Which state has the best urban freeways?
I would have to say Michigan, since many of them don't have ridiciously low speed limits.
I-196 in Grand Rapids - 65 mph
US-131 in Grand Rapids - 70 mph outside of the S-Curve
US-31 in Muskegon - 70 mph
I-496 in Lansing - 70 mph
I would nominate I-39/90 in Madison. The speed limit is no longer reduced between US 12/18 and US 51. Still 65 mph.
Worst is I-90 Chicago Skyway which is posted 45. I understand that for the actual bridge and toll plaza but it should be 55 west of say Stony Island.
For a view at night, I-215 on the east side of SLC is incredible. When it comes to looking good in the daytime, I-10 in downtown Phoenix has some very nice artwork on their concrete walls. If someone really likes bridges and tunnels, I-90 in Seattle is worth checking out. A classic old freeway gets best illustrated in the western US in San Diego by driving on state route 163 and the vegetation is so lush!
Sorry to say I can't recommend any of the urban freeways in Oregon as must-sees although for an honorable mention, the I-405 on the north end leads to a fine-looking bridge, the Fremont.
Rick
I'd say I-20 in Atlanta from east of downtown to the Perimeter (I-285) is a good freeway...and folks don't obey the 55 speed limit. :cool:
I-85 in Charlotte.
I-40 in Memphis.
I-15 through Salt Lake City, if you want to see a spectacle of modern engineering and placing an investment on good roads. Plus, the flow of traffic averages at around 75 mph through town.
To branch outside of Salt Lake, I really enjoy US-101 through Santa Barbara. SR-13 through eastern Oakland is a great drive as well, if not a little unnerving - it takes a little while to get used to the short merging distances!
New Mexico, although it admittedly has very few of them. I'd also say Nevada with the same caveat.
Quote from: Steve on June 04, 2011, 01:36:52 AM
New Mexico, although it admittedly has very few of them. I'd also say Nevada with the same caveat.
I've never gone through Vegas on I-15 without encountering at least one construction zone!
But that's how they keep the freeway so nice! Whereas in NYC you have no construction zones and freeways that will fall apart by 2030.
Quote from: Steve on June 04, 2011, 11:35:42 AM
But that's how they keep the freeway so nice! Whereas in NYC you have no construction zones and freeways that will fall apart by 2030.
except it's not even as nice as the sections of Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) in Orange County which they've upgraded in the early 2000s and then left alone. more inexplicable lane drops and lane shifts, more random traffic coming to a screeching halt for no discernible reason, more bumps in the concrete ...
also, half the construction zones are speed traps. They finally took away the "55 mph, all fines doubled" section coming off the state line at Primm after 5 or 6 years. I had never seen actual work being done there - it appeared to exist solely for the purpose of making money.
For urban spectacularness, Pennsylvania.
I'm partial to the Schuylkill for the views, inbound starting about Girard, and since the original post specified "which state" we can toss in I-376 through Pittsburgh.
I'm not claiming to be objective here. :-)
Quote from: Steve on June 04, 2011, 01:36:52 AM
New Mexico, although it admittedly has very few of them. I'd also say Nevada with the same caveat.
I'd agree with the Nevada part, especially for anything built since the 90s. I-215/CC 215 in Vegas, US 95 in NW Vegas, I-15 in NLV, US 395 in Carson City, etc.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 04, 2011, 01:45:14 AM
I've never gone through Vegas on I-15 without encountering at least one construction zone!
Growing up in Vegas and having kept tabs on projects there since moving to Reno, I can say that I can't recall any decent amount of time within the last 10 or so years that there hasn't been some kind of construction on I-15 in the Vegas vicinity... In recent years, NDOT had the Strip corridor express lanes, then the NLV design-build project, then the south design-build currently under way...all right after another. That trend will continue if NDOT finds funding for Project Neon (Sahara to US 95).
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 04, 2011, 12:10:12 PM
also, half the construction zones are speed traps. They finally took away the "55 mph, all fines doubled" section coming off the state line at Primm after 5 or 6 years. I had never seen actual work being done there - it appeared to exist solely for the purpose of making money.
The construction zones are rarely used as speed traps. That area around Primm was one where there was a widening project that spanned multiple years. Back in 2003, I was interning with an NDOT crew that was doing the final "open grade" layer of paving after some widening several months earlier, as the time ran out and temps got too low. Also, NDOT was applying a variety of funding sources to I-15 south to the state line, which didn't allow them to get in and do it all at once.
Quote from: roadfro on June 04, 2011, 02:47:59 PM
The construction zones are rarely used as speed traps. That area around Primm was one where there was a widening project that spanned multiple years. Back in 2003, I was interning with an NDOT crew that was doing the final "open grade" layer of paving after some widening several months earlier, as the time ran out and temps got too low. Also, NDOT was applying a variety of funding sources to I-15 south to the state line, which didn't allow them to get in and do it all at once.
if they were doing the final paving in 2003, then why was it still a double fine zone as late as 2007 or 2008?
Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 04, 2011, 03:03:39 PM
Quote from: roadfro on June 04, 2011, 02:47:59 PM
The construction zones are rarely used as speed traps. That area around Primm was one where there was a widening project that spanned multiple years. Back in 2003, I was interning with an NDOT crew that was doing the final "open grade" layer of paving after some widening several months earlier, as the time ran out and temps got too low. Also, NDOT was applying a variety of funding sources to I-15 south to the state line, which didn't allow them to get in and do it all at once.
if they were doing the final paving in 2003, then why was it still a double fine zone as late as 2007 or 2008?
At that point, the NB lanes had a gap where it was 3 lanes right near the state line, 2 lanes for several miles, then 3 lanes again around Jean or Sloan. That gap was filled some time afterwards (can't remember exactly when).
Quote from: roadfro on June 04, 2011, 03:18:42 PM
At that point, the NB lanes had a gap where it was 3 lanes right near the state line, 2 lanes for several miles, then 3 lanes again around Jean or Sloan. That gap was filled some time afterwards (can't remember exactly when).
why did I never see anyone actually at work, or even any equipment parked by the side of the road? Just the 'double fine zone' signs and the artificially low speed limit of 55 for the first howevermany miles coming out of California (starting at Primm, not Jean/Sloan!)
My two favorites are US75 (Central Expressway) in Dallas - it was VERY well done when they reconstructed it. It's particularly cool how they cantilevered the frontage roads over the traffic lanes to widen the highway where there was no more ROW available. I'm also a fan of the 408 east of Orlando. It's another well done expansion project. They're both really nice looking roads.
I'd have to say some of the newer, widened highways in Indianapolis are also well done (and like 30 lanes wide), but the speed limits there are too ridiculously low for my tastes.
Quote from: realjd on June 04, 2011, 04:22:53 PM
I'd have to say some of the newer, widened highways in Indianapolis are also well done (and like 30 lanes wide), but the speed limits there are too ridiculously low for my tastes.
Which is why none of us really follow the speed limits through the city, except for around the North and South Splits where going 70 is probably too dangerous. Just got back from a trip and Michigan and I can say I enjoyed being able to travel at 70mph on most of the freeways through the cities there.
Could DC count? Taking I-395 from NoVA into the District is a nice drive. Also, I-695 (unsigned) and I-295/DC-295 are nice rides. Also, I-66 in Arlington/Rosslyn is a nice drive.
Even though not neccesarily urban, in NY the Sprain Brook Parkway fares much better than a good deal of its pkwy and expwy counterparts. It is six lanes, grassy median, wide, and few interchanges. Now only if they could get it up to 65 mph!!!
Quote from: hobsini2 on June 03, 2011, 10:04:57 PM
I would nominate I-39/90 in Madison. The speed limit is no longer reduced between US 12/18 and US 51. Still 65 mph.
Worst is I-90 Chicago Skyway which is posted 45. I understand that for the actual bridge and toll plaza but it should be 55 west of say Stony Island.
The Skyway does have a nice view of the city of Chicago.
The Borman in NW Indiana could be nice if there's no traffic or orange cones (granted, I've never seen it like that...)
I-35 through Duluth, Minnesota.
That's how you build a freeway through an urban core. Bury it into a series of canyons and tunnels.
Now if only it continued the rest of the way through that city.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on June 06, 2011, 02:04:02 PM
I-35 through Duluth, Minnesota.
That's how you build a freeway through an urban core. Bury it into a series of canyons and tunnels.
Now if only it continued the rest of the way through that city.
not just through an urban core, but along a waterfront as well, which gives some significant further constraint.
The SF skyline on the I-280 viaduct north of 25th Street and on the Bayshore Freeway (US 101) approaching I-80 is absolutely stunning to see from those vantage points.
Some in the Los Angeles area: California 2 going from I-210 to where it meets California 134. Going south, you have views of the skyscrapers of downtown LA, going north, the San Gabriel Mountains and the La Crescenta Valley; also the 210 from Pasadena west to about California 118, especially going through the Verdugo Mountains. (The 134 from Pasadena to Glendale isn't bad either.) After about 8 or 9PM, the northbound I-405 heading down the hill from Sepulveda Pass, with the lights of the San Fernando Valley spread out like a magic carpet, even if the astronomy buff in me screams, "LIGHT POLLUTION!"
Also, I-5 between Calgrove Boulevard and the Newhall Interchange where it goes through some hills, and US 101 from Calabasas all the way to about Camarillo.
I like all of the tollways around Chicago. They're wide, tolls are cheap, and the oases are awesome. :colorful:
And no, the Skyway does not count. :angry:
Quote from: HighwayMaster on June 12, 2011, 11:31:57 AM
I like all of the tollways around Chicago. They're wide, tolls are cheap, and the oases are awesome. :colorful:
And they are speed traps (no reason a lot of the Tri-State couldn't be 65), have lousy access (too many half interchanges), lack decent distance signage, and are not cheap for cash customers. Furthermore, the pricing scheme stinks; I should not pay more to exit/enter at Lake Cook than to take I-94 over to the Edens from the Tri-State.
I'll second I-35 through Duluth. Second choice is I-70 through Topeka, Kansas, once the viaduct is fixed. Might not have the best views, but at least it's a nice 65 mph away from the viaduct and has plenty of auxiliary lanes.
Quote from: brownpelican on June 03, 2011, 11:47:46 PM
I'd say I-20 in Atlanta from east of downtown to the Perimeter (I-285) is a good freeway...
I-20 eastbound near Six Flags is awesome because you can see the Atlanta skyline when conditions are clear. Even better when seeing it at night.
Quote from: HighwayMaster on June 12, 2011, 11:31:57 AM
I like all of the tollways around Chicago. They're wide, tolls are cheap, and the oases are awesome. :colorful:
And no, the Skyway does not count. :angry:
You actually LIKE the tollways around Chicago?
I'm still angry about the time I was driving to crappy O'Hare along the crappy 294. There was an 80 cent unmanned, exact change only, coins only toll booth on the exit for the airport. WTF? Who on earth though it was a good idea to do this on the exit that probably has the largest number of people from out of town? How was I supposed to know that I needed exactly 80 cents in coins to get to the airport? If they had an attendant (or even a California style toll machine that accepts bills and credit cards) it would be one thing, but this was ridiculous.
Quote from: realjd on June 13, 2011, 12:30:05 PM
I'm still angry about the time I was driving to crappy O'Hare along the crappy 294. There was an 80 cent unmanned, exact change only, coins only toll booth on the exit for the airport. WTF? Who on earth though it was a good idea to do this on the exit that probably has the largest number of people from out of town? How was I supposed to know that I needed exactly 80 cents in coins to get to the airport? If they had an attendant (or even a California style toll machine that accepts bills and credit cards) it would be one thing, but this was ridiculous.
I'd imagine there's a lot of people running the tollbooth without paying - and if so, I'm surprised the tollway authority has not noticed this and fixed it. Seriously, who has exactly 80 cents?
Quote from: HighwayMaster on June 12, 2011, 11:31:57 AM
I like all of the tollways around Chicago. They're wide,
They have to be as they are perpetually under construction. I can't EVER in my life remember being on the Tri-State without part of it being under construction.
Quote from: HighwayMaster on June 12, 2011, 11:31:57 AM
tolls are cheap,
Only if you have an I-Pass or E-ZPass. Otherwise they're 2X that.
Quote from: HighwayMaster on June 12, 2011, 11:31:57 AM
and the oases are awesome. :colorful:
My info is not recent enough to act on that. Though, having them as a bridge over the highway is pretty neat.
Quote from: HighwayMaster on June 12, 2011, 11:31:57 AM
And no, the Skyway does not count. :angry:
No argument there.
I-90 through Seattle and Mercer Island is well kept. It goes through a series of bridges over Lake Washington and tunnels underneath hills in Mercer Island and the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle -- all at a posted 60 MPH speed limit.
Also the Chicago Tollways are another one of those stupid institutions that seeks to ban photography for no real reason. A crabby toll collector got into it with me over that the one time I was in Chicago.
For those of you who are to cheap, like me, to pay the 80 cent toll for the o'Hare exit on 294, (and i do have I-Pass) you can access O'Hare without paying a toll via I-190/90 from Downtown or via US 12/45 Mannheim Rd.
Never drive any of the Atlanta interstates at less than 15 mph above the posted speed limit or you get owned. Its nothing on 75 to do 80 in a 70 and still get passed by cars doing at least 90+ all of the time. The only law enforcement on the interstate happens when there is an accident or motorist assist out there.
Quote from: hobsini2 on June 19, 2011, 04:39:43 PM
For those of you who are to cheap, like me, to pay the 80 cent toll for the o'Hare exit on 294, (and i do have I-Pass) you can access O'Hare with paying a toll via I-190/90 from Downtown or via US 12/45 Mannheim Rd.
My issue wasn't with the fact that there was a toll. My issue was that there was an exact-change only, coins-only, unmanned toll booth on the airport exit. If it had a bill reader or credit card machine like unmanned toll booths in civilized places (or an attendant), it would have been fine. And that's also OK for local exits. Just not the freaking airport, the one place where you're guaranteed to have a large number of drivers like me who have absolutely no way to know that they need exactly 80 cents.
It's almost like they forget that a large amount of airport traffic is people who aren't locals.
Around the country:
- I-71/75 coming into Covington, KY has a point where, coming around a curve, the Cincinnati skyline opens up beautifully.
- I-64 on the east side of Louisville, KY is rather interesting, and it actually has quite a rural character to it.
And in Columbus:
- I-270 from OH-161 (MP 30) to between Easton and I-670 (MP 33) has an interesting CD setup.
- The new International Gateway (CMH / Port Columbus Int'l Airport) is quite interesting, though short.
- The whole Innerbelt will be quite nice when the I-70/71 project is finished.
If we are talking just scenic, i would nominate I-279 in Pittsburgh heading north coming out of the Tunnel.
Quote from: realjd on June 20, 2011, 04:42:39 PM
Quote from: hobsini2 on June 19, 2011, 04:39:43 PM
For those of you who are to cheap, like me, to pay the 80 cent toll for the o'Hare exit on 294, (and i do have I-Pass) you can access O'Hare with paying a toll via I-190/90 from Downtown or via US 12/45 Mannheim Rd.
My issue wasn't with the fact that there was a toll. My issue was that there was an exact-change only, coins-only, unmanned toll booth on the airport exit. If it had a bill reader or credit card machine like unmanned toll booths in civilized places (or an attendant), it would have been fine. And that's also OK for local exits. Just not the freaking airport, the one place where you're guaranteed to have a large number of drivers like me who have absolutely no way to know that they need exactly 80 cents.
It's almost like they forget that a large amount of airport traffic is people who aren't locals.
Just run the toll and pay later. Go to the Illinois Tollway website, go to the "Missed a Toll" section, and as long as you pay up within 7 days of running through, all you pay is the 80 cents. You give them your license plate number, make/model of vehicle, date and approximate time of running the toll.
At least they give you the option of paying later, rather than fining you $100 or something ridiculous like that! If I was passing through Chi-Town on the tollways and was in a hurry, I'd probably run every single toll and pay later, seeing as I'd rather pay from my computer or phone than dig for change while I'm driving. Of course I have E-ZPass so its a moot point for me personally.
Quote from: mtantillo on June 26, 2011, 12:19:12 PMJust run the toll and pay later. Go to the Illinois Tollway website, go to the "Missed a Toll" section, and as long as you pay up within 7 days of running through, all you pay is the 80 cents. You give them your license plate number, make/model of vehicle, date and approximate time of running the toll.
But are there signs at the tollbooth advising drivers of this option?
Quote from: J N Winkler on June 26, 2011, 12:46:24 PM
Quote from: mtantillo on June 26, 2011, 12:19:12 PMJust run the toll and pay later. Go to the Illinois Tollway website, go to the "Missed a Toll" section, and as long as you pay up within 7 days of running through, all you pay is the 80 cents. You give them your license plate number, make/model of vehicle, date and approximate time of running the toll.
But are there signs at the tollbooth advising drivers of this option?
In many instances, yes.
Example, on eastbound I-88 (Reagan Tollway) just east of I-355 in Chicago's Du Page County suburbs:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=41.838773,-87.993129&spn=0.00231,0.005493&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.838773,-87.993129&panoid=LV0fmceedxQYIh_LspBAtw&cbp=12,82.86,,0,1.32
Mike
I believe you can also pay at an Illinois Tollway oasis (maybe some and not all? I don't know). I remember one of the drivers at the Chicago Meet back in 2008 missed a toll for whatever reason and was able to get things settled at the oasis we stopped for lunch at.
Yes you can stop at the Des Plaines Oasis and O'Hare Oasis during business hours to do so. I recommend the O'Hare Oasis in the afternoon. There are 2 very nice ladies who take care of all my concerns when i go there. The Hinsdale Oasis I know is a part time costumer service center. Don'y know about Lake Forest, DeKalb, Belvidere or Lincoln/South Chicagoland.
Quote from: hobsini2 on June 26, 2011, 05:09:58 PM
There are 2 very nice ladies who take care of all my concerns when i go there.
the tollways must have different laws than the rest of the state of Illinois ....
The one that we stopped at was on I-80 headed towards Indiana.
Quote from: hobsini2 on June 26, 2011, 12:06:29 PM
If we are talking just scenic, i would nominate I-279 in Pittsburgh heading north coming out of the Tunnel.
Which is now part of I-376.
Quote from: Michael in Philly on June 27, 2011, 01:00:32 AM
Quote from: hobsini2 on June 26, 2011, 12:06:29 PM
If we are talking just scenic, i would nominate I-279 in Pittsburgh heading north coming out of the Tunnel.
Which is now part of I-376.
I figured that there have already been threads concerning views from highways, so I left that criteria out. Otherwise I'd have said that one earlier....
However, when NOT factoring in scenery, I-376 (at least the Penn-Lincoln Parkway portions) mostly qualifies for
Worst Urban Freeways.
^^^
Agreed, on the Penn-Lincoln section of I-376. Put the Sure-kill in Philly in there as well. They're bad enough that I might reverse my stand on proposed highway tolls transferring to Philly and Pittsburgh, if they would use the money to completely rebuild those two highways to modern standards and width adequate to traffic levels. Given it's Pennsylvania, I know that will never happen. :pan:
The Bruce Watkins (US-71) north of Brush Creek is real nice. Real wide and good landscaping. Plus the last mile has some nice views of downtown KC. Now south of Brush Creek a different story. D@mn LIGHTS!!!!!
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 26, 2011, 07:14:38 PM
The one that we stopped at was on I-80 headed towards Indiana.
That is the Lincoln South Chicagoland Oasis.
Quote from: hobsini2 on July 01, 2011, 05:04:23 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on June 26, 2011, 07:14:38 PM
The one that we stopped at was on I-80 headed towards Indiana.
That is the Lincoln South Chicagoland Oasis.
Abraham Lincoln/Chicago Southland Oasis. Originally just called the Abraham Lincoln Oasis.
Quote from: mightyace on June 29, 2011, 06:45:26 AM
^^^
Agreed, on the Penn-Lincoln section of I-376. Put the Sure-kill in Philly in there as well. They're bad enough that I might reverse my stand on proposed highway tolls transferring to Philly and Pittsburgh, if they would use the money to completely rebuild those two highways to modern standards and width adequate to traffic levels. Given it's Pennsylvania, I know that will never happen. :pan:
Agreed...I grew up there. MAYBE you might get enough money to six lane between King of Prussia and the Blue Route. Between the Blue Route and City Avenue? Nagahapun.
Anyway...to get back on track:
I always had a soft spot for the Lee Roy Selmon in Tampa (I used to call the western part the fastest non-moving roller coaster in the South). I'm also partial to the John Land Apopka Expressway (SR 414), the Delaware Expressway in Philly and the John Hanson (US 50) in the DC metro area.
In terms of sheer monstrosity, few compare to the rebuilt Katy Freeway (I-10) between I-610 and TX-6 on the west side of Houston. 14 through lanes to Beltway 8, and 12 from there to TX-6 (4 toll lanes in the middle, the rest free lanes). TX-288 south of Houston down to I-610 is also interesting for its super wide median, a leftover of Houston's monster freeway plan of the 50s which called for 6 express lanes in the middle of the 8 lane freeway.
I-45 south of Dallas also gives you some great, uncluttered views of downtown at night when headed northbound.