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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: Roadgeekteen on July 12, 2021, 09:29:12 PM

Title: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Roadgeekteen on July 12, 2021, 09:29:12 PM
What do you think?
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 12, 2021, 09:32:05 PM
I-70 Glenwood Canyon, I-70 San Rafael Swell and I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: M3100 on July 12, 2021, 09:34:14 PM
I-88 in upstate New York.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: SkyPesos on July 12, 2021, 09:44:43 PM
I-68, because it gets bonus points as a PA Turnpike shunpike routing and the Sideling Hill Road Cut.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Scott5114 on July 12, 2021, 11:29:55 PM
It's probably some anonymous bit of freeway like I-35 between Emporia KS and Kansas City, that is in good condition, useful (so not a waste of taxes) but not overburdened with traffic, goes through scenery that is inoffensive to the eye and yet not so spectacular that it's criticized for its environmental impact...
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: JayhawkCO on July 13, 2021, 10:36:02 AM
I-H3.

It's gorgeous, and both visitors and Hawai'ians don't find it possible to hate much when you're in Hawai'i.

Chris
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: hotdogPi on July 13, 2021, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

Except the trucks.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:13:37 AM
Quote from: 1 on July 13, 2021, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

Except the trucks.

That is one of the intended purposes of the Eisenhower system of Interstate Highways, defense and commerce.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: US 89 on July 13, 2021, 11:25:10 AM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:13:37 AM
Quote from: 1 on July 13, 2021, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

Except the trucks.

That is one of the intended purposes of the Eisenhower system of Interstate Highways, defense and commerce.

That doesn't mean one has to enjoy it...

Personally, I don't really mind trucks on interstates at least at the levels I see on most western and central US freeways. I-40 in Arkansas had enough that they started to get just a bit annoying. I'm not sure how that compares to I-81 as I've never driven it.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:28:24 AM
I-70 through the San Rafael Swell.  However, the route was much nicer when it was a super two.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Roadgeekteen on July 13, 2021, 01:13:04 PM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:13:37 AM
Quote from: 1 on July 13, 2021, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

Except the trucks.

That is one of the intended purposes of the Eisenhower system of Interstate Highways, defense and commerce.
Cars are the majority traffic, cars don't like trucks.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 13, 2021, 01:31:59 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on July 13, 2021, 01:13:04 PM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:13:37 AM
Quote from: 1 on July 13, 2021, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

Except the trucks.

That is one of the intended purposes of the Eisenhower system of Interstate Highways, defense and commerce.
Cars are the majority traffic, cars don't like trucks.

But cars carry people to places they spend money or work, hence commerce.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: sprjus4 on July 13, 2021, 02:29:02 PM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:13:37 AM
Quote from: 1 on July 13, 2021, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

Except the trucks.

That is one of the intended purposes of the Eisenhower system of Interstate Highways, defense and commerce.
Given the high traffic volumes on I-81, combined with high truck percentages, substandard design features, etc. the highway often becomes a source of frustration with continuous trucks utilizing both lanes and often blocking any forward progress more than 60 mph for miles on end.

If the highway was properly designed with 6 lanes throughout, it would be far more enjoyable. The small segments that have been 6 laned have zero issues and are quite enjoyable even with heavy amounts of trucks in the right 2 lanes.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on July 13, 2021, 02:51:18 PM
Glenwood Canyon might get some F-bombs dropped on it from regional users during its usual annual emergency closures due to rock slides/fires.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Max Rockatansky on July 13, 2021, 03:06:28 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on July 13, 2021, 02:51:18 PM
Glenwood Canyon might get some F-bombs dropped on it from regional users during its usual annual emergency closures due to rock slides/fires.

Considering the quality of scenic roads around it, I would put I-70 in Glenwood Canyon high on my personal list of over hyped highways.  Even I-70 in the San Rafael Swell had a hard time competing with the scenery of UT 12 and UT 24.  I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge is one of the few instances where the freeway is almost inarguably more scenic than the surface alternate.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:33:49 PM
I-27 because nobody drives it so therefore nobody hates it.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: SkyPesos on July 13, 2021, 06:39:49 PM
Quote from: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:33:49 PM
I-27 because nobody drives it so therefore nobody hates it.
Wish we can say the same about I-180  :bigass:
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: kphoger on July 13, 2021, 06:48:16 PM
Quote from: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:33:49 PM
I-27 because nobody drives it so therefore nobody hates it.

Think about it.  Have you ever heard anyone complain about I-27?  I never have.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:49:19 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 13, 2021, 06:39:49 PM
Quote from: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:33:49 PM
I-27 because nobody drives it so therefore nobody hates it.
Wish we can say the same about I-180  :bigass:
I drove Wyoming's I-180 once. Illinois' edition (the far inferior one), not so much.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: sprjus4 on July 13, 2021, 06:51:38 PM
I-37.

Pros: Traffic is always light, the speed limit is 75 mph, no major cities or slowdowns between each terminus.

Cons: Nothing interesting really along the route, can get boring quickly. Speed limit should be 80 mph.

I'd say the pros easily outweigh the cons.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: hotdogPi on July 13, 2021, 07:15:24 PM
Quote from: kphoger on July 13, 2021, 06:48:16 PM
Quote from: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:33:49 PM
I-27 because nobody drives it so therefore nobody hates it.

Think about it.  Have you ever heard anyone complain about I-27?  I never have.

"needs to be extended"
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: kernals12 on July 13, 2021, 07:16:13 PM
The Bronx River Parkway probably.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Bruce on July 14, 2021, 03:32:55 AM
Quote from: jayhawkco on July 13, 2021, 10:36:02 AM
I-H3.

It's gorgeous, and both visitors and Hawai'ians don't find it possible to hate much when you're in Hawai'i.

Chris

Lots of people on the island hate it for being overpriced and immensely destructive to the local environment. Also it took out a few sacred Native Hawaiʻian sites, even after it was rerouted to avoid others.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/12/04/news/story3.html
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: oscar on July 14, 2021, 03:46:21 AM
Quote from: Bruce on July 14, 2021, 03:32:55 AM
Quote from: jayhawkco on July 13, 2021, 10:36:02 AM
I-H3.

It's gorgeous, and both visitors and Hawai'ians don't find it possible to hate much when you're in Hawai'i.

Chris

Lots of people on the island hate it for being overpriced and immensely destructive to the local environment. Also it took out a few sacred Native Hawaiʻian sites, even after it was rerouted to avoid others.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/12/04/news/story3.html

Indicating the intensity of the controversy is that the freeway was largely prompted by the military's troubles during the Vietnam War in moving troops around Oahu (including my father, for his two tours of duty in Vietnam). The war was over for about a quarter-century, by the time the freeway was completed.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: kphoger on July 14, 2021, 09:29:54 AM
Quote from: 1 on July 13, 2021, 07:15:24 PM

Quote from: kphoger on July 13, 2021, 06:48:16 PM

Quote from: thspfc on July 13, 2021, 06:33:49 PM
I-27 because nobody drives it so therefore nobody hates it.

Think about it.  Have you ever heard anyone complain about I-27?  I never have.

"needs to be extended"

So...  what you're saying is...  people love I-27 so much, they wish they could have EVEN MORE of it!
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Flint1979 on July 14, 2021, 09:33:03 AM
I drove I-81 all the way from Harrisonburg, Virginia to it's southern terminus and it was a bottleneck of trucks the day I drove it. Started to get pretty frustrating.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: index on July 14, 2021, 10:35:39 AM
Quote from: Henry on July 13, 2021, 10:33:56 AM
I-81 in Appalachia, as it's far more scenic than I-95 and avoids all the large cities that the latter 2di passes through.

I actually hate being on I-81, especially in Virginia. It's in a valley so it's a massive tease compared to the scenery you can get driving on something like I-77 in the state instead. Sure, it looks better than I-95, but IMO that's not saying much. There's only a handful of spots I actually considered impressive. Because of that, I find it really, really, really boring. It just drags on.

That, and as other posters have mentioned, the trucks.
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: JayhawkCO on July 14, 2021, 11:40:54 AM
Quote from: Bruce on July 14, 2021, 03:32:55 AM
Quote from: jayhawkco on July 13, 2021, 10:36:02 AM
I-H3.

It's gorgeous, and both visitors and Hawai'ians don't find it possible to hate much when you're in Hawai'i.

Chris

Lots of people on the island hate it for being overpriced and immensely destructive to the local environment. Also it took out a few sacred Native Hawaiʻian sites, even after it was rerouted to avoid others.

http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/12/04/news/story3.html

Thanks for the info.  Had no idea.

Chris
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: US 89 on July 14, 2021, 03:57:36 PM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on July 13, 2021, 11:28:24 AM
I-70 through the San Rafael Swell.  However, the route was much nicer when it was a super two.

I don't think the second carriageway was necessary concerning traffic volumes, but I don't see how it can make the highway less nice...
Title: Re: Least Hated Freeway in America
Post by: Road Hog on July 14, 2021, 05:56:08 PM
I-49 in Arkansas seems quite welcomed rather than hated. That will change after another 500,000 Californians and Texans relocate there.