When most freeways drop lanes (when a wider section ends), the right lane either exits or just ends, but there are a few places where it's the left lane that ends. I can only think of two examples. One is on the Atlantic City Expressway westbound just past exit 31, while the other is on NJ 42 Southbound approaching Exit 12. Isn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end? The endings are well signed in both cases, but wouldn't it be just as easy to end a right lane instead? Are there other freeways where this happens? The ones that come close are 50/50 splits where the left lane exits and merges where the left lane of one roadway merges with the right lane of another, but that's not really the same thing.
Quote from: bzakharin on June 18, 2015, 10:49:31 AM
When most freeways drop lanes (when a wider section ends), the right lane either exits or just ends, but there are a few places where it's the left lane that ends. I can only think of two examples. One is on the Atlantic City Expressway westbound just past exit 31, while the other is on NJ 42 Southbound approaching Exit 12. Isn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end? The endings are well signed in both cases, but wouldn't it be just as easy to end a right lane instead? Are there other freeways where this happens? The ones that come close are 50/50 splits where the left lane exits and merges where the left lane of one roadway merges with the right lane of another, but that's not really the same thing.
This usually happens in rural areas when a 6 laning of a freeway ends.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@38.724925,-84.861704,3a,75y,47.13h,91.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s1ofDIj9AeK0MMPmrZ11vOA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D1ofDIj9AeK0MMPmrZ11vOA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D158.26073%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656
I-71 in Sparta KY.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@39.662097,-83.517178,3a,48.6y,43.19h,90.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scSAPX3tBIOSlnIT0WIpU2A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
I-71 in Washington Court House OH.
It's not uncommon here in Oregon.
Here's an example of this in Trenton, on US 1 SB. (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.243811,-74.735017,3a,80.6y,212.25h,85.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srdg0Y5U1zBVUXLprgkTiDA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) It might not be exactly as you are describing it, but at this point, US 1 is a freeway, and the lane does end. However, there are usually no problems with the reduction into one lane.
South of Kansas City, I-49 drops from six to four lanes abruptly. There is a need for six lanes for a few more exits. It gets tight after the drop.
The traffic engineer knows at least
https://www.google.com/maps/place/16001+S+Outer+Rd,+Belton,+MO+64012/@38.8358976,-94.525606,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x87c0dc8b596fc0e7:0x5ac6207653941f8e
I was surprised when I first saw the left lane ending on NJ 42. It seemed unusual and illogical.
On the PA Turnpike there is a mixture of endings for the truck climbing lanes in or going into two lane sectors. For some of them, the left lane ends and the climbing lane becomes the right-hand travel lane. For others, it is the climbing lane which ends by the slower moving traffic merging back into the right-hand lane.
Quote from: Zeffy on June 18, 2015, 11:13:28 AM
Here's an example of this in Trenton, on US 1 SB. (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.243811,-74.735017,3a,80.6y,212.25h,85.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srdg0Y5U1zBVUXLprgkTiDA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) It might not be exactly as you are describing it, but at this point, US 1 is a freeway, and the lane does end. However, there are usually no problems with the reduction into one lane.
I go through that transition on my way home every weekday evening. The reduction is because of the downstream left entrance from U.S. 1 Business -- otherwise that ramp would probably have a stop sign. Years ago, the merge was not a problem operationally, but nowadays there are frequent backups in the evenings, sometimes back to Whitehead Road. Not usually a dead stop, but it does get very slow through there.
The law, and basic driving rule, is to keep right except to pass. Thus, in my opinion, the left lane is always the one that should end. This re-enforces keeping traffic to the right. If it was the right than that ends, traffic has a tendency to keep to the left, and that breaks down the efficient flow of traffic.
Truck climbing lanes are an exception - the lane is purposely there for unusually slow moving vehicles.
I-10 in the Tucson area has this. Also I-19 in Tucson, US 60 freeway in Mesa.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 18, 2015, 11:50:32 AM
The law, and basic driving rule, is to keep right except to pass. Thus, in my opinion, the left lane is always the one that should end. This re-enforces keeping traffic to the right. If it was the right than that ends, traffic has a tendency to keep to the left, and that breaks down the efficient flow of traffic.
Truck climbing lanes are an exception - the lane is purposely there for unusually slow moving vehicles.
If you are trying to pass someone and your lane ends you are in big trouble. If you are passing and the lane to the right of you ends, you just move one more lane to the left to keep passing (assuming at least two travel lanes after the lane ending and no one hogging the left lane). If you're being passed and your lane ends, if the above does not happen, you slow down and let the other driver get in front of you.
QuoteIsn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end?
Other way around, actually. As Jeff noted earlier, the basic premise is to keep right except to pass. Ending the right lane causes complications to that, especially in high truck volume areas where the trucks are often not allowed in the left lane. As for your more recent post, theoretically you should have adequate signage and time to know a lane is ending so that you can adjust passing accordingly (or just not pass).
Quote from: froggie on June 18, 2015, 01:18:28 PM
QuoteIsn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end?
Other way around, actually. As Jeff noted earlier, the basic premise is to keep right except to pass. Ending the right lane causes complications to that, especially in high truck volume areas where the trucks are often not allowed in the left lane. As for your more recent post, theoretically you should have adequate signage and time to know a lane is ending so that you can adjust passing accordingly (or just not pass).
At least in my area, trucks are allowed in the *center* lane and often hang out in there long term going slightly faster than the trucks in the right lane. If the left lane ends they are suddenly not allowed to be in the lane they were in before, so how is that better? As for "keep right except to pass", many people I personally know (myself not included) as well as many I observe while driving stay in the center lane regardless of traffic volume in the right lane until their exit is coming up. I don't believe doing this is illegal in the same way as being in the left lane is. So again, they have to change lanes when the left lane ends. This is not theoretical. I see a mass exodus from the center lane on the AC Expressway when the left lane ends.
As for advanced signage, I can just as well argue that the trucks, etc have plenty of time to switch lanes when they see a "right lane ends ahead" sign.
The left lane ends on I-94 (West) at the Illinois / Wisconsin border. This is where US41 merges with I-94 (now also becoming I-41). There are two lanes that merge from US41 into I-94, one of them is an exit only lane for the Russell Road exit which is very close to the merge, one of them continues as the 4th lane of I-94/I-41, and the left lane of I-94 ends. This is a fairly recent change when that area was redone, I think it was last year. It is really bad because many people merging from US41 think they have to change lanes to get on to I-94, so you have many people trying to quickly move left 1 or 2 lanes (those in the far right have to move 1 left or exit on Russell Road but many think they have to move over 2 lanes). Then you have people in the left lane on I-94 merging right, many at the last possible moment, so you end up with six lanes (4 from I-94 and 2 from US41) trying to get into 3 lanes and not realizing that the left lane of US41 becomes the right lane (4th lane) of I-94/I-41. The other problem is that the lane lines in this area do not follow the natural lanes as the road was built (I'm not sure if I'm explaining this right) so people sometimes stray from their lanes without realizing it. Oh yeah, and this all takes place on a curve on I-94 where you can't really see the car merging from US41 until the last minute, and if you are on I-94 and you want to take the Russell Road exit and there is traffic then good luck.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 18, 2015, 11:50:32 AM
Truck climbing lanes are an exception - the lane is purposely there for unusually slow moving vehicles.
States treat them differently. Kentucky generally ends the right lane in such circumstances. OTOH, West Virginia has a lot of "Left Lane Ends" situations.
NY 85 has a simultaneous left and right lane merge at the southern end of its freeway and its transition to two lanes. Seen more than one person headed down the left lane get frustrated when there wasn't enough room to get around a slower car before the merge.
I notice when four-lane expressways end in Minnesota it's fairly common for the left lane to be the one that ends.
There's actually a "left lane ends" on the road about 1 1/4 miles away from me. :D
Common practise in SC I believe, it happens along along I-20 and I-26 (and maybe I-77) leaving Columbia, as well as on I-85 and I-95.
When I-64 narrows from 6 total lanes (4 mainline, 2 c/d) to 2 just past exit 255 in Newport News, the leftmost two lanes drop.
QuoteAs for advanced signage, I can just as well argue that the trucks, etc have plenty of time to switch lanes when they see a "right lane ends ahead" sign.
It's not always that easy. Due to the simple laws of physics, trucks have the extra length and weight and lack enough acceleration to merge as easily as cars. Nevermind that drivers often don't leave enough space for said trucks to merge back in time.
Quote from: intelati49 on June 18, 2015, 11:23:04 AM
South of Kansas City, I-49 drops from six to four lanes abruptly. There is a need for six lanes for a few more exits. It gets tight after the drop.
The traffic engineer knows at least
https://www.google.com/maps/place/16001+S+Outer+Rd,+Belton,+MO+64012/@38.8358976,-94.525606,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x87c0dc8b596fc0e7:0x5ac6207653941f8e
Off the subject, but I got a kick out of the trailer park on the left side of the map. It's called Southfork and all the street names are characters from the "Dallas" TV series. It probably seemed like a great idea when they opened the park in the '80s. Of course, the series made a comeback recently.
I know in GA when they had several separate segments of I-95 widened to 6 lanes, when those segments ended, they normally ended the left lane.
It makes a lot more sense to end the number 1 lane since it's the passing lane. Theoretically, fewer people should be using it. Ending the outside lane is basically punishing users for using proper lane discipline.
On CT 9 north of CT 72, there are 2 spots where the left lane ends and drivers have to move right. Happens as the result of the 2 lane flyover from 72 E to 9 N blending in, and the fact that much of the highway sat vacant for years, then later used to end just north of the final merger at CT 175. Only other examples I can think of are for left hand entrance ramps, but the above example takes a mile to occur.
Have there been any studies done on which is safer?
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
Quote from: cl94 on June 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
Kentucky does it too. It makes the ROW requirments lessen and therefore make the project less expensive.
Quote from: bzakharin on June 18, 2015, 02:04:40 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 18, 2015, 01:18:28 PM
QuoteIsn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end?
Other way around, actually. As Jeff noted earlier, the basic premise is to keep right except to pass. Ending the right lane causes complications to that, especially in high truck volume areas where the trucks are often not allowed in the left lane. As for your more recent post, theoretically you should have adequate signage and time to know a lane is ending so that you can adjust passing accordingly (or just not pass).
At least in my area, trucks are allowed in the *center* lane and often hang out in there long term going slightly faster than the trucks in the right lane. If the left lane ends they are suddenly not allowed to be in the lane they were in before, so how is that better?
In nearly all cases, trucks are allowed in both lanes when the highway is 2 lanes wide. When narrowing from 3 lanes to 2, the center lane becomes the left lane, which they are permitted to use.
QuoteAs for "keep right except to pass", many people I personally know (myself not included) as well as many I observe while driving stay in the center lane regardless of traffic volume in the right lane until their exit is coming up. I don't believe doing this is illegal in the same way as being in the left lane is.
Which part of "keep right except to pass" do you not get? Yes, it's illegal to ride the center lane when not passing anyone. More so when you figure that's a trucker's passing lane. Just because cops don't tend to pull people over when they're in the center lane doesn't make it legal.
For what it's worth, I think you're going to have a hard time finding anything that shows left lane ends have a higher accident rate than right lane ends. When signed properly, which they usually are, both should have a very low accident rate. Thus, you're kinda getting aggravated when people defend the left lane ends, even though you have no basis that the right lane ends are any safer.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 18, 2015, 11:47:28 PM
For what it's worth, I think you're going to have a hard time finding anything that shows left lane ends have a higher accident rate than right lane ends. When signed properly, which they usually are, both should have a very low accident rate. Thus, you're kinda getting aggravated when people defend the left lane ends, even though you have no basis that the right lane ends are any safer.
Sometimes, I think they are worse when you have a setup like this: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.438315,-74.507985,3a,22y,223.18h,87.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUBkN4XiE2a3ZxXMtJ3aMmw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
You have cars turning out of the gas station on a busy arterial, and you have cars zipping by everyone trying to get ahead of everyone before the lane ends. This is something I believe NJDOT is trying to fix, thankfully.
The OP sounds like a lodge brother of mine who commented on the lane drops in Orlando, FL on John Young Parkway. He used to say we in Florida were the only one's that did this as other states, he claimed, all drop the right lane.
On JYP it was mainly to allow expansion as the center median was always used to add lanes and now all those drops he complained about are all gone. In fact the right lane drops now at Osceola Parkway at its south end. That being said is one of those overhead EXIT ONLY arrows on the BGS that folks ignore and make those last minute efforts to get back in the through lanes.
If the right side exits you will have unsafe lane changes as no one comprehends the meaning of EXIT ONLY on black on yellow tabs over the doomed lane. Other than that it functions better than the left drop.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 18, 2015, 11:47:28 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 18, 2015, 02:04:40 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 18, 2015, 01:18:28 PM
QuoteIsn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end?
Other way around, actually. As Jeff noted earlier, the basic premise is to keep right except to pass. Ending the right lane causes complications to that, especially in high truck volume areas where the trucks are often not allowed in the left lane. As for your more recent post, theoretically you should have adequate signage and time to know a lane is ending so that you can adjust passing accordingly (or just not pass).
At least in my area, trucks are allowed in the *center* lane and often hang out in there long term going slightly faster than the trucks in the right lane. If the left lane ends they are suddenly not allowed to be in the lane they were in before, so how is that better?
In nearly all cases, trucks are allowed in both lanes when the highway is 2 lanes wide. When narrowing from 3 lanes to 2, the center lane becomes the left lane, which they are permitted to use.
QuoteAs for "keep right except to pass", many people I personally know (myself not included) as well as many I observe while driving stay in the center lane regardless of traffic volume in the right lane until their exit is coming up. I don't believe doing this is illegal in the same way as being in the left lane is.
Which part of "keep right except to pass" do you not get? Yes, it's illegal to ride the center lane when not passing anyone. More so when you figure that's a trucker's passing lane. Just because cops don't tend to pull people over when they're in the center lane doesn't make it legal.
"Keep right except to pass" is typically a suggestion in the United States. Not a law. They won't pull someone over for going slow in the left lanes because that alone isn't an offense. There is, however, often something else wrong. That would be one of the few cases where the New York law banning things hanging from the rearview mirror would be enforced, for example.
Quote from: cl94 on June 19, 2015, 12:49:47 PM
"Keep right except to pass" is typically a suggestion in the United States. Not a law. They won't pull someone over for going slow in the left lanes because that alone isn't an offense. There is, however, often something else wrong. That would be one of the few cases where the New York law banning things hanging from the rearview mirror would be enforced, for example.
This map by Jalopnik seems to suggest that the majority of states have some form of "move over" law, though only 10 states require the use of the right lane except when passing or turning left:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.kinja-img.com%2Fgawker-media%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fs--tRq2r4Ji--%2Fc_fit%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_80%2Cw_636%2F18nadbdqx422hjpg.jpg&hash=3164ec400e19f83db73625c1a3de617140e006b9)
Quote from: jakeroot on June 19, 2015, 02:49:50 PM
Quote from: cl94 on June 19, 2015, 12:49:47 PM
"Keep right except to pass" is typically a suggestion in the United States. Not a law. They won't pull someone over for going slow in the left lanes because that alone isn't an offense. There is, however, often something else wrong. That would be one of the few cases where the New York law banning things hanging from the rearview mirror would be enforced, for example.
This map by Jalopnik seems to suggest that the majority of states have some form of "move over" law, though only 10 states require the use of the right lane except when passing or turning left:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.kinja-img.com%2Fgawker-media%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fs--tRq2r4Ji--%2Fc_fit%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_80%2Cw_636%2F18nadbdqx422hjpg.jpg&hash=3164ec400e19f83db73625c1a3de617140e006b9)
Where's New York?
Quote from: Rothman on June 19, 2015, 02:56:02 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on June 19, 2015, 02:49:50 PM
Quote from: cl94 on June 19, 2015, 12:49:47 PM
"Keep right except to pass" is typically a suggestion in the United States. Not a law. They won't pull someone over for going slow in the left lanes because that alone isn't an offense. There is, however, often something else wrong. That would be one of the few cases where the New York law banning things hanging from the rearview mirror would be enforced, for example.
This map by Jalopnik seems to suggest that the majority of states have some form of "move over" law, though only 10 states require the use of the right lane except when passing or turning left:
Where's New York?
Obviously not a very good map. It counts Puerto Rico as a state and, as you mentioned, completely ignores New York. Though, you can still figure it out by looking at the color.
Quote from: jakeroot on June 19, 2015, 03:00:07 PM
Obviously not a very good map. It counts Puerto Rico as a state and, as you mentioned, completely ignores New York. Though, you can still figure it out by looking at the color.
and "left lane only for turning" - on a freeway?
Quote from: jakeroot on June 19, 2015, 03:00:07 PM
Quote from: Rothman on June 19, 2015, 02:56:02 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on June 19, 2015, 02:49:50 PM
Quote from: cl94 on June 19, 2015, 12:49:47 PM
"Keep right except to pass" is typically a suggestion in the United States. Not a law. They won't pull someone over for going slow in the left lanes because that alone isn't an offense. There is, however, often something else wrong. That would be one of the few cases where the New York law banning things hanging from the rearview mirror would be enforced, for example.
This map by Jalopnik seems to suggest that the majority of states have some form of "move over" law, though only 10 states require the use of the right lane except when passing or turning left:
Where's New York?
Obviously not a very good map. It counts Puerto Rico as a state and, as you mentioned, completely ignores New York. Though, you can still figure it out by looking at the color.
Per definition, a "Move Over"
only applies when approaching a stopped stopped emergency vehicle with lights on. What we're referring to are slow travel laws. If you're traveling significantly below the speed limit and conditions require so, you're required in most places to drive adjacent to the shoulder with flashers on. New York has nothing more than this and a left lane truck prohibition on expressways with 6 or more lanes.
As mentioned on several sites listing these laws, such laws are rarely enforced and, as such, typically become unknown by much of the traveling public. The typical person probably doesn't know that there are laws against being a left lane bandit in situations. At this point, they're basically an excuse to pull someone over if something else is expected. In New York, I know from talking to cops that the law is almost exclusively used to pull over suspected drunk drivers.
Quote from: cl94 on June 19, 2015, 12:49:47 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 18, 2015, 11:47:28 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 18, 2015, 02:04:40 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 18, 2015, 01:18:28 PM
QuoteIsn't it dangerous for the faster / passing lane to just end?
Other way around, actually. As Jeff noted earlier, the basic premise is to keep right except to pass. Ending the right lane causes complications to that, especially in high truck volume areas where the trucks are often not allowed in the left lane. As for your more recent post, theoretically you should have adequate signage and time to know a lane is ending so that you can adjust passing accordingly (or just not pass).
At least in my area, trucks are allowed in the *center* lane and often hang out in there long term going slightly faster than the trucks in the right lane. If the left lane ends they are suddenly not allowed to be in the lane they were in before, so how is that better?
In nearly all cases, trucks are allowed in both lanes when the highway is 2 lanes wide. When narrowing from 3 lanes to 2, the center lane becomes the left lane, which they are permitted to use.
QuoteAs for "keep right except to pass", many people I personally know (myself not included) as well as many I observe while driving stay in the center lane regardless of traffic volume in the right lane until their exit is coming up. I don't believe doing this is illegal in the same way as being in the left lane is.
Which part of "keep right except to pass" do you not get? Yes, it's illegal to ride the center lane when not passing anyone. More so when you figure that's a trucker's passing lane. Just because cops don't tend to pull people over when they're in the center lane doesn't make it legal.
"Keep right except to pass" is typically a suggestion in the United States. Not a law. They won't pull someone over for going slow in the left lanes because that alone isn't an offense. There is, however, often something else wrong. That would be one of the few cases where the New York law banning things hanging from the rearview mirror would be enforced, for example.
No, it's typically a law. Depending on the state it may be entirely enforced, but it is most definitely a law in many states.
Quote from: jakeroot on June 19, 2015, 02:49:50 PM
This map by Jalopnik seems to suggest that the majority of states have some form of "move over" law, though only 10 states require the use of the right lane except when passing or turning left:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.kinja-img.com%2Fgawker-media%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Fs--tRq2r4Ji--%2Fc_fit%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_80%2Cw_636%2F18nadbdqx422hjpg.jpg&hash=3164ec400e19f83db73625c1a3de617140e006b9)
Yeah, this map is pretty bad. NJ, for example, requires drivers keep right except to pass. In this, it's listed as a 'Must move over if driving slower than normal traffic' state, which is absolutely wrong.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 19, 2015, 03:49:11 PM
Yeah, this map is pretty bad. NJ, for example, requires drivers keep right except to pass. In this, it's listed as a 'Must move over if driving slower than normal traffic' state, which is absolutely wrong.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.meme.am%2Finstances2%2F500x%2F357590.jpg&hash=23bb604597e7a1785ac9d039b28649127c916ba2)
Quote from: cl94 on June 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
That would also be the case with I-75 in MI between Pontiac and Bay City, where it goes from 4 to 3 lanes several times, as it is gradually widened. (Seems like there's always construction going on in Saginaw County.) There are some cases where the right lane becomes an exit only lane, such as NB at I-696 and again at I-475.
Technically, for single-occupant vehicles the beginning of an HOV lane counts as a lane end.
CDOT restriped northbound I-25 at CO-66 from a left-lane drop to a right-lane drop last fall. I am not aware of any further public information offering an explanation.
Looking at aerial imagery, it looked like a cheap way to extend the acceleration lane from 66 onto northbound 25.
I-91NB in North Haven CT drops from 4 lanes to 3 just past Exit 10, with the left lane ending. SB, the 4th lane begins on the left. I would think it would be easy to just have the 4th lane become an exit only lane for Exit 10 NB and SB have the 4th lane begin as the acceleration lane from Exit 10.
What I've seen for lane endings is for - as previous replies mentioned - general lane endings not at interchanges often are the left lane. When I see right-lane drops it's often just after an interchange - Either this is the case or a hard "EXIT ONLY" is set up. The former offers an "escape route" for anyone not exiting (Though some jurisdictions post an EXIT ONLY anyway)
Truck lanes a.k.a. Hill-climbing lanes are often if not always the right lane. Interchange or no, when no longer needed, that lane is dropped.
Perhaps if they used orange coloured concrete for the last km or so before a right lane became an exit lane it would improve safety. Drivers not exiting but rather continuing along the road would be forewarned to move left earlier. :colorful:
Quote from: 02 Park Ave on June 21, 2015, 12:58:17 PM
Perhaps if they used orange coloured concrete for the last km or so before a right lane became an exit lane it would improve safety. Drivers not exiting but rather continuing along the road would be forewarned to move left earlier. :colorful:
Please! We don't need anymore paint on the road than there is already :banghead:
It wouldn't be paint but rather a pigment added in concrete processing.
Quote from: 02 Park Ave on June 21, 2015, 01:11:52 PM
It wouldn't be paint but rather a pigment added in concrete processing.
But can you add pigment to asphalt in the same manner as concrete? Torching in color via a skid-resistant overlay doesn't count, (and from my experiences, doesn't last very long where snow plows are active).
IMO, the lane reduction arrow is pavement-based message enough.
There are a few places in my area where the left lane is dropped, but it's usually the right lane.
US 72 Alt./AL 20 where it joins with US 31 on the north side of the Tennessee River in Decatur:
https://www.google.com/maps/mms?ll=34.629454,-86.951141&spn=0.00099,0.002064&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=34.629461,-86.951289&panoid=oWen0rIf1TYPsGYukpT7MQ&cbp=12,257.23,,0,0.47
Cecil Ashburn Drive in Huntsville (not a highway, but it counts, right?):
https://www.google.com/maps/mms?ll=34.671675,-86.531621&spn=0.000703,0.001032&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=34.671675,-86.531621&panoid=qESIYzYHsZna5IkTmLtG5g&cbp=12,215.68,,0,8.65
Those were the two I could think of off of the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure that there are more of these around here.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8487279,-75.8123675,195m/data=!3m1!1e3
Portion of MD 404 was divided/4-laned several years ago; originally right lane ended and traffic was directed to left lane. Later modified so that left lane ends and right lane continues thru (old faded arrows still visible). When driving through this at night in the left lane, it seemed that you were headed directly into oncoming traffic, although I don't know if that's why the change was made.
Quote from: Thing 342 on June 18, 2015, 04:09:48 PM
Common practise in SC I believe, it happens along along I-20 and I-26 (and maybe I-77) leaving Columbia, as well as on I-85 and I-95.
When I-64 narrows from 6 total lanes (4 mainline, 2 c/d) to 2 just past exit 255 in Newport News, the leftmost two lanes drop.
This is definitely common practice in SC. It happens on I-20, 26, 77, 85, and 95 when leaving the metro areas of Columbia, Charleston, Rock Hill, Greenville, Spartanburg and Florence. My guess is that dropping a right lane to an "exit only" ramp would lead to a lot of more traffic merging from the right as opposed to comparatively fewer cars/trucks merging from the left when the leftmost lane drops.
I guess it makes more sense for the left lane to drop because it is likely less disruptive to the overall traffic flow.
I FUCKING HATE LEFT LANES ENDING. ALSO WHEN A NEW LEFT LANE IS CREATED. I don't know why but it pisses me off.
Quote from: KG909 on June 21, 2015, 11:48:37 PM
I FUCKING HATE LEFT LANES ENDING. ALSO WHEN A NEW LEFT LANE IS CREATED. I don't know why but it pisses me off.
Jesus, tone it down Skidrow.
I hate right lanes ending, as they punish those lawfully staying right. Ending the passing lane makes more sense.
Quote from: cl94 on June 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
If it's a new lane, how hard is it to re-stripe the other lanes such that the right one ends (assuming this is preferable)? There will have already been multiple temporary re-stripings during construction.
Quote from: bzakharin on June 22, 2015, 09:22:57 AM
Quote from: cl94 on June 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
If it's a new lane, how hard is it to re-stripe the other lanes such that the right one ends (assuming this is preferable)? There will have already been multiple temporary re-stripings during construction.
Because it's often not preferable. And the decision to make the right or left lane end is done by the planners in the offices looking at a whole bunch of statistics, traffic flow counts, etc, a process that general takes many months or years, not in the field as a last second decision.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 22, 2015, 09:36:13 AM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 22, 2015, 09:22:57 AM
Quote from: cl94 on June 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
If it's a new lane, how hard is it to re-stripe the other lanes such that the right one ends (assuming this is preferable)? There will have already been multiple temporary re-stripings during construction.
Because it's often not preferable. And the decision to make the right or left lane end is done by the planners in the offices looking at a whole bunch of statistics, traffic flow counts, etc, a process that general takes many months or years, not in the field as a last second decision.
It is occasionally done (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.646443,-81.340781,3a,57.6y,259.59h,84.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sTf4vbBT0VKhy9N8E00MmHQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DTf4vbBT0VKhy9N8E00MmHQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D218.20613%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656), but it typically isn't a great option unless there's a lot of entering traffic relative to what is already on the expressway. This example is such a case during rush hour periods, hence why the lane is added on the right. While AADTs might not look like much, I can tell from being on it that peak hour volumes warrant such a configuration.
Quote from: cl94 on June 22, 2015, 07:54:37 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 22, 2015, 09:36:13 AM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 22, 2015, 09:22:57 AM
Quote from: cl94 on June 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
From what I've seen, the left lane tends to end if there are long-term plans to widen the highway beyond the lane drop by adding lanes in the median or if widening was accomplished by adding a lane in the median. Makes construction easier and lessens impact on existing traffic. Ohio does this quite often, as does New York.
If it's a new lane, how hard is it to re-stripe the other lanes such that the right one ends (assuming this is preferable)? There will have already been multiple temporary re-stripings during construction.
Because it's often not preferable. And the decision to make the right or left lane end is done by the planners in the offices looking at a whole bunch of statistics, traffic flow counts, etc, a process that general takes many months or years, not in the field as a last second decision.
It is occasionally done (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.646443,-81.340781,3a,57.6y,259.59h,84.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sTf4vbBT0VKhy9N8E00MmHQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DTf4vbBT0VKhy9N8E00MmHQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D100%26h%3D80%26yaw%3D218.20613%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656), but it typically isn't a great option unless there's a lot of entering traffic relative to what is already on the expressway. This example is such a case during rush hour periods, hence why the lane is added on the right. While AADTs might not look like much, I can tell from being on it that peak hour volumes warrant such a configuration.
On the vast majority of highways that I have driven, the lane drops occur on the right. As is the case on the highway shown by cl94, where a lane addition occurs at an entrance, give the entering traffic their own lane and have thru traffic stay left and on the opposite side, when dropping a lane, drop the rightmost lane into an exit and have the left lanes continue.
I've also seen highways that drop a lane every time they interchange with another major road. The right lane exits and then traffic from the other road comes in to the highway from the right to form a new right lane. If this becomes the expectation, then it also make sense to have a lane drop on the right when a highway narrows for good (as in a case where a 6 lane road becomes a 4 lane road as it leaves the metropolitan area.)
Yet, in situations where KREPT is enforced, it would make more sense to drop the left lane, as presumably, there would be less traffic in the left lane then the other lanes.
Quote from: mrsman on June 28, 2015, 06:59:49 AM
I've also seen highways that drop a lane every time they interchange with another major road. The right lane exits and then traffic from the other road comes in to the highway from the right to form a new right lane. If this becomes the expectation, then it also make sense to have a lane drop on the right when a highway narrows for good (as in a case where a 6 lane road becomes a 4 lane road as it leaves the metropolitan area.)
Wow, I've never seen that, except on 42/76 North/West and on I-295 North (where it's the *left* lane that does this) in NJ through that interchange, but that is going away. Where is this consistently done?
Quote from: bzakharin on June 29, 2015, 01:15:09 PM
Quote from: mrsman on June 28, 2015, 06:59:49 AM
I've also seen highways that drop a lane every time they interchange with another major road. The right lane exits and then traffic from the other road comes in to the highway from the right to form a new right lane. If this becomes the expectation, then it also make sense to have a lane drop on the right when a highway narrows for good (as in a case where a 6 lane road becomes a 4 lane road as it leaves the metropolitan area.)
Wow, I've never seen that, except on 42/76 North/West and on I-295 North (where it's the *left* lane that does this) in NJ through that interchange, but that is going away. Where is this consistently done?
I-95 in Philly, for one.
Quote from: odditude on June 29, 2015, 01:33:05 PM
Quote from: bzakharin on June 29, 2015, 01:15:09 PM
Quote from: mrsman on June 28, 2015, 06:59:49 AM
I've also seen highways that drop a lane every time they interchange with another major road. The right lane exits and then traffic from the other road comes in to the highway from the right to form a new right lane. If this becomes the expectation, then it also make sense to have a lane drop on the right when a highway narrows for good (as in a case where a 6 lane road becomes a 4 lane road as it leaves the metropolitan area.)
Wow, I've never seen that, except on 42/76 North/West and on I-295 North (where it's the *left* lane that does this) in NJ through that interchange, but that is going away. Where is this consistently done?
I-95 in Philly, for one.
Two different types of situations:
First, is the sitaution where every exit forces a right lane must exit, and every entrance becomes an exit only lane for the next exit. In California, a must exit lane like this is denoted with thick white broken paint, known as "elephant tracks" and can be seen on this stretch of US 101 in Agoura Hills:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Agoura+Hills,+CA/@34.1433704,-118.7442362,355m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80e8211e23aa1c95:0xac0ef6ae2ddffdd6!6m1!1e1
The second situation, which is what I was contemplating, was where the right lane will normally continue, but at a MAJOR road (like another freeway), the lane will exit.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sawtelle,+Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.0313225,-118.4336304,197m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2bb63292faa89:0xbc2ba15575fd9c5b
In this example, I-10 is normally a 4-4 freeway. Eastbound, the entrance from Bundy Drive (one exit west of I-405) adds an extra lane to the right, so now there are 5 lanes. But the right 2 lanes force an exit onto I-405, so only the left 3 lanes continue on I-10 through the interchange. Then, 2 new lanes from I-405 join from the right. The 5th lane forces an exit at Overland Ave, and then 4 lanes continue eastbound, with a 5th lane coming from the Overland entrance.
Something similar occurs westbound and at many other interchanges in the LA area.
Given that this is an expectation in the LA area, that the right lane may end at a freeway interchange, it would make sense to end a lane on the right and not on the left.
Here is one (of many) I know in the Buffalo area. This is on the Milestrip Expressway:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgyazo.com%2F62c3a8d2069a87502e707dcade3f868f.png&hash=ef668e9faa66a6cd73014dbc63561a901d62b812)
What is that yellow stripe in that picture? Is that a feature unique to New York roads that means the lane is ending? It seems mildly confusing because solid yellow lines typically indicate the lane boundaries in construction zones.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on July 11, 2015, 08:00:13 AM
What is that yellow stripe in that picture? Is that a feature unique to New York roads that means the lane is ending? It seems mildly confusing because solid yellow lines typically indicate the lane boundaries in construction zones.
That is GSV showing the road.
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on July 11, 2015, 08:00:13 AM
What is that yellow stripe in that picture? Is that a feature unique to New York roads that means the lane is ending? It seems mildly confusing because solid yellow lines typically indicate the lane boundaries in construction zones.
If you look closely, you can see the yellow stripe on the right shoulder of the opposing direction of travel as well. And I've never heard of a yellow line indicating anything specific in a construction zone.
I know of one instance for sure in Louisiana but I feel like I've seen more and can't picture where. I-20 westbound leaving Shreveport just west of the Pines Rd. exit returns from 3 back to 2 westbound lanes.
NY 27 Sunrise Highway has a Left Lane drop past Exit 53 or 54, I forget which one but its east of Nichols Road and NY 112.
NY 135 has a Left Lane drop North of Exit 13W, but the highway is about to end shortly after so it doesn't really matter.
All the other ones are Right Lane ends like when the HOV Lane ends on I-495 in Medford, the right hand lane ends and the HOV lane that just ended becomes the left lane.
The lane drop on Northern State Parkway is an Exit Only situation for the Wantagh Parkway, same thing for when the rightmost lane ends on the Southern State parkway and it drops from 4 to 3 lanes going Eastbound at Exit 18 Eagle Ave.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on July 11, 2015, 08:57:13 AM
Quote from: Zzonkmiles on July 11, 2015, 08:00:13 AM
What is that yellow stripe in that picture? Is that a feature unique to New York roads that means the lane is ending? It seems mildly confusing because solid yellow lines typically indicate the lane boundaries in construction zones.
If you look closely, you can see the yellow stripe on the right shoulder of the opposing direction of travel as well. And I've never heard of a yellow line indicating anything specific in a construction zone.
Courtesy of GSV.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on June 18, 2015, 11:50:32 AM
The law, and basic driving rule, is to keep right except to pass. Thus, in my opinion, the left lane is always the one that should end. This re-enforces keeping traffic to the right. If it was the right than that ends, traffic has a tendency to keep to the left, and that breaks down the efficient flow of traffic.
Truck climbing lanes are an exception - the lane is purposely there for unusually slow moving vehicles.
Here's how Newfoundland does it.......the Centre (or Left) Lane yields to the Right Lane (and it's marked on the asphalt)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4JDx1WQkuS4/VFUPFKAgepI/AAAAAAAANME/ICWn92Kzrq4/s800-Ic42/IMG_3794.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w2lVR-9fbmY/VFUL8OcCSrI/AAAAAAAANLM/PcglMI0TX34/s800-Ic42/IMG_3718.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rnOqpJtbjfA/VFUP2jciZ8I/AAAAAAAANMY/TUYl7ko10-M/s800-Ic42/IMG_3796.JPG)
.....and at the end of the most easterly freeway in North America (TCH 1 in St. John's)......they don't actually drop a lane. They just continue in different directions
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wLvQTclbIR0/Tmz7FnoNj_I/AAAAAAAAH0k/i1BLzcY6uqU/s800-Ic42/IMG_0272.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HQFMxQHHAzs/Tmz7Dq8znqI/AAAAAAAALc4/BwtHUllMx_U/s800-Ic42/IMG_0273.JPG)