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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: theroadwayone on January 27, 2018, 01:18:56 AM

Title: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: theroadwayone on January 27, 2018, 01:18:56 AM
This can take many forms--a section of road that is now bypassed, abandoned, cut off, used for something else, etc. It's everywhere in the world. What's your favorite such section of road and why?
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: jakeroot on January 27, 2018, 06:21:20 AM
This is probably the last thing that would qualify, but here's some unused ROW (perhaps a bit more interesting). There was supposed to be a cloverleaf interchange here, but the freeway was never extended south.

The stub of the freeway that was to interchange with the pictured freeway below is here: https://goo.gl/UBHg1Q (note the graded dirt and concrete on either side of the railway)

Site of picture below (Parkland, WA): https://goo.gl/hjbsJS

(https://i.imgur.com/hNfE5kc.png)
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: mgk920 on January 27, 2018, 10:21:50 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on January 27, 2018, 06:21:20 AM
This is probably the last thing that would qualify, but here's some unused ROW (perhaps a bit more interesting). There was supposed to be a cloverleaf interchange here, but the freeway was never extended south.

The stub of the freeway that was to interchange with the pictured freeway below is here: https://goo.gl/UBHg1Q (note the graded dirt and concrete on either side of the railway)

Site of picture below (Parkland, WA): https://goo.gl/hjbsJS

I was wondering what the buildout plan on this one was.  Where was it planned to go from there?

Mike
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Thing 342 on January 27, 2018, 12:52:12 PM
The old routing of US-17 near the Great Dismal Swamp was turned into a bike path when it was bypassed by a new 4-lane alignment in 2006: https://goo.gl/maps/4aDSpKLwFZ32
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: webny99 on January 27, 2018, 01:16:24 PM
Quote from: Thing 342 on January 27, 2018, 12:52:12 PM
The old routing of US-17 near the Great Dismal Swamp was turned into a bike path when it was bypassed by a new 4-lane alignment in 2006: https://goo.gl/maps/4aDSpKLwFZ32

Same with old NY 286 in Penfield (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1582575,-77.5214612,3a,75y,101.78h,77.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_RRxE08HOlAWdHtCSzE-bA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Hurricane Rex on January 27, 2018, 04:27:40 PM
Old OR/US 99W between Sherwood and Newberg was downgraded to local streets if that qualifies. Great for running workouts though.

Also, OR 18 between Dayton and McMinnville has ROW for 4 lanes but it is currently 2 lanes.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Max Rockatansky on January 27, 2018, 07:57:38 PM
I've always been partial to Old Florida 4a in the Florida Keys.  It is an entire alignment of the original Overseas Highway before US 1 that very few people even know still exists...or existed.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: roadman65 on January 27, 2018, 08:02:37 PM
The old Reedy Creek Causeway in rural Osceola County.  Before the current US 17  & 92 bridge over the same creek, both routes used that which is now abandoned.  I believe its closed off, but FDOT left the bridges and islands in between them probably cause there was nothing in the budget for removal when FDOT built the existing crossing.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Max Rockatansky on January 27, 2018, 08:12:23 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on January 27, 2018, 08:02:37 PM
The old Reedy Creek Causeway in rural Osceola County.  Before the current US 17  & 92 bridge over the same creek, both routes used that which is now abandoned.  I believe its closed off, but FDOT left the bridges and islands in between them probably cause there was nothing in the budget for removal when FDOT built the existing crossing.

And just west of there the brick alignment of Old Tampa Highway is ironically still in use...go figure.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: andrepoiy on January 27, 2018, 11:18:02 PM
We have an unused ramp (only used when main ramp is closed for construction) from eastbound 401 to northbound 400.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7154321,-79.5184281,148m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is interesting...
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.7585987,-79.3353077,531m/data=!3m1!1e3

Realigned road
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.8045478,-79.4805753,298m/data=!3m1!1e3


Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: US 89 on January 27, 2018, 11:38:19 PM
This used to be the Will Rogers Turnpike. (https://goo.gl/maps/4B1B3N4RbaM2) It was abandoned when the Will Rogers Turnpike was moved to tie in directly with the Creek Turnpike.

This road plunging into the Jordanelle Reservoir (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6516638,-111.4161988,558m/data=!3m1!1e3) used to be US 40. When the Jordanelle Dam was built, US 40 was relocated to a freeway on the west side of the lake.

Also, I don't have any pictures, but you can still drive old US 40 across the Bonneville Salt Flats, as well as between the SLC Airport and Saltair.

Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on January 28, 2018, 12:26:47 AM
Old US 61 through the Grand Portage Reservation in Cook County, MN.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Finrod on January 28, 2018, 01:50:36 AM
I'm mildly surprised that no one so far has mentioned the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (complete with two tunnels), immediately east of Breezewood, Pennsylvania (itself infamous for having I-70 on surface streets).
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: jakeroot on January 28, 2018, 02:26:39 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 27, 2018, 10:21:50 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on January 27, 2018, 06:21:20 AM
This is probably the last thing that would qualify, but here's some unused ROW (perhaps a bit more interesting). There was supposed to be a cloverleaf interchange here, but the freeway was never extended south.

The stub of the freeway that was to interchange with the pictured freeway below is here: https://goo.gl/UBHg1Q (note the graded dirt and concrete on either side of the railway)

Site of picture below (Parkland, WA): https://goo.gl/hjbsJS

I was wondering what the buildout plan on this one was.  Where was it planned to go from there?

Mike

That's a good question. Most likely it would have transitioned to an at-grade arterial, but I don't know for sure. I do know the routing north of here would have mostly followed a nearby railway.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Aaron Camp on January 28, 2018, 09:42:35 AM
There is one, if not two, stretches of former IN-63 that have since been bypassed in the Newport, Indiana area, and, although they're not completely unused, they don't see any traffic other than local traffic nowadays.

The first stretch (which I'm not sure if it ever was IN-63 at any point) is the main north-south street in Newport, which includes a bridge over the Little Vermilion River at the north end of Newport and a large hill at the south end of Newport, and it isn't exactly unused: in addition to being a local street, it is used for an antique car hill climb race every fall! If the first stretch was ever IN-63 (Google Maps lists a very short section of roadway at the southern end of the first stretch as the misnamed "S Old Ushwy 63" (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8750733,-87.4076339,16z)), it was probably bypassed by the second stretch that I'll discuss in the next paragraph many years before IN-63 north of Terre Haute became a divided highway in the 1970's.

The second stretch of former IN-63 in the Newport area, which was IN-63 prior to IN-63 becoming a divided highway north of Terre Haute, is the original IN-63 bypass around Newport, and it is a narrow two-lane road around the west side of Newport immediately east of the current IN-63. This stretch isn't completely unused (although the northern half of it probably doesn't see more than a few cars per day traveling on it under normal circumstances), as it serves a couple of residential properties as well as traffic turning off of current IN-63 from the south to go down the hill into Newport.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: wanderer2575 on January 28, 2018, 11:12:55 AM
In Ohio, frontage roads along US-23 between Waldo and Delaware.
https://goo.gl/maps/yEYmjp4HKms
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: ftballfan on January 28, 2018, 11:37:49 AM
An old alignment of US-20 near South Bend, IN airport: https://goo.gl/maps/GCP5Yr8wo8n
Old M-37/BL I-94 near Battle Creek, MI airport and national guard base: https://goo.gl/maps/qXg5iYz6qa42
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: nexus73 on January 28, 2018, 04:52:01 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on January 27, 2018, 11:38:19 PM
This used to be the Will Rogers Turnpike. (https://goo.gl/maps/4B1B3N4RbaM2) It was abandoned when the Will Rogers Turnpike was moved to tie in directly with the Creek Turnpike.

This road plunging into the Jordanelle Reservoir (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6516638,-111.4161988,558m/data=!3m1!1e3) used to be US 40. When the Jordanelle Dam was built, US 40 was relocated to a freeway on the west side of the lake.

Also, I don't have any pictures, but you can still drive old US 40 across the Bonneville Salt Flats, as well as between the SLC Airport and Saltair.



How many abandoned miles of the Will Rogers Turnpike are there?

During the trip from Oregon to Memphis TN, I saw an old US 66 expressway section that was in the countryside approaching a town that were only used by a tiny handful of homes out there.  It's the perfect place to go tell your kids to play in the middle of the highway!

Rick
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: US 89 on January 28, 2018, 05:55:01 PM
Quote from: nexus73 on January 28, 2018, 04:52:01 PM
How many abandoned miles of the Will Rogers Turnpike are there?

According to Google Maps distance measurement, it looks like it's about a mile and a half.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: inkyatari on January 28, 2018, 06:16:44 PM
I was always fascinated by the old road through the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone National Park that was eventually bypassed in either the late 60's / Early 70's (can't recall when.)

It's now used as a trail.

https://goo.gl/maps/mwxDvuXRtTA2
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: nexus73 on January 28, 2018, 07:08:59 PM
Quote from: roadguy2 on January 28, 2018, 05:55:01 PM
Quote from: nexus73 on January 28, 2018, 04:52:01 PM
How many abandoned miles of the Will Rogers Turnpike are there?

According to Google Maps distance measurement, it looks like it's about a mile and a half.

Thanks for the info Roadguy!  It is funny in a sad way to see 4-lane sections abandoned or mostly unused.

Rick
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: jp the roadgeek on January 28, 2018, 07:14:10 PM
3 images from Google Maps Satellite view:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4712/28175926899_edc98aab59_z.jpg)

Top Left:  I-84/CT 9 interchange in Farmington.  Half of the ramps are used.  Was supposed to be an interchange between I-84 and the unfinished I-291 beltway.  You can see the continuation of the highway in the median of the in-use portions of the north end of CT 9, and the extension of roadway to Middle Rd.

Top right: I-91 in Rocky Hill at what would have been the southern terminus of the I-291 beltway.  Part of the ghost roadway exists. Until about 15 years ago, usused bridges existed that were removed to widen I-91 in the area. 

Bottom: Southern end of CT 11.  Note the bridge over CT 82 and a portion of the road extending southeast into the woods before ending.  Part of the now-cancelled CT 11 expressway to the I-95/I-395 interchange in Waterford.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: roadman65 on January 28, 2018, 07:45:12 PM
In PA, near Tobyhana the old US 611 is next to I-380, but is not open to the public.  This is why the part out of Scranton is signed PA 435 instead of PA 611 due to its separation from the downgraded route number
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tobyhanna,+PA+18466/@41.186764,-75.4378022,589m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c4edcf44c27793:0x2a4f636fdb5ceb73!8m2!3d41.1797865!4d-75.4178994
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: RobbieL2415 on January 29, 2018, 11:32:54 PM
The end of US 6 in Provincetown, MA, used to be four-laned all the way to Province Lands Road until 2009 when it was tapered off to just two. MassHighway NPS (northern end is on Federal land) didn't bother to remove the pavement from the now unused carriageway.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: 1995hoo on January 30, 2018, 11:44:35 AM
Northern end of the Richmond Parkway on Staten Island where the unused road crosses Arthur Kill Road and Richmond Avenue: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5609604,-74.1689472,589m/data=!3m1!1e3 (The other stub where it would have met I-278 has been demolished.)

The New Jersey Turnpike has a short stretch of abandoned carriageway adjacent to the Joyce Kilmer Service Area. It's left over from when the "dual-dual" configuration was extended south from Exit 9 to Exit 8A; the old northbound carriageway was severed, and abandoned, in order to make room for the ramps connecting the northbound inner roadway to the service area. In the map link below, it's the second carriageway from the right (on my screen, it's just to the left of the beginning of the word "Sunoco").

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4174602,-74.4419878,640m/data=!3m1!1e3
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: cl94 on January 30, 2018, 12:11:35 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on January 28, 2018, 11:12:55 AM
In Ohio, frontage roads along US-23 between Waldo and Delaware.
https://goo.gl/maps/yEYmjp4HKms

They rotate what US 23 uses every once in a while. It's a pavement test section. When I was last through there in 2006, both main carriageways were not using the center.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Eth on January 30, 2018, 04:55:32 PM
Part of the old southbound carriageway of I-75/85 just south of where the two routes merge is still intact, now forming the median between the two sides. Four lanes, including two HOV lanes, can be seen in the satellite imagery here (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7889749,-84.3913421,124m/data=!3m1!1e3). You should also have a good view of it from the 17th St and 14th St overpasses.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: PHLBOS on January 30, 2018, 05:18:54 PM
King of Prussia, PA at the junction of US 202 & PA 23:
Stretch of Lower East Valley Forge Road

(https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.1059967,-75.3548635&zoom=16&size=600x600)
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
Philadelphia's got more than a few

Here's one at the foot of the Betsy Ross Bridge, where PA 90 would've continued west
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9972912,-75.081967,16z?hl=en&authuser=0

And here's PA 63 at US 1, you can see the ROW for the unbuilt expressway to the northwest.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1107194,-74.9987484,1753m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0

Also, I'm surprised how many stubs Staten Island has for being such a small area.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: cl94 on January 30, 2018, 07:29:11 PM
Staten Island had a major expressway get canceled and NYSDOT R10 built any and all planned ramps instead of doing "ghost ramps". Actually used to be worse: the interchange at the east end of the Richmond Parkway was built, but removed when they widened the SIE.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: BrianP on January 31, 2018, 10:01:40 AM
Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
Here's one at the foot of the Betsy Ross Bridge, where PA 90 would've continued west
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9972912,-75.081967,16z?hl=en&authuser=0
There's nothing left of the old PA 90.  No ghost ramps anymore.  And the old mainline has been repurposed for the direct ramps. 
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: jeffandnicole on January 31, 2018, 10:04:37 AM
Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
Here's one at the foot of the Betsy Ross Bridge, where PA 90 would've continued west
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9972912,-75.081967,16z?hl=en&authuser=0

If you put it on satellite view, what you see isn't the old stub ramp, but a new overpass under construction.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on January 31, 2018, 11:45:16 AM
How about this: a stretch of freeway that is used in one direction but not the other:

IN 912 freeway between Calumet Avenue and Riley Road.  You can enter westbound at Riley Road and travel the freeway to Calumet Ave, but eastbound traffic is forced off at Calumet and the pavement between Calumet and Riley is growing weeds
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: inkyatari on January 31, 2018, 12:31:48 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on January 31, 2018, 11:45:16 AM
How about this: a stretch of freeway that is used in one direction but not the other:

IN 912 freeway between Calumet Avenue and Riley Road.  You can enter westbound at Riley Road and travel the freeway to Calumet Ave, but eastbound traffic is forced off at Calumet and the pavement between Calumet and Riley is growing weeds

That's because of the removal of the Cline AVE bridge, right?
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on January 31, 2018, 12:36:23 PM
Yes, though that doesn't necessarily explain why the remaining section is used Westbound but not Eastbound.   I wasn't living in this area when the bridge was shut down and then removed, so I don't know everything that went on, but the result is very odd that you can drive just one way on perfectly fine two way stretch of road.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: hubcity on January 31, 2018, 01:31:37 PM
Quote from: BrianP on January 31, 2018, 10:01:40 AM
Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
Here's one at the foot of the Betsy Ross Bridge, where PA 90 would've continued west
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9972912,-75.081967,16z?hl=en&authuser=0
There's nothing left of the old PA 90.  No ghost ramps anymore.  And the old mainline has been repurposed for the direct ramps.

I find it interesting that all I-95 BGSs for Betsy Ross Bridge exits are signed for NJ 90. Was PA 90 totally decommissioned?
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: BrianP on January 31, 2018, 01:56:03 PM
Quote from: hubcity on January 31, 2018, 01:31:37 PM
I find it interesting that all I-95 BGSs for Betsy Ross Bridge exits are signed for NJ 90. Was PA 90 totally decommissioned?
That version* of PA 90 was proposed but never proceeded past that stage. 

*There was a previous unrelated PA 90.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Roadgeek2500 on January 31, 2018, 04:47:11 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 31, 2018, 10:04:37 AM
Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
Here's one at the foot of the Betsy Ross Bridge, where PA 90 would've continued west
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9972912,-75.081967,16z?hl=en&authuser=0

If you put it on satellite view, what you see isn't the old stub ramp, but a new overpass under construction.

I, in my infinite wisdom, decided to use Windows 10's built-in Maps app for satellite views, which of course uses Bing satellite images that are years out of date.  :banghead: I knew they were reworking the interchange, but I didn't realize they'd finished.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: freebrickproductions on January 31, 2018, 05:04:50 PM
Looks like US 98 was planned to be widened and rerouted east of the Alabama/Mississippi state line:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8635491,-88.4170645,923m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8584127,-88.3991199,1548m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8448501,-88.3649172,3075m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8228741,-88.3277224,4348m/data=!3m1!1e3

AL 158 has a couple of stubs at its west end near Semmes, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8071875,-88.2253918,3a,69.8y,240.82h,91.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB18N9W7pVz56IscdguBaTw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Here's the infamous unfinished AL 13 bypass for Phil Campbell, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3493561,-87.6664306,7514m/data=!3m1!1e3

AL 255 has a couple of stubs at the north end of the freeway section:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7957159,-86.6601158,322m/data=!3m1!1e3

Here are some unused lanes from I-20/I-59 in Birmingham, AL that were used during some road work:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5195138,-86.8584889,351m/data=!3m1!1e3

Also, here in Huntsville, AL, Wall Triana Highway near the airport was widened and straightened out (along with a few sharp curves made larger so they wouldn't be as sharp), but a few sections of the old road still remain. The northern part of this section is still in use as James Madison Drive, but here are a few sections that were left behind and pretty much abandoned:
Stub at the former intersection with James Record Road (now the intersection of James Record Road and James Madison Drive):
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6541345,-86.7590503,3a,59.3y,213.9h,82.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stNQW3bOuOSUuRvftBAR7aQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Section of Wall Triana Highway that's now used by the airport for testing paint, it seems:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6316288,-86.7607412,584m/data=!3m1!1e3

The original curve that was replaced with a wider one:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6199156,-86.7538314,282m/data=!3m1!1e3

Also, in downtown Huntsville, a section of the original alignment of Constellation Drive still exists behind the Spring Hill Suites along Memorial Parkway:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7234897,-86.5926671,138m/data=!3m1!1e3

And then there's abandoned bridge on what originally was Hobbs Island Road at what's now Ditto Marina:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.5765074,-86.5634158,77m/data=!3m1!1e3
Interestingly enough, that's also the site of the ghost town of Whitesburg, AL.

Near downtown Huntsville, a large section of Bankhead Parkway was closed off to road traffic due to continuous washouts along it between Fearn Street and Monte Sano State Park, though it's now in use as a hiking trail:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7477121,-86.519782,1397a,35y,355.48h/data=!3m1!1e3

There's also an unused stretch of the original alignment of Meridian Street in downtown Huntsville that's mostly intact, complete with speed limit sign!
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.738949,-86.585808,3a,25.4y,186.03h,82.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sh-AIyf1Q6YEcLZip9YhqGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And near Port St. Joe, FL, a section of US 98 was bypassed due to a new development going in, and a lot of the old highway still remains as a walking trail, which I documented back in 2014:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=12863.msg310626#msg310626

Some others are listed on this page on Wikipedia, though most of the ones I posted aren't listed there for some reason:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unused_highways_in_the_United_States#Alabama
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: froggie on January 31, 2018, 09:50:02 PM
QuoteLooks like US 98 was planned to be widened and rerouted east of the Alabama/Mississippi state line:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8635491,-88.4170645,923m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8584127,-88.3991199,1548m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8448501,-88.3649172,3075m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8228741,-88.3277224,4348m/data=!3m1!1e3

AL 158 has a couple of stubs at its west end near Semmes, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8071875,-88.2253918,3a,69.8y,240.82h,91.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB18N9W7pVz56IscdguBaTw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

These are both related.  The plan (if ALDOT ever gets off their arse and both funds it and fixes their environmental gaffes with the project) was to extend that relocated US 98 to AL 158 and use the 4-lane AL 158 as part of the 98 relocation.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: davewiecking on January 31, 2018, 10:29:19 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
And here's PA 63 at US 1, you can see the ROW for the unbuilt expressway to the northwest.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1107194,-74.9987484,1753m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
Looks like that stretch of road serves 2 functioning warehouses (just going by your link, and the number of trucks in the parking lots). How is this "unused"?

Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
Here's one at the foot of the Betsy Ross Bridge, where PA 90 would've continued west
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9972912,-75.081967,16z?hl=en&authuser=0
I didn't realize that the extensions of the Betsy Ross had been completed over Aramingo Ave, but I'll trust the project's website (http://95revive.com/i95/project-areas/bridge-street-interchange-to-betsy-ross-bridge-interchange-(bri)/bri-construction-status (http://95revive.com/i95/project-areas/bridge-street-interchange-to-betsy-ross-bridge-interchange-(bri)/bri-construction-status)) that they were completed last fall. If I lived closer, such as Philly-based Roadgeek2500 does, I'd go take a look myself and report back. Since the new roadways aren't yet in use, and won't be until a subsequent project to add more ramps (scheduled to START in 2019) is completed, I would count this as a currently unused stretch of highway, meeting the "etc" portion of the OP.

Quote from: Finrod on January 28, 2018, 01:50:36 AM
I'm mildly surprised that no one so far has mentioned the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (complete with two tunnels), immediately east of Breezewood, Pennsylvania (itself infamous for having I-70 on surface streets).
Tell us more about this I-70 Breezewood thing which you reference (JK; please don't). I like the abandoned Laurel Hill Tunnel in western PA; because the OP asked "and why?", I'll go with "because it was originally built as a train tunnel, and has been repurposed for high speed race car aerodynamic testing".

My favorite is the western portion of I-189 in Burlington, VT. Because the OP asked "and why?", I'll go with "because I like its collection of unused ramps and the curve in the unused portion".
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Flint1979 on January 31, 2018, 11:16:41 PM
My favorite is the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I like the tunnels (Rays Hill and Sideling Hill). The other abandoned section of the Turnpike features the bypassed Laurel Hill Tunnel as well. You can see the western end of the Laurel Hill Tunnel traveling eastbound at milemarker 99.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: fillup420 on February 01, 2018, 08:52:20 AM
There is a cut-off section of US 21 hidden among the ramps of the northern I-485/I-77 interchange.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: triplemultiplex on February 01, 2018, 09:10:19 AM
Quote from: roadguy2 on January 27, 2018, 11:38:19 PM
This road plunging into the Jordanelle Reservoir (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6516638,-111.4161988,558m/data=!3m1!1e3) used to be US 40. When the Jordanelle Dam was built, US 40 was relocated to a freeway on the west side of the lake.

I've inspected this in person when low water levels exposed a long stretch of old US 40.  You could see where some unlucky bastard chopped up the prop on their boat motor when they ran into the old road.
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: ftballfan on February 01, 2018, 11:00:17 AM
Quote from: freebrickproductions on January 31, 2018, 05:04:50 PM
Looks like US 98 was planned to be widened and rerouted east of the Alabama/Mississippi state line:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8635491,-88.4170645,923m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8584127,-88.3991199,1548m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8448501,-88.3649172,3075m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8228741,-88.3277224,4348m/data=!3m1!1e3

AL 158 has a couple of stubs at its west end near Semmes, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8071875,-88.2253918,3a,69.8y,240.82h,91.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB18N9W7pVz56IscdguBaTw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Here's the infamous unfinished AL 13 bypass for Phil Campbell, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3493561,-87.6664306,7514m/data=!3m1!1e3

Looks like AL started work on these projects then gave up when the money ran out (or when they diverted money to more pressing projects)
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: csw on February 01, 2018, 02:13:49 PM
US 50 between Lawrenceville, IL, and Xenia, IL. Nearly the whole 50 miles has some form of frontage road or abandoned pavement that used to be US 50. Most of this is still in use as frontage road or IL 250, but the stretch just east of Clay City has a few ancient bridges that have piqued my interest.

Bridge 1: https://goo.gl/maps/tfENATYnZU42 note the brick guardrails.
Bridge 2: https://goo.gl/maps/TjBZi7KpLmr
Bridge 3: https://goo.gl/maps/coLFk1m75rJ2

There is also an abandoned rest stop in the area.
https://goo.gl/maps/Xrjq9ZpZy3A2
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: bzakharin on February 01, 2018, 03:31:46 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek2500 on January 30, 2018, 07:15:26 PM
And here's PA 63 at US 1, you can see the ROW for the unbuilt expressway to the northwest.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1107194,-74.9987484,1753m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
If I'm not mistaken it's open to traffic all the way to the dead end, so it's not "unused"

Here's a stub at the southern end of NJ 18 complete with a ramp from NJ 34
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1696003,-74.0709191,461m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1
It's fenced off, but still appears to be used by the DOT
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: BrianP on February 01, 2018, 03:54:37 PM
It's not being used for it's intended purpose.  The part past Evans street is not a highway, more like a driveway. 
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Roadgeek2500 on February 01, 2018, 07:49:23 PM
Here's another one I passed recently: the old Mogantown interchange on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It was decommissioned after I-176 was rerouted to make a direct connection to the Turnpike.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1599399,-75.8865058,583m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
Title: Re: Unused Stretches of Highway
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 04, 2018, 09:35:48 PM
Going back to Florida State Road 4a:

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2017/05/2017-southeast-trip-part-13-us-route-1.html