AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: webny99 on March 02, 2022, 12:48:33 PM

Title: Ugliest Highways
Post by: webny99 on March 02, 2022, 12:48:33 PM
I would submit the restriped portion of NY 590 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2015538,-77.5486263,3a,37.6y,345.52h,86.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFEZdleJrsfblB5GlPRxUoA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) north of NY 104 as one of the ugliest highways in the US. The striping makes it a terrible eyesore, not to mention the weeds growing in the median and aging bridges and pavement. It's honestly an embarrassment to drive on this stretch with guests from out of town, what a terrible impression it must leave on them. The least that could be done is a restriping to bring it back to two lanes, as it used to be (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2011056,-77.5486584,3a,75.7y,329.93h,88.35t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2D-PzdNZ2ibEtlZ-uzJiIw!2e0!5s20070901T000000!7i3328!8i1664!5m1!1e1).
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: SkyPesos on March 02, 2022, 01:08:06 PM
Before the recent repaving project, I'll nominate I-71 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1900227,-84.3892445,3a,57.3y,170.28h,81.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr8ogIg9VAUqBBGvhMUS_1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) between Red Bank Rd (exit 9) and Kenwood Rd (exit 11) as the ugliest segment of highway in my area. Weed in the jersey barrier median, lots of those black "glue" things to fill in cracks (not sure what it's officially called), bumps in the road from potholes, and occasional rusted gantries.

It's much better now (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1900161,-84.3891988,3a,75y,170.28h,81.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSdRPqGwI8lqjyHBqCE6O8w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) though, besides the weed part.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 01:11:43 PM
When I was growing up M-10 and the Lodge Freeway were pretty haggard looking.  It's been substantially cleaned up in the intervening decades but it is still a very brutalist design. 

I think in California is title would have to go to the Terminal Island Freeway (CA 103 and CA 47).  The Long Beach maintained segment between Willow Street and CA 1 is absolutely hideous:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/s20JC7

This photo really captures it for me where Long Beach maintenance suddenly becomes Caltrans:

https://flic.kr/p/2mUUVJv
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: JayhawkCO on March 02, 2022, 01:54:19 PM
KY 199 (https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=4508.0) if we're doing the highway (pavement quality, etc.) itself.

For ambience? I-270 in Colorado. It runs through the most industrial area of the Denver metro.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: OCGuy81 on March 02, 2022, 02:06:35 PM
I-5 from Sacramento to the Grapevine.

Unless, one considers flat terrain and power lines "pretty" .
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on March 02, 2022, 02:13:36 PM
A couple stretches of US 12/20 in Lake County, IN, are really not fun to look at:

Gary between Grant and Colfax
East Chicago/Whiting between Columbus Dr and New York Ave
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 02:57:04 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on March 02, 2022, 02:06:35 PM
I-5 from Sacramento to the Grapevine.

Unless, one considers flat terrain and power lines "pretty" .

To Wheeler Ridge you mean, there is nothing ugly approaching Grapevine Canyon and Tejon Pass.  The West Side Freeway is incredibly boring, but definitely not ugly once you get to CA 145 north to I-580 during/after a wet winter.  The Diablo Range in particular looks really nice covered in greenery. 
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on March 02, 2022, 03:04:57 PM
All of them </urbanists>
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: seicer on March 02, 2022, 03:34:39 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 02, 2022, 01:54:19 PM
KY 199 (https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=4508.0) if we're doing the highway (pavement quality, etc.) itself.

What the heck? It's called "Dinky Road"! I had no idea this existed.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: JayhawkCO on March 02, 2022, 03:37:26 PM
Quote from: seicer on March 02, 2022, 03:34:39 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 02, 2022, 01:54:19 PM
KY 199 (https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=4508.0) if we're doing the highway (pavement quality, etc.) itself.

What the heck? It's called "Dinky Road"! I had no idea this existed.

If I ever get out that way with my Rubicon, it looks like a fun drive.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 04:02:44 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 02, 2022, 03:04:57 PM
All of them </urbanists>

Problem is all Urbanists have ugly souls.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: HighwayStar on March 02, 2022, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 04:02:44 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 02, 2022, 03:04:57 PM
All of them </urbanists>

Problem is all Urbanists have ugly souls.

Not only that, they complain highways are ugly, as if their glass and concrete apartment complexes housing people like laying hens are any more attractive.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 04:40:17 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on March 02, 2022, 04:37:29 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 04:02:44 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 02, 2022, 03:04:57 PM
All of them </urbanists>

Problem is all Urbanists have ugly souls.

Not only that, they complain highways are ugly, as if their glass and concrete apartment complexes housing people like laying hens are any more attractive.

Yes, that particular crowd sure has a love affair with ironically soulless modernist architecture. 
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: tradephoric on March 02, 2022, 05:42:54 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 01:11:43 PM
When I was growing up M-10 and the Lodge Freeway were pretty haggard looking.  It's been substantially cleaned up in the intervening decades but it is still a very brutalist design. 

I think in California is title would have to go to the Terminal Island Freeway (CA 103 and CA 47).  The Long Beach maintained segment between Willow Street and CA 1 is absolutely hideous:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/s20JC7

This photo really captures it for me where Long Beach maintenance suddenly becomes Caltrans:

https://flic.kr/p/2mUUVJv

Full drive of the Lodge with historical pictures at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ-HBC6QGHo
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: wanderer2575 on March 02, 2022, 06:15:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 01:11:43 PM
When I was growing up M-10 and the Lodge Freeway were pretty haggard looking.  It's been substantially cleaned up in the intervening decades but it is still a very brutalist design. 

Certainly the section of the Lodge Freeway in the plain-walled "concrete canyon" isn't scoring any scenery points.  But I still say the worst and ugliest freeway in the Metro area is I-94 through downtown Detroit.  Horrendous pavement, permanently littered, eroding slopes washing onto the road, any bridge that hasn't yet been reconstructed is rusted out and covered in plywood to catch falling concrete, even with no walls to hide anything there is absolutely nothing of interest to look at while driving through.  You just want to get out of there ASAP.  M-10 may be brutalist, but I-94 is ugly beyond the point of embarrassment.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: ozarkman417 on March 02, 2022, 06:26:08 PM
One that comes to mind is IL 251 between US 51 and Rockford when I had to drive that stretch several times in 2018. Combine mundane terrain with atrocious pavement quality, and you get a pretty ugly section of highway that has fortunately since been repaved.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 06:27:39 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on March 02, 2022, 06:15:38 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 02, 2022, 01:11:43 PM
When I was growing up M-10 and the Lodge Freeway were pretty haggard looking.  It's been substantially cleaned up in the intervening decades but it is still a very brutalist design. 

Certainly the section of the Lodge Freeway in the plain-walled "concrete canyon" isn't scoring any scenery points.  But I still say the worst and ugliest freeway in the Metro area is I-94 through downtown Detroit.  Horrendous pavement, permanently littered, eroding slopes washing onto the road, any bridge that hasn't yet been reconstructed is rusted out and covered in plywood to catch falling concrete, even with no walls to hide anything there is absolutely nothing of interest to look at while driving through.  You just want to get out of there ASAP.  M-10 may be brutalist, but I-94 is ugly beyond the point of embarrassment.

Amusingly I recall the Lodge being like that when I was growing up around Detroit and the Edsel Ford not being in quite as rough shape. 
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: seicer on March 02, 2022, 07:59:28 PM
Baltimore-Washington Parkway in the vicinity of Baltimore. Perhaps it's been cleaned up since then but it was a pretty rough and ugly drive:

- https://goo.gl/maps/RoZgJmUn14TxNEkj7
- https://goo.gl/maps/D3m4wmx6hvv4dQKR8
- Looks like they may have cleaned up the median but did they plant anything new? https://goo.gl/maps/VfdvLPwkHQttypAdA
-
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: JREwing78 on March 02, 2022, 10:34:30 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on March 02, 2022, 06:26:08 PM
One that comes to mind is IL 251 between US 51 and Rockford when I had to drive that stretch several times in 2018. Combine mundane terrain with atrocious pavement quality, and you get a pretty ugly section of highway that has fortunately since been repaved.

Thankfully it got resurfaced in 2020. Pavement quality is much better now.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: bing101 on March 02, 2022, 10:42:07 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on March 02, 2022, 02:06:35 PM
I-5 from Sacramento to the Grapevine.

Unless, one considers flat terrain and power lines "pretty" .



I know what you mean and also the cow manure smell is at the halfway point between Sacramento to Los Angeles around the Harris Ranch area.

I-880 Oakland to San Jose all due the Truck Traffic between San Jose to Port of Oakland can be viewed as an Ugly Freeway.

I-605 and I-710 can be argued as Ugly Freeways due to the industrial districts in the San Gabriel Valley the Freeway passes by plus Truck Traffic to Port of LA are factors here.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on March 02, 2022, 11:51:31 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on March 02, 2022, 01:54:19 PM
KY 199 (https://forum.travelmapping.net/index.php?topic=4508.0) if we're doing the highway (pavement quality, etc.) itself.

For ambience? I-270 in Colorado. It runs through the most industrial area of the Denver metro.

i second this, with the old i-70 getting honorable mention (the part that was on the viaduct)

iirc, i-25 in pueblo isn't winning any beauty contests either
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on March 02, 2022, 11:53:22 PM
i also nominate i-78 between njtp and the holland tunnel, and that part of nj-139 that parallels it..
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: DandyDan on March 03, 2022, 05:09:59 AM
I remember the one time I drove on Ayd Mill Road in St. Paul, MN, that road was horrible all the way around.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on March 03, 2022, 07:45:18 AM
I-17 south of The Stack on the Durango Curve isn't much of a looker.  Much of the Black Canyon Highway portion north I-10 was built as AZ 69 isn't doesn't have any design flair to it unlike the other freeways around Phoenix.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Flint1979 on March 03, 2022, 08:30:11 AM
The Edsel Ford Freeway in Detroit. Very ugly freeway.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: MATraveler128 on March 03, 2022, 08:36:31 AM
How about the New Jersey Turnpike from Woodbridge Township to Secaucus. It just goes by these ugly factories and railroad yards. Although you could argue that the NYC skyline is nice.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: jmacswimmer on March 03, 2022, 08:48:50 AM
Quote from: seicer on March 02, 2022, 07:59:28 PM
Baltimore-Washington Parkway in the vicinity of Baltimore. Perhaps it's been cleaned up since then but it was a pretty rough and ugly drive:

- https://goo.gl/maps/RoZgJmUn14TxNEkj7
- https://goo.gl/maps/D3m4wmx6hvv4dQKR8
- Looks like they may have cleaned up the median but did they plant anything new? https://goo.gl/maps/VfdvLPwkHQttypAdA
-

Agreed, that is one hideous segment.  Here's another one from across town: The ghost freeway that was supposed to be I-170. (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2933213,-76.6433331,3a,75y,89.47h,84.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sC6_T4bQwK0OP_fPnG2iT5g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: webny99 on March 03, 2022, 09:44:26 AM
Quote from: jmacswimmer on March 03, 2022, 08:48:50 AM
Quote from: seicer on March 02, 2022, 07:59:28 PM
Baltimore-Washington Parkway in the vicinity of Baltimore. Perhaps it's been cleaned up since then but it was a pretty rough and ugly drive:

- https://goo.gl/maps/RoZgJmUn14TxNEkj7
- https://goo.gl/maps/D3m4wmx6hvv4dQKR8
- Looks like they may have cleaned up the median but did they plant anything new? https://goo.gl/maps/VfdvLPwkHQttypAdA
-

Agreed, that is one hideous segment.

Yeah, that's a good one. I remember thinking how ugly it was as I was sitting in the terrible traffic on my DC trip back in 2017.


Quote from: jmacswimmer on March 03, 2022, 08:48:50 AM
Here's another one from across town: The ghost freeway that was supposed to be I-170. (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2933213,-76.6433331,3a,75y,89.47h,84.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sC6_T4bQwK0OP_fPnG2iT5g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en)

This one I don't have as much of an issue with. Sure it's empty and a bit spooky looking, but at least the pavement is in OK shape, there's not graffiti everywhere, and the median is spruced up pretty nicely.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Henry on March 03, 2022, 10:20:45 AM
For Chicago, I'd nominate the Ike (I-290) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8753002,-87.6804229,3a,75y,90.09h,83.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbJAc7JUGpJU-6moSnc5PXg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DbJAc7JUGpJU-6moSnc5PXg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D327.45218%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) as its ugliest expressway, especially with all the construction that's been going on lately. It goes through a rough part of town, and certainly looks the part too, but the awesome downtown skyline view makes up for it. Before the Dan Ryan (I-90/I-94) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.833399,-87.6312257,3a,75y,180.89h,98.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX2lMkl2zhdRRuGKC3Fskmw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) got reconstructed back in the 90s, the same things applied to it as well.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: jaehak on March 03, 2022, 11:54:13 AM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on March 02, 2022, 02:06:35 PM
I-5 from Sacramento to the Grapevine.

Unless, one considers flat terrain and power lines "pretty" .

Agreed. This and I-70 in Missouri between Blue Springs and Wentzville are probably my least favorite drives. The 5 may be worse since 70 has a cool river crossing and isn't quite as long.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on March 03, 2022, 12:16:07 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on March 03, 2022, 05:09:59 AM
I remember the one time I drove on Ayd Mill Road in St. Paul, MN, that road was horrible all the way around.

The 4th St viaduct between I-94 and downtown Minneapolis is another of my "favorites".
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: US20IL64 on March 03, 2022, 12:20:46 PM
Quote from: Henry on March 03, 2022, 10:20:45 AM
For Chicago, I'd nominate the Ike (I-290) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8753002,-87.6804229,3a,75y,90.09h,83.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbJAc7JUGpJU-6moSnc5PXg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DbJAc7JUGpJU-6moSnc5PXg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D327.45218%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) as its ugliest expressway, especially with all the construction that's been going on lately. It goes through a rough part of town, and certainly looks the part too, but the awesome downtown skyline view makes up for it. Before the Dan Ryan (I-90/I-94) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.833399,-87.6312257,3a,75y,180.89h,98.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX2lMkl2zhdRRuGKC3Fskmw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) got reconstructed back in the 90s, the same things applied to it as well.

When new(er), Ike/Congress was Mid Century Modern squeaky clean, the El/CTA transit stations looked good when new, too. Now, a run down mess, waiting for a rebuild/
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Flint1979 on March 03, 2022, 04:04:25 PM
What about the section of the Lake Ontario State Parkway that is closed in the winter? That is one ugly highway right there.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Flint1979 on March 03, 2022, 04:07:09 PM
Quote from: Henry on March 03, 2022, 10:20:45 AM
For Chicago, I'd nominate the Ike (I-290) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8753002,-87.6804229,3a,75y,90.09h,83.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbJAc7JUGpJU-6moSnc5PXg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DbJAc7JUGpJU-6moSnc5PXg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D327.45218%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) as its ugliest expressway, especially with all the construction that's been going on lately. It goes through a rough part of town, and certainly looks the part too, but the awesome downtown skyline view makes up for it. Before the Dan Ryan (I-90/I-94) (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.833399,-87.6312257,3a,75y,180.89h,98.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX2lMkl2zhdRRuGKC3Fskmw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) got reconstructed back in the 90s, the same things applied to it as well.
The thing with Chicago is that I never really worried too much about the expressways that go through the rough neighborhoods like the Ike on the westside or the Dan Ryan on the southside but I knew if I got off I would be in a dangerous neighborhood. Being a Sox fan I have gone to plenty of games at Comiskey Park and I got off a little early one time and went through the Fuller Park neighborhood that neighborhood is the definition of the word ugly.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: skluth on March 03, 2022, 04:38:57 PM
IL 3 from Venice to Cahokia
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: webny99 on March 03, 2022, 05:44:53 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on March 03, 2022, 04:04:25 PM
What about the section of the Lake Ontario State Parkway that is closed in the winter? That is one ugly highway right there.

It is, although it wouldn't be too bad scenery-wise if it was paved. I still think the one in the OP is worse on balance.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: jdbx on March 03, 2022, 06:04:02 PM
I-880 through Oakland is always pretty embarrassing when I am picking up guests from out of town:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7813731,-122.2386907,3a,75y,290.75h,92.03t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdOuPJnC0bsat9tRgmNCGoA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DdOuPJnC0bsat9tRgmNCGoA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D104.10676%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Riddled with graffiti, trash-strewn homeless encampments on both sides of the highway. An uncle who flew in from Miami told me that it reminded him of the favelas in Rio.  I guess the pavement is in good shape at least <shrug>
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Flint1979 on March 03, 2022, 07:16:41 PM
Quote from: webny99 on March 03, 2022, 05:44:53 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on March 03, 2022, 04:04:25 PM
What about the section of the Lake Ontario State Parkway that is closed in the winter? That is one ugly highway right there.

It is, although it wouldn't be too bad scenery-wise if it was paved. I still think the one in the OP is worse on balance.
It would be great if it was repaved and had it's bridges replaced. Those are some ugly bridges there too. I hear people are looking to vacation in Orleans County, NY.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: formulanone on March 03, 2022, 08:52:14 PM
Any route with temporary Jersey barriers that been left in place for several years, long after a construction project. Bonus points when they're crumbling and slightly dislodged.

But that crap is seriously weak...I can deal with brutalist architecture, mid-century modern, and shabby appearances.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: tsmatt13 on June 18, 2022, 09:27:33 PM
There are monstrous potholes on I-95's GWB and when they get fixed, new ones always come up.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: thspfc on June 18, 2022, 09:42:51 PM
Just about the entirety of I-43 is showing its age (except for within the limits of the Marquette and Mitchell interchange projects).
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: FightingIrish on June 19, 2022, 03:39:08 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on March 03, 2022, 05:09:59 AM
I remember the one time I drove on Ayd Mill Road in St. Paul, MN, that road was horrible all the way around.
Ayd Mill is a very crude road.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: SSR_317 on June 19, 2022, 03:48:27 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 03, 2022, 07:45:18 AM
I-17 south of The Stack on the Durango Curve isn't much of a looker.  Much of the Black Canyon Highway portion north I-10 was built as AZ 69 isn't doesn't have any design flair to it unlike the other freeways around Phoenix.
I always joked that the original Black Canyon Freeway should have been named the CONCRETE Canyon Freeway. Talk about brutalist! Of course, back when it was new in the late 1950s, it might not have been quite that bad, but the cheap design (understandable at the time, though it made adding new lanes nearly impossibly expensive & time consuming) and the explosive growth of the Valley since (which created legendary traffic jams, making lane expansion imperative) combined to make it one of the ugliest freeways in the country. I suppose that at SOME point ADOT will finally get around to redoing that section of I-17, but if anyone wants to see what the entire BCF used to be like, that remaining stretch of the original freeway south of The Stack & north of the Durango Curve is it!
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: FightingIrish on June 19, 2022, 03:52:32 PM
Quote from: thspfc on June 18, 2022, 09:42:51 PM
Just about the entirety of I-43 is showing its age (except for within the limits of the Marquette and Mitchell interchange projects).
I-43 is just terrible all around. North of the Marquette, it goes through some of the worst neighborhoods in the city. North of Silver Spring, it drops down to two lanes in each direction, creating a nasty bottleneck. The rest of the way to Green Bay is pretty boring. And in Green Bay, it maintains it's four lane width, even across the bridge.

The Milwaukee -Beloit extension isn't as bad. Nice rolling hills, but only four total lanes from the Hale Interchange into Waukesha County. The single lane ramps of the Hale get very backed up. And the left ramp for US 45 that quickly pops up is dangerous. Another highway designed decades ago for a non-Interstate designation (the former WIS 15) that has not been upgraded much since.

At least there are vital parts of the road currently being upgraded. Silver Spring to WIS 60 is getting additional lanes, and I'm hoping that the reconstruction of the Layton Ave bridge SW of the Hale is a sign of improvements in that area.

All in all, the Milwaukee-area freeways are still better than that US 12 mess between Illinois and WIS 67. That road is straight out of a third-world country.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: SSR_317 on June 19, 2022, 03:58:01 PM
The former Airport Expressway, now renamed Sam Jones Expressway, is probably the worst, but fortunately one of the shortest, stretches of "ugly" highway in Indiana's Capitol City. Poorly designed and horribly maintained even before it stopped being the main highway route to IND airport, the Sam Jones was a major embarrassment to the Circle City, one most visitors arriving and/or departing our city by air travel no longer have to see. Which is probably why, other than the rebuild of its I-465 interchange, very little has been done to improve it.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: achilles765 on June 19, 2022, 10:45:55 PM
SH 225 here in Houston isn't winning any awards for sure.  Old, badly maintained pavement, potholes, it runs through the most heavily industrialized and poorest areas of the metro area... all you see for 22 miles or so is one petrochemical plant and tank yard after another. And some old run down cities that most people inside the loop or in the west and north never even think about. 

The stretch of I-10 East from Beltway 8 to Grand Parkway in Baytown is very similar.  Heavy industry, nasty little towns, old pavement, graffiti.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: roadman65 on June 20, 2022, 06:52:19 AM
I would say I-70, I-78, and I-83 in PA all qualify as they look more like urban expressways than rural interstates due to them taking over previous US and state routes.

I-295 over US 130 in NJ used to be before it got reconstructed. Previously it looked like a local off freeway road and not an attractive freeway.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Chris19001 on June 20, 2022, 01:14:35 PM
Roosevelt Expressway, Philadelphia, PA:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0200769,-75.1513222,3a,75y,94.38h,94.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5kMhuOMbLX0DKZqZs9AGTg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Abandon Hope all who enter here..
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: OCGuy81 on June 21, 2022, 04:50:05 PM
Before they moved it underground, the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle was an eye sore
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on June 21, 2022, 04:56:55 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on June 21, 2022, 04:50:05 PM
Before they moved it underground, the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle was an eye sore

The views from the top sure weren't ugly.  I found the Viaduct to be an extremely distinct and had a "so ugly it's beautiful"  quality.  But then again I found the Embarcadero Freeway had similar qualities which I enjoyed.  I guess that I'm a fan of mid-20th Brutalist infrastructure design and the accompanying sense of dystopia. 
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: tsmatt13 on June 21, 2022, 04:57:53 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on June 21, 2022, 04:50:05 PM
Before they moved it underground, the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle was an eye sore

I agree, the area looks so dark and depressing before the viaduct was demolished.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5981955,-122.3359764,3a,66.9y,63.37h,99.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su7jxWRy-u-2VaaOvdxWN6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5981955,-122.3359764,3a,66.9y,63.37h,99.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su7jxWRy-u-2VaaOvdxWN6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Bruce on June 21, 2022, 05:07:13 PM
No one had any reason to hang out under the viaduct (especially given the risk of collapse in an earthquake), but it wasn't an overwhelming obstacle. It was mostly a psychological barrier that cut off downtown from the waterfront, on top of the slopes.

Parts of the new Alaskan Way are more annoying to cross due to the longer wait times at pedestrian signals.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: thspfc on June 21, 2022, 05:13:36 PM
The Kansas City downtown loop. The poster child of harmful early Interstate era freeway construction.
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on June 21, 2022, 05:57:10 PM
Quote from: tsmatt13 on June 21, 2022, 04:57:53 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on June 21, 2022, 04:50:05 PM
Before they moved it underground, the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle was an eye sore

I agree, the area looks so dark and depressing before the viaduct was demolished.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5981955,-122.3359764,3a,66.9y,63.37h,99.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su7jxWRy-u-2VaaOvdxWN6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5981955,-122.3359764,3a,66.9y,63.37h,99.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su7jxWRy-u-2VaaOvdxWN6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

And it looked better as a glories rail yard with all levels of traffic tossed into the mix:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/379569529068459/permalink/1715653262126739/?fs=e&s=cl
Title: Re: Ugliest Highways
Post by: Bruce on June 21, 2022, 06:00:48 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on June 21, 2022, 05:57:10 PM
Quote from: tsmatt13 on June 21, 2022, 04:57:53 PM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on June 21, 2022, 04:50:05 PM
Before they moved it underground, the Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle was an eye sore

I agree, the area looks so dark and depressing before the viaduct was demolished.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5981955,-122.3359764,3a,66.9y,63.37h,99.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su7jxWRy-u-2VaaOvdxWN6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5981955,-122.3359764,3a,66.9y,63.37h,99.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su7jxWRy-u-2VaaOvdxWN6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

And it looked better as a glories rail yard with all levels of traffic tossed into the mix:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/379569529068459/permalink/1715653262126739/?fs=e&s=cl

Note that this was before the GN Tunnel was completed, giving trains a viable bypass of downtown for the first time. By the 1940s, there were only a few tracks left.

One of the tracks remained for use by the Waterfront Streetcar, which really should have been revived but sadly has been left out of the plans.