I remember I-5 being at least six lanes from San Diego to Los Angeles. I'm willing to be it's even longer on I-95 from at least northern Virginia to Connecticut or even beyond.
Not necessarily. You have two gaps on I-95 at its interchanges with the DC Beltway, then I-95 is 4 lanes through Wilmington, DE, then you have a gap in I-95 itself in Jersey. Outside of Florida, the longest single stretches on I-95 would probably be Petersburg (I-85) to the Springfield Interchange (I-395/495), then from the DC Beltway on the north end to I-495 in Wilmington.
I-10 from Indio to it's western terminus. (aprox 146 miles).
I-15 from near its beginning in San Deigo to (Future) North Las Vegas. (Not sure how long it would be)
I-15 is only 4 lanes from I-40 to the Nevada border (climbing lanes notwithstanding), and there's no indication that two extra lanes will be built anytime soon.
However, on the East Coast, I-75 is very close to being six lanes from north of Atlanta to the Florida Turnpike.
I-5 in Washington is 6-laned from MP 95 at the southerly SR 121 interchange all the way to MP 223 on the south side of Mount Vernon, 128 miles, with loose plans to widen it all the way to Portland, and fairly definite plans to widen it as far down as Chehalis
if you want to count a route with multiple numbers, then isn't 495 around Wilmington three lanes, and then 295 to the Jersey Turnpike?
I-80 from western terminus all the way to Auburn (NE of Sacramento) it's at least 6 lanes - could be up to 12.
Quote from: brad2971 on October 18, 2009, 10:31:44 PM
I-15 is only 4 lanes from I-40 to the Nevada border (climbing lanes notwithstanding), and there's no indication that two extra lanes will be built anytime soon.
However, on the East Coast, I-75 is very close to being six lanes from north of Atlanta to the Florida Turnpike.
I was under the impression that plans called for I-15 to be at least six lanes from San Deigo to LV. Maybe they were dropped.
QuoteI remember I-5 being at least six lanes from San Diego to Los Angeles.
Actually, it's longer than that -- from the US/Mexico Border to CA 99 near Wheeler Ridge, CA -- about 220 miles total.
Handling interchanges in this qualification can be tricky.
For instance, 95 northbound where it joins 695 (NY) has to briefly drop down to two lanes before the merge. However, directly opposite it at that point, 95 southbound is four lanes preparing to split. So does that count?
Not that it really matters much anyway, since just south of here 95 southbound actually drops to one (yes, one!) lane to merge onto the Cross Bronx while 95 northbound is again only two lanes for its ramp.
Still, working north from there, you have 6+ lanes to the junction with I-91 in New Haven. That's 63 miles. Not too shabby.
The aforementioned Virginia segment would be between exits 84B and 170. 86 miles. Okay, that's longer. Still not longer than the I-10 segment, but...
..if we're willing to ignore brief drops in lane count at interchanges (which I am), then we have a 6+ lane run straight from Petersburg to Wilmington (specifically Virginia exit 50A to Delaware exit 6), which is 251 miles.
And if we allow for the future plans of swapping 95 and 495, and connecting to and widening the PA turnpike and bridge... then Branford is the north end of all that (exit 54), for a grand total of 455 miles. But then we're counting chickens before they hatch...
I-30 is a minimum of six lanes from its terminus at I-20 in Parker County to Exit 68 (TX 205) in Rockwall for a distance of 68 miles.
I-45 is a minimum of six lanes from just north of Corsicana (Exit 235) to its terminus at I-30 (Exit 284) in Dallas for a total of 49 miles.
I-20 in Texas is a minimum of six lanes from Exit 414 (US 180 West) to Exit 421 (I-30 East) for a length of 7 miles. It drops to four lanes from I-30 to Exit 428 (I-820 North). From there to Exit 480 (I-635 North) it maintains a minimum of six lanes for a length of 52 miles. Most of the length of I-20 from I-35W (Exit 437) to I-635 is eight lanes.
Maybe someone else can tell me how far it goes on both ends, but I know I-75 is 6 lanes from I-24 near Chattanooga to Atlanta.
I think it is six lanes for several miles north of that as well as south of Atlanta, but I have no idea how far.
I-40 around Knoxville is at least six lanes from the I-75 South junction (exit 368) to the I-81 junction (exit 421) or 53 miles.
While American urban freeways are obviously wider than European freeways, I think European freeways have more rural 6-lane parts, because the European countryside is generally more densely populated.
Examples;
Germany: A2 Oberhausen - Berlin 6 lanes for 300 miles*
Germany: A9 Berlin - München 6 lanes for 325 miles*
Turkey: O-4 Istanbul - Ankara 6 lanes for 270 miles
France: A7 Lyon - Marseille 6 lanes for 175 miles
Austria: A1 Salzburg - Wien 6 lanes for 165 miles
France: A1 Paris - Lille 6 lanes for 130 miles
Almost all of Britain's motorways are 6 laned.
* each of them still has a small gap, which is U/C
QuoteHowever, on the East Coast, I-75 is very close to being six lanes from north of Atlanta to the Florida Turnpike.
Except through Macon, where it will stay 4 lanes.
Quoteif you want to count a route with multiple numbers, then isn't 495 around Wilmington three lanes, and then 295 to the Jersey Turnpike?
Not for either. Southbound I-495 is briefly 4 lanes through its southern interchange with 95/295, and both directions are 4 lanes near the north end between US 13 and the merge/split with 95 at the DE/PA line. I-295 is also 4 lanes through the interchange with 95/495.
Quote..if we're willing to ignore brief drops in lane count at interchanges (which I am)
By definition, if the lane isn't carried through the interchange, it's not a through lane.
QuoteMaybe someone else can tell me how far it goes on both ends, but I know I-75 is 6 lanes from I-24 near Chattanooga to Atlanta.
I think it is six lanes for several miles north of that as well as south of Atlanta, but I have no idea how far.
North end is correct (though 75 is 6+ lanes north of 24, it's only 4 lanes through the interchange at 24). South end of that stretch is the 475 split north of Macon.
Another lengthy one to consider: the Ohio Turnpike. Not sure if the 6-laning is completed through the Cleveland area yet, but if so, then I-80/Ohio Turnpike is 6 lanes from I-75 (Exit 64) to I-76 (Exit 218) or 154 miles.
There's the I-94/I-294/I-94 roadway that includes the Tri-State Twy from Exit 34 (I-196) in Benton Harbor, MI to the south side of Milwaukee (I-894/I-43) that is entirely three lanes or more per direction. It's about 195 miles long.
Here's the longest stretch of six-laned highway in Canada. Its along Highway 401 between Highway 402 and Highway 10, and is about 300km long. In the Toronto area, the highway swells to as many as 18 lanes.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg9.imageshack.us%2Fimg9%2F4931%2Fclipboard02800x600.jpg&hash=1ad990e567121e485db62b7c77f5722a6881f688)
alas, through the East LA Interchange, I-5 drops to an incredible one lane.
the plans also called for I-95 to be more than zero lanes in Somerset County, NJ. :-D
I think I-75 from Bay City, Mi. to the Ohio Turnpike could be in the running for one of the longest stretches with 6+ lanes. I-94 from I-196 to US 23 in Michigan could be one of the longest stretches of highway that should be 6 lanes but is only 4 (except for the small, tiny stretch in Kalamazoo, you perfectionists).
"Except through Macon, where it will stay 4 lanes."
Since I-475 is the outer bypass of Macon, are there any plans to 6-lane that by GDOT? Or would Macon get into a snit about "lost traffic?" :paranoid:
Most of the bypass is already 6 lanes. The exceptions being at either end...last 1/2 mile or so on the south end, and north of the US 41 interchange on the north end. Reason being for lane balance at the merges/splits with I-75. Making 475 continuously 6 lanes would, at a minimum, require building auxiliary lanes on 75 heading outward from each side.
In Alabama, the longest 6 lane stretch of highway is I-65 from exit 246 to just south of exit 291.
Quote from: leifvanderwall on October 19, 2009, 05:02:19 PM
I think I-75 from Bay City, Mi. to the Ohio Turnpike could be in the running for one of the longest stretches with 6+ lanes.
I wouldn't think the transition to the Chrysler from the Fisher in Detroit would be six lanes, though. Those are still one-lane ramps each way IIRC.
The longest six-lane freeway may be in.... Algeria!
They are currently constructing a 1200 kilometer (750 mile) east-west freeway, and the completed parts in Google Earth (with recent imagery) all show 6 lanes. The Chinese are constructing that freeway.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crcc.cn%2FPortals%2F0%2FBatchImages%2F20090929154630-%25E9%2580%259A%25E8%25BD%25A6%25E5%2590%258E%25E7%259A%25846%25E6%25A0%2587%25E6%25AE%25B5%25E3%2580%2582%25EF%25BC%2588%25E5%2588%2598%25E6%2596%2587%2520%25E5%2588%2598%25E6%25B8%259D%25E6%2591%2584%25EF%25BC%2589.jpg&hash=f0a213bef989c1b50909c3905228a15cf6b85547)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crcc.cn%2FPortals%2F0%2FBatchImages%2F20090927084336625-709864818.jpg&hash=be90478514cc1c50bbea6ca2ee81beadaa421cf5)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crcc.cn%2FPortals%2F0%2FBatchImages%2F20090924181618953283499959.jpg&hash=8d6ebb1926f3c614cf15480875e3487ec1a01f3c)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crcc.cn%2FPortals%2F0%2FBatchImages%2F2009092418170093-81807524.jpg&hash=e05c7a62a64369120d1cbbaa7f3838042d4ceac7)
I-95 is basically at least 6 lanes from I-4 in Daytona Beach, FL to the GA-SC line with the exception of the I-10 interchange in Jacksonville mainly due to that construction. One day it'll probably extend to the 6-lane section starting at I-85 due to increasing traffic but due to funding concerns that'll be years away ;-)
You can clearly see the French influence in those Algerian pictures with the dotted shoulder markings. It must obviously be a colonial legacy.
One thing I hate with multi lane highways is to see the lane markings not parallel with each other. Only in the UK have I seen lane markings always parallel. When going around bends there should be smaller gaps between the markings on the inside lanes to compensate.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on October 21, 2009, 03:35:34 PM
I-95 is basically at least 6 lanes from I-4 in Daytona Beach, FL to the GA-SC line with the exception of the I-10 interchange in Jacksonville mainly due to that construction. One day it'll probably extend to the 6-lane section starting at I-85 due to increasing traffic but due to funding concerns that'll be years away ;-)
Wrong. There is still a 4-lane segment in GA. From just North of Exit #29 to just North of Exit #58, they are currently working on upgrading that to 6-lanes each direction.
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on October 21, 2009, 09:03:29 PM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on October 21, 2009, 03:35:34 PM
I-95 is basically at least 6 lanes from I-4 in Daytona Beach, FL to the GA-SC line with the exception of the I-10 interchange in Jacksonville mainly due to that construction. One day it'll probably extend to the 6-lane section starting at I-85 due to increasing traffic but due to funding concerns that'll be years away ;-)
Wrong. There is still a 4-lane segment in GA. From just North of Exit #29 to just North of Exit #58, they are currently working on upgrading that to 6-lanes each direction.
I remember that now but driving through there going to Miami and back earlier this year was not fun seeing construction barrels for 30 miles. In fact on the way back we got into congestion due to all that traffic heading north from Florida in the 4-lane segment :no:
I-287 is 6 lanes for all except about 10 miles from NJ-NY. That's 59 continuous miles (62 or so if you include NJ 440 as a continuous freeway) and about 75 miles of the entire loop. Any other non-2 digit Interstates (meaning - including US/state routes) that can beat that?
I-96 between US-24 and M-8 is 12 lanes, if you the express and local lanes as one.
QuoteAny other non-2 digit Interstates (meaning - including US/state routes) that can beat that?
DC Beltway beats it on the "continuous" side. Except for a very short bit of the Inner Loop right at the 270 merge, all 64 miles of I-495 has at least 3 through lanes in each direction.
Then you've got the 72 miles of I-405 around L.A....
I had thought Kansas City's I-435 would be a contender for this, but Missouri ruins it. North of MO-9 it is four lane, and through the Grandview Triangle it is four lane. Which means the longest stretch I know of is still a respectable 35 miles, which includes the entire portion of interstate in Kansas.
Quote from: Chris on October 21, 2009, 08:31:08 AM
The longest six-lane freeway may be in.... Algeria!
They are currently constructing a 1200 kilometer (750 mile) east-west freeway, and the completed parts in Google Earth (with recent imagery) all show 6 lanes. The Chinese are constructing that freeway.
[Pictures omitted. No need to make people scroll past them twice. -S.]
Very interesting, thanks for sharing it! That's a nice high quality motorway!
A lot of people don't realize how developed North Africa really is, and these pictures really help show it!
Quote from: Truvelo on October 21, 2009, 04:17:41 PM
You can clearly see the French influence in those Algerian pictures with the dotted shoulder markings. It must obviously be a colonial legacy.
One thing I hate with multi lane highways is to see the lane markings not parallel with each other. Only in the UK have I seen lane markings always parallel. When going around bends there should be smaller gaps between the markings on the inside lanes to compensate.
I agree. I live in Canada and here the markings are parallel with each other, which makes sense to me. However, whenever I travel to the USA, the markings are all over the place, and I need to ask why.
The only time you see them break away for the pattern around here is when you have an exit lane or when a lane ends:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onthighways.com%2Fhwy_401_images%2F401_cl_236_east_May09.jpg&hash=072034dac859c271eb3dbde8a12c4b77ad727d69)
...Or when the road breaks apart into several sections:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onthighways.com%2Fhwy_404-406_images%2F404_cl_19_north.jpg&hash=5264f9f35165a26fee861c951ee7161d0211688b)
But, the main lanes remain constantly parallel.
Another thought I had: CD roads.
Would a situation like this:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg16.imageshack.us%2Fimg16%2F3528%2Fcdroadsthru.png&hash=14558743c5f5be12341dac6d1a010e8b06c9bd43)
count as six continuous lanes?
Quote from: Duke87 on October 22, 2009, 07:00:11 PM
Another thought I had: CD roads.
Would a situation like this:
count as six continuous lanes?
I doubt it, because the outer lane is separated from the main road (carriageway). Even tough the total number of lanes on the highway do not decrease, there are indeed a decreased number on the mainline.
Are the C/D roads fully controlled access?
If so, then yes that would technically count.
I interpret the thread as referring to the number of through lanes provided on the mainline. The C/D road is basically a glorified ramp used for exiting or entering separated from the through traffic, and isn't meant to be used by through traffic.
I would say C/D roads don't count. Depends on your interpretation...
QuoteI interpret the thread as referring to the number of through lanes provided on the mainline. The C/D road is basically a glorified ramp used for exiting or entering separated from the through traffic, and isn't meant to be used by through traffic.
There are two stretches of the DC Beltway, one of which involving the Wilson Bridge, where you have what could be considered C/D roads. MD SHA considers the lanes through lanes. The other being a recently upgraded stretch between MD 214 and MD 202 where they even posted signs saying "All Lanes Through" prior to the split.
IIRC, the Garden State Parkway is mostly six lanes.
Quote from: njroadhorse on October 25, 2009, 11:52:48 AM
IIRC, the Garden State Parkway is mostly six lanes.
From MP 80 (US 9 jct) to MP 165 or so, yes. Soon to be 63-165, and then 30-165 by 2014.
Quote from: Chris on October 19, 2009, 05:43:12 AMAlmost all of Britain's motorways are 6 laned.
Not true. After all, many bits are 8+-lane ;).
Being more serious, there are quite a few 4-lane bits - probably about 30 to 35% of the network. The idea that nearly all are 6-lane is a commonly-held mistake - the major motorways are 6-lane on the whole, but the not-so-major ones have quite a lot of 4-lane sections.
There's a few junctions with lane-drops, so three-lanes doesn't go through both ways. Northbound the M1 is entirely 3 or more lanes, however southbound it drops to 2 for a couple of hundred yards to help the 3 lanes from the M6 merge in. Therefore the longest stretches of 6-lanes on one road is something like 150 miles (if that).
From M1 j1 to M6 j32 is the longest (M1 to M6 ramp is 3-lanes wide and you have to go via the M6Toll due to possible problems with definitions on the M6 at j8 and j11a), and if they get that small gap filled, you can get to M74 j10, IIRC. That's a good 350 miles, if it weren't for the mile-long gap near the 200-mile point.
Not bad for a country where the longest sensible continuously-motorway journey (Dover-Greenock, IIRC) is only about 500 miles.
Quote from: Duke87 on October 22, 2009, 07:00:11 PM
Another thought I had: CD roads.
Would a situation like this:
count as six continuous lanes?
I would. If traffic was heavy enough along the freeway, enough traffic will pass straight through the C/D lanes that it might as well be an extra lane.