since it does indeed connect the three largest cities, but I feel I -40 might be the most vital since it connects Albuquerque with the rest of the country and has the highest traffic volumne
Of course, on a national scale, I do believe I-10 is busier than I-40 since it serves more major metro areas, but the only metro area that I-10 serves in New Mexico is Las Cruces, which isn't that large. I think I-10 is the second busiest east-west Interstate in the nation, behind I-80.
Quote from: corco on December 20, 2014, 04:12:54 PM
Montana I think you have to go I-90.
Don't forget I-15 and 94.
I'd add US 12 and 93 and MT 200 because they're the most important highways connecting several rural communities. There are a plethora of Montana highways connecting communities on the east side and they're important.
Quote from: SSOWorld on December 21, 2014, 08:11:12 PM
Illinois has LOTS of vital highways. Any, seriously ANY interstate that goes into Chicago is a vital route as Chicago is an economic hub so that puts 94 (to Milwaukee), 90 (to Rockford, Madison), 80 (to Iowa), 55 (To St Louis) and 57 (beyond StL) around the horn onto the map (along with 80/94 into Indiana (but not so much the Skyway due to the tolls). Sorry 88, but I-80 does essentially what you do - for free.
I-90 between Rockford and Chicagoland might carry a decent amount of traffic, but I'm not sure I would call it equally vital as I-94. If I-90 had to be closed between I-39 and around Elgin, I-88 is available as an alternate.
Quote from: SSOWorldOutside Chicago the most vital highway I would say is - ironically - I-39 - as it gives Wisconsin freight and travelers shortcuts to St Louis and points beyond on a freeway without Chicago in the way.
If I-39 had been built to go south of Bloomington-Normal and tie into I-57 near Salem, I would agree. However, since I-39 doesn't go that far south, I'd go with I-55 since it connects the two largest metro areas in the state, serves the state capital, ties into I-39 and ties into I-44 in Missouri ( a major freight corridor). I was strongly considering I-57, but on many of the freight flow maps (found via this site) (http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/state_info/index.htm) I-55 seems to carry more trucks than I-57.
Quote from: Billy F 1988 on December 26, 2014, 11:00:10 PM
Quote from: corco on December 20, 2014, 04:12:54 PM
Montana I think you have to go I-90.
Don't forget I-15 and 94.
I'd add US 12 and 93 and MT 200 because they're the most important highways connecting several rural communities. There are a plethora of Montana highways connecting communities on the east side and they're important.
But the question is "the most vital highway to your state?" Of course each highway is vital in its own way, but what is the highway that stands out from them all, which if it was to shutdown, would screw the pooch. :-/
Quote from: WashuOtaku on December 19, 2014, 05:16:36 PM
I would assume this would be easy to identify as it would likely be an interstate that interacts with most major cities in area.
For South Carolina --> I-26, it links Charleston (port), Columbia (capital) and Greenville/Spartanburg area.
Interesting. I would argue that I-85 may be more important than I-26 in SC because I-85 links Atlanta and Charlotte. In addition, the Greenville-Spartanburg metro is more important to the state economy than the Columbia economy is. Plus, I-26 parallels US 176 for much of its route in the state, so the Charleston-Columbia-Upstate traffic would have another option should I-26 not exist.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on December 27, 2014, 11:14:18 PM
Quote from: WashuOtaku on December 19, 2014, 05:16:36 PM
I would assume this would be easy to identify as it would likely be an interstate that interacts with most major cities in area.
For South Carolina --> I-26, it links Charleston (port), Columbia (capital) and Greenville/Spartanburg area.
Interesting. I would argue that I-85 may be more important than I-26 in SC because I-85 links Atlanta and Charlotte. In addition, the Greenville-Spartanburg metro is more important to the state economy than the Columbia economy is. Plus, I-26 parallels US 176 for much of its route in the state, so the Charleston-Columbia-Upstate traffic would have another option should I-26 not exist.
Those parts and raw materials for the BMW plant and tire plants in the Upstate typically come from the ports, not from Atlanta or Charlotte. Also, all the interstates in South Carolina parallel with a US Highway: I-20 = US 1 (mostly), I-77 = US 21, I-85 = US 29 and I-95 = US 301. :poke:
Hierarchy of Interstates in Pennsylvania
1. I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike)
Serves Pennsylvania's two largest metropolitan areas and its state capital/fifth-largest metropolitan area
2. I-476 (Northeast Extension)
Serves three of Pennsylvania's four largest metropolitan areas
3. I-95
Serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and functions as the primary corridor for the most heavily populated region of the United States
4. I-81
Serves two of Pennsylvania's five largest metropolitan areas and its state capital, and functions as an international trade corridor between the Gulf of Mexico and the St. Lawrence Seaway
5. I-78
Serves two of Pennsylvania's five largest metropolitan areas and its state capital, and functions as a direct route between the New York metropolitan area and the interior of Pennsylvania
6. I-79
Serves the Pittsburgh and Erie metropolitan areas, and functions as an emerging international trade corridor between the Carolinas and Canada's "Golden Horseshoe"
7. I-84
Serves the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, and functions as a direct route between Pennsylvania and New England
8. I-80
Indirectly serves the State College, Williamsport and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan areas, and functions as an express corridor between the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas
9. I-83
Serves the Harrisburg and York metropolitan areas, and functions as a direct route from the interior of Pennsylvania to Baltimore and Chesapeake Bay
10. I-99
Serves the Altoona, State College and Williamsport metropolitan areas, and functions as a necessary north/south corridor in central Pennsylvania
11. I-376
Serves the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and functions as a connection to the industrial towns in the Beaver, Mahoning and Shenango River Valleys
12. I-90
Serves the Erie metropolitan area, and functions as a connection to other Great Lakes metropolitan areas
13. I-180
Serves the Williamsport metropolitan area, and functions as a segment of an international trade corridor between the Chesapeake Bay/Hampton Roads and Canada's "Golden Horseshoe"
14. I-380
Serves the Scranton/Wilkes Barre metropolitan area and the Pocono Mountains, and functions as a direct route between western New York and the New York metropolitan area.
15. I-176/I-276/I-279/I-283/I-579/I-676 (tie)
Serves local traffic in various Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
21. I-86
Serves the southern tier of upstate New York.
Just look at the traffic counts.
In Florida both I-95 and I-75 are most vital to tourists and commerce hence why they are being widened from their original 4 lane status (minus 6 lane I-75 in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties which was originally built as that in the 1980's after the boom). I-4 is a local vital link for Central Florida and a glorified spur of I-95 to Orlando for tourists and Tampa for truckers. I-10 is just a regional link but not too much port or industrialized use for long distance haulers.
Edit: I-10 might have some importance for truckers originating at the Ports of Jacksonville linking commerce to Atlanta via I-75 and some regional commerce between Jax, Mobile, New Orleans, and Houston. However still not as vital as I-95 and I-75 and even I-4.
Call me crazy, but US 27 might be the most important in Florida. It travels from Miami to Tallahasee and runs through the middle of the state and is 4 lanes most of the way. Plus it is a free alternative to the FL Turnpike. It runs just west of Orlando and goes through Ocala. Really anywhere in Florida could be accessed fairly easily from US 27. The same cant be said about 95, 75, or the Turnpike that only access certain parts of the state.
Quote from: Gnutella on January 26, 2015, 11:20:20 AM
Hierarchy of Interstates in Pennsylvania
Seems like an awesome topic for a new thread. I'd love to see how others rank the interstates in their states.
It's hard to choose for Connecticut. I would have to go with I-91 for CT considering it connects Hartford and New Haven. As for a US route, probably US 1. For a state route, I would choose CT 15 (Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways) which basically connects the whole western and central parts of the state to NYC via the Hutchinson.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on December 19, 2014, 04:58:28 PM
What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system? One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.
Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!
On the other hand...the GWB was closed last night and nobody seems to have noticed, so perhaps I'm wrong...
I-65 was someone's choice for Alabama. Pros for it would be getting traffic to the Gulf for tourism dollars and connecting Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile - the 4 biggest areas in the state. Hyundai plant is on I-65 as well.
I-20 would also bear some consideration mostly for commercial traffic and its connections out of state - Atlanta to the east and DFW to the west. Mercedes and Honda plants are on I-20.
So I would probably agree that I-65 is the winner, but a close second is I-20.
Quote from: US 41 on January 26, 2015, 06:11:58 PM
Call me crazy, but US 27 might be the most important in Florida. It travels from Miami to Tallahasee and runs through the middle of the state and is 4 lanes most of the way. Plus it is a free alternative to the FL Turnpike. It runs just west of Orlando and goes through Ocala. Really anywhere in Florida could be accessed fairly easily from US 27. The same cant be said about 95, 75, or the Turnpike that only access certain parts of the state.
Yes it is a route for Shunpikers and yes travels the middle of the state. However from Lake Wales to Ocala now it is an arterial mostly with the 65 mph speed limits lowered in some areas to 45 mph. In Polk, Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties US 27 is not what is used to be anymore. Sprawl all the way with stop lights almost every half mile in many places.
Quote from: empirestate on January 27, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on December 19, 2014, 04:58:28 PM
What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system? One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.
Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!
Traffic yes, economic no. Really important for interstate traffic between New Jersey and Connecticut, but New York can (and probably would) make do without I-95. Truck routes would still exist for local and long-distance traffic. The GWB is pre-Interstate by quite a bit.
I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether. Take the freak snowstorm Buffalo got in November. I-90 was closed (as it was buried) to the east and west of the metro area, while the northern suburbs got nothing. There were food shortages around here, even though it was closed for under a week. If it was out of commission for an extended period of time, you'd have to find new ways to get food and other supplies into Buffalo. I-87 is the same thing: it goes out of commission and there's no truck route between Upstate and Downstate and the Adirondacks and Montreal are cut off.
Edit: remove duplication
Quote from: cl94 on January 27, 2015, 08:30:36 PM
Quote from: empirestate on January 27, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on December 19, 2014, 04:58:28 PM
What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system? One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.
Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!
Traffic yes, economic no. Really important for interstate traffic between New Jersey and Connecticut, but New York can (and probably would) make do without I-95. Truck routes would still exist for local and long-distance traffic. The GWB is pre-Interstate by quite a bit.
I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether. Take the freak snowstorm Buffalo got in November. I-90 was closed (as it was buried) to the east and west of the metro area, while the northern suburbs got nothing. There were food shortages around here, even though it was closed for under a week. If it was out of commission for an extended period of time, you'd have to find new ways to get food and other supplies into Buffalo. I-87 is the same thing: it goes out of commission and there's no truck route between Upstate and Downstate and the Adirondacks and Montreal are cut off.
I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether.
I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether.
Quote from: wriddle082 on December 21, 2014, 06:34:50 PM
I-40 is definitely the most vital in Tennessee. Connects the three largest metro areas, and has the highest interstate mile marker east of the Mississippi (452).
I thought I-75 in Florida had the highest mile marker east of the Mississippi. Interesting stat.
As for North Carolina, the obvious answer is I-40, which links Wilmington, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and Asheville. I wanted to give my vote to I-85, but north of Durham, there's not much going on there at all. And I-95 is mostly out-of-state traffic and the road passes no cities of any significance other than maybe Rocky Mount and Roanoke Rapids.
For Georgia, it's really hard to choose between I-75 and I-85, both of which outrank I-20.
Quote from: wriddle082 on December 21, 2014, 06:34:50 PM
I-40 is definitely the most vital in Tennessee. Connects the three largest metro areas, and has the highest interstate mile marker east of the Mississippi (452).
Incorrect because of a technicality. I-90 has a MM 496 in New York at the Pennsylvania line. While this is
Thruway mileage, it is located on I-90, which does not have its own set of mile markers (except for a short section in/near Albany).
Quote from: cl94 on January 27, 2015, 08:30:36 PM
Quote from: empirestate on January 27, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on December 19, 2014, 04:58:28 PM
What is the one highway that is the most vital to your state's system? One that, if it didn't exist, would be crippling both in economic and traffic terms.
Given these criteria, I'm going with I-95 for New York. Short as it is, all I need to do is imagine waking up one morning without the GW Bridge, the world's busiest, and I'm convinced. And as much as it sucks to drive on now, it's apparently still better than the alternative, or else nobody would use it. Imagine the conditions on those alternatives if they were no longer alternative!
Traffic yes, economic no. Really important for interstate traffic between New Jersey and Connecticut, but New York can (and probably would) make do without I-95. Truck routes would still exist for local and long-distance traffic. The GWB is pre-Interstate by quite a bit.
I-87 and I-90 are another story altogether. Take the freak snowstorm Buffalo got in November. I-90 was closed (as it was buried) to the east and west of the metro area, while the northern suburbs got nothing. There were food shortages around here, even though it was closed for under a week. If it was out of commission for an extended period of time, you'd have to find new ways to get food and other supplies into Buffalo. I-87 is the same thing: it goes out of commission and there's no truck route between Upstate and Downstate and the Adirondacks and Montreal are cut off.
Edit: remove duplication
The Thruway is the obvious other choice, if that counts as a "highway" (as opposed to I-90 throughout the state, or I-87 likewise). What's hard to know is, if one highway really did disappear, how well would its alternates hold up under the added strain? Without the Thruway, could I-86, I-88, I-390, and any number of non-freeway routes (US 20, notably) serve the state well enough such that it can't be said to be "crippled"? I don't know that there have been enough real-world tests of this to know, because when the Thruway has been closed, the alternates typically have as well, and besides the entire length has never been closed, to my knowledge.
But what I see with I-95 is that, even when it isn't closed it's effectively non-functional a lot of the time, and yet people still seem to rely on it. I-95's primary role in the state system is mostly for through-routed, trans-Hudson commercial traffic, which couldn't be well-sustained by either of the alternates (the Verazzano or Tappan Zee routes). I can certainly say that the effects of I-95's disappearance would be national in scope, whereas the Thruway's would be more directly local to the state. But, a national disruption on that scale would certainly cascade down onto the state as well and cause more than its fair share of crippling.
From an economic perspective, I'd argue that 87 or 90 hold much higher value in New York than 95.
For Georgia, no contest - I-75.
Quote from: froggie on January 28, 2015, 09:08:05 AM
From an economic perspective, I'd argue that 87 or 90 hold much higher value in New York than 95.
I think that's true, too. However, if those roads suddenly disappeared, I think that a relatively high amount of that value could still be served by other roads in the state. Not to an adequate degree, by any means, just to a higher degree than I-95 if it were to go away. You'd still have I-86, I-88, I-390, I-81, I-84, I-380 (PA) and I-80 for various combinations of E-W and N-S traffic. In other words, I'm suggesting that I-87 and I-90, even if more valuable, are more "replaceable" than I-95.
It also depends, of course, on what exactly we're choosing as our most vital "highway": all of I-90? all of I-87? all of the Thruway mainline? Certainly the Thruway mainline, as a whole, would be more vital than either I-87 or I-90 alone, even when including their non-Thruway portions, and certainly a very reasonable choice for the answer to this question.
Another thing to consider is whether the economic damage would be greater from the loss of toll revenue on the GWB and New England Thruway than it would on the Thruway mainline. While Thruway tolls go to the system itself, and a few other tourism-related uses like the canal system, the Port Authority has a much wider array of critical transportation facilities to pay for. On the other hand, if the Thruway mainline disappeared, the whole authority would cease to exist and take all those jobs with it. How many jobs would be lost without just one of the Port Authority's bridges?
Again, it depends a lot on what we consider a "highway": just the Cross Bronx Expressway? the New England Thruway? the whole numbered route including the bridge? just the portion in New York, or nationwide? One thing's for sure, including the bridge is key to my selection of I-95 for this thread. So maybe my answer, really, is "the George Washington Bridge". :-)
Quote from: cl94 on January 27, 2015, 10:56:52 PM
Quote from: wriddle082 on December 21, 2014, 06:34:50 PM
I-40 is definitely the most vital in Tennessee. Connects the three largest metro areas, and has the highest interstate mile marker east of the Mississippi (452).
Incorrect because of a technicality. I-90 has a MM 496 in New York at the Pennsylvania line. While this is Thruway mileage, it is located on I-90, which does not have its own set of mile markers (except for a short section in/near Albany).
Incorrect even without that technicality. I-75 in Florida goes to 470 (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.621768,-83.164796,3a,75y,130.24h,83.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sGkWuk1aNKoa1yt7lB7qtgQ!2e0).
Quote from: empirestate on January 28, 2015, 10:59:21 AM
Quote from: froggie on January 28, 2015, 09:08:05 AM
From an economic perspective, I'd argue that 87 or 90 hold much higher value in New York than 95.
I think that's true, too. However, if those roads suddenly disappeared, I think that a relatively high amount of that value could still be served by other roads in the state. Not to an adequate degree, by any means, just to a higher degree than I-95 if it were to go away. You'd still have I-86, I-88, I-390, I-81, I-84, I-380 (PA) and I-80 for various combinations of E-W and N-S traffic. In other words, I'm suggesting that I-87 and I-90, even if more valuable, are more "replaceable" than I-95.
It also depends, of course, on what exactly we're choosing as our most vital "highway": all of I-90? all of I-87? all of the Thruway mainline? Certainly the Thruway mainline, as a whole, would be more vital than either I-87 or I-90 alone, even when including their non-Thruway portions, and certainly a very reasonable choice for the answer to this question.
Another thing to consider is whether the economic damage would be greater from the loss of toll revenue on the GWB and New England Thruway than it would on the Thruway mainline. While Thruway tolls go to the system itself, and a few other tourism-related uses like the canal system, the Port Authority has a much wider array of critical transportation facilities to pay for. On the other hand, if the Thruway mainline disappeared, the whole authority would cease to exist and take all those jobs with it. How many jobs would be lost without just one of the Port Authority's bridges?
Again, it depends a lot on what we consider a "highway": just the Cross Bronx Expressway? the New England Thruway? the whole numbered route including the bridge? just the portion in New York, or nationwide? One thing's for sure, including the bridge is key to my selection of I-95 for this thread. So maybe my answer, really, is "the George Washington Bridge". :-)
Eh, depends on what we're talking about. If 87 or 90 go, you have entire regions that are disconnected from the rest of the country. Tens of thousands of jobs are linked directly to those two Interstates. Their presence has allowed remote regions to stay alive, as mines and factories can ship goods long distances. Port Authority coffers would be relatively unaffected by the loss of the bridge, as all of the tolls go to salaries of the toll takers at each of 3 toll plazas and maintenance of the bridge. Remember- each one of the GWB's toll plazas is larger than every other run by the PA.
Quote from: cl94 on January 28, 2015, 11:03:26 PM
Eh, depends on what we're talking about. If 87 or 90 go, you have entire regions that are disconnected from the rest of the country. Tens of thousands of jobs are linked directly to those two Interstates. Their presence has allowed remote regions to stay alive, as mines and factories can ship goods long distances. Port Authority coffers would be relatively unaffected by the loss of the bridge, as all of the tolls go to salaries of the toll takers at each of 3 toll plazas and maintenance of the bridge. Remember- each one of the GWB's toll plazas is larger than every other run by the PA.
Do you really think so; would entire regions not stay alive, even a little bit, with just US 9-NY 22 or US 20-NY 5-NY 104-NY 31, not to mention the other Interstates? I mean, you might certainly be right; we really won't know for sure unless and until one of the roads actually does disappear.
But at this point, I'm actually more interested in what happens if an entire highway does disappear. What does that actually look like–does the road itself physically go away, or is it just more like an absolute closure from end to end? And is that closure hard and fast at the state line, or...? (Imagine the disappearance of I-95 at the midpoint of the GWB; if only half the bridge physically remains, that would have course be more catastrophic for traffic than if we're just talking closure.)
If the road does disappear, what about the right-of-way? In the case of the Thruway, you have far more acreage that the authority could sell back to the people, thus mitigating the loss of the highway economically. Although most of these proceeds would surely have to go to the bondholders, there's the added benefit of putting all those parcels back on the tax rolls, further offsetting the loss of revenue from commercial transport, tourism etc. Of course you also would have all of the maintenance equipment, service area facilities, and other assets that could be sold, minus the liabilities from various concession contracts, outstanding construction bids, etc. etc. You're basically liquidating a sizable business, and while I do doubt that it would be a net profit, it might amount to less of a loss than you'd initially think. But then there are social cost, and those are tough to measure...
On the other hand, if it's I-95 that disappears, you have much less land to sell back, but it's considerably more valuable at downstate real estate prices–yet of course, it's not very developable land, it's below-grade in the Bronx, prone to flooding and other hazards, and certainly in need of vast amounts of industrial cleanup, all of which reduces its value. Then again, the bridge itself is worth heaps, if in terms of nothing more than scrap iron–but again, minus the loss of value in surrounding real estate by not being near a convenient river crossing. But at the same time, values in the south Bronx might well increase without the blight of the expressway running through it. And again, you'd be able to liquidate a portion of the Thruway's business with its New England segment, conceivably funneling that money back into the mainline operations.
Shit, this is a complicated question! :hmmm:
You might be reading into it too much. Certainly reading into it far more than the OP did.
Quote from: froggie on January 29, 2015, 09:40:47 AM
You might be reading into it too much. Certainly reading into it far more than the OP did.
That's okay. I'm enjoying myself. :-D
In New Jersey its the Garden State Parkway as the one road that is most vital to it. Almost everyone visiting the Shore uses it as well as commuters, especially now with communities like Seaside Heights which used to be for seasonal residents is now a bedroom community for the inland corporate and industrial areas all near or close by to The Parkway.