There was recently a thread similar, but that was just for roads.
I've noticed sections of I-64 in Louisville definitely do not look like they are in an urban area:
https://www.google.pl/maps/@38.2419214,-85.6897647,3a,75y,271.98h,77.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swwS6pi5LrmcndwBPWAoDwQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
The 4-lane freeway, treed-in surroundings, and grassy median (later) only add to this feel. If I were to show you that link without context, chances are you wouldn't guess it was in an urban area.
Any other freeways in urban areas (not exurban) that have a distinctly rural feel?
The Merit Parkway does to some extent, but the close proximity of interchanges makes it somewhat noticable.
I-29 (https://goo.gl/maps/1MQyFoGfuU81a88n9) and I-635 (https://goo.gl/maps/QdtTx5kntuLt4gUd6) in KC
Quote from: roadman65 on June 02, 2020, 02:56:57 PM
The Merit Parkway does to some extent, but the close proximity of interchanges makes it somewhat noticable.
Well the trees and spread-out lots of Fairfield County do kind of diminish that "urban" feel.
Another addition--very small portions of 210 between Pasadena and the western terminus feel somewhat rural (though the wideness and exit density reduce that feeling.).
Hampton Roads has numerous examples, mostly on the Southside.
Just a few:
I-264 between I-64 / I-664 (Exit 1) and Greenwood Dr (Exit 2) (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7957604,-76.3852475,3a,47.2y,61.94h,84.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1strkmPYhI_ir3gWN7qIroPQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1)
I-664 between I-64 / I-264 (Exit 15) and VA-135 College Dr (Exit 8) (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.811066,-76.4310073,3a,46.5y,352.84h,84.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sejZ4QOkY1rFKKFvewXigAQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1)
I-64 between I-264 / I-664 (Exit 299) and I-464 / US-17 / VA-168 (Exit 291) (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7776171,-76.3823445,3a,48.8y,109.95h,82.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYayBlSjh8G-kvwLqAnfZ7Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) ***before current 6 lane widening began***
I-464 between I-64 / US-17 / VA-168 (Exit 1) and Freeman Ave (Exit 3) (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7736321,-76.2761767,3a,75y,332.41h,81.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXVoaGRiseF--qG8_CIYnrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)
I-64 between Greenbrier Pkwy (Exit 289) and Indian River Rd (Exit 286) (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7959525,-76.2099226,3a,40.5y,247.67h,84.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBCngAZhT9wC6UY51AR1ekg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1)
US-58 / US-13 / US-460 along Suffolk Bypass (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7649279,-76.562601,3a,49.2y,279.06h,88.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFmoHyIa4uxof1_zHDebAvg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1)
VA-168 between I-64 / I-464 / US-17 (Exit 15) and Hillcrest Pkwy (Exit 8) (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7454215,-76.2576387,3a,48.2y,133.79h,82.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZlET7aV2jPs-7nQ5ptNhyQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) ***freeway is rural / exurban south of Exit 8***
Most of these freeways were built in these areas when they still were rural, development has built up around them, and the highways themselves have not changed much.
The southern section of I-205 in Oregon passes through undeveloped countryside. One has to wonder how long it remains that way even with urban growth boundaries in place.
Rick
Depends on how you're defining "urban area". We could get a lot of exurban examples that are rural-feeling for good reason.
I have mentioned this elsewhere, but this section of I-490 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0687855,-77.4739256,3a,75y,317.42h,81.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_1Bc891H_nb1TdzZpF85zg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) feels like a British or European rural freeway, specifically. It's similar to German autobahns in another important way, too: it's the only freeway I know of where you don't really have to watch your speed. There are a number of reasons for this, but let's just say it's among the narrowest 65 mph roads in the state, and it would be almost impossible to exceed 80 mph (which is when you'd have to start worrying about cops). That is to say, other factors would start to tell you you were going fast enough before your speedometer (exactly the opposite of the Thruway, where you have to watch it if you're not using cruise control).
A large portion of I-40 in Memphis, traveling over what was to have been the north side of the I-240 loop, passes through river floodplain. I don't know that I would call it rural feeling, since it is a busy six-lane freeway, but for much of that section, the landscape doesn't seem urban either.
I-280 in California
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
NY 440
Little Rock has some great examples of this:
I-40 at the 167 interchange:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7784326,-92.2296887,3a,75y,275.83h,79.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgwT0hZhoOVhy9L6LFI-mNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Most of I-440 in general:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7167695,-92.2343895,3a,75y,99.19h,79.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNgLx10k7o7IjUwCJDC3mKA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
I-30 just south of the 530/30/440 interchange: (actually, probably that entire interchange feels rural)
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7053235,-92.2923894,3a,75y,249.08h,83.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0gMfBBDvbcMjOXAniJlgIg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
I-430 just north of the 30/430 interchange:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6906667,-92.4046608,3a,75y,2.72h,76.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saucd5xqZZh6DTl2t-2aosg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 07:30:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
Seems pretty rural (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.544658,-122.3702327,3a,49y,143.85h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siY3f1xCVRZQYwV_8imjFGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) to me outside the city.
I’ve always thought that I-57 through the South Side of Chicago looked a bit rural, with the grassy median and the difficulty of seeing any buildings.
(https://i.imgur.com/6ZH48Ls.png) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7084052,-87.6529837,3a,75y,352.37h,85.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0_Llyspa-Sak1e07kM6sbA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 02, 2020, 08:24:51 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 07:30:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
Seems pretty rural (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.544658,-122.3702327,3a,49y,143.85h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siY3f1xCVRZQYwV_8imjFGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) to me outside the city.
You specified, but RGT didn't.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
I assume you're referring to parts of I-280 (Junipero Serra Freeway) in San Mateo County. Grassy medians on freeways with no barriers at all (like those referred to by STLmapboy) are now relatively rare in California due to some fatal crossover collisions where vehicles crossed over wide medians.
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 08:50:40 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 02, 2020, 08:24:51 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 07:30:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
Seems pretty rural (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.544658,-122.3702327,3a,49y,143.85h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siY3f1xCVRZQYwV_8imjFGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) to me outside the city.
You specified, but RGT didn't.
Not sure what your issue here is. The OP specified "sections of freeway" within an urban area. I-280 is within the San Francisco-Oakland urban area (the section in question does form the boundary of said urban area, but it is still there). There is continuous development less than a quarter-mile to the east of this view. This feel goes on for about 15 miles in a major commute corridor.
But meanwhile, I'll give you this section of CA-13 in Oakland. (https://goo.gl/maps/to94dzpH35J3HowV7)
When I saw pictures of The Uniroyal Tire (https://goo.gl/maps/2JomXsZUv82bDwaeA), I thought it was out in the middle of nowhere. Not until I tracked it down did I find it was on a short stretch of wooded road in an urban area.
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 08:50:40 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 02, 2020, 08:24:51 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 07:30:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
Seems pretty rural (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.544658,-122.3702327,3a,49y,143.85h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siY3f1xCVRZQYwV_8imjFGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) to me outside the city.
You specified, but RGT didn't.
Still the same I-280. When he said that, he was obviously referring to those segments.
It's still in the urban area, just skirting the edges.
Treed-in surroundings are pretty common for freeways in the Seattle area, so here's a few that look particularly rural: I-5 in North Everett (https://goo.gl/maps/p3aygQRajNm1yWv89), I-5 in Fife (https://goo.gl/maps/nouok5jXYiXuY6pg8), SR 512 (https://goo.gl/maps/nezbWLNmmWuXH8vs8), SR 167 in Pacific (https://goo.gl/maps/T6pxyLFkwbV7YCHN7), SR 522 in Woodinville (https://goo.gl/maps/iSDjgpuDHAYZzfP97)...the list can go on.
I-210 between San Fernando to Pasadena has a section of urban freeway that looks rural, CA-2 Glendale Freeway has some sections like that though too.
IMO the most rural-looking of Bay freeways would be I-680 between the Sunol Grade east of the CA 238 junction and Bernal Avenue in Livermore. Looks can be deceiving; there's a lot of higher-end housing tucked away in the hills through which the freeway passes -- but hard to see from a distance, particularly the mansions west of the freeway near the Sunol Blvd. exit (John Madden lives in one of those just west of the country club).
Quote from: sparker on June 03, 2020, 03:49:00 AM
IMO the most rural-looking of Bay freeways would be I-680 between the Sunol Grade east of the CA 238 junction and Bernal Avenue in Livermore. Looks can be deceiving; there's a lot of higher-end housing tucked away in the hills through which the freeway passes -- but hard to see from a distance, particularly the mansions west of the freeway near the Sunol Blvd. exit (John Madden lives in one of those just west of the country club).
I would add I-680 northbound from Jacklin Road to Mission Boulevard (CA-262). Because the section is higher than the southbound side with a hill directly to the east, all the houses west of the southbound side is not really visible, and no development on the east side.
Quote from: DTComposer on June 03, 2020, 12:20:11 AM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 08:50:40 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 02, 2020, 08:24:51 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 07:30:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
Seems pretty rural (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.544658,-122.3702327,3a,49y,143.85h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siY3f1xCVRZQYwV_8imjFGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) to me outside the city.
You specified, but RGT didn't.
Not sure what your issue here is. The OP specified "sections of freeway" within an urban area. I-280 is within the San Francisco-Oakland urban area (the section in question does form the boundary of said urban area, but it is still there). There is continuous development less than a quarter-mile to the east of this view. This feel goes on for about 15 miles in a major commute corridor.
I know. I have actually been on I-280 between Daly City and CA 92, so I knew exactly why he mentioned it. But, the point is that the "rural" feeling doesn't apply to the entire route, so it helps to specify which part of the route you're talking about, for those that might be unfamiliar with it. I was trying to have a little humor while making that point, but I guess it didn't translate very well.
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 03, 2020, 12:53:57 AM
Still the same I-280. When he said that, he was obviously referring to those segments.
^See above^
Quote from: DTComposer on June 03, 2020, 12:20:11 AM
But meanwhile, I'll give you this section of CA-13 in Oakland. (https://goo.gl/maps/to94dzpH35J3HowV7)
There's a road with very similar character in the Vancouver metro area that I'll have to try to put my finger on.
I might have even thought this was it, if I didn't know this was in California.
As I see it, any freeway without any streetlights can be considered rural. A great example of such would be the various loops and bypasses of the large Southern cities (I'm looking at you, Atlanta, Birmingham, and all cities in the Carolinas!), while those in the Northeast and Midwest are typically well-lit.
Quote from: webny99 on June 03, 2020, 07:37:23 AM
Quote from: DTComposer on June 03, 2020, 12:20:11 AM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 08:50:40 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 02, 2020, 08:24:51 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 02, 2020, 07:30:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 02, 2020, 05:49:12 PM
I-280 in California
About as rural as it gets (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.76469,-122.3928601,3a,36.8y,327.81h,87.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suIdqn3_ukkEgWQGdM5x1rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)...
Seems pretty rural (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.544658,-122.3702327,3a,49y,143.85h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siY3f1xCVRZQYwV_8imjFGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) to me outside the city.
You specified, but RGT didn't.
Not sure what your issue here is. The OP specified "sections of freeway" within an urban area. I-280 is within the San Francisco-Oakland urban area (the section in question does form the boundary of said urban area, but it is still there). There is continuous development less than a quarter-mile to the east of this view. This feel goes on for about 15 miles in a major commute corridor.
I know. I have actually been on I-280 between Daly City and CA 92, so I knew exactly why he mentioned it. But, the point is that the "rural" feeling doesn't apply to the entire route, so it helps to specify which part of the route you're talking about, for those that might be unfamiliar with it. I was trying to have a little humor while making that point, but I guess it didn't translate very well.
Quote from: sprjus4 on June 03, 2020, 12:53:57 AM
Still the same I-280. When he said that, he was obviously referring to those segments.
^See above^
Quote from: DTComposer on June 03, 2020, 12:20:11 AM
But meanwhile, I'll give you this section of CA-13 in Oakland. (https://goo.gl/maps/to94dzpH35J3HowV7)
There's a road with very similar character in the Vancouver metro area that I'll have to try to put my finger on.
I might have even thought this was it, if I didn't know this was in California.
BC1/BC99 in North Vancouver? Maybe BC99 in Stanley Park?
Which brings to mind other examples (more farmland, though); BC17, 91, and 99 south of Vancouver.
Quote from: Bruce on June 03, 2020, 01:00:19 AM
Treed-in surroundings
This seems to be the recurring theme for examples posted so far. Trees block the view of the urban surroundings.
Quote from: kphoger on June 03, 2020, 10:43:18 AM
Quote from: Bruce on June 03, 2020, 01:00:19 AM
Treed-in surroundings
This seems to be the recurring theme for examples posted so far. Trees block the view of the urban surroundings.
Agreed, when I saw this thread I initially thought of parkways for this exact reason. Someone already mentioned the Merritt Parkway up-thread; I'll throw in the George Washington Memorial Parkway (parts closer to the northern end at I-495 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9303044,-77.1209108,3a,75y,306.49h,80.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLhvXwcC-SYA3VWXDIcV93g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)), and most of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9773427,-76.8945234,3a,75y,36.89h,81.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spSOpw4RNNMg5Q66OfnC8cA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
To give a non-parkway example, here's I-83 for the first couple miles inside I-695 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3959325,-76.6668106,3a,75y,201.33h,87.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4bDNr5j1b7arnTOTWWz51A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en) when heading towards downtown Baltimore.
Quote from: jmacswimmer on June 03, 2020, 11:06:57 AM
Quote from: kphoger on June 03, 2020, 10:43:18 AM
Quote from: Bruce on June 03, 2020, 01:00:19 AM
Treed-in surroundings
This seems to be the recurring theme for examples posted so far. Trees block the view of the urban surroundings.
Agreed, when I saw this thread I initially thought of parkways for this exact reason. Someone already mentioned the Merritt Parkway up-thread; I'll throw in the George Washington Memorial Parkway (parts closer to the northern end at I-495 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9303044,-77.1209108,3a,75y,306.49h,80.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLhvXwcC-SYA3VWXDIcV93g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)), and most of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9773427,-76.8945234,3a,75y,36.89h,81.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spSOpw4RNNMg5Q66OfnC8cA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
To give a non-parkway example, here's I-83 for the first couple miles inside I-695 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3959325,-76.6668106,3a,75y,201.33h,87.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4bDNr5j1b7arnTOTWWz51A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en) when heading towards downtown Baltimore.
Also in the DC area, I-95 between I-495 and I-695 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1672987,-76.8072682,3a,34.2y,55.5h,83.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBIUhQqL_RaNjF8Nc3rlG3w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en), I-495 / I-95 on the southeastern side of the Beltway (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8549409,-76.8550701,3a,48.9y,45.86h,81.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPI-giEDt52EZ1xDF50RhgQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en), and most of MD-200 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0969642,-77.0343564,3a,39.9y,125.37h,83.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr-nSaIaqhwG-Dncp1arrmQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
The OP noted I-64 in Louisville, which was the first example I thought of when I saw the thread title even before I saw his exhibit.
I'd submit that most of I-265/KY 841 in Jefferson County also qualifies, although there is a decent amount of development north of I-64 and around some of the interchanges. between I-64 and I-65.
Cincinnati's topogrpaphy lends itself to a number of these, including
I-74, 8 miles from downtown (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1782447,-84.5906982,3a,15y,148.54h,85.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDDowD9lOMpY9hhy84Xf0lA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
I-71 at the Stewart Road exit (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.183546,-84.3931005,3a,49.3y,214.91h,77.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQyjC60b_K8zYRfAoCCpEUQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Quote from: DTComposer on June 03, 2020, 12:20:11 AM
But meanwhile, I'll give you this section of CA-13 in Oakland. (https://goo.gl/maps/to94dzpH35J3HowV7)
The CA-13 freeway really is pretty when there it's not choked by traffic.
Quote from: SeriesE on June 03, 2020, 04:44:04 AM
Quote from: sparker on June 03, 2020, 03:49:00 AM
IMO the most rural-looking of Bay freeways would be I-680 between the Sunol Grade east of the CA 238 junction and Bernal Avenue in Livermore. Looks can be deceiving; there's a lot of higher-end housing tucked away in the hills through which the freeway passes -- but hard to see from a distance, particularly the mansions west of the freeway near the Sunol Blvd. exit (John Madden lives in one of those just west of the country club).
I would add I-680 northbound from Jacklin Road to Mission Boulevard (CA-262). Because the section is higher than the southbound side with a hill directly to the east, all the houses west of the southbound side is not really visible, and no development on the east side.
There's a couple of reasons for that lack of development -- much of the property is still owned by Caltrans as detritus from the long-deleted CA 237 freeway extension that was to angle NE from existing 237 between Zanker and McCarthy, cross I-880 near Scott Creek, and interchange with I-680 via a semidirectional interchange (much of the grading for which is still there). Otherwise, it's simple topography -- the slope above the NB 680 lanes is too severe for cost-effective development (would require one hell of a lot of terracing).
Quote from: sparker on June 03, 2020, 03:49:00 AM
IMO the most rural-looking of Bay freeways would be I-680 between the Sunol Grade east of the CA 238 junction and Bernal Avenue in Livermore. Looks can be deceiving; there's a lot of higher-end housing tucked away in the hills through which the freeway passes -- but hard to see from a distance, particularly the mansions west of the freeway near the Sunol Blvd. exit (John Madden lives in one of those just west of the country club).
Another section of I-680 looks rural though its the 4-lane section between Benicia and Fairfield the north end look rural but its in the middle of suburban sprawl where the Valero Refinery is near I-680 and housing is on the north end near the Cordelia interchange.
I-80 between Vacaville and Davis and I-80 between Davis to West Sacramento looks rural but that is quickly more suburban sprawl where Sacramento and Bay Area commuters are merging in places like Solano County Yolo County.
Temecula has a similar section of I-15 that is rural looking but its in the middle of a merger between IE, OC and San Diego Commuters.
Quote from: frankenroad on June 03, 2020, 03:10:35 PM
Cincinnati's topogrpaphy lends itself to a number of these, including
I-74, 8 miles from downtown (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1782447,-84.5906982,3a,15y,148.54h,85.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDDowD9lOMpY9hhy84Xf0lA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
I-71 at the Stewart Road exit (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.183546,-84.3931005,3a,49.3y,214.91h,77.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQyjC60b_K8zYRfAoCCpEUQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
I-275 from Hebron to I-74
SM-G950U
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 03, 2020, 10:23:04 AM
Quote from: webny99 on June 03, 2020, 07:37:23 AM
Quote from: DTComposer on June 03, 2020, 12:20:11 AM
But meanwhile, I'll give you this section of CA-13 in Oakland. (https://goo.gl/maps/to94dzpH35J3HowV7)
There's a road with very similar character in the Vancouver metro area that I'll have to try to put my finger on.
I might have even thought this was it, if I didn't know this was in California.
BC1/BC99 in North Vancouver? Maybe BC99 in Stanley Park?
Yep, I think it was this section (https://www.google.com/maps/@49.3212079,-123.042166,3a,75y,298.44h,100.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srnHU7rc8e9arc96DVeucbw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en) of BC 1.
Quote from: STLmapboy on June 03, 2020, 10:23:04 AM
99 south of Vancouver.
Indeed (https://www.google.com/maps/@49.0896211,-122.8527578,3a,75y,95.84h,87.89t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGaratLaHAg1i-cms_BCyrA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DGaratLaHAg1i-cms_BCyrA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.2558%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en). That's one of the best ones yet. I remember being impressed by how remote that road felt for a trip between the suburbs and the airport.
The New York State Thruway has a few of these, including north of the Yonkers tolls (https://goo.gl/maps/yeGAk7P3Evu8f2DQ9) in Westchester County and through the Albany Pine Bush (https://goo.gl/maps/SZ4T1LS9sWogA1Y58) in Albany County.
Elsewhere in Westchester County, I-684 (https://goo.gl/maps/As1q4qtdPS96YQDv5) is remarkably well-shielded from the suburban sprawl it passes through. Long Island's expressways and parkways generally have too much in the way of lighting to pass as "rural".
US-175 in Dallas
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.740694,-96.7204795,3a,75y,319.48h,85.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_52o3mHmuNZ67VV95l1SUQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
I have only driven and ridden this route once or twice and I had the feeling both as a passenger and driver, and I just double-checked it on GSV...but I-79->I-279 between the PA Turnpike and Downtown Pittsburgh feels and looks relatively rural. Obviously, if one thinks about it, clearly you are driving thru North Suburban Pittsburgh, but the hilly/mountainy terrain, its almost like you don't see it, until you come around a hill/mountain a few miles from Downtown
Part of the "City with a Front Door" reputuation for Pittsburgh. I almost think the drive in from the north on 279 is as impessive as the drive in on I-376 from the south thru the Fort Pitt Tunnel for the "front door" effect
Quote from: kphoger on June 02, 2020, 02:59:02 PM
I-29 (https://goo.gl/maps/1MQyFoGfuU81a88n9) and I-635 (https://goo.gl/maps/QdtTx5kntuLt4gUd6) in KC
My mental image of the section of I-435 going east from KCI all the way to I-35 is that of actual farmland within the city limits of Kansas City. The first time I ever drove I-435, when I was going to a Royals game driving down from Omaha, I wondered to my buddy who was with me if this was the right road.
Quote from: DandyDan on June 04, 2020, 05:01:16 AM
Quote from: kphoger on June 02, 2020, 02:59:02 PM
I-29 (https://goo.gl/maps/1MQyFoGfuU81a88n9) and I-635 (https://goo.gl/maps/QdtTx5kntuLt4gUd6) in KC
My mental image of the section of I-435 going east from KCI all the way to I-35 is that of actual farmland within the city limits of Kansas City. The first time I ever drove I-435, when I was going to a Royals game driving down from Omaha, I wondered to my buddy who was with me if this was the right road.
Airports can be like that.
For example,
here (https://goo.gl/maps/dwCbENjmk9pskZjk8) is Peña Blvd on the way to DIA. I remember watching cows graze from the taxiway there.
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 10:42:28 AM
Airports can be like that.
For example, here (https://goo.gl/maps/dwCbENjmk9pskZjk8) is Peña Blvd on the way to DIA. I remember watching cows graze from the taxiway there.
Indeed, and here is I-195 approaching BWI (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2090466,-76.6951648,3a,75y,185.34h,83.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1so3q839HLSuX8yRwdkeVdNg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
I remember flying into DEN in 2016 and being amazed at how empty the immediate surroundings are - we landed on runway 16L and the final approach was nothing but fields (and another plane approached and landed simultaneously on parallel runway 16R, which was pretty cool).
It's quite the contrast to, say, landing at MDW or BOS where you feel like you're going to clip buildings or land in the water, respectively.
Quote from: jmacswimmer on June 04, 2020, 11:22:21 AM
It's quite the contrast to, say, landing at MDW or BOS where you feel like you're going to clip buildings or land in the water, respectively.
When I was growing up in northwestern Kansas in the 1990s, our church organist at that time had come to this state in a covered wagon when she was a little kid. To come here, they had left their
farm near soon-to-be-constructed Chicago Air Park, later to be renamed Midway International Airport.
SH 288 south of 610 for the most part, though parts of it south of Beltway 8 has seen some development. Though that'll probably change once the toll lanes get completed.
There's also the Fort Bend Toll Road
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.6241122,-95.4874811,3a,75y,113.81h,80.38t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sa1dewaQsudJ7MuU69i5wQg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Da1dewaQsudJ7MuU69i5wQg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D354.6406%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192
and also most of the Hardy Toll Road Airport Connector
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9570799,-95.3543724,3a,75y,285.55h,97.55t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUeghJSXZEv6SINJi3gf3xA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DUeghJSXZEv6SINJi3gf3xA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D72.02357%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 11:45:16 AM
When I was growing up in northwestern Kansas in the 1990s, our church organist at that time had come to this state in a covered wagon when she was a little kid.
Covered wagons were obsolete by the 1890's, so she must have been over 100 years old?
Quote from: webny99 on June 04, 2020, 12:04:39 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 11:45:16 AM
When I was growing up in northwestern Kansas in the 1990s, our church organist at that time had come to this state in a covered wagon when she was a little kid.
Covered wagons were obsolete by the 1890's, so she must have been over 100 years old?
No. They may have been obsolete by then, but they still existed. Hers was one of the last wagons to come west, I believe, and I don't think it was necessarily part of a "wagon train". She died about 15 years ago, I think. I can't for the life of me remember her name, or else I'd try to hunt down the obit.
Hmm. I feel like heading west in a covered wagon in the 1920's or 30's would be like heading west in a Model T right now.
Quote from: webny99 on June 04, 2020, 04:05:54 PM
Hmm. I feel like heading west in a covered wagon in the 1920's or 30's would be like heading west in a Model T right now.
The Oregon Trail was used into the 1890s. 1920 was only 30 years later. It's more like heading west in one of these:
(https://chevroletforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/20170729_140452_22fa3e7222dee9d052bf68e06737b9d2c9993ad6.jpg)
This one in Charlotte (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2513754,-80.8594803,3a,75y,106.99h,91.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9xcfKvkjZjdBiVJ8gbiaCA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) amazes me. A mile ahead, the city's skyline bursts into view after one passes through the I-77 interchange.
Seconded on NY 440, only evidence you're in NYC is the asinine 50 mph speed limit. NYSDOT says this section of NY 27 is in too dense an area to raise the 55 mph limit: https://goo.gl/maps/nSk6XXUxiHbGKiVVA
The Sprain has some ruralesque sections in southern Westchester: https://goo.gl/maps/q3CEpd8c4nY9wCCa7
Quote from: crispy93 on June 05, 2020, 05:12:38 PM
NYSDOT says this section of NY 27 is in too dense an area to raise the 55 mph limit: https://goo.gl/maps/nSk6XXUxiHbGKiVVA
That highway would be 65 mph in almost every other state. "Too dense". :rolleyes:
Both I-495 and NY-27 should be 65 mph outside of New York City on Long Island.
I-87 can be posted at 65 mph 15 miles north of New York City, but I-495 and NY-27 are not allowed 60 miles away from New York City.
It probably would be in New York too, if only it were not on Long Island.
(personal opinion)
Second that. That would totally be posted at 65 mph if it was upstate.
Quote from: webny99 on June 05, 2020, 08:58:27 PM
Second that. That would totally be posted at 65 mph if it was upstate.
Why are speed limits lower on Long Island?
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 05, 2020, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 05, 2020, 08:58:27 PM
Second that. That would totally be posted at 65 mph if it was upstate.
Why are speed limits lower on Long Island?
Island mentality (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_mentality), I guess. I stand to be corrected but I don't think there are any 65 mph roads on Long Island. Having to go through NYC to get to the rest of the world tends to kind of bake in your perceptions and worldview. NYC is an unavoidable part of life on Long Island, even in Montauk. Places that far away from NYC that are upstate, like Binghamton or Albany, don't revolve around NYC to the same extent.
Quote from: webny99 on June 05, 2020, 10:30:25 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 05, 2020, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 05, 2020, 08:58:27 PM
Second that. That would totally be posted at 65 mph if it was upstate.
Why are speed limits lower on Long Island?
Island mentality (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_mentality), I guess. I stand to be corrected but I don't think there are any 65 mph roads on Long Island. Having to go through NYC to get to the rest of the world tends to kind of bake in your perceptions and worldview. NYC is an unavoidable part of life on Long Island, even in Montauk. Places that far away from NYC that are upstate, like Binghamton or Albany, don't revolve around NYC to the same extent.
Until I read this, I didn't realize that Montauk is over 100 miles away as the crow flies from Manhattan. Montauk is closer to Hartford, Providence, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and even Boston than NYC
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 04:12:27 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 04, 2020, 04:05:54 PM
Hmm. I feel like heading west in a covered wagon in the 1920's or 30's would be like heading west in a Model T right now.
The Oregon Trail was used into the 1890s. 1920 was only 30 years later. It's more like heading west in one of these:
[img snipped]
Fair enough. I was thinking more in terms of how much has changed, not necessarily how much time has elapsed. The development of the car was such a huge advance and progress has come in much smaller increments since then.
I-40 in GSO, Gate City Blvd to I-785/I-840/I-85.
Nobody has mentioned I-97 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
The southern section, between U.S. 50/U.S. 301 and MD-32, is quite desolate for being in a large suburban county. According to FHWA maps, some sections this are indeed rural on at least one side, other parts are urbanized, but this section of freeway certainly looks rural.
Quote from: ftballfan on June 05, 2020, 11:41:11 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 05, 2020, 10:30:25 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on June 05, 2020, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 05, 2020, 08:58:27 PM
Second that. That would totally be posted at 65 mph if it was upstate.
Why are speed limits lower on Long Island?
Island mentality (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_mentality), I guess. I stand to be corrected but I don't think there are any 65 mph roads on Long Island. Having to go through NYC to get to the rest of the world tends to kind of bake in your perceptions and worldview. NYC is an unavoidable part of life on Long Island, even in Montauk. Places that far away from NYC that are upstate, like Binghamton or Albany, don't revolve around NYC to the same extent.
Until I read this, I didn't realize that Montauk is over 100 miles away as the crow flies from Manhattan. Montauk is closer to Hartford, Providence, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and even Boston than NYC
The lack of a bridge across the Long Island Sound has really shaped Long Island culture. I would say that the most logical place for a bridge (economically) is an extension of I-91 across the LI Sound at New Haven but that's also a 20 mile bridge, which is shorter than the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway so it's theoretically possible but not likely.
Quote from: sparker on June 03, 2020, 03:49:00 AM
IMO the most rural-looking of Bay freeways would be I-680 between the Sunol Grade east of the CA 238 junction and Bernal Avenue in Livermore. Looks can be deceiving; there's a lot of higher-end housing tucked away in the hills through which the freeway passes -- but hard to see from a distance, particularly the mansions west of the freeway near the Sunol Blvd. exit (John Madden lives in one of those just west of the country club).
I only been on I-680 from Fremont to the I-280 junction but I think I-280 has that feature as well when it goes through Hillsborough. When one heads north and goes through the San Mateo Creek bridge, one can see the back of some houses there, but they're tucked away behind the hills, except for one notable exception, the Flintstones House of course. Heading Southbound one can't really see them while driving!
Quote from: webny99 on June 06, 2020, 12:30:14 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 04:12:27 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 04, 2020, 04:05:54 PM
Hmm. I feel like heading west in a covered wagon in the 1920's or 30's would be like heading west in a Model T right now.
The Oregon Trail was used into the 1890s. 1920 was only 30 years later. It's more like heading west in one of these:
[img snipped]
Fair enough. I was thinking more in terms of how much has changed, not necessarily how much time has elapsed. The development of the car was such a huge advance and progress has come in much smaller increments since then.
I do believe, however, that hers was one of the
last families to move west by covered wagon.
Phoenix Arizona's SR 51 (Lori Piestewa Freeway) gets a totally rural look and feel as it passes through Dreamy Draw. One leaves suburbia quickly, only to be back in as quickly at the other side of the park. It's a nice break from all the development as one travels from one end of the 51 to the other.
I-96 in the Grand Rapids area, especially between US-131 and I-196
I originally posted this to a different thread because I couldn't find this one, but anyways, it's relevant here:
Quote from: webny99 on April 22, 2021, 05:06:06 PM
It's crazy that this (https://www.google.com/maps/@49.0905771,-122.9469844,3a,90y,107.31h,87.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sE5w7xwqkKD1oQVuui7FE2w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) is part of the route between the Vancouver Airport (YVR) and most of Vancouver's eastern suburbs.
Quote from: kphoger on June 02, 2020, 02:59:02 PM
I-29 (https://goo.gl/maps/1MQyFoGfuU81a88n9) and I-635 (https://goo.gl/maps/QdtTx5kntuLt4gUd6) in KC
For I-29, the 55 sign kind of gives it away.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 22, 2021, 11:51:26 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 02, 2020, 02:59:02 PM
I-29 (https://goo.gl/maps/1MQyFoGfuU81a88n9) and I-635 (https://goo.gl/maps/QdtTx5kntuLt4gUd6) in KC
For I-29, the 55 sign kind of gives it away.
After leaving streetview on the I-635 one and moving the map around, I wound up doing a double-take after finding stuff like this (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Old+Quindaro+Museum/@39.1481983,-94.6618058,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87c0f40bc5d2f673:0x57a29be3300135a2!8m2!3d39.1486843!4d-94.6616282?hl=en). I wonder if there are goats.
Some in the Cincinnati area:
- I-74 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1586747,-84.5709554,3a,75y,304.42h,85.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjDFuYFiiR5D63xJcGEXwGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en) about 2 miles west of its eastern terminus at I-75
- I-275 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1985649,-84.7682543,3a,75y,0.88h,85.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX8OvPxphOpAgmwKpM0ql0Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en) on its western loop
- I-71 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1850711,-84.3937094,3a,75y,41.41h,84.61t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY-MGvVe2jgxgsl1QFeXjHw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en) between exits 10 and 11
- OH 126 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2206136,-84.4163551,3a,75y,45.52h,82.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7kjhRWYpSSe-H6bofhiiWQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en) between exits 29 and 31
Interstate 10 in east San Antonio, interstates 35 and 37 in south San Antonio and the southern leg of interstate 410
Does that one segment of I-95 between the north side of Wilmington and the Pennsylvania line count?
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 12:19:16 PM
Quote from: webny99 on June 04, 2020, 12:04:39 PM
Quote from: kphoger on June 04, 2020, 11:45:16 AM
When I was growing up in northwestern Kansas in the 1990s, our church organist at that time had come to this state in a covered wagon when she was a little kid.
Covered wagons were obsolete by the 1890's, so she must have been over 100 years old?
No. They may have been obsolete by then, but they still existed. Hers was one of the last wagons to come west, I believe, and I don't think it was necessarily part of a "wagon train". She died about 15 years ago, I think. I can't for the life of me remember her name, or else I'd try to hunt down the obit.
I would say the transition point would have been in the 1920s. It is possible. The first master road builder of OK came over in a covered wagon.
Trains existed, of course, at the turn of the 20th century but didn't run everywhere, and automobiles (and automobile-worthy roads) were just starting to appear. So covered wagons certainly still existed.
Coming into St Louis on I-55 in Illinois is quite strange. You get your first distant view of St Louis (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6813865,-90.0112183,3a,24.3y,245.22h,86.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scuN0YOGuknH_P5_L7iaKWg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) approaching the I-255 interchange after passing through some exurban settings from Troy to Collinsville. Next you go through some rural-like area, although on the right is a giant landfill (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6562714,-90.1126321,3a,39y,268.91h,84.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sk89u42O4bJW8a_hYqyygfg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) (not Cahokia Mound (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6587075,-90.0616242,3a,75y,320.53h,83.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sb7Hk-trG9n6xb4HFl2eYgQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), which I found out after I moved to the area). Then you go over a bunch of railroad tracks and voila, you're in and urban industrial wasteland two miles from Downtown St Louis with a clear view of the Arch (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6370421,-90.1369444,3a,27.6y,244.51h,85.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1se85hGVHnAb_3oNFHvI40Hw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), not that you can look much because of the spaghetti-like braided road (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6224397,-90.1649085,1908m/data=!3m1!1e3) you get to navigate on I-55 through East St Louis.