I have been using NCroads.com and Google maps to trace the original alignment of US 70 through North Carolina, and I have found some fascinating things. Foremost, a portion of Old US 70 has been closed to vehicles since 1954, but it is now a walking/biking trail, complete with original concrete paving. Has anyone else found anything like this?
The most famous is the Abandonded PA Turnpike
A couple years ago, I found part of the old Bankhead Highway east of Tupelo, MS. Still mostly driveable with some "sidewalk highway" sections.
Portions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that were left in place to be used as fishing piers --
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.5985639,-82.6386727,3997m/data=!3m1!1e3
The old 7 Mile Bridge in the FL Keys used for fishing and access to Pigeon Key.
https://www.google.com/maps/@24.7039688,-81.1444561,0a,75y/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s97dLC5_54mroD6fYWswrCA!2e0
Looking against traffic on the ramp from I-384 West to I-84 West, you can still see the line in the trees where I-84 (mostly as I-86) passed over Sunset Ridge prior to the interchange construction.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7738608,-72.5863328,0a,75y/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5v-Q5X33C1i1QjYfv_a9WA!2e0
The old alignment of CT 68 between US 5 and I-91.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.482154,-72.7730583,0a,75y/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5upirbxfF_n8boC_fPePRw!2e0
The original ending of the Mass Pike just before the NY line.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3477948,-73.4117027,0a,75y/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sfyo0dn2moRWfBKPHChm4GQ!2e0
This portion of Historic Route 66 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7839871,-87.8559583,3a,75y,55.64h,88.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slycI7de0xAFou5X5rv6drQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DlycI7de0xAFou5X5rv6drQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D46.728706%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) in Chicago suburbs.
The unfinished portion of I-189 (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4465448,-73.2147622,3a,75y,97.51h,76.21t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1secjbvCwZp7XPIrndlIo4rQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DecjbvCwZp7XPIrndlIo4rQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D124.927605%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) in Burlington, VT. Now used as a parking lot.
Don't know the story behind this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7830614,-85.5092084,3a,90y,142.11h,86.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snzvBwKwJU2qInVtPTcOG_g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). I think it's the closest abandoned segment of road to me.
Remnants (https://goo.gl/maps/KDXyGUhjM4r) of US-29's former northbound lanes north of Danville before the current US-29 Danville bypass was built.
The old alignment of US-17 to the old Neuse River Bridge in Bridgeton, NC. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1173952,-77.0170567,3a,17.9y,199.79h,90.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4fl6h2iSiqzhxbdxbNmlnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en)
Also, a helpful hint that was passed along to me about doing away with those long internet links in posts when I got started here years ago:
(ignoring all spaces within the brackets)[ url = http://www.yoursitehere.com (http://www.yoursitehere.com/) ] Whatever you want to type [ /url ]
It turns the word or words in your post into the clickable link so its much neater.
(thanks Froggie for that advice!)
These aerial images are a Godsend for historic 'old road' research! Doing off and on research on historic routings of the Yellowstone Trail, I would be completely lost without them.
Mike
Not a highway, but the grading is a remnant of Alston Avenue, which used to be a long parallel road of NC 55. Now various split up roads.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8371495,-78.8843699,368m/data=!3m1!1e3
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on May 22, 2018, 04:07:53 AM
[Snip]
The original ending of the Mass Pike just before the NY line.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3477948,-73.4117027,0a,75y/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sfyo0dn2moRWfBKPHChm4GQ!2e0
Lol, I bet the conversation was like this...
Quote from: MassDOTW
Guy in charge: So, how should we end the Mass Pike to the east?
Guy who is never listened to: we could end it like Kansas did at-
Guy who is always listened to: we could end it right on the NY border!!!
Guy in charge: GREAT IDEA!!!
Here are a few along the Bethlehem Pike corridor in SE Pa. Neither are fully abandoned at length, but neither are accessible along their original length.
Line Lexington (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.284028,-75.2637108,856m/data=!3m1!1e3)
Saucon Valley (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.55207,-75.3924788,449m/data=!3m1!1e3)
Quote from: ilpt4u on May 21, 2018, 09:21:12 PM
The most famous is the Abandonded PA Turnpike
There are some less-famous (but more recently) abandoned sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the grade between the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel and New Baltimore. The old grade was brutal, with plenty of twisting curves and no climbing lane headed west (up the hill).
Here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Baltimore,+PA/@39.9791831,-78.8002322,998m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cafbbfb1d70d45:0x26634feb959e7ab!8m2!3d39.985914!4d-78.7727984), here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Baltimore,+PA/@39.9546782,-78.8192039,999m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cafbbfb1d70d45:0x26634feb959e7ab!8m2!3d39.985914!4d-78.7727984) and here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Baltimore,+PA/@39.9581405,-78.8281839,999m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cafbbfb1d70d45:0x26634feb959e7ab!8m2!3d39.985914!4d-78.7727984).
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 23, 2018, 02:05:36 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on May 21, 2018, 09:21:12 PM
The most famous is the Abandonded PA Turnpike
There are some less-famous (but more recently) abandoned sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the grade between the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel and New Baltimore. The old grade was brutal, with plenty of twisting curves and no climbing lane headed west (up the hill).
Here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Baltimore,+PA/@39.9791831,-78.8002322,998m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cafbbfb1d70d45:0x26634feb959e7ab!8m2!3d39.985914!4d-78.7727984), here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Baltimore,+PA/@39.9546782,-78.8192039,999m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cafbbfb1d70d45:0x26634feb959e7ab!8m2!3d39.985914!4d-78.7727984) and here (https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Baltimore,+PA/@39.9581405,-78.8281839,999m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89cafbbfb1d70d45:0x26634feb959e7ab!8m2!3d39.985914!4d-78.7727984).
This one is recent enough that there's no streetview of the new alignment:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1457997,-77.6406345,1229m/data=!3m1!1e3
Here is another old section of Route 66 in Springfield, IL.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6875649,-89.6459452,589m/data=!3m1!1e3 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6875649,-89.6459452,589m/data=!3m1!1e3)
Business US 20 (Lincolnway) in South Bend was arrow straight until rerouting to accommodate an extension of the north-south runway at South Bend International Airport. Some of the road was repurposed but much was removed: https://goo.gl/maps/urgp1E89wZU2
Quote from: BrianP on May 23, 2018, 03:45:15 PM
This one is recent enough that there's no streetview of the new alignment:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1457997,-77.6406345,1229m/data=!3m1!1e3
I like that Google is preserving their old Street Views, but if a road alignment is changed, the old Street View is deleted? Huh.
There are a ton of them between Barstow and Needles pertaining to US Route 66. The National Old Trails Route Facebook page actually posts a ton of them.
Love to play with Google maps, comparing map to Street View to satellite views. Traced Meridian, Bankhead and OSR extensively through TX, also most of the US highways. Have had fun just "surfing" down the rivers finding abandoned bridges, also looking around lakeshores to find older pre-lake road alignments.
Quote from: US 81 on May 24, 2018, 12:08:02 PM
also looking around lakeshores to find older pre-lake road alignments.
Old IL 13 between Carbondale and Carterville (and then Marion) has been partially consumed by Crab Orchard Lake
The Carbondale side of the Lake on Old IL 13 is now the feeder to the lake's Marina, and the Carterville side is a Boat Ramp. The rest of Old IL 13, on both sides of the lake, is a decently well used roadway to this day, and I believe still under IDOT control (at least parts of it are)
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7358169,-89.1102607,15z is the area. Part of Foreville Rd is part of Old 13 as well
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mihp.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F12%2FOld-Route-13-in-1923.jpg&hash=83678a3e860811c8b37c38a61b27770563dcd176)
Sourced from http://www.mihp.org/
Of course, some parts are not visible, because the lake took over
Along the same line of routes being consumed by lakes, NC 288 is pretty famous in southwestern NC folklore. It was submerged by Fontana Lake, and the TVA promised the locals a new road along the north shore that never got completed. It is dubbed as the "road to nowhere" and it can be hiked on up to a tunnel where it ends. You can read more about it here http://www.gribblenation.com/nclost/roads/nowhere.html
Also, parts of old NC 288, including a bridge, are visible during periods of low lake levels. I believe the latest Google Map image shows this, but I'm on mobile and can't check right now.
That reminds me of the Jordanelle Reservoir near Heber City, UT. The original routes of US 40 and US 189 were submerged, along with the town of Hailstone where they met. A new freeway was built just west of the lake, and both 40 and 189 were rerouted onto it (but 189 was unsigned until this past summer). Anyway, the original US 40 went east at the current 40/248 junction on what is today 248, and then split to the south near Deer Mountain, where you can still see the old US 40 heading south into the lake. How much of the route you can see depends on the lake level. If it’s low enough (as it was before the wet winter of 2016-17) you might be able to see the site that was the town of Keetley.
Also, there are several segments of old US 40 west of Salt Lake City visible on Google Maps. Most of it is now a frontage road to I-80, but the old alignment can be seen between the westbound ramps and freeway in the 7200 West interchange (exit 111), and near the Hyatt Place just west of the airport, where the parking lot was built on top of the old highway.
Quote from: US 89 on May 25, 2018, 10:56:31 AM
That reminds me of the Jordanelle Reservoir near Heber City, UT. The original routes of US 40 and US 189 were submerged, along with the town of Hailstone where they met. A new freeway was built just west of the lake, and both 40 and 189 were rerouted onto it (but 189 was unsigned until this past summer). Anyway, the original US 40 went east at the current 40/248 junction on what is today 248, and then split to the south near Deer Mountain, where you can still see the old US 40 heading south into the lake. How much of the route you can see depends on the lake level. If it's low enough (as it was before the wet winter of 2016-17) you might be able to see the site that was the town of Keetley.
Also, there are several segments of old US 40 west of Salt Lake City visible on Google Maps. Most of it is now a frontage road to I-80, but the old alignment can be seen between the westbound ramps and freeway in the 7200 West interchange (exit 111), and near the Hyatt Place just west of the airport, where the parking lot was built on top of the old highway.
You're avatar got me thinking about US 89. There is a massive and really obvious old alignment north of Flagstaff, AZ just east of be modern highway. There is also another big original alignment of US 89 that's teniously mantained between Ashfork and Prescott that is easily observed on Google Maps.
Quote from: ilpt4u on May 24, 2018, 07:13:23 PM
The rest of Old IL 13, on both sides of the lake, is a decently well used roadway to this day, and I believe still under IDOT control (at least parts of it are)
I know I've seen state reference markers on that road, but I can't locate any official information about that.
Quote from: LM117 on May 22, 2018, 08:28:47 AM
Remnants (https://goo.gl/maps/KDXyGUhjM4r) of US-29's former northbound lanes north of Danville before the current US-29 Danville bypass was built.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7003702,-79.3687725,3a,20.7y,32.68h,88.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skbLSDZSZW10JDvnEwnd34A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US
This is the first hairpin curve sign I've seen in Virginia.
Edit:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6994276,-79.367772,3a,20.4y,298.57h,87.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sObAjsmkgh5wv1OgkMWV-Yg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US
And second.
Old US 60/70 (also US 180 I) can be seen east of Superior below the modern grade asending to the Old Queen Creek Tunnel. Another abandoned alignment is directly south of the Pinto Creek Bridge which is highly eroded.
Quote from: BrianP on May 23, 2018, 03:45:15 PM
This one is recent enough that there's no streetview of the new alignment:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1457997,-77.6406345,1229m/data=!3m1!1e3
I seldom go that way - nice catch. I think I read someplace that much of the Turnpike reconstruction east of Blue Mountain is now complete.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on May 25, 2018, 07:36:05 PM
Quote from: BrianP on May 23, 2018, 03:45:15 PM
This one is recent enough that there's no streetview of the new alignment:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1457997,-77.6406345,1229m/data=!3m1!1e3
I seldom go that way - nice catch. I think I read someplace that much of the Turnpike reconstruction east of Blue Mountain is now complete.
Interestingly enough, I've noticed recently along the PA Turnpike that there's some kind of new photo sphere appearing along it. It's called "B&V Cam" and the imagery is from April this year (example from the new I-95 interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.128384,-74.8872101,3a,65.7y,104.19h,90.93t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipO0jxImzxM9JIrd-yfw2eu-0pwwNX-IUgbmO6Mu!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipO0jxImzxM9JIrd-yfw2eu-0pwwNX-IUgbmO6Mu%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi1.6279323-ya30.160109-ro-5.719576-fo100!7i2508!8i1254?hl=en-US)). The area by the tunnel doesn't appear to be on GM yet but it apparently can go through tunnels since the bubbles appear on the EB Fort Littleton ramp.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on May 23, 2018, 11:46:29 PM
There are a ton of them between Barstow and Needles pertaining to US Route 66. The National Old Trails Route Facebook page actually posts a ton of them.
There's also the old 66 routings through Cajon Pass north of San Bernardino. Cajon Blvd is just one of several former routes. Some of the roadbeds have been completely abandoned or are converted to trails. Some background info can be found at https://www.theroute-66.com/cajon-pass.html
Quote from: kphoger on May 25, 2018, 01:38:33 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on May 24, 2018, 07:13:23 PM
The rest of Old IL 13, on both sides of the lake, is a decently well used roadway to this day, and I believe still under IDOT control (at least parts of it are)
I know I've seen state reference markers on that road, but I can't locate any official information about that.
The Old IL 13 segment a little west of the depicted area, between Carbondale and Murphysboro, shows route 913 on the IL Reference/Mile Marker Posts. Begin/End State Maintenance is also signed on this Segment. IDOT's District 9 Office is on this segment of Old IL 13, but actually the Office is on a piece that is Maintained by City of Carbondale. IDOT Maintenance picks up a few blocks West from the District 9 Office
Not sure if the Carterville-Marion part of the route is IDOT Maintained, but I can figure that out sometime relatively easily
Additional visible previous alignments include:
Illinois
US-51 before the construction of I-39 south of Wenona (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0471045,-89.0538475,2856m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)
US-51 before the construction of I-39 west of Kappa (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6757284,-89.0225098,1472m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en).
IL-251 (N 3rd St) in Rockford used to have an overpass connection (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2726062,-89.0806983,562m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) for vehicles to access the Whitman Street Bridge. This connection is now via surface streets.
Delaware
US-13 prior to the construction of DE-1 between Red Lion and Wrangle Hill (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5981387,-75.657539,1752m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en).
DE-15 in Delaware west of Dover (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1486096,-75.5580006,633m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en).
New Jersey
NJ-700/I-95 (NJ Turnpike) original northern terminus (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8444592,-74.0158236,644m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) at US-46.
NJ-400 (Garden State Parkway) connection to the former Beesley's Point Bridge (US-9) (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2837962,-74.6269031,1263m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) prior to the construction of the Great Egg Harbor Bridge.
Oklahoma
Abandoned section (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.175975,-95.739809,3416m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) of I-44, east of Tulsa, prior to the construction of the Creek Turnpike (SR-364).
Florida
FL-528 (Beachline Expressway) Exit 19 (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4511636,-81.1656803,1206m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) to Monument Parkway/International Corporate Park Blvd.
The former spur connection (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.5518472,-81.2679308,1998m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) of FL-408 (East-West Expressway) to FL-417 (Central Florida GreeneWay)
Colorado
US-6/US-40 in Colorado (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7439127,-105.4748511,607m/data=!3m1!1e3) before the construction of I-70 and it's tunnels. Google Earth historic aerials reveals that the eastbound lanes of I-70/US-6 temporarily resumed running this former alignment in or around 2013 between the sewer plant and the Black Hawk City Water Plant during the reconstruction/widening of the I-70 tunnels. The temporary alignment went along the Memorial Trail, through the Trailhead parking lot, across Clear Creek and followed East Idaho Springs Rd east to around the water plant where it transitioned back into the current alignment.
Another section of US-6 in Colorado (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1947134,-108.2720237,1302m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) before the construction of I-70 and it's tunnels through Beavertail Mountain.
New York
Aerial imagery along I-287 still shows the old Tappan Zee Bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0719627,-73.8930498,3237m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) across the Hudson River with the 2017 bridge under construction.
Wisconsin
US-40/I-41 north of Lomira was realigned (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6120894,-88.433843,3088m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) between 1992 and 2002 for constructing a grade-separated intersection at WI-49 and CTH-KK. Relocation appears to be due to the railroad tracks near the previous insersection.
Note: All references were intended to be viewed as 2D aerial images, which may need to be manually changed in your browser. At the time of the post, the conditions above were true. Google may update aerial imagery at any time. Also, I apologize for getting carried away with the list.
Spotted rock cliffs overhanging a river from the current US 290 just east of US 281 near Johnson City, TX, and doubled back for a better look. Turns out the old road, now county road 215 has Streetview: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.1992814,-98.3374454,3a,65.5y,0.98h,80.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxODBPJ7ETn2aKcI-CrRB7g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Can't see make it out on Streetview, but the pavement markings are still barely visible: broken white centerline with yellow no passing lines everywhere I could see.
Quote from: ChezeHed81 on May 29, 2018, 07:06:49 AM
Additional visible previous alignments include:
Wisconsin
US-40/I-41 north of Lomira was realigned (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6120894,-88.433843,3088m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) between 1992 and 2002 for constructing a grade-separated intersection at WI-49 and CTH-KK. Relocation appears to be due to the railroad tracks near the previous insersection.
Also, I-41 (US 41) at County 'K' just north of Slinger was slightly realigned when it was upgraded to a freeway at about the same time.
https://goo.gl/maps/u3pwnktC3cE2
The west frontage road there is formerly the southbound side of US 41 and the reroute was also due to the highway's close proximity to CN's intensely busy ex Wisconsin Central (nee SOO LINE) Chicago-western Canada mainline.
Mike
While we're on this topic of US 41, here's an old alignment near Baraga, Michigan (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.7542803,-88.4946622,335m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) containing an abandoned bridge, that now serves as someone's driveway, as well as
a long stretch of road named "Old US 41" (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5784072,-88.361812,814m/data=!3m1!1e3) nearby the abandoned bridge. There's even a former routing of US 141/Michigan 28 there.
One more:
Between 2010 and 2013, about 1.5 miles of the southbound lanes of I-75 near Venice, Florida were relocated to the inside (left) of the existing lanes, and those existing lanes were incorporated as part of the extension of Honore Ave (https://www.google.com/maps/@27.1495367,-82.4190614,2175m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) to Laurel Rd.
Probably the largest collection of abandoned roads is the unfinished California City (https://goo.gl/maps/cBx67VM3hv22). Meant to rival the size of Los Angeles, California City was incorporated in 1965 and a dirt road layout of the city was built. However, the demand for such a city fell short, and most of the city remains simply dirt roads and street signs. Even today, California City is the 40th largest city in the U.S. by area.
Quote from: adwerkema on May 31, 2018, 12:34:07 PM
Probably the largest collection of abandoned roads is the unfinished California City (https://goo.gl/maps/cBx67VM3hv22). Meant to rival the size of Los Angeles, California City was incorporated in 1965 and a dirt road layout of the city was built. However, the demand for such a city fell short, and most of the city remains simply dirt roads and street signs. Even today, California City is the 40th largest city in the U.S. by area.
California Valley has something similar going on north of Soda Lake. A bunch of the roads aren't even graded but yet contain street blades.
West Point, VA
You can see the old alignments of the approaches to these bridges which were replaced with new bridges in 2005 at a cost of $100 million
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5345737,-76.8010474,2873m/data=!3m1!1e3
On the east side of West Point, the 3,545 ft long Lord Delaware Bridge crosses the Mattaponi River and adjacent marsh land with 28 spans. On the west side of town, the 5,354 ft long Eltham Bridge spans the Pamunkey River and adjacent marsh land and railroad tracks with a total of 49 spans. In both bridges, the main spans consist of two 880 ft long post-tensioned spliced girder units. Each of these units has spans of 200-240-240-200 ft, including end span, haunched pier and drop-in girder segments. The bridge over the Pamunkey River also included a 248 ft long steel girder double leaf bascule span. Both bridges carry two lanes of traffic with a shoulder in each direction, for a total out-to-out deck width of 70.3 ft.
http://www.stalite.com/project_details.php?id=17
US/MN 61 throughout MN are packed with disused and abandoned alignments from Grand Portage to La Crescent. My favorites include the abandoned Pigeon River border crossing, the pre-1969 MN 1 junction in Illgen City, and some of the old alignments near Weaver and Kellogg.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grand+Portage,+MN/@47.3497675,-91.1866513,1031m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4d58683e593daf8b:0x2d527267ecc75899!8m2!3d47.9637433!4d-89.6848712
Hancock, Washington County, Maryland.
Before the massive cut (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/back0210.cfm) through Sideling Hill (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideling_Hill) was completed in 1991 (the new freeway (ADHS Corridor E) through the cut was initially signed U.S. 48 but then became I-68), all traffic had to follow the old route (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.7071844,-78.2768535/39.7049902,-78.3286735/@39.6997158,-78.3344241,8019m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0) of U.S. 40 (National Pike), which was up the mountain to a rather unpleasant hairpin turn (especially in winter) at the crest of the ridge, then down the other side.
This part of the old National Pike is no longer a U.S. or state route, having been decommissioned and turned-over to Washington County maintenance as County Route 1036 (county routes are never signed in Maryland).
The hairpin turn at the ridgetop had to have the most intense lighting I have ever seen on any Maryland-maintained highway (including the tunnel crossings in Baltimore), with a collection of HPS lighting on poles very closely spaced (maybe 20 or 25 feet apart). That's all gone now, but some of the climbing lanes are still there. This old route was for centuries the only arterial highway connection between Allegany and Garrett Counties and the rest of the state, and it was a notoriously bad and crash-prone section of road.
https://goo.gl/maps/5uYTpnAGoxP2
I walked/clinched this old stretch of US 167 and got these shots:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/albums/72157693260150831
Unpleasant hairpin turn? My siblings and I looked forward to it every time we headed down to Kentucky from Massachusetts from 1981 until the cut was finished (my father refused to drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike). There was a small farm stand right on the turn, too. Don't know anyone who had the courage to stop there, though.
I don't think the lighting was there early on and the turn has definitely been widened since the 1980s.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on June 02, 2018, 08:19:59 PM
Hancock, Washington County, Maryland.
Before the massive cut (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/back0210.cfm) through Sideling Hill (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideling_Hill) was completed in 1991 (the new freeway (ADHS Corridor E) through the cut was initially signed U.S. 48 but then became I-68), all traffic had to follow the old route (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.7071844,-78.2768535/39.7049902,-78.3286735/@39.6997158,-78.3344241,8019m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0) of U.S. 40 (National Pike), which was up the mountain to a rather unpleasant hairpin turn (especially in winter) at the crest of the ridge, then down the other side.
This part of the old National Pike is no longer a U.S. or state route, having been decommissioned and turned-over to Washington County maintenance as County Route 1036 (county routes are never signed in Maryland).
The hairpin turn at the ridgetop had to have the most intense lighting I have ever seen on any Maryland-maintained highway (including the tunnel crossings in Baltimore), with a collection of HPS lighting on poles very closely spaced (maybe 20 or 25 feet apart). That's all gone now, but some of the climbing lanes are still there. This old route was for centuries the only arterial highway connection between Allegany and Garrett Counties and the rest of the state, and it was a notoriously bad and crash-prone section of road.
hey, there (might be) an old allighnment of an old allighnment visible! (although it might just be a private driveway) There is a gravel road that extends past the turn, turns around, then appears to line up with the current allighnment, allthough the road appears to be overgrown past the turn. Old alighnment-seption!
Quote from: MCRoads on June 04, 2018, 05:15:13 PM
hey, there (might be) an old allighnment of an old allighnment visible! (although it might just be a private driveway) There is a gravel road that extends past the turn, turns around, then appears to line up with the current allighnment, allthough the road appears to be overgrown past the turn. Old alighnment-seption!
Are you referring to the curve at the top of the mountain? If so then ding ding your right. The 1947 historical aerial shows that old road as the turn around. The 1969 topo shows that old route in use. The 1974 topo shows the current road in use. The change is purple in the 1974 topo which means:
Quotepurple for features that have been updated using aerial photography, but not field verified.
https://www.geomart.com/products/topo/readingtopos.htm
Also Hixon road is also part of an older alignment. But it didn't originally switchback like it does now. It used to continue up the side of the mountain. It came out here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.693285,-78.2996256,3a,75y,356.76h,90.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1YneOgKUQtdN53M4eL7PIw!2e0!7i3328!8i1664
The part that replaced Hixon Rd is shown under construction on the 1952 topo map.
The maps are found here:
https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer
Near Toano, VA you can see the old Route 168 alignment at the intersection where both US 60 and VA 30 swap places! Look in the NE quadrant you will see how the road is not connected to VA 30 at either end but see how in line with VA 30 it is and can make out how it once was continuous.
BTW in the past, VA 168 never met US 60 there, but had a connector called VA 168Y as VA 168 east of Toano was the main highway to Norfolk before I-64. VA 168 followed VA 30, then I-64, and then VA 143 to the HRBT and connected with where VA 168 goes into Central Norfolk along Tidewater Drive in Willoughby Spit. That is why US 60 used to drop to two lanes after Busch Gardens and remain that way into Newport News and VA 143 is four lanes pretty much from VA 162 into Downtown Newport News along Merrimac Trail and Jefferson Avenue.
Plenty of them of NY 25, but I recently found about an abandoned section near Greenport that was split in half by nature, and has the old concrete on the east end of it.
Old Main Road near "Moore's Drain" west of Greenport (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0971279,-72.3812999,3a,75y,294.16h,96.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPPj00zFBqLvF0XxLjuGMyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en).
Old Man Roads east of Chapel Lane west of Greenport, NY (https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C3%82%C2%B056'55.3%22N+72%C3%82%C2%B036'01.7%22W/@41.0959705,-72.3834921,703m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d40.948688!4d-72.60046?hl=en).
This isn't the only one, of course. And I was really looking for a thread on concrete paved roads.
Old Tennessee State Highway 3, the precursor to US-51 has an abandoned stretch leading to a closed bridge at the Obion River. Follow 7th Street south from Palestine Avenue in Obion.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2568422,-89.191737,3a,26.3y,183.06h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY8el7PM_2G02Wo0cZh1kLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2568422,-89.191737,3a,26.3y,183.06h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY8el7PM_2G02Wo0cZh1kLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Surprised no one's mentioned one of the "granddaddies" of old alignments: the Ridge Route, the original US 99 over the mountains between Castaic and Gorman, CA. Very easily visible; starting in Castaic as an extension of a suburban street serving a local school, approximate coordinates 118 degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds west by 34 degrees 30 minutes 40 seconds north. Easily followed north all the way to CA 138; that junction at approximately 118 degrees 44 minutes 0 degrees west by 34 degrees 45 minutes 54 seconds north. Immediately north of Castaic this old alignment sits immediately east of the southbound lanes of I-5 during its reversed-alignment segment surmounting the hill north of Castaic. As an added bonus, scrolling west will show the 2nd iteration of US 99 west of I-5 and terminating at Pyramid Lake dam (the lake inundated the segment north from there).
Quote from: sparker on July 15, 2018, 02:00:58 AM
Surprised no one's mentioned one of the "granddaddies" of old alignments: the Ridge Route, the original US 99 over the mountains between Castaic and Gorman, CA. Very easily visible; starting in Castaic as an extension of a suburban street serving a local school, approximate coordinates 118 degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds west by 34 degrees 30 minutes 40 seconds north. Easily followed north all the way to CA 138; that junction at approximately 118 degrees 44 minutes 0 degrees west by 34 degrees 45 minutes 54 seconds north. Immediately north of Castaic this old alignment sits immediately east of the southbound lanes of I-5 during its reversed-alignment segment surmounting the hill north of Castaic. As an added bonus, scrolling west will show the 2nd iteration of US 99 west of I-5 and terminating at Pyramid Lake dam (the lake inundated the segment north from there).
Isn't Ridge Route Alternate a service road for the dam now? I drove about five miles of it in 2016 and ran the rest to the dam, there was a small gate that appeared to be for service vehicles and hikers.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2018, 11:00:46 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 15, 2018, 02:00:58 AM
Surprised no one's mentioned one of the "granddaddies" of old alignments: the Ridge Route, the original US 99 over the mountains between Castaic and Gorman, CA. Very easily visible; starting in Castaic as an extension of a suburban street serving a local school, approximate coordinates 118 degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds west by 34 degrees 30 minutes 40 seconds north. Easily followed north all the way to CA 138; that junction at approximately 118 degrees 44 minutes 0 degrees west by 34 degrees 45 minutes 54 seconds north. Immediately north of Castaic this old alignment sits immediately east of the southbound lanes of I-5 during its reversed-alignment segment surmounting the hill north of Castaic. As an added bonus, scrolling west will show the 2nd iteration of US 99 west of I-5 and terminating at Pyramid Lake dam (the lake inundated the segment north from there).
Isn't Ridge Route Alternate a service road for the dam now? I drove about five miles of it in 2016 and ran the rest to the dam, there was a small gate that appeared to be for service vehicles and hikers.
If you're referring to the later US 99 expressway iteration west of I-5 (aka
"The Old Road"), then yes, that's precisely what it is; it terminates just below the dam at a gate. The original 1-2-lane Ridge Route remains east of current I-5 for its entire length.
Quote from: sparker on July 15, 2018, 08:02:27 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 15, 2018, 11:00:46 AM
Quote from: sparker on July 15, 2018, 02:00:58 AM
Surprised no one's mentioned one of the "granddaddies" of old alignments: the Ridge Route, the original US 99 over the mountains between Castaic and Gorman, CA. Very easily visible; starting in Castaic as an extension of a suburban street serving a local school, approximate coordinates 118 degrees 37 minutes 30 seconds west by 34 degrees 30 minutes 40 seconds north. Easily followed north all the way to CA 138; that junction at approximately 118 degrees 44 minutes 0 degrees west by 34 degrees 45 minutes 54 seconds north. Immediately north of Castaic this old alignment sits immediately east of the southbound lanes of I-5 during its reversed-alignment segment surmounting the hill north of Castaic. As an added bonus, scrolling west will show the 2nd iteration of US 99 west of I-5 and terminating at Pyramid Lake dam (the lake inundated the segment north from there).
Isn't Ridge Route Alternate a service road for the dam now? I drove about five miles of it in 2016 and ran the rest to the dam, there was a small gate that appeared to be for service vehicles and hikers.
If you're referring to the later US 99 expressway iteration west of I-5 (aka "The Old Road"), then yes, that's precisely what it is; it terminates just below the dam at a gate. The original 1-2-lane Ridge Route remains east of current I-5 for its entire length.
Ran the Old Ridge Route earlier in the same day, that one is definitely long gone for anything aside for mountain bikes or 4X4s:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2488/32148905543_1ae5415f09_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QYTxyT)IMG_2038 (https://flic.kr/p/QYTxyT) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
Hard to believe US 99 really used to head right through Pyramid Lake dead ahead in the photo below:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2667/32120033844_c234e3e8d0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QWkz1Y)IMG_2073 (https://flic.kr/p/QWkz1Y) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
There are two brick roads that have been bypassed in WA, which have been maintained by converting them into parks:
Erickson/Bothell Road, near Bothell: https://goo.gl/wwYNQk (vintage 1914)
North Trunk Road (https://myedmondsnews.com/2013/10/month-edmonds-history-north-trunk-road/), near Lynnwood: https://goo.gl/EG3Cye (vintage 1913).
Not brick: when US-2 was re-aligned to a Snohomish bypass, old US-2 was converted into a residential road. The old alignment (92 St SE), complete with stubs, is clear on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/ptLysK (vintage 1983)
An old road connecting WA-167 to West Valley Hwy (https://goo.gl/DZAZLd) near Sumner was bypassed in the late 80s when the freeway was built, and then mostly torn up. Not visible from the 167, but definitely on GMaps: https://goo.gl/262tce
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 16, 2018, 12:26:30 AM
Ran the Old Ridge Route earlier in the same day, that one is definitely long gone for anything aside for mountain bikes or 4X4s:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2488/32148905543_1ae5415f09_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QYTxyT)IMG_2038 (https://flic.kr/p/QYTxyT) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
Hard to believe US 99 really used to head right through Pyramid Lake dead ahead in the photo below:
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2667/32120033844_c234e3e8d0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QWkz1Y)IMG_2073 (https://flic.kr/p/QWkz1Y) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
The only time I personally traversed the old Ridge Route was about 20 years ago with a friend who had a 4WD Tracker -- and even that was touch & go as to whether we were going to bottom out on some portions where there were diagonal washouts across the roadbed. Can't imagine anything's improved in two decades; doing a GSV the other day pretty much confirmed the fact that I'm too old for that short of shit!
Pyramid Dam is actually located in the upper reaches of the Piru Gorge, which empties out into the Santa Clara River valley at the town of Piru, along CA 126 between Fillmore and I-5. Northbound, the 2nd generation US 99 expressway alignment, after surmounting Castaic Ridge (using the NB lanes of present I-5) descended into the gorge, along which it traveled north until it came out on the plateau south of Gorman, near the present CA 138 interchange. Pyramid Lake was part of the California Aqueduct project; it's a reservoir serving Ventura County and the farmlands (primarily lemons and other citrus) adjacent to CA 126 from Piru west through Santa Paula and the western reaches of CA 118 near Saticoy (most of the CA commercial crop in heirloom & Meyer lemons hails from that area). The I-5/CA 138 interchange area is a major 3-way dividing point for the Aqueduct itself; besides partitioning off the flow to Pyramid Lake, another branch tunnels through the mountains feeding Castaic Lake (the primary water supply for Santa Clarita and environs), while the remainder follows the northern flank of the San Gabriels through Palmdale, emptying out into Silverwood Lake south of Hesperia.
Quote from: Kulerage on May 29, 2018, 11:09:12 PM
as well as
a long stretch of road named "Old US 41" (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5784072,-88.361812,814m/data=!3m1!1e3) nearby the abandoned bridge. There's even a former routing of US 141/Michigan 28 there.
This is southeast of there:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn208%2Ftriplemultiplex%2FUS%252053%2520Oct%252005%2FUP%252007%2FUP044.jpg&hash=d25b818464883b6ad62f6e9905574f3437ece19d)
This creek crossing, if I'm not mistaken:
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=46.56213,-88.33010&z=18&t=S
The parallel abandoned railroad is also a trip.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn208%2Ftriplemultiplex%2FUS%252053%2520Oct%252005%2FUP%252007%2FUP043.jpg&hash=a08d1ad556575863e7738a1a2f1cc854ee7323ab)
10 years since that photo and it looks like the tracks are still there.
Quote from: mgk920 on May 22, 2018, 10:05:55 AM
These aerial images are a Godsend for historic 'old road' research! Doing off and on research on historic routings of the Yellowstone Trail, I would be completely lost without them.
Mike
NETROnline...you can look at any year and use the slide function.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on July 17, 2018, 09:02:56 AM
Quote from: Kulerage on May 29, 2018, 11:09:12 PM
as well as
a long stretch of road named "Old US 41" (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5784072,-88.361812,814m/data=!3m1!1e3) nearby the abandoned bridge. There's even a former routing of US 141/Michigan 28 there.
This is southeast of there:
//snipped//
This creek crossing, if I'm not mistaken:
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=46.56213,-88.33010&z=18&t=S
The parallel abandoned railroad is also a trip.
//snipped//
10 years since that photo and it looks like the tracks are still there.
When I drove on US-41 this Memorial Day, the old 102/141/28 north of US-41 was barricaded.
And that bridge may be able to be walked to from the roadside park following Tioga River/Creek.
My photos of Old US-102 from 12 years ago can be seen at
http://www.usends.com/102.html
and
http://www.usends.com/covington.html
Here in Indianapolis, the old alignments of increasing Reference Post (iRP) I-465 (the clockwise lanes, which run SB in this area) and SB Shadeland Avenue can both still be seen here (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7461565,-86.0397873,1730m/data=!3m1!1e3). Before being rebuilt from 1999-2001, I-465 had a bifurcated median between Brookville Road (US 52 - then a partial interchange) and the Raymond Street grade separation. The ramp from decreasing Reference Post (dRP) I-465 to NB Shadeland Ave (former SR 100) was a left exit, and the median split was similar to that on the other side of town at Exit 25, the North Junction of I-465 & I-65
This area was a major traffic choke point for years, as it was one of the only spots where mainline I-465 had only two travel lanes. The reconstruction remedied that, and also eliminated the left exit. The old SB ramp from Shadeland to I-465 now is used as a two-way access road to the INDOT maintenance facility now located on a portion of the old right-of-way (at the point of the "Y" in what used to be the median of Shadeland). The rebuild also completed the Brookville Road interchange for all movements, eliminating the need to exit onto Shadeland to remain on EB US 52. In fact, after this interchange was renovated, US 52 was re-routed from using the south & west legs of I-465 to run along the east & north legs of the beltway, then along the "dogleg" (I-865) to reach I-65, on which it is also multiplexed until splitting off on its own near Lebanon in Boone County.
Here's my favorite.. the old road that goes into Old Faithful in Yellowstone... It's mostly a hiking trail now.
https://goo.gl/maps/VZbkiQqadF52
Then there's this old stretch of Fall River Road at Rocky Mountain NationalPark that, again,is a hiking trail..
https://goo.gl/maps/mCfAPofbW1n
The original State Route 1, the precursor to US-70 between Waverly, TN and the TN River. There was a ferry to take cars across to the west side.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.0395843,-87.930541/35.9972971,-87.9324529/35.9839411,-87.9439857/35.990956,-88.0003558/@36.007894,-87.9921857,6792m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e2 (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.0395843,-87.930541/35.9972971,-87.9324529/35.9839411,-87.9439857/35.990956,-88.0003558/@36.007894,-87.9921857,6792m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e2)
Quote from: inkyatari on July 19, 2018, 12:35:33 PM
Here's my favorite.. the old road that goes into Old Faithful in Yellowstone... It's mostly a hiking trail now.
https://goo.gl/maps/VZbkiQqadF52
Then there's this old stretch of Fall River Road at Rocky Mountain NationalPark that, again,is a hiking trail..
https://goo.gl/maps/mCfAPofbW1n
I'm surprised that I missed the closed section of the Fall River Road. Might have to check that one out the next time I get out to Trail Ridge.
is it not just the hiking trail now?
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on July 22, 2018, 05:53:21 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on July 19, 2018, 12:35:33 PM
Then there's this old stretch of Fall River Road at Rocky Mountain NationalPark that, again,is a hiking trail..
https://goo.gl/maps/mCfAPofbW1n
I'm surprised that I missed the closed section of the Fall River Road. Might have to check that one out the next time I get out to Trail Ridge.
Here's a 360 pic someone took on the trail. It's pretty obvious here that it used to be a road..
https://goo.gl/maps/k9LEPr4Vhe52
Quote from: texaskdog on July 22, 2018, 09:03:55 PM
is it not just the hiking trail now?
All of Fall River Road from the east to the Alpine Visitor center is still a road. West of that, it's now the Ute trail, hiking only.
I figured this out one time as I was looking through National Park map at the national archives website, and noticed a switchback was missing on the map. Then I put two and two together, and sure enough, my suspicion proved correct.
A short segment of WA 504 is visible near Hoffstadt Creek (link (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.3447716,-122.5147541,3041m/data=!3m1!1e3). Most of the old highway was destroyed during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and the subsequent rebuilding of the Spirit Lake Highway in the early 1990s.