This is sort of an obscure topic, but what is the longest stretch of freeway, in an urban area, that is not accessible?
Usually, in an urban area, ramps to and from the freeway are plentiful, however I've returned from a recent trip up to Portland and I think I may have found the longest stretch of freeway not accessible in an urban area.
Interstate 5 SB. From just south of downtown, milepost 299, there is NO access to the southbound freeway for 4 miles, when there is finally a SB access ramp at milepost 295. 4 miles seems like a very long stretch for an urban area.
The Chicago Skyway is similar to that, where there is about 4.5 miles between the Dan Ryan and the first eastbound exit/westbound entrance.
From when it first opened in 1979 through 1991 (when I-676/Vine Expressway fully opened); I-95 in Philadelphia through Penns Landing (between Callowhill St. and I-76 East) nearly had no access in that area.
During the above timeframe, northbounders exited off onto a side street (south of current Exit 20) and had to turn right to get on Columbus Blvd. (then-Delaware Ave.) and proceed north to get to Old & Center City. The next northbound exit ramp from there wasn't until the Girard Ave. exit (current Exit 23). For southbounders, the next exit after Callowhill (pre I-676 & Current Exit 22) wasn't until I-76 East (Exit 19). The southbound exit for Penns Landing (Exit 20) didn't open until 1991.
In Boston, I-90/Mass Pike westbound between I-93 and the Allston/Brighton toll plaza; many entrance ramps but no exit ramps.
There are probably some tunnels with no access for miles in any direction. If you only care about one direction, I-895 (MD) northbound is 8 miles from the beginning at I-95 to the first exit (due to the toll structure).
I-84 in Boise/Meridian from Eagle Rd (MP 46) to Cole Rd/Overland Rd. (MP 50), 4.0 miles according to Google Maps.
I-5 in Medford from Garfield St (MP 27) to OR-62 (MP 30), 3.1 miles. This segment also goes right past downtown Medford, offering no good access to downtown from the freeway.
Also not quite Urban, but enough development that you'd expect there to be an exit, but nothing between Nampa and Caldwell on I-84 between ID-55 in Nampa (MP 33) and US-20/26 in Caldwell (MP 28), 4.8 miles. And before they built the ID-55 interchange in Nampa (it's less than 10 years old AFAIK), the gap would have been all the way to Northside Blvd (MP 35).
Quote from: PHLBOS on April 16, 2015, 12:05:37 PMIn Boston, I-90/Mass Pike westbound between I-93 and the Allston/Brighton toll plaza.
Entrances at Columbus Ave., Copley Sq., and Newbury St., no exits.
Eastbound, however, has only one exit through that stretch, no entrances.
Quote from: NE2 on April 16, 2015, 12:06:47 PM
If you only care about one direction, I-895 (MD) northbound is 8 miles from the beginning at I-95 to the first exit (due to the toll structure).
Similar, but longer, the toll-free Dulles Airport Access Road freeway (not a state highway, but in the median of the VA 267 toll road), for about 12 miles between VA 28 and VA 123, has no westbound exits or eastbound entrances except for a pair of bus-only slip ramps in Reston. This is just to reserve the DAAR for airport traffic and public transit; everyone else has to use the toll road, which has lots of exits in both directions.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on April 16, 2015, 12:17:20 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on April 16, 2015, 12:05:37 PMIn Boston, I-90/Mass Pike westbound between I-93 and the Allston/Brighton toll plaza; many entrance ramps but no exit ramps.
Entrances at Columbus Ave., Copley Sq., and Newbury St., no exits.
Eastbound, however, has only one exit through that stretch, no entrances.
Thanks for the correction/clarification. I've since corrected my earlier post per above. I had just thought of such when I went on break for lunch and wasn't near a computer.
Two other examples in the DC area (not counting HOV or HO/T lanes), both involving the Express Lanes across the Wilson Bridge:
- If you enter the Outer Loop Express Lanes at their beginning, you cannot exit until MD 210...just over 4 miles.
- If you enter the Inner Loop Express Lanes at their beginning, you cannot exit until Mill Rd (which goes into the Carlyle area of Alexandria).
Is I-95 in New Hampshire urban enough? There are 6.5 miles between Exit 2 and Exit 3 (this segment has a toll).
Other numbers above 3 miles:
I-93 (NH), exits 3 to 4: 5.5 miles
I-95 (NH), exits 1 to 2: 4.5 miles (toll)
I-495 (MA), exits 32 to 33: 4.25 miles
I-93 (NH), exits 4 to 5: 3.5 miles
US 3 (MA), exits 26 to 27: 3.5 miles
I-495 (MA), exits 52 to 53: 3.5 miles
I-93 (MA), exits 41 to 42: 3 miles (may be slightly under)
These might not be urban enough, but they are definitely not rural.
Quote from: 1 on April 16, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Is I-95 in New Hampshire urban enough? There are 6.5 miles between Exit 2 and Exit 3 (this segment has a toll).
I would not call that stretch urban by any stretch of the imagination.
Quote from: 1 on April 16, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Other numbers above 3 miles:
I-93 (NH), exits 3 to 4: 5.5 miles
I-95 (NH), exits 1 to 2: 4.5 miles (toll)
I-495 (MA), exits 32 to 33: 4.25 miles
I-93 (NH), exits 4 to 5: 3.5 miles
US 3 (MA), exits 26 to 27: 3.5 miles
I-495 (MA), exits 52 to 53: 3.5 miles
I-93 (MA), exits 41 to 42: 3 miles (may be slightly under)
These might not be urban enough, but they are definitely not rural.
I believe that the OP defines
urban as actual cities, not surrounding suburbs. Most of your listed examples fall in the suburbs category.
I-476 (PA), exits 122 to 131 in Scranton: 9 miles. Not inner-city urban, maybe, but still mostly city.
I-74/280 on the IL side of the Quad Cities has a 9 mile stretch between exits.
I-696 has only one exit between I-96 and the M-10/US-24 complex, a stretch of about 7.5 miles, at Orchard Lake Rd (exit 5)
For Albany, it's I-87 (Thruway), with six miles between I-787 and I-90. In the suburbs in the same area, you have NY 7 from US 9 to I-787 (3 miles) and I-87 (Northway) between NY 7 and Vischers Ferry (4 miles).
Entering I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway) northbound from I-95 in Howard County, Maryland (Exit 46), the first opportunity to exit is after the toll plaza (but before the northbound tunnel portal) at Childs Street (Exit 9), a distance of about 8 miles.
In NYC, I always feel that the Harlem River Drive north of the I-95 ramps is a pretty long stretch. But honestly, it's probably not more than the Henry Hudson Parkway through Fort Tryon Park; and the Belt Parkway between Flatbush and Rockaway Pkwy. is longer still.
Beyond city limits, it'll be hard to beat the Palisades Parkway between exits 1 and 2, about six miles.
I-5 SB between Calgrove Blvd and CA 14, about four miles.
If you count the whole state of New Jersey as a city, the Garden State Parkway in many sections LOL! However the section heading Southbound from the NYS Thruway has a long exit less stretch from Schoolhouse Road in Rockland County, NY to Linwood Avenue in Bergen County, NJ.
The population of this part of New Jersey is that equivalent to a city.
Similarly, there's no westbound exit on I-84 in Portland for four miles, from I-205 to 43rd/Hollywood.
Quote from: 1 on April 16, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Is I-95 in New Hampshire urban enough? There are 6.5 miles between Exit 2 and Exit 3 (this segment has a toll).
About 1/3 to 1/2 of I-95 across New Hampshire is within or bordering an urbanized area, according to the Federal Highway Administration's map of NHS routes in the Portsmouth vicinity here (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/new_hampshire/portsmouth_nh.pdf) (.pdf).
Quote from: cpzilliacus on April 17, 2015, 12:59:08 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 16, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Is I-95 in New Hampshire urban enough? There are 6.5 miles between Exit 2 and Exit 3 (this segment has a toll).
About 1/3 to 1/2 of I-95 across New Hampshire is within or bordering an urbanized area, according to the Federal Highway Administration's map of NHS routes in the Portsmouth vicinity here (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/new_hampshire/portsmouth_nh.pdf) (.pdf).
The stretch of I-95 that 1 is referring to (Exit 2 being NH 101, Exit 3 being NH 33) has shading along the northern half. However, when one looks at an
actual aerial photograph (http://goo.gl/maps/zz4kz) of the area; it clearly doesn't become more densely developed until one gets north of Exit 3/NH 33 and closer to the center of Portsmouth.
The elevated Gowanus south/westbound has no entrance something like 4-5 miles from the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway, and no exit from the Prospect to the Belt. This comes as no surprise to anyone who has driven it even a few times, because it is a very frustrating place when traffic (frequently) stops.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 17, 2015, 11:57:02 AM
If you count the whole state of New Jersey as a city, the Garden State Parkway in many sections LOL! However the section heading Southbound from the NYS Thruway has a long exit less stretch from Schoolhouse Road in Rockland County, NY to Linwood Avenue in Bergen County, NJ.
The population of this part of New Jersey is that equivalent to a city.
It is urban by definition.
This arrangement ensures the unawares are forced to pay the toll in Washington Township. For the rest of us, there's the unsigned exit through Montvale Rest Area.
Quote from: PHLBOS on April 17, 2015, 01:28:49 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on April 17, 2015, 12:59:08 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 16, 2015, 03:04:00 PM
Is I-95 in New Hampshire urban enough? There are 6.5 miles between Exit 2 and Exit 3 (this segment has a toll).
About 1/3 to 1/2 of I-95 across New Hampshire is within or bordering an urbanized area, according to the Federal Highway Administration's map of NHS routes in the Portsmouth vicinity here (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/new_hampshire/portsmouth_nh.pdf) (.pdf).
The stretch of I-95 that 1 is referring to (Exit 2 being NH 101, Exit 3 being NH 33) has shading along the northern half. However, when one looks at an actual aerial photograph (http://goo.gl/maps/zz4kz) of the area; it clearly doesn't become more densely developed until one gets north of Exit 3/NH 33 and closer to the center of Portsmouth.
I do not dispute that at all, having driven it rather recently, it has plenty of open space.
It is possible that the urbanized areas along I-95 were drawn that way in anticipation of development to come in the relatively near future.
I know a couple on the Tri-State (I-294)
Northbound
I-290 to Balmoral: About 6 miles
Southbound
Willow Springs Rd to 95th: 5 miles (includes the mile-long bridge)
95th to Cicero: 6 miles
I-5 in Washington, between Highway 18 and Fife. Exits are 142 and 137, respectively. So five miles? I think this area is relatively urban. More suburban, I suppose.
Quote from: Pete from BostonThe elevated Gowanus south/westbound has no entrance something like 4-5 miles from the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway, and no exit from the Prospect to the Belt.
There's an exit at 39th. There's also an entrance from 3rd Ave (just past the Prospect split).
Quote from: froggie on April 17, 2015, 04:48:50 PM
Quote from: Pete from BostonThe elevated Gowanus south/westbound has no entrance something like 4-5 miles from the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway, and no exit from the Prospect to the Belt.
There's an exit at 39th. There's also an entrance from 3rd Ave (just past the Prospect split).
You're right. Still a long way for NY, particularly for a road so prone to turning people from drivers into tenants.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on April 17, 2015, 05:42:13 PM
Quote from: froggie on April 17, 2015, 04:48:50 PM
Quote from: Pete from BostonThe elevated Gowanus south/westbound has no entrance something like 4-5 miles from the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway, and no exit from the Prospect to the Belt.
There's an exit at 39th. There's also an entrance from 3rd Ave (just past the Prospect split).
You're right. Still a long way for NY, particularly for a road so prone to turning people from drivers into tenants.
This is one of those situations where the busyness and congestion of an urban environment exaggerates its actual scale. From the southbound entrance at exit 24 to the southbound entrance at exit 21 is... 2.3 miles. That's it.
There are a few longer gaps on the Belt System, but they don't seem longer because the road's surroundings are less dense.
Similarly, there is no northbound access to the FDR Drive anywhere between 62nd Street and 96th Street. Seems like a long way, right? It's actually less than two miles.
The M6 over Birmingham has wide gaps between junctions. It feels really weird to travel on a viaduct across the second largest city (albeit on the thinner axis), and only have one turn off in the middle between two on the edges of the city.
Northbound off-ramp gaps go (M42 to M5): 6 miles, 3 miles, 5 miles, 1 mile
Southbound off-ramp gaps go (M5 to M42): 2 miles, 5 miles, 6 miles, 3 miles
Quote from: english si on April 18, 2015, 06:02:20 AM
The M6 over Birmingham has wide gaps between junctions. It feels really weird to travel on a viaduct across the second largest city (albeit on the thinner axis), and only have one turn off in the middle between two on the edges of the city.
Seems to me like the whole of the British Motorway network has motorways junctions quite far apart. Something I noticed last time I was there (of course, not true for all dual carriageways **cough cough** Coventry Ring Road **cough**).
Quote from: jakeroot on April 17, 2015, 04:32:52 PM
I-5 in Washington, between Highway 18 and Fife. Exits are 142 and 137, respectively. So five miles? I think this area is relatively urban. More suburban, I suppose.
I'd say Fife is pretty urban (though of the industrial variety), but I think the reason there are no exits on that stretch is because I-5 goes through an odd patch of nothingness there. It's definitely a good candidate for this thread, but I'd say the stretch just north of there, from 143 to 147, while shorter and more distinctly suburban, is a more inexplicable lack of access.
Quote from: Super Mateo on April 16, 2015, 07:28:30 PM
I-74/280 on the IL side of the Quad Cities has a 9 mile stretch between exits.
Well, There's not really anything there. Although it's the de facto boundary of the Quad Cities metro area, I-280 in its entirety is basically a rural freeway.
I-105 south of downtown Los Angeles has some pretty long stretches of no freeway access.
I-280-Thats why it makes a better route for 80 but that's another debate. Its right next to a stretch of the Rock River with no crossing so there was never any development. There probably wont be . There was another Rock river crossing and 280 interchanged proposed but I think the MPO dropped those plans. With the need to replace 74 and the extensive work that has been needed on 67( Centennial ) and 80 along with the other bridges from 52 to 67 Beardstown ,Meridosia and Quincy I cant see any new Illinois bridges
Quote from: ftballfan on April 16, 2015, 08:16:29 PM
I-696 has only one exit between I-96 and the M-10/US-24 complex, a stretch of about 7.5 miles, at Orchard Lake Rd (exit 5)
There's an interchange at American Drive (Exit 7), eastbound exit/westbound entrance just west of M-10/US-24.
I hesitate to call it urban, but I-64 in Kentucky goes from Exit 19 to Exit 28 (which is really closer to MM 27) with no access in between. Approximately half of that distance is in the consolidated Louisville-Jefferson County limits. Even then Exit 19 is the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265), so it is over 10 miles between access points to surface streets.
I'd hate to consider express lanes in this topic, if the regualr freeway lanes have frequent exits.
Quote from: tidecat on April 19, 2015, 09:16:19 PM
I hesitate to call it urban, but I-64 in Kentucky goes from Exit 19 to Exit 28 (which is really closer to MM 27) with no access in between. Approximately half of that distance is in the consolidated Louisville-Jefferson County limits. Even then Exit 19 is the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265), so it is over 10 miles between access points to surface streets.
I wouldn't call that stretch of I-64 between the Gene Snyder and Simpsonville "urban" at all. It's as rural as anything you'll find anywhere else in Kentucky.