So, what's the longest construction zone that has existed in the US? I'm referring to a single project that results in a very long stretch of a road being part of a posted construction zone at one time, with some visible work being done at least somewhere in the project. The construction of a completely new road doesn't count for this thread. Having at least one lane closed for the entire construction zone is a plus, and that might as well be a sub-category.
I was once on US-14 in Wyoming where 16 miles of road had been torn up and there was a pilot car leading traffic, one direction at a time, over dirt.
Quote from: vtk on September 05, 2011, 06:13:44 PM
So, what's the longest construction zone that has existed in the US?
Probably somewhere in PennDOTLand.
Quote from: PennDOTFan on September 05, 2011, 06:38:25 PM
Quote from: vtk on September 05, 2011, 06:13:44 PM
So, what's the longest construction zone that has existed in the US?
Probably somewhere in PennDOTLand.
no doubt!!!
Currently, I-80 is under construction from MM 124 to MM 145 (21 miles) in Illinois, but I think I've seen longer in the past.
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
The next longest one that I've been in is I-85 in Fulton and Coweta counties (Ga.), which is about twenty-nine (29) miles.
Be well,
Bryant
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
The next longest one that I've been in is I-85 in Fulton and Coweta counties (Ga.), which is about twenty-nine (29) miles.
Be well,
Bryant
The person or business entity making this post (herein referred to as "I") is curious as to why the person or business entity making the post quoted herein (herein referred to as "You") has posted in a manner similar to that of a lawyer or other person who writes contracts, specifically writing the number in words, then following it with the number written in figures. This was done two (2) times.
I remember a massive reconstruction project on I-84 back in 2004 in the Snake River Valley where IdaDOT converted one of the carriageways into a 65 mph Super-2 (double solid yellow lines, with plastic reflector blades) as they tore up and rebuilt the other carriageway. I don't remember how long it was, but it was on the order of 40 miles.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 06, 2011, 12:55:52 AM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
The next longest one that I've been in is I-85 in Fulton and Coweta counties (Ga.), which is about twenty-nine (29) miles.
Be well,
Bryant
The person or business entity making this post (herein referred to as "I") is curious as to why the person or business entity making the post quoted herein (herein referred to as "You") has posted in a manner similar to that of a lawyer or other person who writes contracts, specifically writing the number in words, then following it with the number written in figures. This was done two (2) times.
What?
Be well,
Bryant
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 09:44:04 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 06, 2011, 12:55:52 AM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
The next longest one that I've been in is I-85 in Fulton and Coweta counties (Ga.), which is about twenty-nine (29) miles.
Be well,
Bryant
The person or business entity making this post (herein referred to as "I") is curious as to why the person or business entity making the post quoted herein (herein referred to as "You") has posted in a manner similar to that of a lawyer or other person who writes contracts, specifically writing the number in words, then following it with the number written in figures. This was done two (2) times.
What?
Be well,
Bryant
Why are you writing the number two (2) times, once spelled out, and then again in numbers in parenthesis? :P
^^
Personal preference, to better emphasize the spelled out number.
Be well,
Bryant
Near 1990, they were doing something on I-90 in IL along almost the entire length of the Northeast Tollway where they had each direction down to one lane. I remember this particular one because I was stuck behind someone pulling a boat at construction SL-10. At the tollbooths, there was a mad dash to get around this guy.
Quote from: allniter89 on September 05, 2011, 08:34:33 PM
Quote from: PennDOTFan on September 05, 2011, 06:38:25 PM
Quote from: vtk on September 05, 2011, 06:13:44 PM
So, what's the longest construction zone that has existed in the US?
Probably somewhere in PennDOTLand.
no doubt!!!
Back in 2005, I drove through something like a 20-30 mile long work zone on I-80. At least it felt like that!
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 05, 2011, 06:37:14 PM
I was once on US-14 in Wyoming where 16 miles of road had been torn up and there was a pilot car leading traffic, one direction at a time, over dirt.
I hate those one-lane/pilot car deals. They always take forever. We had three in a row on US-89 in South Utah a few weeks ago.
Quote from: PAHighways on September 06, 2011, 01:58:44 PM
Back in 2005, I drove through something like a 20-30 mile long work zone on I-80. At least it felt like that!
I remember a similar instance on I-81 between Scranton and the New York line a few years ago. Left lane was closed all the way in between those 2 points (both directions as well) for God knows what. Needless to say, traffic was awful!
I-95 in Maine, from the NH border to Bangor. They never work on the portion north of Bangor to Houlton because it's so little traveled, therefore very few travelers to inconvienence. Though right now it's I-295's turn!!
Quote from: texaskdog on September 06, 2011, 03:39:26 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 05, 2011, 06:37:14 PM
I was once on US-14 in Wyoming where 16 miles of road had been torn up and there was a pilot car leading traffic, one direction at a time, over dirt.
I hate those one-lane/pilot car deals. They always take forever. We had three in a row on US-89 in South Utah a few weeks ago.
I encountered a couple of long ones along U.S. 89 in Arizona when I was out there in mid-July. One had a pilot vehicle, while the other had just flaggers at either end.
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
Actually, that would be eastern Alabama.
Quote from: golden eagle on September 07, 2011, 11:30:18 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
Actually, that would be eastern Alabama.
GOOD CATCH golden eagle!
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 05, 2011, 06:37:14 PM
I was once on US-14 in Wyoming where 16 miles of road had been torn up and there was a pilot car leading traffic, one direction at a time, over dirt.
I had a similar issue in late 2009 going over Togwotee Pass on 26/287 when they rebuilt that road. I can't remember the exact length but I know it took over an hour and we were going really slow. It was all dirt, some of it one lane and some of it allowing traffic both directions. That was intense!
Quote from: golden eagle on September 07, 2011, 11:30:18 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
Actually, that would be eastern Alabama.
My bad. You're right.
Be well,
Bryant
US 101 from the 42/101 junction to Bandon is getting a complete repaving, restriping and lots of new guardrail installed this summer. The length of the construction zone is 17 miles. That's the longest stretch of construction zone that I have seen in this part of Oregon.
Rick
Quote from: texaskdog on September 06, 2011, 03:39:26 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on September 05, 2011, 06:37:14 PM
I was once on US-14 in Wyoming where 16 miles of road had been torn up and there was a pilot car leading traffic, one direction at a time, over dirt.
I hate those one-lane/pilot car deals. They always take forever. We had three in a row on US-89 in South Utah a few weeks ago.
What's even worse, they don't put signs back at the fork so you could go the other way and save half an hour of driving time.
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 08, 2011, 12:56:32 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on September 07, 2011, 11:30:18 PM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 06, 2011, 12:17:37 AM
The longest one that I've been in is I-20 in west Alabama (Cleburne and Calhoun counties), which is about forty (40) miles.
Actually, that would be eastern Alabama.
My bad. You're right.
Be well,
Bryant
Well it's kind of a backward state to begin with
Depending upon how one is defining a construction zone, Missouri may have had some pretty longs ones (maybe 50 miles or greater) when upgrading the US 60 and US 67 corridors to expressways.
SB I-55 near Mt. Olive, IL has a sign posted "Road Work next 53 miles"
Quote from: rmsandw on September 12, 2011, 12:17:15 AM
SB I-55 near Mt. Olive, IL has a sign posted "Road Work next 53 miles"
I had to bump this topic for the sign I saw today on i-75. I believe it said "road construction next 87 miles", starting in Marion County and all the way through Alachua County here in Florida. The other impressive part of this is on the portion I drove, it seemed like you could always see an "Uneven Pavement" at all times. I'm fairly confident they had a sign on both sides of the freeway, and both northbound and southbound at least every half mile if not more, so if it did infact keep up the pace throughout the work zone, they would have posted about 700 "Uneven Pavement" signs for this construction project. I kind of feel like on a project this long and simple (its just resurfacing, minus one interchange getting guardrail and really minor roadway modifications), they should have just divided into smaller sections, and maybe even just did one side of the road at a time. When I drove down it, they had one lane done the for at least 40 miles without work on the other 2 lanes starting (and they appear to have done this on each side of the road).
What's the length of the current I-35 zone in central Texas?
Mike
What was the length of the extension of the car/truck lane split extension from exit 8A down to exit 6 on the NJ Turnpike?
Failing that, when I was in college I used to take I-80 to I-380 to I-81 to get between campus and my parents' house. I remember I-380 in Pennsylvania being under construction and single-laned in each direction for its entire length for at least a full year and a half while it was COMPLETELY resurfaced, down to the dirt road bed. This would have been in the late 1990s, back when PA still had sequential exit numbers.
I remember the first phase of the recent rebuild/widen of I-90 between Rockford and Elgin was something like 35 miles of work. And it was all 45 MPH speed limit. Ugh.
If time is a factor, longest construction zone is I-45 south of downtown. They been working on it for like 60 years. By the time they are almost "finished" widening the road, they are re-widening it because of new growth and expanion.
For what felt like a thousand miles on I-65 in Kentucky there was a construction area for over a year with the speed limit 55 and absolutely no work of any kind could even be imagined in about 90% of it. I figure stretches like this are just so fines can be doubled.
On the subject of construction, so many times I see construction zone signs still up and barrels along the side of the road long after it is obvious the construction is finished. There are even weeds and small trees growing near the signs and barrels. It is no wonder some drivers don't slow down in these zones. I think they just leave them there as a place to store them until the next project.
I do like the zones that state fines double when workers are present.
NYSTA likes em long. I got stuck in a ~7 or 8-mile one-lane squeezedown on I-90 west of Syracuse. It was part of a full rehab of both carriageways.
Longest I've seen is about 24 miles, with I-90 in Illinois
I-29 from Council Bluffs Iowa to Loveland Iowa was closed all summer in 2011. First 100+ days was water over the road, and then (IIRC) another month of scrubbing the slime off the surface and fixing the shoulders. 15-20 miles m/l.
The substance deposited on the road surface was surprisingly resistant to scrubbing. The contractor noted sweeping appeared to remove it, but if the pavement became wet, it was still dangerously slippery from the residue. They had to hose it down and sweep it wet to get the stuff off.
All lanes both directions were closed. Huge annoyance . . .
The longest I personally have driven through is probably the already mentioned NJ Turnpike widening project which, by the way, was 33 miles long.
Quote from: bzakharin on May 12, 2016, 02:10:10 PM
The longest I personally have driven through is probably the already mentioned NJ Turnpike widening project which, by the way, was 33 miles long.
But it was 26 separate contracts, so they were just a bunch of 1 1/4 mile construction zones! :-D
The Turnpike Authority did an impressive job maintaining traffic thru that 33 miles without any fanfare whatsoever. When one builds what is essentially a 2nd, 6 lane highway directly next to an existing 6 lane highway, while maintaining a 55 mph speed limit (actual speeds were much higher), it was basically done as if the public shouldn't have been inconvenienced at all. When lanes had to be closed, they were generally closed for good reason. I don't recall any all-night closures of the highway for overhead overpass or sign installations, unlike what other states put their drivers thru.
The biggest issue was the lack of shoulders, so when someone had car trouble or an accident, it immediately reduced the lane availability. But whenever possible, the cops would try to take up as little lane as possible, trying to at least keep the incident lane partially open.
Definitely think the Northwest Tollway construction in Illinois has been the longest I've seen.
I remember when there was construction on that 80/94/294 stretch in Illinois and Indiana. That felt long and felt like years of work, and it was like one project after another
Been through some long projects, especially on I-75 in southern Georgia
Back in the mid 90's to early 2000's it seemed like I-95 in GA was under construction from Savannah all the way to the FL border.
Quote from: mgk920 on May 09, 2016, 09:53:03 AM
What's the length of the current I-35 zone in central Texas?
Mike
I drove thru this week. IIRC, it ran from around Lacy Lakeview (north of Waco) to south of Salado (just south of Temple-Belton), roughly sixty (60) miles.
[If I had known there would be a quiz, I would have paid more attention to the endpoints]
Quote from: slorydn1 on June 02, 2016, 10:00:41 PM
Back in the mid 90's to early 2000's it seemed like I-95 in GA was under construction from Savannah all the way to the FL border.
IIRC, I-75 from I-475 to I-675 (49 miles) and from US 411 to the Tennessee line (60 miles) were under construction at the same time, too. Not one big project, but adjacent projects with overlapping timeframes.
Quote from: mgk920 on May 09, 2016, 09:53:03 AM
What's the length of the current I-35 zone in central Texas?
Mike
At one point, it was 53 miles from the Williamson/Bell county line (MM 277) to SH6 on the south side of Waco (MM 330), plus another 20-odd miles between northern Waco and just south of Hillsboro, but the expansion between SH 6 and the Brazos River was done prior to the other work starting.
Back in the 90's there was a work zone on I-43 in Walworth County that I believe was 26 miles long.
I don't think I've seen longer than 10 miles. That is the longest one I've driven, on Spanish N-232 Northwest of Zaragoza, as works have recently started to duplicate it into A-68.
Anyway, I believe the whole German autobahn network (8000 miles) is a construction zone now :-D.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 06, 2011, 12:55:52 AMThe person or business entity making this post (herein referred to as "I") is curious as to why the person or business entity making the post quoted herein (herein referred to as "You") has posted in a manner similar to that of a lawyer or other person who writes contracts, specifically writing the number in words, then following it with the number written in figures. This was done two (2) times.
The person or business entity making this post (herein referred to as 'I') enjoyed reading the post quoted herein and regards it as one of the best posts ever.
I-65 through central Kentucky is currently being widened under a few separate contracts between Exit 58 and Exit 91. I think work along I-35 in central Texas in 2013 was one of the longest construction zones I have seen.
A sign on southbound US 23 leaving Michigan and entering Ohio at Toledo:
I-75 I-475 Construction: Next 50 miles
The construction is not continuous, but covers about 40 of those 50 miles on either route (downtown Toledo or through Maumee) down to Findlay, Ohio.
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13419092_616544698509583_1234349462305313120_n.jpg?oh=dea399fdb6ae083f1086241285a9b639&oe=58260288)
Between 2000 and 2008, I remember 20-40 mile contraflows along I-90/80/94 while replacing the concrete roadways through Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Minnesota.
Not that long, but the entire 16-mile stretch of I-680 in Iowa - from I-80 to I-29 - is currently under construction. I guess it's not as impressive since I-680 continues just south of there, but it tried my patience.
:clap: We got a winner beating my 87 miles.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on July 22, 2016, 06:17:14 AM
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13419092_616544698509583_1234349462305313120_n.jpg?oh=dea399fdb6ae083f1086241285a9b639&oe=58260288)
IIRC, the movie Final Destination 2 begins with a scene on "Route 23" and there's a VMS saying something like "road work next 180 miles".
I-49 has a 60+ mile Construction zone. One starts around Mountainburg, AR and ends as you approach Fayetteville, where another begins.
Quote from: US71 on July 31, 2016, 04:01:59 PM
I-49 has a 60+ mile Construction zone. One starts around Mountainburg, AR and ends as you approach Fayetteville, where another begins.
Is all the construction for the Connecting Arkansas Program?
Quote from: mvak36 on August 01, 2016, 11:01:34 AM
Quote from: US71 on July 31, 2016, 04:01:59 PM
I-49 has a 60+ mile Construction zone. One starts around Mountainburg, AR and ends as you approach Fayetteville, where another begins.
Is all the construction for the Connecting Arkansas Program?
No.
Mountainburg-Fayetteville is pavement rehabilitation
Fayetteville to Bentonville is Connecting Arkansas (widening I-49, plus new US 412 Bypass)
I don't know about long construction zones, but I do like when you can see the progress as you travel. For example, about a month ago, I was traveling west on I-90 in South Dakota, and I entered a construction zone where one roadway is closed and the other carries both directions of traffic. And it was like an educational experience. First, there was an area where the dirt had been removed from the shoulders of the roadway, so that the actual pavement was above the ground level. Then, there was an area where they were jackhammering up the old concrete. Then, there was an area where machines were picking the old rebar out from the concrete and putting it into nice little piles. And finally, there was a machine that took the big chunks of concrete and made them into piles of littler chunks of concrete similar to limestone gravel. Then there were piles of concrete all down the road. I thought that was very interesting.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure this construction zone was about 12 miles or so. I think they're longer in the west than the east.
I-57 in southern Illinois was a rather long construction zone.
I just saw a 50 mile long construction zone on I-75 in north Ohio. Mostly widening the interstate.
Quote from: codyg1985 on August 29, 2016, 12:40:54 PM
I just saw a 50 mile long construction zone on I-75 in north Ohio. Mostly widening the interstate.
There is a similar sign on US23 south as you cross from Michigan to Ohio just northwest of Toledo: "I-475/I-75 Construction Next 50 Miles". However, nearly all of this is complete now, save for the last few parts of the construction between Perrysburg and OH582, and continued work between North Baltimore and Findlay.