I notice that large parts of Former US Route 66 were 4 lanes at one point, but were downgraded to 2 lanes. After one of the roadways was abandoned, the twin roadway was left abandoned with no attempt to be removed. Guardrails were placed at intersections to prevent traffic from entering the abandoned roadway. I have examples below:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1244151,-89.6827094,3a,75y,54.94h,79.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNlLgUlR60UG8QufJbYvqFg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0336222,-89.7503829,3a,75y,118h,69.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syVvVCOtA64yJENjKd8guSQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Are there downgrades in other states where the roadway is left abandoned without any attempts to remove the unused roadway? I know Robert Moses Parkway was downgraded around Niagara Falls, but the other portion of roadway was turned into a trail and is properly maintained. I want this topic to be about roadways where the "twinned" portion is just left abandoned. I'm guessing these roads were turned to local control and the local jurisdiction didn't want to spend the money to maintain or remove the roadway, and that simply putting guardrails to prevent traffic from using it was a cheaper alternative.
US 131 between Mancelona and Elmira.
http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/US-131.html
OH 158 outside of Kirkersville, OH...
Roadfan.com page on it: http://roadfan.com/licking.html
What is now Faris Dr near Chilhowie, VA was a part of four lane US 11 in 1958. The abandoned side appears to be for local access.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7853558,-81.72673,323m/data=!3m1!1e3 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7853558,-81.72673,323m/data=!3m1!1e3)
Highway 30 in Iowa was formerly 4 lane SW of Dennison much further than it is now.
If they ever get highway 20 4 laned entirely across the state, I'd like to see the same done for 30, but it isn't likely to happen in my lifetime. 2 and 18 might be some other good ones to look at 4 laning some day.
East of Frederick, Maryland, when the final section of I-70 was completed in the late 1980's (and U.S. 40 moved over to follow I-70), the remaining road, which became another section of Md. 144, had parts of the old westbound lanes abandoned.
Here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Frederick,+MD/@39.3981779,-77.3670059,3a,75y,77.02h,77.86t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sDInuoI7tMNguW_QwxghUsQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DDInuoI7tMNguW_QwxghUsQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D21.36335%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c9c50c8cbdaee3:0xda6247bdbd111c99!6m1!1e1) is a GSV of Md. 144 crossing the Monocacy River, with the older parallel bridge abandoned, and here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Frederick,+MD/@39.3967154,-77.357595,3a,75y,325.69h,72.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEqJg-XDePAbQqeu_rItcaA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEqJg-XDePAbQqeu_rItcaA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D20.154737%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c9c50c8cbdaee3:0xda6247bdbd111c99!6m1!1e1) is another abandoned section (the former eastbound lanes at this point) - a little further east.
A couple of sections of Old US 13 in Delaware, where Route 13 is concurrent with Route 1. One side was maintained as local lanes, while the other side was abandoned
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5957274,-75.6570682,2056m/data=!3m1!1e3
Quote from: DrSmith on January 12, 2016, 06:16:31 PM
A couple of sections of Old US 13 in Delaware, where Route 13 is concurrent with Route 1. One side was maintained as local lanes, while the other side was abandoned
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5957274,-75.6570682,2056m/data=!3m1!1e3
I was thinking that, but he seems to want routes that are still using just one of the two carriageways. US 13 was rerouted onto a new alignment.
Parts of US-40 in Illinois, just west of the Indiana border, have abandoned lanes. Some stretches are still navigable (moreso for local driveway access), while some are "dead ends" with the use of barricades, guardrails or dirt mounds.
Ditto for the old alignments of US-66 in the Land of Lincoln as well.
Route 13 in DE was put on a new alignment, but the old alignment is still there, to the left of the current route in the map shown. The sections of the old route were maintained to provide local access, but are dead end pieces along there. Old southbound lanes are active as two-way roadway now, northbound lanes abandoned.
Nebraska state highway 36 cuts across the north edge of the man-made Cunningham Reservoir on the north side of Omaha. A mile stretch where the highway cuts across the lake is 4-lanes. I'm pretty sure this happened before I was born, but I believe the four lane went in when the lake was constructed. The north side lines have never been used. I suspect, back at the time, it was anticipated that Highway 36 would eventually become a 4-lane divided highway in its entirety, but this has never happened.
View this area with Google Street View. (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3649801,-96.0557284,3a,75y,272.08h,83.8t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sP4IQasCqPnDdp21Nh4gC1Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DP4IQasCqPnDdp21Nh4gC1Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D40.881634%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656)
The surface appears to have stayed in fairly good condition for not being used or maintained for 40+ years. Upon the reconstruction of Highway 133 three miles to the east, the extra lanes started to be used as a dumping/sifting ground for removed concrete. Most of that is still piled up in place and has been for several years now.
Quote from: Jardine on January 12, 2016, 02:17:22 PM
Highway 30 in Iowa was formerly 4 lane SW of Dennison much further than it is now.
I did not know this! How far did it go, and when was it changed? I don't recall seeing any evidence of former four-lanes further SW, but it's been a few years since I've been up there and I wasn't exactly looking for that at the time.
The old US 99 expressway from Templin Hwy to the base of the Pyramid Lake dam and then again on the other side of the lake to the Smokey Bear Road exit off I-5.
I believe some parts of old US 66-91-395 Cajon Blvd north of Devore to Cajon Junction have abandoned lanes as well.
Robert Moses Parkway between Devil's Hole State Park and I-190. A section further south was converted into a bike trail.
Quote from: busman_49 on January 12, 2016, 06:28:08 AM
OH 158 outside of Kirkersville, OH...
Roadfan.com page on it: http://roadfan.com/licking.html
Historic Aerials imagery of this is really good. The 1959 date seems weird because the 1960 topo doesn't show I-70, but the 1962 does.
Fortunately, back in that day it was permissible for US 40 to be routed back onto the old road after I-70 was complete. As we know, today they wouldn't let that fly (and it would be wiser to leave the US route in place if you want it to be on a different alignment than the Interstate in the end, unless you pull a NCDOT and move the US route back anyway (see US 117)).
Quote from: Jovet on January 12, 2016, 10:44:36 PM
Quote from: Jardine on January 12, 2016, 02:17:22 PM
Highway 30 in Iowa was formerly 4 lane SW of Dennison much further than it is now.
I did not know this! How far did it go, and when was it changed? I don't recall seeing any evidence of former four-lanes further SW, but it's been a few years since I've been up there and I wasn't exactly looking for that at the time.
Taking a look at Google Maps, it looks like it went to Dow City. Not sure how much of it is seen from the road, but it's pretty clear on the aerial view. iowahighways.org says it was resurfaced in the 70s, and they never bothered to redo the westbound lanes.
OH-158 between Outville Road and US-40, southwest of Kirkersville. Originally this stretch was built as a temporary west terminus of I-70 before the freeway was extended to Columbus. Part of the westbound carriageway was removed and the rest remains abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/qGciLZdbnKQ2
The old US 66, US 91, and US 395 triplex through Cajon Pass, CA is that way. One side abandoned and the other used as the new two lane reduction.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cajon+Pass,+California+92345/@34.2910758,-117.4526999,424m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c343944295ffa7:0xef4c8df8cdbb2a8f?hl=en
US 301 in Virginia north of Jarrat was four lanes, but the NB lanes became the SB Lanes of I-95.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Carson,+VA+23830/@37.0276959,-77.3931656,781m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x89b1b9ee9c9cc393:0xf6c02b9479894b0a!6m1!1e1?hl=en
Old VA 168 was four lanes from Exits 231 to 238 on present day I-64. Now its the frontage road which was the original two lane VA 168 before it was widened to four lanes. Then in the early 80's I-64 stole the westbound lanes of the four lane arterial and is what it is now.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3076582,-76.6884968,777m/data=!3m1!1e3
US 33 had a stretch less than a mile long, just southeast of Russels Point, OH, that looked like this about ten years ago. I'm not sure if it ever operated as four lanes, or if they just moved all traffic from the old way onto the new way, but the old way was left in place until about 2010.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 15, 2016, 10:37:14 PM
The old US 66, US 91, and US 395 triplex through Cajon Pass, CA is that way. One side abandoned and the other used as the new two lane reduction.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cajon+Pass,+California+92345/@34.2910758,-117.4526999,424m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c343944295ffa7:0xef4c8df8cdbb2a8f?hl=en
Also in parts of western Oklahoma and east Texas, former 4 lane US 66 had one set of its lanes repurposed for I-40. Example: in east Texas, westbound US 66 (when it was 4 lane divided) from just west of the TX/OK state line to just east of Mclean had westbound 66 become eastbound I-40 once the newer westbound I-40 lanes were opened in the early-mid 1970's. The old east bound alignment became a frontage road.
US 301 in Virginia north of Jarrat was four lanes, but the NB lanes became the SB Lanes of I-95.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Carson,+VA+23830/@37.0276959,-77.3931656,781m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x89b1b9ee9c9cc393:0xf6c02b9479894b0a!6m1!1e1?hl=en
Old VA 168 was four lanes from Exits 231 to 238 on present day I-64. Now its the frontage road which was the original two lane VA 168 before it was widened to four lanes. Then in the early 80's I-64 stole the westbound lanes of the four lane arterial and is what it is now.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3076582,-76.6884968,777m/data=!3m1!1e3
Harrisburg Boulevard east of downtown Houston was downgraded to two lanes; the former eastbound lanes now carry a light-rail line:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7531155,-95.3485786,3a,49.9y,108.14h,86.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIO9IILUbltQ6bs3xh3WyQQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
Florida SR230 east of Starke. It was built in 1941, I assume to Camp Blanding which at the time was a huge training center and POW Camp for captured German soldiers, the railroad went through Starke. I don't know when the road was changed to 2 lanes
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160116%2F2f50281a7f59bca15359c7d9bc19bde0.jpg&hash=62f6f683328cf23421a0fdb7f11c140cdd843b99)(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20160116%2F40d259c2d6e16e40c9ca5a0b96757190.jpg&hash=a8a843208d564a6a3fa3f335f906f0f1108e5ffc)
Quote from: vtk on January 16, 2016, 07:28:51 AM
US 33 had a stretch less than a mile long, just southeast of Russels Point, OH, that looked like this about ten years ago. I'm not sure if it ever operated as four lanes, or if they just moved all traffic from the old way onto the new way, but the old way was left in place until about 2010.
That's a weird one and I've noticed it before. From what I can tell via Historic Aerials, the bridges were built at the same time. 1994 imagery makes me think that it was 4 lanes at one point because the removed side had a left turn bay at CR 94. It was never 4 lanes between where it shifts to the other side and the current start of the 4 lane section, but the ROW exists.
Old US 17 (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ridgeland,+SC+29936/@32.5996369,-80.9058892,769m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x88fbee0471ca39b7:0x744872e95b5f09d4!6m1!1e1) parallel to I-95 in South Carolina has some stretches where the old northbound lanes are now the southbound I-95 lanes, some stretches of the lanes have been abandoned and others are still maintained.
Quote from: pianocello on January 14, 2016, 12:49:21 AM
Taking a look at Google Maps, it looks like it went to Dow City. Not sure how much of it is seen from the road, but it's pretty clear on the aerial view. iowahighways.org says it was resurfaced in the 70s, and they never bothered to redo the westbound lanes.
Ahh, yeah, I see it too, now. I haven't been up along there a
ton of times, but I've never noticed it. Maybe I was too busy staring at the railroad tracks, though.
Quote from: cl94 on January 16, 2016, 06:33:26 PM
Quote from: vtk on January 16, 2016, 07:28:51 AM
US 33 had a stretch less than a mile long, just southeast of Russels Point, OH, that looked like this about ten years ago. I'm not sure if it ever operated as four lanes, or if they just moved all traffic from the old way onto the new way, but the old way was left in place until about 2010.
That's a weird one and I've noticed it before. From what I can tell via Historic Aerials, the bridges were built at the same time.
That seems unlikely to me, because before they removed the old westbound way, its bridge was a few feet lower than the bridge that remains. (We're talking about bridges over a small waterway, right?)
Quote from: vtk on January 23, 2016, 07:51:37 AM
Quote from: cl94 on January 16, 2016, 06:33:26 PM
Quote from: vtk on January 16, 2016, 07:28:51 AM
US 33 had a stretch less than a mile long, just southeast of Russels Point, OH, that looked like this about ten years ago. I'm not sure if it ever operated as four lanes, or if they just moved all traffic from the old way onto the new way, but the old way was left in place until about 2010.
That's a weird one and I've noticed it before. From what I can tell via Historic Aerials, the bridges were built at the same time.
That seems unlikely to me, because before they removed the old westbound way, its bridge was a few feet lower than the bridge that remains. (We're talking about bridges over a small waterway, right?)
I'm going by construction imagery. They appeared to be under construction at the same time.
US 50 in IL between Lebanon and Carlyle has sections that were supposed to be part of a 4-lane expressway that was planned but never completed. 2 of the lanes were built, but the other 2 lanes were never completed.