AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: KCRoadFan on April 16, 2022, 03:16:53 AM

Title: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: KCRoadFan on April 16, 2022, 03:16:53 AM
As for places where the two directions of a divided highway separate widely enough to accommodate buildings within the median, several examples come to mind near where I live, in the KC Metro: US 40 in Blue Springs and MO 350 in Raytown (the latter of which is wide enough to fit a Walmart).

However, when it comes to examples I've seen on Google Maps, the area between the two directions of US 20/NY 5 in Auburn, NY (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9324958,-76.5715429,18z), has to take the cake, when it comes to the sheer number of things crammed in there: namely, two hotels, a number of other businesses including a few office buildings, as well as an entire residential street with nine houses along it.

I'm not sure if any road can top that. However, I will ask nonetheless: where else throughout the country have you seen a lot of buildings, or one or two big buildings, in the median or between the directions of traffic on a divided highway or road?
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:48:49 AM
Soldier Field and The Field Museum used to be between the NB and SB lanes of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, but the NB lanes have since been rerouted to also be west of the stadium and museum

Of current roads, I-75 just north of Cincy has a city neighborhood between the NB and SB lanes - several blocks, houses, businesses, etc
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: oscar on April 16, 2022, 05:23:50 AM
It's fairly common for county courthouses, and any associated jails and county offices, to be located in the median of a divided highway. I've seen several such examples, in widely-scattered states, in the past year.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: thspfc on April 16, 2022, 08:16:32 AM
Doesn't quite fit, but I've always wondered what it would be like to live in the west Chicago neighborhood wedged between I-90, I-294, I-190, and Mannheim Rd, right next to O'Hare.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: SEWIGuy on April 16, 2022, 08:19:50 AM
Just west of the Mississippi River on the border between WI and MN, the I-90 "median" is about a quarter mile wide with a couple farms in between.  The highway lanes run on top of a couple of ridges with the farms in a valley in between.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9266385,-91.4061571,1241m/data=!3m1!1e3
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Mapmikey on April 16, 2022, 09:08:12 AM
MD 3 between MD 424 and MD 175 has numerous businesses within its median...
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: 7/8 on April 16, 2022, 09:37:42 AM
US 12 in Wayne, MI is a good example: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LxrocspyZm7hbmBY8 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/LxrocspyZm7hbmBY8)
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: dfilpus on April 16, 2022, 10:22:58 AM
Not near as big as US 12 in Wayne, but US 202 in Glen Mills PS fits the bill.
https://goo.gl/maps/otZvT7GbeHfhGmPr9
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: CardInLex on April 16, 2022, 10:23:17 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:48:49 AM
Of current roads, I-75 just north of Cincy has a city neighborhood between the NB and SB lanes - several blocks, houses, businesses, etc

Link to Arlington Heights, Ohio. The entire city (or village as Ohio defines it) is located within the median of I-75. Definitely the best example I know of:
https://goo.gl/maps/7F2ZkQEcLjEvGNR69
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: SectorZ on April 16, 2022, 10:28:43 AM
Quote from: CardInLex on April 16, 2022, 10:23:17 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:48:49 AM
Of current roads, I-75 just north of Cincy has a city neighborhood between the NB and SB lanes - several blocks, houses, businesses, etc

Link to Arlington Heights, Ohio. The entire city (or village as Ohio defines it) is located within the median of I-75. Definitely the best example I know of:
https://goo.gl/maps/7F2ZkQEcLjEvGNR69

Is that the city known for using 75 as a giant speed trap for revenue?
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: CardInLex on April 16, 2022, 10:31:28 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 16, 2022, 10:28:43 AM
Quote from: CardInLex on April 16, 2022, 10:23:17 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:48:49 AM
Of current roads, I-75 just north of Cincy has a city neighborhood between the NB and SB lanes - several blocks, houses, businesses, etc

Link to Arlington Heights, Ohio. The entire city (or village as Ohio defines it) is located within the median of I-75. Definitely the best example I know of:
https://goo.gl/maps/7F2ZkQEcLjEvGNR69

Is that the city known for using 75 as a giant speed trap for revenue?

Yes, according to Wikipedia, there were calls for the city to be disbanded because it basically only exists to write tickets and generate revenue. But, I don't think that has happened.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Rothman on April 16, 2022, 10:57:40 AM
Quote from: KCRoadFan on April 16, 2022, 03:16:53 AM
As for places where the two directions of a divided highway separate widely enough to accommodate buildings within the median, several examples come to mind near where I live, in the KC Metro: US 40 in Blue Springs and MO 350 in Raytown (the latter of which is wide enough to fit a Walmart).

However, when it comes to examples I've seen on Google Maps, the area between the two directions of US 20/NY 5 in Auburn, NY (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9324958,-76.5715429,18z), has to take the cake, when it comes to the sheer number of things crammed in there: namely, two hotels, a number of other businesses including a few office buildings, as well as an entire residential street with nine houses along it.

I'm not sure if any road can top that. However, I will ask nonetheless: where else throughout the country have you seen a lot of buildings, or one or two big buildings, in the median or between the directions of traffic on a divided highway or road?
Meh.  Lots of one way splits in NY.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: TEG24601 on April 16, 2022, 12:29:13 PM
I wouldn't think we include one-way couplets, but if we do, basically the entire city of Pontiac, MI is within the center of the giant roundabout which is the end of M-1 (formerly known as "Widetrack")


I've always thought that turning a freeway beltway, especially the tighter ones, into basically a freeway roundabout, would be awesome, and so good for traffic flow.  I usually think about Portland, OR when I think of this idea, but a few other places, like downtown KCMO, would be perfect candidates for such a change.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Bruce on April 16, 2022, 03:09:31 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on April 16, 2022, 12:29:13 PM
I've always thought that turning a freeway beltway, especially the tighter ones, into basically a freeway roundabout, would be awesome, and so good for traffic flow.  I usually think about Portland, OR when I think of this idea, but a few other places, like downtown KCMO, would be perfect candidates for such a change.

I'm imaging trying to go from the Pearl District to the Rose Quarter and being "forced" to loop all the way around. Yikes.

(I know there's surface alternatives, but they're not suitable for trucks)
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:10:22 PM
If One-Way pairs count, there is a long list

I-78's surface street approach to/departure from the Holland Tunnel in NJ has quite a bit going on between the EB and WB lanes

Much closer to home for me, both IL 13 and US 51 are One-Way Pairs thru much of Carbondale, IL, with plenty of houses, businesses, etc between the lanes, and a couple of blocks in the median of both IL 13 & US 51, where the One-Way pairs cross downtown
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Ned Weasel on April 16, 2022, 03:30:38 PM
US 22 in New Jersey has quite a few places with buildings/businesses in the middle.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Tom958 on April 16, 2022, 03:33:36 PM
This high-rise Marriot (https://goo.gl/maps/wkyVH8UHHM4iL16E6) and two less-lofty motels are in the median of US 72 Poplar Avenue at I-240 in Memphis. There are some food places and a bank of the other side of 240, too.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Rothman on April 16, 2022, 08:13:05 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on April 16, 2022, 12:29:13 PM
I wouldn't think we include one-way couplets, but if we do, basically the entire city of Pontiac, MI is within the center of the giant roundabout which is the end of M-1 (formerly known as "Widetrack")


I've always thought that turning a freeway beltway, especially the tighter ones, into basically a freeway roundabout, would be awesome, and so good for traffic flow.  I usually think about Portland, OR when I think of this idea, but a few other places, like downtown KCMO, would be perfect candidates for such a change.
The Auburn example is a one-way couplet.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: DandyDan on April 17, 2022, 02:42:25 AM
Downtown Mason City is largely between NB and SB US 65. Amongst other buildings, there's a mall, hockey arena, the historic Park Inn Hotel, city hall, the insurance office I go to, a grocery store I don't go to and many businesses and residential buildings and at least one church between NB and SB US 65.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: NoGoodNamesAvailable on April 17, 2022, 04:39:20 AM
US-22 in Union and Springfield, NJ (https://goo.gl/maps/hkrPzbqoTtWTg2QWA)
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: hbelkins on April 17, 2022, 05:16:29 PM
Some decent sized buildings in the blocks between Main and Vine (US 25/US 60/US 421) in Lexington and Main and Market (US 31E/US 60 and US 31W/US 60) in Louisville.

But if you're not counting them, there used to be a big fireworks stand in the median of I-24 outside Chattanooga that appears to have been replaced by a Speedway truck stop.

https://goo.gl/maps/fcU34ueEAej1UQ2r6
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: CtrlAltDel on April 17, 2022, 05:23:02 PM
Quote from: thspfc on April 16, 2022, 08:16:32 AM
Doesn't quite fit, but I've always wondered what it would be like to live in the west Chicago neighborhood wedged between I-90, I-294, I-190, and Mannheim Rd, right next to O'Hare.

Closer to me is this (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8729722,-87.9156489,978m/data=!3m1!1e3), which is similarly jammed, in between 88, 290, and 294. The part south of Butterfield Road used to be a farm up to about 25 years ago.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Flint1979 on April 17, 2022, 05:30:06 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:48:49 AM
Of current roads, I-75 just north of Cincy has a city neighborhood between the NB and SB lanes - several blocks, houses, businesses, etc
That's called the Lockland Split. I've always thought it was pretty cool and an indication that I'm pretty much in Cincinnati now going SB.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Flint1979 on April 17, 2022, 05:32:19 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on April 16, 2022, 12:29:13 PM
I wouldn't think we include one-way couplets, but if we do, basically the entire city of Pontiac, MI is within the center of the giant roundabout which is the end of M-1 (formerly known as "Widetrack")


I've always thought that turning a freeway beltway, especially the tighter ones, into basically a freeway roundabout, would be awesome, and so good for traffic flow.  I usually think about Portland, OR when I think of this idea, but a few other places, like downtown KCMO, would be perfect candidates for such a change.
That's just downtown Pontiac not the entire city. That loop only takes up maybe a square mile, Pontiac is about 20 square miles in area.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Flint1979 on April 17, 2022, 05:33:53 PM
Quote from: oscar on April 16, 2022, 05:23:50 AM
It's fairly common for county courthouses, and any associated jails and county offices, to be located in the median of a divided highway. I've seen several such examples, in widely-scattered states, in the past year.
Norfolk County, Massachusetts is the first one to come to mind. In fact I have a thread about it somewhere on here.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Flint1979 on April 17, 2022, 05:38:59 PM
Quote from: CardInLex on April 16, 2022, 10:23:17 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 16, 2022, 03:48:49 AM
Of current roads, I-75 just north of Cincy has a city neighborhood between the NB and SB lanes - several blocks, houses, businesses, etc

Link to Arlington Heights, Ohio. The entire city (or village as Ohio defines it) is located within the median of I-75. Definitely the best example I know of:
https://goo.gl/maps/7F2ZkQEcLjEvGNR69
Lockland borders it to the north and is also within the median of I-75. Although Lockland extends to the other side of the highway while Arlington Heights is basically in the highway median.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: LilianaUwU on April 17, 2022, 10:45:11 PM
QC 175 in Saint-Roch has multiple city blocks between its two directions.

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8144108,-71.22711,1050m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Henry on April 18, 2022, 10:28:25 AM
The surface section of I-78 in Jersey City is yet another one. Why it doesn't just end at NJ 139 is beyond me.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7313668,-74.0430805,1309m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: ilpt4u on April 18, 2022, 11:09:04 PM
Quote from: Henry on April 18, 2022, 10:28:25 AM
The surface section of I-78 in Jersey City is yet another one. Why it doesn't just end at NJ 139 is beyond me.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7313668,-74.0430805,1309m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
I was under the impression that I-78 continues as One-Way pair surface streets, into the Holland Tunnel, under the Hudson River, and into Lower Manhattan, basically to make sure the Tunnel is part of the Interstate System. I could be very wrong on that. I'll let the Native NYers/NJans around here add if there is more to it than that
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 19, 2022, 11:27:59 AM
 PA 272 (https://goo.gl/maps/oCVbiUCSRe4rEmcs5) in Willow Street has a shopping plaza in the middle (southbound lanes are on the other side of the plaza).
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: kphoger on April 19, 2022, 11:30:00 AM
These aren't "medians".  These are just city blocks.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: vdeane on April 19, 2022, 12:23:23 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 18, 2022, 11:09:04 PM
Quote from: Henry on April 18, 2022, 10:28:25 AM
The surface section of I-78 in Jersey City is yet another one. Why it doesn't just end at NJ 139 is beyond me.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7313668,-74.0430805,1309m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
I was under the impression that I-78 continues as One-Way pair surface streets, into the Holland Tunnel, under the Hudson River, and into Lower Manhattan, basically to make sure the Tunnel is part of the Interstate System. I could be very wrong on that. I'll let the Native NYers/NJans around here add if there is more to it than that
I-78 was supposed to continue east across expressways that were never built down to JFK, and then turn north up the Clearview (both built and unbuilt) over what is now I-295 (and I want to say I-695 as well) back up to I-95.  There was no effort to keep the Lincoln in the interstate system when I-495 across Manhattan was cancelled, so I'm not sure why they would with the Holland... my guess is that they just never thought about it that far.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: Henry on April 20, 2022, 11:04:57 AM
Quote from: vdeane on April 19, 2022, 12:23:23 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 18, 2022, 11:09:04 PM
Quote from: Henry on April 18, 2022, 10:28:25 AM
The surface section of I-78 in Jersey City is yet another one. Why it doesn't just end at NJ 139 is beyond me.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7313668,-74.0430805,1309m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
I was under the impression that I-78 continues as One-Way pair surface streets, into the Holland Tunnel, under the Hudson River, and into Lower Manhattan, basically to make sure the Tunnel is part of the Interstate System. I could be very wrong on that. I'll let the Native NYers/NJans around here add if there is more to it than that
I-78 was supposed to continue east across expressways that were never built down to JFK, and then turn north up the Clearview (both built and unbuilt) over what is now I-295 (and I want to say I-695 as well) back up to I-95.  There was no effort to keep the Lincoln in the interstate system when I-495 across Manhattan was cancelled, so I'm not sure why they would with the Holland... my guess is that they just never thought about it that far.
I've read about that many times. As to why it runs on those one-way streets, I'm being led to believe that a freeway was planned to run in between said streets which would serve as frontage roads, and Jersey City opposed it.
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: triplemultiplex on April 20, 2022, 12:56:10 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 19, 2022, 11:30:00 AM
These aren't "medians".  These are just city blocks.

Potato - potato. ;)
Title: Re: Most and/or biggest buildings between opposite directions of a divided highway?
Post by: golden eagle on April 20, 2022, 02:24:29 PM
Before Mississippi legalized the lottery, I used to drive to Tallulah, LA to buy lottery tickets (because it was off the beaten path). The Citgo station is in the divided space between the US65 northbound and southbound lanes.