The thread about the most important interstate in each state led to some good discussions, so I thought I'd take a look at things from the opposite perspective. Take a look at all the interstates (2di only) that run through a state and judge which one is the least important, least useful, least traveled, or least consequential overall. For some states, this is really easy (I-59 in GA [no, I-24 doesn't count] or I-95 in DE [because there are no other 2dis there]), but for other states (Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, etc.), this may be really tough.
For South Carolina, I'm probably going to have to say I-20. I-26 links all of the state's major metropolitan areas, I-95 has all the long-distance travelers, I-85 links Atlanta and Charlotte, and I-77 links SC to Charlotte and the Midwest. Meanwhile, I-20's control cities are both quite small and the roads are only lightly traveled outside of Columbia. So I-20 it is.
For Virginia, I'd probably choose I-85 over I-77 because at least I-77 links two totally different geographical regions (Appalachians/Midwest and Southeast) while I-85 is more of a shortcut that lets you bypass I-95 and I-20. I-85 only goes through South Hill, which is a pretty small city. There's very little traffic here too, and given the state of the road (yes, it's under construction now), that's probably a good thing.
Your thoughts?
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 21, 2015, 07:02:42 AM
...Take a look at all the interstates (2di only) that run through a state and judge which one is the least important, least useful, least traveled, or least consequential overall...I-95 in DE [because there are no other 2dis there])...
Your thoughts?
That will probably be your most important, most useful, most travelled, most consequential least important/useful/travelled/consequential 2di you're going to find.
I-69 for Tennessee.
I-315 in Montana should not have been the #2 shortest interstate in the country to begin with if it was assigned as such but not indicated on signs. It's just technically a spur into I-15 Business/MT 3/MT 200/US 89.
I-76 in both Nebraska (short, and I-80 is the only other 2di in that state) and Colorado (loses to border-to-border I-25 and I-70).
In Hawaii, H-3 is the most dispensable, paralleled by two divided state routes through the mountains,
For New York, I suppose it would have to be either I-88 or the new I-99, probably the former. In some respects, I-78 could be tempting because it ends right over the border, but it's one of the major routes into New York City, one of only three crossing into Manhattan from New Jersey, so I'd say it's pretty important.
Illinois: I-180. Lightly traveled interstate to the small village of Hennepin (population 757). Everything else, and I mean everything else, even I-72, carries far more traffic.
I'd say I-27 in Texas. I'm sure that road would have been fine as a 4 lane divided highway.
Some are going to hate me for this but I-41. just as bad as... I-74 or... I-894, the Interstate it supplanted.
Can't you two be US-41 and US-74? PLEASE???
^BUT I DON'T CARE!!! :bigass:
For Kentucky, my vote is I-24. Doesn't really serve or link any major population centers in Kentucky. The section between Paducah and the WK Parkway is a vital link between Paducah and the rest of the state, but the rest of the route is mainly used by out-of-state travelers. And I'm not counting I-69 yet because it's not complete.
In West Virginia, it has to be I-70, with I-81 coming in a close second. Neither links anywhere in WV to anywhere else in-state. All the other 2DIs link different parts of the state.
Quote from: dgolub on May 21, 2015, 09:13:56 AM
For New York, I suppose it would have to be either I-88 or the new I-99, probably the former. In some respects, I-78 could be tempting because it ends right over the border, but it's one of the major routes into New York City, one of only three crossing into Manhattan from New Jersey, so I'd say it's pretty important.
It depends, I suppose, on whether we're talking Interstate
designations, or the road itself. I've no doubt that if the I-78 designation were removed from the Holland Tunnel, it would have minimal impact on navigation. But if the tunnel itself were removed, that would be quite another thing.
Assuming we're talking actual roads, then, I'll go ahead and say I-99, since we were doing fine without it until relatively recently–and in fact, I forgot about it myself until you mentioned it. :-)
iPhone
Oregon: I-82. Still important though.
In Indiana, I'll go with I-74 slightly over I-64.
In North Carolina, I-73, beating out I-74 by a nose.
For Iowa, I'd say 129. It's just a quarter-mile spur to a bridge to Nebraska.
Quote from: Brandon on May 21, 2015, 09:49:07 AM
Illinois: I-180. Lightly traveled interstate to the small village of Hennepin (population 757). Everything else, and I mean everything else, even I-72, carries far more traffic.
Oh, 2di only. (Somehow I missed that.)
For Illinois 2dis, I'd have to say I-72 west of Springfield, but my comments on I-180 still stand.
I-82, but it is among two giants here in WA. Still important for the Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities, less so for intercontinental travel (unless you're headed to Salt Lake City).
For NJ, I'd have to say the independent portion of 95 near Trenton. After all, it *is* going to be renumbered a 3di route soon!
Our other 2dis...76, 78 & 80, all easily carry over 100,000 vehicles per day.
Quote from: cabiness42 on May 21, 2015, 10:53:51 AM
In Indiana, I'll go with I-74 slightly over I-64.
I agree, I always thought 74 from 465 west to Illinois was the least important interstate in Indiana.
I think Ohio could do without most of I-77.
Quote from: dfilpus on May 21, 2015, 11:23:01 AM
In North Carolina, I-73, beating out I-74 by a nose.
Despite traversing the crucial Greensboro to Rockingham corridor? :D
I-44 in Texas, easily.
I-76 in NJ, not because it's an unimportant route, but because its interstate status is trivial. The only other contender is if you consider the free portion of I-95 separate from the Turnpike portion.
I-86 in PA.
Oklahoma is tough, but turns out again it's I-44, somewhat counterintuitively for an interstate that connects the state's two biggest cities. Both 35 and 40 see higher rural traffic counts, I'd imagine due to shunpiking. If it weren't for 35 and 40 being extremely important transnational and transcontinental routes, 44 would not have this distinction. Again, Oklahoma is weird.
For Florida, it's I-10.
I-391. Very little unique need–other existing roads/exits could serve Chicopee just fine.
Definitely I-15 for Arizona.
For California, the least consequential is clearly not I-5, I-10, or I-80, all of which are crucial as urban metro freeways, city-to-city routes within the state, and border-to-border or shore-to-shore Interstates. I think we can safely exclude I-15 as well.
I'm torn between I-40 and I-8. I-8 is an important urban link in San Diego, and it also has higher traffic counts throughout its length, but I-40 is a more important Interstate route in general and a vital corridor for connecting people and goods from the Midwest and East to Southern California. I'd guess that I-40 (or its predecessors) was the gateway for more in-country migrants to California than any other route.
Quote from: Bickendan on May 21, 2015, 10:53:04 AM
Oregon: I-82. Still important though.
Funny to think that one can access I-82 best without starting at I-82. US 730 and US 395 make more sense for a shorter drive going from I-84 to I-82, which makes the section of I-82 south of Umatilla rather redundant. Maybe there should have been an I-282 loop built instead!
I do agree, despite I-82 being the least important freeway in Oregon that is truly is an important piece in the PNW transportation network.
Rick
For Washington, also I-82.
For California, I agree, I-8.
For Arizona, I'd propose I-11. They've done without it this long.
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 12:05:07 PM
I-76 in NJ, not because it's an unimportant route, but because its interstate status is trivial. The only other contender is if you consider the free portion of I-95 separate from the Turnpike portion.
Huh? It's an important route, it leaves the state, it is built to interstate standards. In what way is it trivial? Or are you saying that its existence in NJ is disputed in favor of 42? I suppose that is indeed a problem, though not a major one. I-80 is probably less important per mile of roadway than any other 2 digit interstate, so could be in contention too.
Quote from: bzakharin on May 21, 2015, 01:35:06 PM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 12:05:07 PM
I-76 in NJ, not because it's an unimportant route, but because its interstate status is trivial. The only other contender is if you consider the free portion of I-95 separate from the Turnpike portion.
Huh? It's an important route, it leaves the state, it is built to interstate standards. In what way is it trivial? Or are you saying that its existence in NJ is disputed in favor of 42? I suppose that is indeed a problem, though not a major one. I-80 is probably less important per mile of roadway than any other 2 digit interstate, so could be in contention too.
It's trivial because if 76 ended at 95 in Philly, and the route were simply called the Walt Whitman Bridge (and 42 or 676 south of the merge), it would have essentially no effect on mobility or traffic patterns. Besides, hardly anyone calls it 76.
Quote from: bob7374 on May 21, 2015, 11:46:20 AM
Quote from: dfilpus on May 21, 2015, 11:23:01 AM
In North Carolina, I-73, beating out I-74 by a nose.
Despite traversing the crucial Greensboro to Rockingham corridor? :D
That gave me a belly laugh. The workers in the next cubicle heard me.
Loving the responses so far. Anyone want to take a stab at Florida? That's a tough one. I'd probably say I-10, but it feels so wrong for me to say that. But 4, 75 and 95 serve too many travelers for me to choose those routes instead.
MA: I-84
NH: I-89
ME: I-95
VT: I-93
CT: I-91
RI: I-95
Minnesota would be I-535 by a country mile. I-90 would claim this honor for 2dis, as in-state traffic has comparatively little use for the route.
Virginia would probably either be I-77 or I-85. I would probably say I-77, because I-85 leads to one of the busiest urban corridors in the nation in terms of traffic density from North Carolina to Georgia.
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 01:43:59 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on May 21, 2015, 01:35:06 PM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 12:05:07 PM
I-76 in NJ, not because it's an unimportant route, but because its interstate status is trivial. The only other contender is if you consider the free portion of I-95 separate from the Turnpike portion.
Huh? It's an important route, it leaves the state, it is built to interstate standards. In what way is it trivial? Or are you saying that its existence in NJ is disputed in favor of 42? I suppose that is indeed a problem, though not a major one. I-80 is probably less important per mile of roadway than any other 2 digit interstate, so could be in contention too.
It's trivial because if 76 ended at 95 in Philly, and the route were simply called the Walt Whitman Bridge (and 42 or 676 south of the merge), it would have essentially no effect on mobility or traffic patterns. Besides, hardly anyone calls it 76.
You can say that about any road. Does the fact that I-95 goes through PA change the fact that New York bound traffic uses the non-Interstate NJ Turnpike? Would traffic patterns change if I-95 was instead along the Turnpike? Does that mean I-95 in PA is trivial (forget the discontinuity for a second)?
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 01:43:59 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on May 21, 2015, 01:35:06 PM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 12:05:07 PM
I-76 in NJ, not because it's an unimportant route, but because its interstate status is trivial. The only other contender is if you consider the free portion of I-95 separate from the Turnpike portion.
Huh? It's an important route, it leaves the state, it is built to interstate standards. In what way is it trivial? Or are you saying that its existence in NJ is disputed in favor of 42? I suppose that is indeed a problem, though not a major one. I-80 is probably less important per mile of roadway than any other 2 digit interstate, so could be in contention too.
It's trivial because if 76 ended at 95 in Philly, and the route were simply called the Walt Whitman Bridge (and 42 or 676 south of the merge), it would have essentially no effect on mobility or traffic patterns. Besides, hardly anyone calls it 76.
It is important as it is the final leg of a pretty major corridor (North-South Freeway/ACE is a pretty big deal), but trivial since it's only 3 miles long. I think if SJTA had any interest in upgrading the ACE to interstate standards, 76 would begin in Atlantic City and not in Bellmawr.
Quote from: bzakharin on May 21, 2015, 03:26:48 PM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 01:43:59 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on May 21, 2015, 01:35:06 PM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 21, 2015, 12:05:07 PM
I-76 in NJ, not because it's an unimportant route, but because its interstate status is trivial. The only other contender is if you consider the free portion of I-95 separate from the Turnpike portion.
Huh? It's an important route, it leaves the state, it is built to interstate standards. In what way is it trivial? Or are you saying that its existence in NJ is disputed in favor of 42? I suppose that is indeed a problem, though not a major one. I-80 is probably less important per mile of roadway than any other 2 digit interstate, so could be in contention too.
It's trivial because if 76 ended at 95 in Philly, and the route were simply called the Walt Whitman Bridge (and 42 or 676 south of the merge), it would have essentially no effect on mobility or traffic patterns. Besides, hardly anyone calls it 76.
You can say that about any road. Does the fact that I-95 goes through PA change the fact that New York bound traffic uses the non-Interstate NJ Turnpike? Would traffic patterns change if I-95 was instead along the Turnpike? Does that mean I-95 in PA is trivial (forget the discontinuity for a second)?
Not at all - it's connected to heavily-used intrastate and interstate destinations. Philadelphia is in and of itself a major destination for travelers on I-95, thus the reason PA lobbied and paid for the route to go through Philly in the first place (rather than being routed on the NJ Turnpike the whole way). In the pre-GPS era, routing 95 along the entire length of the turnpike did divert NYC bound traffic - thus the unique signage in DE.
Bellmawr, on the other hand, is for the most part a point on the way to somewhere else (don't get me wrong, it's a lovely town), and I-76 being routed across the Walt Whitman Bridge to end there is largely an accident of history.
If 76 were routed on the N-S Freeway as it was originally intended, it would be non-trivial as the primary path between Camden and Philadelphia. As it stands now, it's essentially an exit ramp for the Schuylkill Expressway.
Quote from: SSOWorld on May 21, 2015, 10:41:09 AM
Some are going to hate me for this but I-41. just as bad as... I-74 or... I-894, the Interstate it supplanted.
Can't you two be US-41 and US-74? PLEASE???
^BUT I DON'T CARE!!! :bigass:
Well it would be nice for I-74 southeast of Cincinnati to just be like it is now but with US-74, I-74 will never be connected from Cincinnati to NC. I-41 is a dumb idea. Alot of the grid numbers are taken. There needs to be room for longer and more important Interstates
I-39 and I-43 are a bit sketchy for me because they just end at their last city and don't go to the border as they should. Just something I don't like.
Quote from: iBallasticwolf2 on May 21, 2015, 04:09:57 PM
I-39 and I-43 are a bit sketchy for me because they just end at their last city and don't go to the border as they should. Just something I don't like.
Where would I-39 and I-43 meet the border? The middle of Lake Superior? Due to traffic counts, there's not much point to extending them any further north at this time.
Quote from: bzakharin on May 21, 2015, 01:35:06 PM
I-80 is probably less important per mile of roadway than any other 2 digit interstate, so could be in contention too.
As someone who lives along the I-80 corridor, I can say with absolute certainty that I-80 is not the least important interstate. Locally it connects NYC (via I-95) to northern NJ and the Poconos. On a larger stage NYC and northern NJ with the rest of the country. One can encounter a decent amount of traffic at any hour of the day in either direction. Many sections have over 100K daily traffic counts.
I'm going to agree with jeffandnicole and say that for NJ, it's I-95 near Trenton. All of our other 2dis are of great importance.
Definitely unarguable:
DE: I-95 (no other option)
ME: I-95 (no other option)
NE: I-76
RI: I-95 (no other option)
VT: I-93
Quote from: Brandon on May 21, 2015, 11:29:45 AM
Quote from: Brandon on May 21, 2015, 09:49:07 AM
Illinois: I-180. Lightly traveled interstate to the small village of Hennepin (population 757). Everything else, and I mean everything else, even I-72, carries far more traffic.
Oh, 2di only. (Somehow I missed that.)
For Illinois 2dis, I'd have to say I-72 west of Springfield, but my comments on I-180 still stand.
I think 72 is pretty nice for those of us going from Kansas City (or points west) to Chicago (no St. Louis and the I-70 cluster****).
New Mexico only has three Interstates, and probably I-10 is the least important of the three since it is the shortest in mileage within the state and the only fairly large city it serves is Las Cruces, while I-25 and I-40 serve New Mexico's largest city (Albuquerque), with I-25 also serving Santa Fe.
Quote from: 1 on May 21, 2015, 02:23:30 PM
MA: I-84
NH: I-89
ME: I-95
VT: I-93
CT: I-91
RI: I-95
Huh? The only one of these I'd agree with is I-93 in VT. I-84 in MA may be short, but it gets a ton of traffic from Massachusetts and is one of the main routes between the Boston area and points southwest. So, it's short but important. I-95 in Maine? If that's the least consequential, then what's the most? The Atlantic Ocean? :-D
Same goes for I-95 in Rhode Island. Tell it to someone from Providence who needs to get to Warwick. And I-91 in Connecticut? You mean the heavily used interstate that links New Haven with Hartford (two of the state's biggest cities)? Perhaps I-384 is a better pick. Or I-684. :) For NH, what about I-393?
Frankly, New England doesn't have many interstates that would qualify in the spirit intended. But those that do are going to be the small 3di's like I-391 in MA.
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on May 21, 2015, 07:13:39 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 21, 2015, 02:23:30 PM
MA: I-84
NH: I-89
ME: I-95
VT: I-93
CT: I-91
RI: I-95
Huh? The only one of these I'd agree with is I-93 in VT. I-84 in MA may be short, but it gets a ton of traffic from Massachusetts and is one of the main routes between the Boston area and points southwest. So, it's short but important. I-95 in Maine? If that's the least consequential, then what's the most? The Atlantic Ocean? :-D
Same goes for I-95 in Rhode Island. Tell it to someone from Providence who needs to get to Warwick. And I-91 in Connecticut? You mean the heavily used interstate that links New Haven with Hartford (two of the state's biggest cities)? Perhaps I-384 is a better pick. Or I-684. :) For NH, what about I-393?
Frankly, New England doesn't have many interstates that would qualify in the spirit intended. But those that do are going to be the small 3di's like I-391 in MA.
Only 2-digit Interstates are being considered in this thread.
I'm sure everyone else will agree with me when I say I-97 for MD. It is the shortest, but it doesn't mean I hate it. It's just that the other three (70, 83, 95) are a bit more important.
Quote from: 1 on May 21, 2015, 07:37:04 PM
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on May 21, 2015, 07:13:39 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 21, 2015, 02:23:30 PM
MA: I-84
NH: I-89
ME: I-95
VT: I-93
CT: I-91
RI: I-95
Huh? The only one of these I'd agree with is I-93 in VT. I-84 in MA may be short, but it gets a ton of traffic from Massachusetts and is one of the main routes between the Boston area and points southwest. So, it's short but important. I-95 in Maine? If that's the least consequential, then what's the most? The Atlantic Ocean? :-D
Same goes for I-95 in Rhode Island. Tell it to someone from Providence who needs to get to Warwick. And I-91 in Connecticut? You mean the heavily used interstate that links New Haven with Hartford (two of the state's biggest cities)? Perhaps I-384 is a better pick. Or I-684. :) For NH, what about I-393?
Frankly, New England doesn't have many interstates that would qualify in the spirit intended. But those that do are going to be the small 3di's like I-391 in MA.
Only 2-digit Interstates are being considered in this thread.
OK, but if you're ME or RI or NE, then your most important interstate is also your least consequential/important one too - even if it's truly vital. And, there's a big difference between Illinois' stretch of I-24 and the 8 or so miles of I-84 in Massachusetts. Also, to nominate I-91 for CT would seem absurd to anyone who lives in the central or northern parts of the state; given these parameters, they'd probably say I-95.
D.C. is I-66, since it's the only one available (no, I do not include the section of I-95 crossing the Wilson Bridge that "touches" D.C. territory).
For Maryland it is either I-97 or I-68.
I-97 is very short and should (and could be a 3di (I-995?)), but has high volumes of traffic.
I-68 carries lower volumes of traffic than I-97 but provides the only highway connection between the far western part of the state (and I-79 in West Virginia) and the generally more suburban and urban areas east of Hagerstown.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 21, 2015, 08:13:38 PM
D.C. is I-66, since it's the only one available (no, I do not include the section of I-95 crossing the Wilson Bridge that "touches" D.C. territory).
For Maryland it is either I-97 or I-68.
I-97 is very short and should (and could be a 3di (I-995?)), but has high volumes of traffic.
I-68 carries lower volumes of traffic than I-97 but provides the only highway connection between the far western part of the state (and I-79 in West Virginia) and the generally more suburban and urban areas east of Hagerstown.
I swear I forgot about I-68. But it definitely could be either one.
For Alabama I'd go with I-10, simply because it serves only one of the state's population centers. I-20 and I-85 both carry significant traffic to and from Atlanta. I could have gone with the solo part of I-59, but even it has a spur route on it, and is a huge upgrade over US 11.
Quote from: kj3400 on May 21, 2015, 07:56:01 PM
I'm sure everyone else will agree with me when I say I-97 for MD. It is the shortest, but it doesn't mean I hate it. It's just that the other three (70, 83, 95) are a bit more important.
What about I-81 in MD? That goes through the less populated western part of the state for only about 20 miles or so, right?
For the most part I-55 in Arkansas feels like it goes through nothing at all, Jonesboro to West Memphis AR...it is just a connector road that would not be missed if it ran down the eastern shore of the river.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 21, 2015, 08:51:23 PM
PA: I-80. There is really nothing between Toledo and the eastern terminus and I-80 does not go through anything major. US 6 would be better here than I-80.
As a commerce & trucking route, PA's I-80 is extremely vital.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 21, 2015, 10:51:37 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 21, 2015, 08:51:23 PM
PA: I-80. There is really nothing between Toledo and the eastern terminus and I-80 does not go through anything major. US 6 would be better here than I-80.
As a commerce & trucking route, PA's I-80 is extremely vital.
Well, this illustrates another question: are we talking about the least important Interstate
to our state? Or the least important
overall, a part of which just happens to traverse our state? (Or something else?)
As an example, I think we all agree that I-15 is the least important Interstate to Arizona, but I-15 on the whole is more important than I-19 or I-17 are overall.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 21, 2015, 11:07:21 PM
It would be bad if a section had to be closed, since I-80 doesn't parallel anything in PA, and are forced to use US 6.
There are parallel routes south of US 6, including US 322 and PA 940.
Quote from: NE2 on May 21, 2015, 11:33:22 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 21, 2015, 11:07:21 PM
It would be bad if a section had to be closed, since I-80 doesn't parallel anything in PA, and are forced to use US 6.
There are parallel routes south of US 6, including US 322 and PA 940.
US 6 may be parallel, but it's not particularly accessible from I-80. The routes are about an hour apart across most of Pennsylvania.
Quote from: Bitmapped on May 22, 2015, 12:01:59 AM
Quote from: NE2 on May 21, 2015, 11:33:22 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 21, 2015, 11:07:21 PM
It would be bad if a section had to be closed, since I-80 doesn't parallel anything in PA, and are forced to use US 6.
There are parallel routes south of US 6, including US 322 and PA 940.
US 6 may be parallel, but it's not particularly accessible from I-80. The routes are about an hour apart across most of Pennsylvania.
In PA, I-86 is clearly first, followed closely by I-99. I-84 is a distant 3rd
Indiana: I-80, just because it's entirely overlapped by 90 or 94.
Quote from: vtk on May 22, 2015, 04:03:18 AM
Indiana: I-80, just because it's entirely overlapped by 90 or 94.
I thought about mentioning that, but the road itself is most definitely not the least important in the state, even though the I-80 designation itself might be.
Quote from: pianocello on May 21, 2015, 11:28:02 AM
For Iowa, I'd say 129. It's just a quarter-mile spur to a bridge to Nebraska.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 21, 2015, 07:02:42 AM
(2di only)
Heh, oops. I guess I'd have to go with I-74 instead, although the section in the Quad Cities is arguably one of the most important sections of the route as a whole.
Connecticut: I'd have to say I-84. It's important, but the others are "importanter".
I-91 hits both Hartford and New Haven. I-95 is the highway you hate but can't live without. 84 serves Hartford and a lot of second-tier cities.
If we go back in history, I-86 would be an easy answer; but I-87 would be even easier :-)
Utah would probably be I-70 since a lot of it can be paralleled with US highways -- current and former alignments included -- and has the least amount of traffic.
But most importantly, Utah for a FACT considers I-70 the least important because despite most of the non-mountainous sections of the interstate being straight, flat and desolate, they still refuse to raise the speed limits there to 80 MPH while portions of I-15 between AZ and SLC (which get more traffic in a day that I-70 gets in a week) get to go 80.
Looking back at some of the other states that have been mentioned, and thinking about consequence within the state as the deciding factor:
PA: I-86. I-84 comes in second.
MD: I-83. It only links Baltimore to the state line. I-97, while too short to be a 2DI, connects the state capital with the largest city and probably carries mostly in-state traffic. I-68 links the western part of the state to the rest of it.
OH: I-74. Like I-83 in Maryland, it only links one city to the state line.
TN: I-55.
GA: Tie between I-59 and I-24.
IN: I-64
VA: I-77
MO: I-72. I-57 comes in second.
IL: I-72
How about I-705 in Tacoma, WA. Very short, and largely useless in my opinion. Would be better off as just SR-7 or part of SR-509.
Quote from: TEG24601 on May 22, 2015, 04:17:03 PM
How about I-705 in Tacoma, WA. Very short, and largely useless in my opinion. Would be better off as just SR-7 or part of SR-509.
2dis only! That's what makes this tricky.
For North Dakota, I'll go with I-94 simply because I-29 links more immediate cities of significance: Fargo, Sioux Falls, etc.
For West Virginia, I-70 is the easy choice, but the funky shape of the state makes this one an easy call.
For Alabama, I'll reluctantly offer I-10 because of its limited length. I think I-59 is probably of more regional importance as a truck route.
For Mississippi, I think I-59 is the clear winner because of the concurrency with I-20 and the fact that I-55 is not too far away.
Nevada is a tough one. I-15 goes through Las Vegas and goes to Salt Lake City. I-80 goes through nowhere other than Reno, but is much longer and offers passage to the Bay Area. I'd probably reluctantly say I-80 is less critical than I-15 simply because of how much of Nevada's population is concentrated near Vegas.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 05:09:22 PM
For West Virginia, I-70 is the easy choice, but the funky shape of the state makes this one an easy call.
Does it? Even (especially) given the funky-shape criterion, what makes I-70 the obvious choice over I-81?
Montana...ooh this is tricky.
I'm gonna crack. I-15. I-90 passes through the top 3 largest cities in Montana, and I-94 connects a lot of the northern Midwest (at least west of the Twin Cities - east of there it takes a southernly, then a northernly alignment towards Detroit.). I-15 only connects the state capital and one of the largest cities in the state. US 89 can probably do a better job, but it misses the state capital. At least it intersects US 287 (which goes through Helena). US 89, US 287, and I-90 can probably do better functions than I-15.
Florida is a tough one as all 4 of its primary interstates serve a purpose.
In New Jersey it is I-76 as it serves only as a connector between the N-S Freeway and the Schuykill Expressway. Consider it a glorified ramp from the State of New Jersey's freeway network to Pennsylvania's interstate system.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 08:40:17 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 22, 2015, 08:36:39 PM
Florida is a tough one as all 4 of its primary interstates serve a purpose.
In New Jersey it is I-76 as it serves only as a connector between the N-S Freeway and the Schuykill Expressway. Consider it a glorified ramp from the State of New Jersey's freeway network to Pennsylvania's interstate system.
Florida would be I-75.. There's really nothing until Atlanta. US 27 would work better here. :bigass:
Macon and Tampa exist
Quote from: empirestate on May 22, 2015, 07:59:31 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 05:09:22 PM
For West Virginia, I-70 is the easy choice, but the funky shape of the state makes this one an easy call.
Does it? Even (especially) given the funky-shape criterion, what makes I-70 the obvious choice over I-81?
Oh yeah, I forgot about I-81. Hmmmm...well, I think I-81 might not be that important to WV, but it does carry a lot of truck traffic (as I recently saw firsthand), so it's probably more important overall. But I guess for the purposes of this thread, you are right. I-81 is more useless in WV than I-70 is.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 08:55:55 PM
Quote from: iBallasticwolf2 on May 22, 2015, 08:54:41 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 08:40:17 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 22, 2015, 08:36:39 PM
Florida is a tough one as all 4 of its primary interstates serve a purpose.
In New Jersey it is I-76 as it serves only as a connector between the N-S Freeway and the Schuykill Expressway. Consider it a glorified ramp from the State of New Jersey's freeway network to Pennsylvania's interstate system.
Florida would be I-75.. There's really nothing until Atlanta. US 27 would work better here. :bigass:
Macon and Tampa exist
eh...I-4 and I-275 can do a good job...
In an earlier post, I reluctantly gave my vote to I-10. At least Midwestern travelers can use I-75 to access Miami. But yeah, ALL of Florida's interstates are pretty darn important. That might be the toughest state of all to analyze for the purposes of this thread.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 09:08:54 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 08:55:55 PM
Quote from: iBallasticwolf2 on May 22, 2015, 08:54:41 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 08:40:17 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 22, 2015, 08:36:39 PM
Florida is a tough one as all 4 of its primary interstates serve a purpose.
In New Jersey it is I-76 as it serves only as a connector between the N-S Freeway and the Schuykill Expressway. Consider it a glorified ramp from the State of New Jersey's freeway network to Pennsylvania's interstate system.
Florida would be I-75.. There's really nothing until Atlanta. US 27 would work better here. :bigass:
Macon and Tampa exist
eh...I-4 and I-275 can do a good job...
In an earlier post, I reluctantly gave my vote to I-10. At least Midwestern travelers can use I-75 to access Miami. But yeah, ALL of Florida's interstates are pretty darn important. That might be the toughest state of all to analyze for the purposes of this thread.
Every summer me and my family actually use I-75 to go to Sarasota for the summer. We actually see a decent amount of traffic on the corridor in Florida.
Quote from: iBallasticwolf2 on May 22, 2015, 08:54:41 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 22, 2015, 08:40:17 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 22, 2015, 08:36:39 PM
Florida is a tough one as all 4 of its primary interstates serve a purpose.
In New Jersey it is I-76 as it serves only as a connector between the N-S Freeway and the Schuykill Expressway. Consider it a glorified ramp from the State of New Jersey's freeway network to Pennsylvania's interstate system.
Florida would be I-75.. There's really nothing until Atlanta. US 27 would work better here. :bigass:
Macon and Tampa exist
I have recently experienced weekend and holiday traffic on Interstates 75 and 16 in middle Georgia. Although not nearly as intense as the wackos who drive in south Florida, it can get mighty busy and backed up solid north- and southbound simultaneously on Interstate 75 with speeds reduced in the 20-25 mph range for miles in the middle of nowhere and no accidents. The first exit eastbound on Interstate 16 in Macon can backup badly onto the highway while trying to leave and turn left onto US 129.
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on May 21, 2015, 07:57:24 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 21, 2015, 07:37:04 PM
Quote from: StogieGuy7 on May 21, 2015, 07:13:39 PM
Quote from: 1 on May 21, 2015, 02:23:30 PM
MA: I-84
NH: I-89
ME: I-95
VT: I-93
CT: I-91
RI: I-95
Huh? The only one of these I'd agree with is I-93 in VT. I-84 in MA may be short, but it gets a ton of traffic from Massachusetts and is one of the main routes between the Boston area and points southwest. So, it's short but important. I-95 in Maine? If that's the least consequential, then what's the most? The Atlantic Ocean? :-D
Same goes for I-95 in Rhode Island. Tell it to someone from Providence who needs to get to Warwick. And I-91 in Connecticut? You mean the heavily used interstate that links New Haven with Hartford (two of the state's biggest cities)? Perhaps I-384 is a better pick. Or I-684. :) For NH, what about I-393?
Frankly, New England doesn't have many interstates that would qualify in the spirit intended. But those that do are going to be the small 3di's like I-391 in MA.
Only 2-digit Interstates are being considered in this thread.
OK, but if you're ME or RI or NE, then your most important interstate is also your least consequential/important one too - even if it's truly vital. And, there's a big difference between Illinois' stretch of I-24 and the 8 or so miles of I-84 in Massachusetts. Also, to nominate I-91 for CT would seem absurd to anyone who lives in the central or northern parts of the state; given these parameters, they'd probably say I-95.
Sorry, but rules are rules. I-95 in Maine and Rhode Island is inconsequential.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 05:03:35 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on May 22, 2015, 04:17:03 PM
How about I-705 in Tacoma, WA. Very short, and largely useless in my opinion. Would be better off as just SR-7 or part of SR-509.
2dis only! That's what makes this tricky.
Washington would have to be I-90. US 101 can't make the final 150-200 miles to the Canadian border (US 97
can, however), so I-5 takes that role for the western part of Washington (US 97 only covers the middle to eastern half of the state to the Canadian border, or US 395). I-90 does go through Snowqualmie Pass, and US 2 (I-90's parallel alignment) takes a different way around, and US 2 does
not barge through Seattle, but US 2 supplants I-90, except between the western terminus (of I-90) and east of Snowqualmie Pass.
Oregon: I-5, because it does not supplant US 101 in this state. US 101's US Routes it intersects go through Portland, but misses out on Bend (In Weed, CA, US 97 does not end at US 101, US 101 is still in Mendocino County.), which may or may not be a big deal. i-84 connects SLC with Portland and points east.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 23, 2015, 09:37:01 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 05:03:35 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on May 22, 2015, 04:17:03 PM
How about I-705 in Tacoma, WA. Very short, and largely useless in my opinion. Would be better off as just SR-7 or part of SR-509.
2dis only! That's what makes this tricky.
Washington would have to be I-90. US 101 can't make the final 150-200 miles to the Canadian border (US 97 can, however), so I-5 takes that role for the western part of Washington (US 97 only covers the middle to eastern half of the state to the Canadian border, or US 395). I-90 does go through Snowqualmie Pass, and US 2 (I-90's parallel alignment) takes a different way around, and US 2 does not barge through Seattle, but US 2 supplants I-90, except between the western terminus (of I-90) and east of Snowqualmie Pass.
Oregon: I-5, because it does not supplant US 101 in this state. US 101's US Routes it intersects go through Portland, but misses out on Bend (In Weed, CA, US 97 does not end at US 101, US 101 is still in Mendocino County.), which may or may not be a big deal. i-84 connects SLC with Portland and points east.
What about I-82?
For intrastate purposes, I think the answer for both AL and MS is the same (and surprising): I-10. In terms of Alabama, it's basically a suburban commuter route for Mobile, while in Mississippi it's basically an inland alternative to US 90, mostly carrying pass-through traffic between Louisiana and Alabama or points further east.
At least I-22 in both states connects smaller towns to regional hub cities (AL connecting Jasper and the Winfield mess to Birmingham, MS connecting Tupelo, New Albany, etc to the Memphis metro).
Quote from: vdeane on May 23, 2015, 09:58:19 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 23, 2015, 09:37:01 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 05:03:35 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on May 22, 2015, 04:17:03 PM
How about I-705 in Tacoma, WA. Very short, and largely useless in my opinion. Would be better off as just SR-7 or part of SR-509.
2dis only! That's what makes this tricky.
Washington would have to be I-90. US 101 can't make the final 150-200 miles to the Canadian border (US 97 can, however), so I-5 takes that role for the western part of Washington (US 97 only covers the middle to eastern half of the state to the Canadian border, or US 395). I-90 does go through Snowqualmie Pass, and US 2 (I-90's parallel alignment) takes a different way around, and US 2 does not barge through Seattle, but US 2 supplants I-90, except between the western terminus (of I-90) and east of Snowqualmie Pass.
Oregon: I-5, because it does not supplant US 101 in this state. US 101's US Routes it intersects go through Portland, but misses out on Bend (In Weed, CA, US 97 does not end at US 101, US 101 is still in Mendocino County.), which may or may not be a big deal. i-84 connects SLC with Portland and points east.
What about I-82?
I-82 connects I-84 and I-90 (or US 2 and US 30) which connects Portland to Spokane and east, or Seattle to Boise or Cheyenne.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 23, 2015, 10:35:17 PM
Quote from: vdeane on May 23, 2015, 09:58:19 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 23, 2015, 09:37:01 PM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 22, 2015, 05:03:35 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on May 22, 2015, 04:17:03 PM
How about I-705 in Tacoma, WA. Very short, and largely useless in my opinion. Would be better off as just SR-7 or part of SR-509.
2dis only! That's what makes this tricky.
Washington would have to be I-90. US 101 can't make the final 150-200 miles to the Canadian border (US 97 can, however), so I-5 takes that role for the western part of Washington (US 97 only covers the middle to eastern half of the state to the Canadian border, or US 395). I-90 does go through Snowqualmie Pass, and US 2 (I-90's parallel alignment) takes a different way around, and US 2 does not barge through Seattle, but US 2 supplants I-90, except between the western terminus (of I-90) and east of Snowqualmie Pass.
Oregon: I-5, because it does not supplant US 101 in this state. US 101's US Routes it intersects go through Portland, but misses out on Bend (In Weed, CA, US 97 does not end at US 101, US 101 is still in Mendocino County.), which may or may not be a big deal. i-84 connects SLC with Portland and points east.
What about I-82?
I-82 connects I-84 and I-90 (or US 2 and US 30) which connects Portland to Spokane and east, or Seattle to Boise or Cheyenne.
From Portland to Spokane, you're only on I-82 for a couple of miles, from Umatilla to Kennewick. If I-82 were suddenly gone, there would be easy bypasses via US 730 and 12, or via other state roads.
Michigan is a hard choice, but I'd have to say I-69, despite the potential for international trade. I-75, 94 and 96 just have more influence for the state.
Like the "most important" thread, this topic suffers from the ambiguity of terms like "important" or "consequential." Therefore I'll use the same definition most of Massachusetts uses–people in the western part of the state matter less, so I-91.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on May 24, 2015, 08:31:52 AM
Like the "most important" thread, this topic suffers from the ambiguity of terms like "important" or "consequential."
True. A salient point to clarify as the basis of any response is "important" or "consequential"
to whom. Important for the region / system as a whole is an entirely different matter from important to a single state; case in point, I-70 in West Virginia. Another critical distinction to make is whether we're talking about the importance of the Interstate route designation, or the physical highway it's designated on. I've seen answers that go either way on each point.
QuoteLike the "most important" thread, this topic suffers from the ambiguity of terms like "important" or "consequential."
Not just that, but it also suffers from a "limited gene pool".
Even having driven only a small part of I-75 in Florida between Gainesville and Ocala, I'd have a hard time picking I-75. I'd be inclined to pick I-4 as any traffic from the northwest headed to Orlando would use Florida's Turnpike.
Quote from: tidecat on May 26, 2015, 11:40:21 PM
Even having driven only a small part of I-75 in Florida between Gainesville and Ocala, I'd have a hard time picking I-75. I'd be inclined to pick I-4 as any traffic from the northwest headed to Orlando would use Florida's Turnpike.
Hmm, but by the same token, if I-75 went away, then traffic bound for Tampa Bay from the north could come in via Orlando and I-4. But then, everything south of Tampa, and Alligator Alley...
I think it really is I-10. While losing that route across the Panhandle would be a tremendous blow, I just have to think that given where the majority of commerce happens in Florida, particularly of the intra-state variety, the other three routes are just too integral to the state's economy.
Quote from: thenetwork on May 22, 2015, 12:12:06 PM
Utah would probably be I-70 since a lot of it can be paralleled with US highways -- current and former alignments included -- and has the least amount of traffic.
But most importantly, Utah for a FACT considers I-70 the least important because despite most of the non-mountainous sections of the interstate being straight, flat and desolate, they still refuse to raise the speed limits there to 80 MPH while portions of I-15 between AZ and SLC (which get more traffic in a day that I-70 gets in a week) get to go 80.
Agreed. I-70 is easily the least important Interstate in Utah, though those living near it kinda revel in that fact. However, I'd wager that because of its remoteness, I-70's quality east of Salina isn't as good as the other Interstates in Utah; I recall the difference in smoothness between I-70 (not so smooth) and I-15 (more smooth). That may play a small part in why I-70 hasn't had its speed limit raised to 80 MPH.
I can't believe no one came up with Arizona, where the answer is really easy: I-15 :bigass:.
But, as always, the way the question is done I can't answer because I don't have a state to go with, and I live nowhere near an interstate anyway.
AZ I-15 was brought up earlier in thread at least twice ;)
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on May 27, 2015, 04:54:20 AM
I can't believe no one came up with Arizona, where the answer is really easy: I-15 :bigass:.
But, as always, the way the question is done I can't answer because I don't have a state to go with, and I live nowhere near an interstate anyway.
Quote from: Bickendan on May 27, 2015, 11:00:31 AM
AZ I-15 was brought up earlier in thread at least twice ;)
Not only was it brought up, but it's not so easy: I-15 is only the obvious answer if we're talking about importance
to the particular state. But if we're looking at importance
overall, I think most people would say that I-19 or even I-17 have less importance than I-15, on the whole.
To be sure, most of us assume it's the first option, but I don't think we've gotten any clear guidance on that. (We also don't know whether we're talking about Interstate designations or actual roadways, though again most of us seem to assume roadways.)
Here's my quick take on a few states.
California: I'd probably go I-40 as well, despite its significance as a transcontinental (almost) route. I-8 would be second, but plays a pretty vital role in the San Diego metro area.
Nevada: This one is tough, with only 2 to choose from. Probably I-80 because I-15 and all the tourists it brings into Las Vegas. I-80 does go through Reno, but the rest of it doesn't hit any population centers.
Idaho: Easy, I-86
Arizona: Easy, I-15
Quote from: Rover_0 on May 27, 2015, 02:07:55 AM
Quote from: thenetwork on May 22, 2015, 12:12:06 PM
Utah would probably be I-70 since a lot of it can be paralleled with US highways -- current and former alignments included -- and has the least amount of traffic.
But most importantly, Utah for a FACT considers I-70 the least important because despite most of the non-mountainous sections of the interstate being straight, flat and desolate, they still refuse to raise the speed limits there to 80 MPH while portions of I-15 between AZ and SLC (which get more traffic in a day that I-70 gets in a week) get to go 80.
Agreed. I-70 is easily the least important Interstate in Utah, though those living near it kinda revel in that fact. However, I'd wager that because of its remoteness, I-70's quality east of Salina isn't as good as the other Interstates in Utah; I recall the difference in smoothness between I-70 (not so smooth) and I-15 (more smooth). That may play a small part in why I-70 hasn't had its speed limit raised to 80 MPH.
UDOT has done quite a bit of resurfacing in recent years either side of the Swell. And in the past 9 years that I have driven on that stretch of road -- newly resurfaced or not -- I can tell you that even the older stretches of road were of decent shape and could easily support the state's maximum speed limits.
MA: I-95. It's canceled routing through Boston REALLY killed it off here in this state. I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something. I-95 goes through nothing. NOTHING. I-90 connects I-91 and I-93 and enters Boston (and I-93). So I-95 takes home here. US 1 EASILY replaces I-95 in this state.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 27, 2015, 07:53:15 PM
MA: I-95. It's canceled routing through Boston REALLY killed it off here in this state. I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something. I-95 goes through nothing. NOTHING. I-90 connects I-91 and I-93 and enters Boston (and I-93). So I-95 takes home here. US 1 EASILY replaces I-95 in this state.
I disagree. I-95 is heavily traveled even though it doesn't go through the actual city of Boston. It directs a lot of traffic out of downtown. It also provides access to Providence to the south and New Hampshire and Maine to the north. Just because I-91 goes through Springfield, that doesn't mean it's more important than I-95. In fact, once I-91 leaves the Springfield metro it's a rural interstate all the way up to the Canadian border.
CO: I-76
NE: I-76
The x6s are getting no love in this thread.
I-40 in California
I would have said I-8, but it's a vital link between San Diego and the Imperial Valley and there's no other route aside from REALLY rural CA 78. If you want to go to Needles and points east, it's accessible from Las Vegas in the north (via US 95) and from the south (via I-10 to US 95 in Blythe).
Quote from: JakeFromNewEngland on May 27, 2015, 08:06:24 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 27, 2015, 07:53:15 PM
MA: I-95. It's canceled routing through Boston REALLY killed it off here in this state. I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something. I-95 goes through nothing. NOTHING. I-90 connects I-91 and I-93 and enters Boston (and I-93). So I-95 takes home here. US 1 EASILY replaces I-95 in this state.
I disagree. I-95 is heavily traveled even though it doesn't go through the actual city of Boston. It directs a lot of traffic out of downtown. It also provides access to Providence to the south and New Hampshire and Maine to the north. Just because I-91 goes through Springfield, that doesn't mean it's more important than I-95. In fact, once I-91 leaves the Springfield metro it's a rural interstate all the way up to the Canadian border.
Good point. Even though Springfield is I-91's last city, just across the state line into Portsmouth, NH, traffic levels drop considerably. US 1 and the Tobin Bridge also directs traffic right out of Boston, which is why "US 1 replaces I-95 in MA".
Quote from: OCGuy81 on May 27, 2015, 11:37:02 AMHere's my quick take on a few states.
Idaho: Easy, I-86
It may be in overall importance. But to the state, it is I-90.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 27, 2015, 09:20:06 PM
Quote from: JakeFromNewEngland on May 27, 2015, 08:06:24 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 27, 2015, 07:53:15 PM
MA: I-95. It's canceled routing through Boston REALLY killed it off here in this state. I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something. I-95 goes through nothing. NOTHING. I-90 connects I-91 and I-93 and enters Boston (and I-93). So I-95 takes home here. US 1 EASILY replaces I-95 in this state.
I disagree. I-95 is heavily traveled even though it doesn't go through the actual city of Boston. It directs a lot of traffic out of downtown. It also provides access to Providence to the south and New Hampshire and Maine to the north. Just because I-91 goes through Springfield, that doesn't mean it's more important than I-95. In fact, once I-91 leaves the Springfield metro it's a rural interstate all the way up to the Canadian border.
Good point. Even though Springfield is I-91's last city, just across the state line into Portsmouth, NH, traffic levels drop considerably. US 1 and the Tobin Bridge also directs traffic right out of Boston, which is why "US 1 replaces I-95 in MA".
This is a misapprehension. Come sit with me on I-95 later this morning, where four lanes in one direction are crammed far beyond capacity. Regardless of routing through Boston or its fractured identity, it's pretty critical as a through route (or pair of them, anyway) and beltway.
Saying "I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something" may assume too much about Springfield. Springfield's importance may be paramount to Western Mass., but see my comment above about Western Mass. (a place near and dear to my heart, but let's be realistic).
I see where you're coming from, but maps and history books don't tell the whole story.
I'll make the argument that I-95 is an important interstate as a whole but is pretty damn unimportant to intrastate drivers in most of the states it serves. This is surprising for an interstate that is basically Main Street for the BosWash corridor.
- In Georgia and the Carolinas, it just exists to serve thru traffic to Florida. Savannah is on Georgia's stretch of I-95 but that hardly qualifies it for importance because it doesn't connect Savannah to anything in the state.
- In Pennsylvania, it only serves Philly and doesn't do much else so it pales in comparison to most of the other interstates in the state. I would argue that I-76 is more important than 95.
- In New York, it serves only NYC and Westchester County. You could argue that alone grants it some intrastate value. After all, NYC is the largest city in the state and commuting traffic is important. However, I would argue that I-87 as a connector between Albany and NYC is much more important.
- As Pete just said, I-95 in Massachusetts doesn't even go through Boston. Even if I-95 did go through Boston, I don't know if that would put I-95 above I-90. I-84 might actually be the least important to intrastate traffic in MA since I-84 just serves to connect eastbound Connecticut drivers to the Mass Pike. The Mass Pike/I-90 is most important for intrastate drivers here though because it connects Springfield to Worcester to Boston.
- In New Hampshire, it just exists to connect Massachusetts to Maine. I don't know of a lot of Seacoasters who use I-95 to travel within the Seacoast.
It is important to Florida because it connects the Atlantic coastal cities of Florida, Virginia because it connects Richmond to DC and is the main highway through the Virginia suburbs of DC, Maryland for the same reason as Virginia but replace "Richmond" with "Baltimore," Delaware because it is the only interstate in the state, New Jersey because much of I-95 is the New Jersey Turnpike, Rhode Island because it runs through Providence and Maine because it is the only interstate in the state.
Connecticut is one that I am iffy on. It runs out of NYC and through New Haven, although its importance is eclipsed to intrastate drivers by I-91 and possibly even I-84. I-91 connects Hartford and New Haven so I imagine that that gets a fair amount of intrastate traffic. I-95 seems like it might just get people driving through but if one were going from NYC to Boston, you'd take I-91 up to I-84. I don't see there being a lot of people who would drive through CT on I-95 simply because it's impractical to do so unless you're going to RI.
Quote from: The Nature Boy on May 28, 2015, 06:00:46 AM
I'll make the argument that I-95 is an important interstate as a whole but is pretty damn unimportant to intrastate drivers in most of the states it serves. This is surprising for an interstate that is basically Main Street for the BosWash corridor.
- In Georgia and the Carolinas, it just exists to serve thru traffic to Florida. Savannah is on Georgia's stretch of I-95 but that hardly qualifies it for importance because it doesn't connect Savannah to anything in the state.
- In Pennsylvania, it only serves Philly and doesn't do much else so it pales in comparison to most of the other interstates in the state. I would argue that I-76 is more important than 95.
- In New York, it serves only NYC and Westchester County. You could argue that alone grants it some intrastate value. After all, NYC is the largest city in the state and commuting traffic is important. However, I would argue that I-87 as a connector between Albany and NYC is much more important.
- As Pete just said, I-95 in Massachusetts doesn't even go through Boston. Even if I-95 did go through Boston, I don't know if that would put I-95 above I-90. I-84 might actually be the least important to intrastate traffic in MA since I-84 just serves to connect eastbound Connecticut drivers to the Mass Pike. The Mass Pike/I-90 is most important for intrastate drivers here though because it connects Springfield to Worcester to Boston.
- In New Hampshire, it just exists to connect Massachusetts to Maine. I don't know of a lot of Seacoasters who use I-95 to travel within the Seacoast.
It is important to Florida because it connects the Atlantic coastal cities of Florida, Virginia because it connects Richmond to DC and is the main highway through the Virginia suburbs of DC, Maryland for the same reason as Virginia but replace "Richmond" with "Baltimore," Delaware because it is the only interstate in the state, New Jersey because much of I-95 is the New Jersey Turnpike, Rhode Island because it runs through Providence and Maine because it is the only interstate in the state.
Connecticut is one that I am iffy on. It runs out of NYC and through New Haven, although its importance is eclipsed to intrastate drivers by I-91 and possibly even I-84. I-91 connects Hartford and New Haven so I imagine that that gets a fair amount of intrastate traffic. I-95 seems like it might just get people driving through but if one were going from NYC to Boston, you'd take I-91 up to I-84. I don't see there being a lot of people who would drive through CT on I-95 simply because it's impractical to do so unless you're going to RI.
I forgot about I-95 in Georgia. I would say that I-95 is Georgia's most unimportant interstate.
I will ask one question (based on my post above): How are we classifying importance here?
If you're talking importance based on its usage of a commuter route to one city in the state from its suburbs then you have an argument for I-95 in Boston and New York being important. However, I would lean towards intrastate importance being classified as an interstate highway's ability to connect multiple metro centers in the state. I-95 is important to Boston and New York commuters but that's really it. In MA, I'd argue that I-495 is more important actually.
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 27, 2015, 08:58:59 PM
CO: I-76
NE: I-76
The x6s are getting no love in this thread.
That's all true, but it's also true that more I-80 traffic in Nebraska going west towards the I-76 interchange will take I-76. So as useless as I-76 is for Nebraska traffic, it's actually useful, which is just plain weird.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 27, 2015, 07:53:15 PM
MA: I-95. It's canceled routing through Boston REALLY killed it off here in this state. I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something. I-95 goes through nothing. NOTHING. I-90 connects I-91 and I-93 and enters Boston (and I-93). So I-95 takes home here. US 1 EASILY replaces I-95 in this state.
Whoa there! I would exactly call Woburn, Burlington, Waltham, Dedham, etc. (populated municipalities that I-95 passes through/near via the 128 corridor)
nothing. If those areas were
nothing (your words); the
Route 128 moniker/lore along the I-95 (& 93) occupied section(s) would've died
at least a quarter-century ago. Such a subject is covered on several other threads so I won't bother regurgitating its history here. BTW, much of US 1 from Boston southward
piggybacks along I-93 (& a short stretch of I-95).
Quote from: JakeFromNewEngland on May 27, 2015, 08:06:24 PMI disagree. I-95 is heavily traveled even though it doesn't go through the actual city of Boston. It directs a lot of traffic out of downtown. It also provides access to Providence to the south and New Hampshire and Maine to the north.
Not to mention the fact that even though I-95 may not go
through nor enter the City of Boston as originally planned; it certainly does serves the
Greater/Metropolitan Boston Area (via 128).
Quote from: DandyDan on May 28, 2015, 08:05:21 AM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 27, 2015, 08:58:59 PM
CO: I-76
NE: I-76
The x6s are getting no love in this thread.
That's all true, but it's also true that more I-80 traffic in Nebraska going west towards the I-76 interchange will take I-76. So as useless as I-76 is for Nebraska traffic, it's actually useful, which is just plain weird.
why is this i-76 at all? it's so short i feel like it should be i-x80 or i-x25 or i-x70
Quote from: silverback1065 on May 28, 2015, 01:18:07 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on May 28, 2015, 08:05:21 AM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 27, 2015, 08:58:59 PM
CO: I-76
NE: I-76
The x6s are getting no love in this thread.
That's all true, but it's also true that more I-80 traffic in Nebraska going west towards the I-76 interchange will take I-76. So as useless as I-76 is for Nebraska traffic, it's actually useful, which is just plain weird.
why is this i-76 at all? it's so short i feel like it should be i-x80 or i-x25 or i-x70
It's long enough for a 2di, and was I-80S before 1976.
I-76 is less than 200 miles. That might be a lot on the East Coast, but it's not very much out west.
I'd go with I-870. There is no other I-870 in the country, and it's mnemonic for connecting I-80 to I-70.
Quote from: kkt on May 28, 2015, 02:08:33 PM
I-76 is less than 200 miles. That might be a lot on the East Coast, but it's not very much out west.
I'd go with I-870. There is no other I-870 in the country, and it's mnemonic for connecting I-80 to I-70.
i like it good idea
Quote from: PHLBOS on May 28, 2015, 12:31:19 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 27, 2015, 07:53:15 PM
MA: I-95. It's canceled routing through Boston REALLY killed it off here in this state. I-91 goes through Springfield, which is something. I-95 goes through nothing. NOTHING. I-90 connects I-91 and I-93 and enters Boston (and I-93). So I-95 takes home here. US 1 EASILY replaces I-95 in this state.
Whoa there! I would exactly call Woburn, Burlington, Waltham, Dedham, etc. (populated municipalities that I-95 passes through/near via the 128 corridor) nothing. If those areas were nothing (your words); the Route 128 moniker/lore along the I-95 (& 93) occupied section(s) would've died at least a quarter-century ago. Such a subject is covered on several other threads so I won't bother regurgitating its history here. BTW, much of US 1 from Boston southward piggybacks along I-93 (& a short stretch of I-95).
Quote from: JakeFromNewEngland on May 27, 2015, 08:06:24 PMI disagree. I-95 is heavily traveled even though it doesn't go through the actual city of Boston. It directs a lot of traffic out of downtown. It also provides access to Providence to the south and New Hampshire and Maine to the north.
Not to mention the fact that even though I-95 may not go through nor enter the City of Boston as originally planned; it certainly does serves the Greater/Metropolitan Boston Area (via 128).
Yeah, fair point. I think we may all agree that I-95 is pretty unlikely to get a nomination in this thread.
Quote from: noelbotevera on May 28, 2015, 03:54:32 PM
Yeah, fair point. I think we may all agree that I-95 is pretty unlikely to get a nomination in this thread.
Except it is the
only option for Delaware, Rhode Island, and Maine (those states have no other possibilities).
Quote
I forgot about I-95 in Georgia. I would say that I-95 is Georgia's most unimportant interstate.
I would definitely say I-59 is much less important to Georgia than I-95.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 28, 2015, 04:40:42 PM
Quote
I forgot about I-95 in Georgia. I would say that I-95 is Georgia's most unimportant interstate.
I would definitely say I-59 is much less important to Georgia than I-95.
True I also forgot about that :pan:
Quote from: SSOWorld on May 21, 2015, 10:41:09 AM
Some are going to hate me for this but I-41. just as bad as... I-74 or... I-894, the Interstate it supplanted.
I'd say I-39 is less important to Wisconsin than I-41. Neither one should really be an interstate, but at least the independent part of I-41 connects all the big cities around Lake Winnebago to Green Bay and Milwaukee. I'd say that's more important than connecting Madison to Wausau and Stevens Point (and not much else).
And California's least important 2di is definitely I-38. :sombrero:
Quote from: Brandon on May 28, 2015, 01:22:15 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on May 28, 2015, 01:18:07 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on May 28, 2015, 08:05:21 AM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 27, 2015, 08:58:59 PM
CO: I-76
NE: I-76
The x6s are getting no love in this thread.
That's all true, but it's also true that more I-80 traffic in Nebraska going west towards the I-76 interchange will take I-76. So as useless as I-76 is for Nebraska traffic, it's actually useful, which is just plain weird.
why is this i-76 at all? it's so short i feel like it should be i-x80 or i-x25 or i-x70
It's long enough for a 2di, and was I-80S before 1976.
Does anyone know if CO pushed for renumbering it to 76 in order to celebrate the state's centennial?
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 29, 2015, 09:58:01 AM
Quote from: Brandon on May 28, 2015, 01:22:15 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on May 28, 2015, 01:18:07 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on May 28, 2015, 08:05:21 AM
Quote from: TXtoNJ on May 27, 2015, 08:58:59 PM
CO: I-76
NE: I-76
The x6s are getting no love in this thread.
That's all true, but it's also true that more I-80 traffic in Nebraska going west towards the I-76 interchange will take I-76. So as useless as I-76 is for Nebraska traffic, it's actually useful, which is just plain weird.
why is this i-76 at all? it's so short i feel like it should be i-x80 or i-x25 or i-x70
It's long enough for a 2di, and was I-80S before 1976.
Does anyone know if CO pushed for renumbering it to 76 in order to celebrate the state's centennial?
"The Rambler" (FHWA site) did some research on Pennsylvania's I-76 numbering (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/i76.cfm), but gave no answer for the western instance.
Louisiana's would be I-59. Apparently it doesn't get too much love in any of its states.
Illinois may be I-64. Between Evansville and St. Louis, there's really no major cities between that stretch that are above at least 100K people. East St. Louis is failing, and Southern Illinois...hoo it may be desolate out there (as in people, not scenery).
I would not agree with the last post. I-64 in Southern Illinois west of I-57 is very heavily traveled and an important route, not only from Evansville, Louisville and points east, but it also indirectly picks up I-24 traffic from the southeast US that uses I-57 as a connector between I-24 and I-64. The most direct route to the central and northern plains from Atlanta uses that section of I-64. I have taken it. The traffic is lighter on I-64 east of I-57, but I would nominate I-72 in western IL as a less important route, among others.
Quote from: RoadWarrior56 on May 29, 2015, 09:23:41 PM
I would not agree with the last post. I-64 in Southern Illinois west of I-57 is very heavily traveled and an important route, not only from Evansville, Louisville and points east, but it also indirectly picks up I-24 traffic from the southeast US that uses I-57 as a connector between I-24 and I-64. The most direct route to the central and northern plains from Atlanta uses that section of I-64. I have taken it. The traffic is lighter on I-64 east of I-57, but I would nominate I-72 in western IL as a less important route, among others.
I meant as in intrastate traffic. I-72 connects I-57 to points west, via US 36. I-64's duplex around Mt. Vernon connects it with points east, but I-64's cities that it passes through further east are smaller than Chicago (I-57's terminus).
I guess it's too late for me to say that I meant the least important insterstate TO a particular state. Maybe it doesn't serve any major cities or it only has a very minor economic impact on the state. Maybe it's in an isolated corner of the state or maybe it's only a moderately important interstate in a state of tremendously important ones. Obviously, some interstates are super critical even if they are only in a state for a few miles (I-70 in WV, I'm looking at YOU), but there may be other interstates in the same state that, even though longer, may ultimately serve fewer state residents or travel through less significant corridors.
In Nebraska, the choice is between I-80 and I-76. I-76 wins easily.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on May 21, 2015, 08:24:14 AM
I-69 for Tennessee.
Same in Mississippi. I could also argue for I-59. The most urbane area you'll pass through is Hattiesburg (population about 47K).
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on May 29, 2015, 10:25:13 PM
I guess it's too late for me to say that I meant the least important insterstate TO a particular state.
Not at all; the suspense has been killing us!
IMO, in PA its either current I-99 (how original, right?), or I-176.
As horrible as US 422 (Very narrow, and *gasp* left hand on and off ramps at PA 10), and the fact that it is not all freeway to the southeast, I think, at least on paper, 422 makes more sense traveling between Philly and Reading (Disclaimer* Have not actually traveled that stretch of 422). Coming from the Harrisburg or Lancaster areas to Reading, There's US 222. I-176 just kinda sits there in the middle.
Ditto on I-380 and I-476 north of I-80. there's a redundancy going on there...
Quote from: CentralPAguy on May 30, 2015, 04:04:35 PM
IMO, in PA its either current I-99 (how original, right?), or I-176.
As horrible as US 422 (Very narrow, and *gasp* left hand on and off ramps at PA 10), and the fact that it is not all freeway to the southeast, I think, at least on paper, 422 makes more sense traveling between Philly and Reading (Disclaimer* Have not actually traveled that stretch of 422). Coming from the Harrisburg or Lancaster areas to Reading, There's US 222. I-176 just kinda sits there in the middle.
Ditto on I-380 and I-476 north of I-80. there's a redundancy going on there...
In that case, I-99. Only Interstates with two digits are being considered in this thread.