I'm sure you have been on at least a few non-freeways that seem like freeways in spots.
US-31 between Holland and Grand Haven - even though it has a few stoplights
M-45 between Allendale and Walker - it's almost impossible to not go 70+ when crossing the Grand River or coming down the hills on either side to approach said bridge
US-127 between Ithaca and St. Johns - it even has a 65 mph speed limit and an interchange about halfway between the two towns mentioned
M-115 between Cadillac and Farwell - it doesn't help that a good portion of the road is four lanes undivided
US 301 on Maryland's eastern shore sure feels like a freeway. It has some interchanges as well as some at-grade intersections. No traffic signals either, most of the intersections have flasher beacons.
Virtually all of Wisconsin's expressways are like this; they're usually even posted for the same speeds as freeways. They are often later turned into freeways by removing right-of-way access and building overpasses and interchanges.
Many of Illinois as well, especially the IL 110 /336 between Quincy and Macomb.It is very low volume and the side roads are very empty. The design of the roadway itself is Interstate in terms of curves ,shoulders etc,You notice the sideroads by turnlanes and signage not by crosstraffic.
Iowa and Missouri often use an exsiting road and do not always upgrade it so you dont get that interstate feel.
US 71 north of Joplin to Kansas City. :sombrero:
Oh wait...
US 2/41 on either side of Gladstone, MI.
Mike
US-50 between Whitewater (Grand Junction) and (North) Delta, CO. About 25 miles of 4-lane divided highway through the desert landscape with hardly a crossroad.
Had some friends in town from Portland, OR recently and was dropping them and their kids off at Disneyland.
Driving down S. Harbor Blvd in Anaheim generated the comment "Geez! Your boulevards are wider than most of our freeways!"
VA-123 south of Fairfax City (or really, south of the GMU campus might be a better description). Reasonably wide median, speed limits of 50 to 55 for much of its length, not very many traffic lights. I often use the cruise control on there to keep my speed down to about 60 to 62 mph.
US-29 from Charlottesville to Gainesville is another; the speed limit is 60 for most of the portion between Ruckersville and Opal with one exception near Madison.
US-15 from Frederick for most of the way to Harrisburg (part of it near Gettysburg is a controlled-access freeway with a 65-mph limit; the part in Maryland is wide and similar to VA-123 described above but with fewer lights, and the part north of the bypass around Gettysburg is more like an arterial for several miles)
VA-7 from Round Hill to Winchester and from Leesburg to VA-28. The Round Hill to Winchester part especially feels like a freeway because it's more rural and has very few lights.
MD-210 from the Beltway south to Accokeek (perhaps beyond, but I can't really picture the part south of Accokeek). This road can be somewhat dangerous because some people go so fast on there. It's a dual-carriageway with three lanes per side but it also has traffic lights and some roads intersecting without lights. It's not unusual to find people going 75 mph, but there's often just a bit too much traffic to allow that sort of speed since it's one of two main connections from southwestern Maryland to DC. Problem is, the people who go that fast are the type to weave in and out and tailgate. It's quite un-PC to say this, but because of the demographics of that area, a lot of the drivers you encounter on MD-210 are the types who reinforce certain racial stereotypes about driving.
Edited to add: I mention MD-210 being dangerous and then a story about another fatal crash on that road appears: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2547787
Well, Utah has plenty of non-Interstate freeways, but there's also a few roads that feel like freeways:
US-89/91 between the stoplights at Wellsville and Brigham City (AKA the Sardine Canyon portion)--there's a couple of at-grade intersections (UT-23, Mantua's north turnoff), but there's also the Brigham City and Mantua's south junctions, which have off- and on-ramps (Mantua's south jct. only has an off-ramp for NB traffic, while an on-ramp for SB traffic); they're even labled as "Exit," though no numbers are given. I've compared its portions with jersey barriers to I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge before. Its speed limit is 60 MPH (before dropping down to the Brigham City stoplight, where US-89 splits to the south and US-91 beelines to I-15/84, which is 55).
You also have UT-154 (AKA the Bangerter Highway). I've never driven on it before, but it's divided with somewhat reasonably freeway-like speed limits (55 MPH) and at-grade intersections.
I've even gone as far as listing UT-9 between Hurricane and I-15 as a "mini-freeway," as it has had acceleration lanes. Of course, you have stoplights at just about every intersection nowadays, but when it was first built as such, you really didn't stop all that much.
You also have UT-265 (University Parkway) and the US-6/191 bypass near Price.
A lot of Florida divided US highways can feel like freeways where there hasnt been rampant development. US 301 near Jacksonville is still pretty freeway-ish but every year there are more and more traffic lights. US 1 bwtween I-95 in S. Jacksonville and St Augustine was wide open until about 10-15 years ago. Now there is development all along the stretch. ( not quite like US 90 in Jax but it will be soon.)
Florida should have made these roads more limited access before sprwal
Seems to me most true expressways should feel like freeways. In Ohio, the most noticeable differences between expressways and conventional divided highways are breakdown lanes and property access. Few roads in Ohio blur the distinction between expressway and non-expressway, though US 23 in Pickaway and Delaware counties comes to mind...
Anyway the point I'm making is that, in Ohio, the distinction between conventional roads and expressways is usually more noticeable than the difference between expressways and full freeways.
Quote from: jwolfer on September 16, 2011, 12:56:50 PM
Florida should have made these roads more limited access before sprwal
US 27 from Griffin Road (FL 818) to Lake Placid is quite desolate, save the town of Clewiston (6-7 traffic lights). But South Bay and Moore Haven only have one each, so that makes about 80 miles of four-lane roads were you barely stop, only slowing to 35 in town limits, but otherwise 65 throughout.
University Parkway (S.R. 316) feels like a freeway from I-85 (where it is a freeway) to Paul Broun Parkway (S.R. 10 Loop).
South Fulton Parkway (S.R. 14 Connector/U.S. 29 Alternate/S.R. 14 Alternate) feels like a freeway from I-85/285 (where it is freeway, up until the U.S. 29/Roosevelt Highway interchange) to the four-lane end, at Rivertown Road.
Camp Creek Parkway/Thornton Road/C.H. James Parkway (S.R. 6, portions of it are also signed as U.S. 278) feels like a freeway in certain high-speed sections, between East Point and Lithia Springs; between Lithia Springs and Hiram; and west of Hiram to Cedartown. The section of U.S. 278 between Dallas and Rockmart is signed at 65 mph and is very, very rural. When reaching Rockmart, the speed limit drops down to 55 and stays that way to Cedartown; it should go back up to 65, though, once passing Rockmart.
Be well,
Bryant
The six mile stretch of Route 35/Skyline Boulevard between Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco and Hickey Boulevard in Daly City/Pacifica has four lanes (mostly divided) with a 50-55 MPH speed limit, and very few intersections. There is one short freeway segment that consists of one interchange with the Route 1 freeway.
Major intersections are about a mile or more apart in that stretch: Route 1 interchange, Westmoor Avenue, Westridge Avenue, John Daly Boulevard (former Route 1), John Muir Drive, and Lake Merced Boulevard.
Quote from: TheStranger on September 17, 2011, 07:30:05 PM
The six mile stretch of Route 35/Skyline Boulevard between Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco and Hickey Boulevard in Daly City/Pacifica has four lanes (mostly divided) with a 50-55 MPH speed limit, and very few intersections. There is one short freeway segment that consists of one interchange with the Route 1 freeway.
Major intersections are about a mile or more apart in that stretch: Route 1 interchange, Westmoor Avenue, Westridge Avenue, John Daly Boulevard (former Route 1), John Muir Drive, and Lake Merced Boulevard.
Is John Daly Blvd named for the famously obese drunk golfer?
As VA 144 forms the northern boundary of Fort Lee for some of its length between US 1/301 and VA 36, it is a high speed corridor with only one intersection between Puddledock Rd and VA 36, built to rather high standards. The intersection with VA 36 is a semi-interchange, with ramps to and from westbound VA 36 but not to and from eastbound (control for traffic headed that way is provided by a traffic signal).
US 460 between US 1 near Petersburg and some point not too far east of Lynchburg also carries 55 or 60 mph speed limits and has relatively few intersections, with some exceptions (Rice, Crewe, etc). US 460 east of Petersburg not so much, though, as it has high speed limits but is not a divided highway until it reaches Suffolk.
QuoteUS-29 from Charlottesville to Gainesville is another; the speed limit is 60 for most of the portion between Ruckersville and Opal with one exception near Madison.
Except for the bypasses, I disagree with this one. The tendency for one direction to be hilly (i.e. the original 1930/40s-era grading) plus the large number of driveways, especially near Opal and north of Warrenton, decidedly make it NOT feel like a freeway to me. From the Culpeper bypass up to Remington is closer...no driveways here...but this segment still has 4 traffic signals.
Quote from: froggie on September 18, 2011, 08:33:37 AM
QuoteUS-29 from Charlottesville to Gainesville is another; the speed limit is 60 for most of the portion between Ruckersville and Opal with one exception near Madison.
Except for the bypasses, I disagree with this one. The tendency for one direction to be hilly (i.e. the original 1930/40s-era grading) plus the large number of driveways, especially near Opal and north of Warrenton, decidedly make it NOT feel like a freeway to me. From the Culpeper bypass up to Remington is closer...no driveways here...but this segment still has 4 traffic signals.
I figured you'd disagree, but to me it feels no worse than many of Pennsylvania's freeways. For obvious reasons I've spent a lot of time on that part of 29 over the years, although these days we usually use the other route via Orange and Gordonsville.
I might have listed US-15 between Orange and Gordonsville except that it's just too short a segment (9 miles). In my younger and dumber days I once ran that segment in five minutes....
Corridor D (US 50) between Clarksburg and Parkersburg, WV. Also the new section of Corridor H (US 48) in West Virginia.
long stretches of US-101 and US-395 in California have some at-grade crossings but no traffic lights.
also, now that I think about it, I think CA-99 has a few at-grades left but I barely can remember them since they never slow me down.
MD 175 between US 29 and I-95: 6-8 lanes, several interchanges with a few signals interspersed.
Also undeveloped stretches of MD 2/4 in northern Calvert County, and US 50 (Ocean Gateway) on the eastern shore, again outside the developed areas near towns.
The western part of MD 43 in Perry Hall would be too but for the curbs and no shoulders, which give it more the feel of a DC area parkway.
US11/15 between Duncannon an Selinsgrove (PA). Four lanes, 55 MPH limit, and not a single solitary signal the whole way.
Hilton Pkwy, the alternate route for trucks wanting to use US 1 or US 40, between Edmondson Av, and North Av., feels like a freeway, despite the 35 MPH speed limit, which most everyone ignores anyway.
US 1 between Titusville and Edgewater. North of there, it urbanizes quickly. Also, SR 50 from Titusville to Bithlo at the SR 50/528 split.
Also, I'd like to add that Freedom Parkway (Georgia State Route 10) feels like a freeway, as it's built to freeway standards in certain section. Freedom Parkway starts at I-75/85 and ends at Ponce de Leon Avenue (U.S. 78/278/S.R. 8 ).
Be well,
Bryant
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 18, 2011, 06:48:16 PM
Also, I'd like to add that Freedom Parkway (Georgia State Route 10) feels like a freeway, as it's built to freeway standards in certain section. Freedom Parkway starts at I-75/85 and ends at Ponce de Leon Avenue (U.S. 78/278/S.R. 8).
If I'm not mistaken, that was originally constructed as part of a canceled I-485.
Quote from: TheStranger on September 19, 2011, 11:23:58 AM
Quote from: Bryant5493 on September 18, 2011, 06:48:16 PM
Also, I'd like to add that Freedom Parkway (Georgia State Route 10) feels like a freeway, as it's built to freeway standards in certain section. Freedom Parkway starts at I-75/85 and ends at Ponce de Leon Avenue (U.S. 78/278/S.R. 8).
If I'm not mistaken, that was originally constructed as part of a canceled I-485.
Correct you are.
Be well,
Bryant
PQ-117 from Ste-Agathe-des-Monts (northern terminus of A-15) to Labelle, 2 traffic lights south of St-Jovite but there some plans to upgrade it into a freeway. A short section of the St-Jovite bypass is freeway grade.
PQ-175 in the Laurentides Park is upgraded to a 4-lanes divided highway, the only interesections are for PQ-169, at L'Étape rest area and forest roads.
Quote from: OCGuy81 on September 16, 2011, 09:56:39 AM
Had some friends in town from Portland, OR recently and was dropping them and their kids off at Disneyland.
Driving down S. Harbor Blvd in Anaheim generated the comment "Geez! Your boulevards are wider than most of our freeways!"
Same for CA 39(Beach Blvd). It gets as wide as a 8 lane freeway in some sections.
^ I had a dream some time ago that I was cruising down some very wide city street in SoCal at about 70MPH (just keeping up with traffic). It had row houses all along it, and at least 6 traffic lights per mile. It didn't matter if the lights were coordinated or not, because everyone was running the reds anyway. Silly dream...
I'd also throw in CA-133, Laguna Canyon Road. North of the 73 toll road, it's divided and feels like a full freeway, though there are some at-grade intersections. I don't think it's officialy a freeway until after the 405.
Another one in FL is SR 16 between SR 21 and CR 215.. 65 MPH speed limit. One side is Camp Blanding and the other side is tree farms... no cross roads at all. I think it is 5 miles or so
Quote from: OCGuy81 on September 20, 2011, 10:23:19 AM
I'd also throw in CA-133, Laguna Canyon Road. North of the 73 toll road, it's divided and feels like a full freeway, though there are some at-grade intersections. I don't think it's officialy a freeway until after the 405.
CA-133 between I-405 and CA-73 is a type of highway configuration used all through out California. CA 58, CA 152, and CA 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains just to name a few.(Even US 101) I haven't found an official name for this type configuration, but it's definitely a freeway-expressway hybrid. It's has at-grade intersections, no signals, and traffic is allowed to continue travel uninterrupted at 65 mph. Crossing traffic must yield, and there are usually acceleration lanes after the intersection for entering traffic.
^ The way you describe CA 133, the technical term would be an expressway...it's just an expressway without signals.
Quote from: roadfro on September 22, 2011, 04:28:29 AM
^ The way you describe CA 133, the technical term would be an expressway...it's just an expressway without signals.
While that may be true at the federal-level, it's technically not true according to the California Vehicle Code (CVC)...
Quote from: CVC Section 314Expressway
314. An "expressway" is a portion of highway that is part of either of the following:
(a) An expressway system established by a county under Section 941.4 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(b) An expressway system established by a county before January 1, 1989, as described in subdivision (g) of Section 941.4 of the Streets and Highways Code.
Added Sec. 17, Ch. 615, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
I should know this because Santa Clara County has it's own expressway system (Lawrence, Capitol, Central, San Tomas, Montague, Foothill and Oregon). These roads generally have signalized intersections with a few interchanges, are multi-lane (4 to 8 lanes) and carry a higher speed limit (45-50 MPH).
I believe the CVC defines highways like CA-17 (Scotts Valley to Los Gatos) and CA-152 (east of CA-156) as "Divided Highway".
Quote from: CVC Section 21651Divided Highways
21651. (a) Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway,
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on September 18, 2011, 12:26:21 AM
US 460 between US 1 near Petersburg and some point not too far east of Lynchburg also carries 55 or 60 mph speed limits and has relatively few intersections, with some exceptions (Rice, Crewe, etc). US 460 east of Petersburg not so much, though, as it has high speed limits but is not a divided highway until it reaches Suffolk.
I agree.
Also, that point "not too far east of Lynchburg" is where US-29 splits from US-460, which ignores the globby mess where the two are concurrent (sans US-501).
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2011, 10:11:17 AM
Quote from: froggie on September 18, 2011, 08:33:37 AM
QuoteUS-29 from Charlottesville to Gainesville is another; the speed limit is 60 for most of the portion between Ruckersville and Opal with one exception near Madison.
Except for the bypasses, I disagree with this one. The tendency for one direction to be hilly (i.e. the original 1930/40s-era grading) plus the large number of driveways, especially near Opal and north of Warrenton, decidedly make it NOT feel like a freeway to me. From the Culpeper bypass up to Remington is closer...no driveways here...but this segment still has 4 traffic signals.
I figured you'd disagree, but to me it feels no worse than many of Pennsylvania's freeways. For obvious reasons I've spent a lot of time on that part of 29 over the years, although these days we usually use the other route via Orange and Gordonsville.
I might have listed US-15 between Orange and Gordonsville except that it's just too short a segment (9 miles). In my younger and dumber days I once ran that segment in five minutes....
I would say US-29 just north of Charlottesville to Warrenton. The bits from Warrenton to Gainesville and the giant shopping strip right above historic Charlottesville always bothered me when I'd drive from Lynchburg to wherever and back.
...speaking of Lynchburg, I'm surprised you didn't mention US-29 from Charlottesville to Lynchburg - that area feels more like a freeway to me than Charlottesville-points north. Now I'm feeling nostalgic for the mountains!
Some other candidates in my book:
US-211 from Luray to Warrenton
MD-10 (which I think was an early alignment for Something More)
MD-100 and MD-32 (which seem like outer beltways, really)
Heck, US-29 all the way to the NC border. But I think I'm just biased because I like 29 so much.
Quote from: myosh_tino on September 22, 2011, 01:05:26 PM
Quote from: roadfro on September 22, 2011, 04:28:29 AM
^ The way you describe CA 133, the technical term would be an expressway...it's just an expressway without signals.
While that may be true at the federal-level, it's technically not true according to the California Vehicle Code (CVC)...
Quote from: CVC Section 314Expressway
314. An "expressway" is a portion of highway that is part of either of the following:
(a) An expressway system established by a county under Section 941.4 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(b) An expressway system established by a county before January 1, 1989, as described in subdivision (g) of Section 941.4 of the Streets and Highways Code.
Added Sec. 17, Ch. 615, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
I should know this because Santa Clara County has it's own expressway system (Lawrence, Capitol, Central, San Tomas, Montague, Foothill and Oregon). These roads generally have signalized intersections with a few interchanges, are multi-lane (4 to 8 lanes) and carry a higher speed limit (45-50 MPH).
I believe the CVC defines highways like CA-17 (Scotts Valley to Los Gatos) and CA-152 (east of CA-156) as "Divided Highway".
Quote from: CVC Section 21651Divided Highways
21651. (a) Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway,
Divided Highway is the term I've always used to describe them, but I figured there was some specific name or fancy word for it.
Quote from: Laura Bianca on September 23, 2011, 12:24:29 AM
....
...speaking of Lynchburg, I'm surprised you didn't mention US-29 from Charlottesville to Lynchburg - that area feels more like a freeway to me than Charlottesville-points north. Now I'm feeling nostalgic for the mountains!
....
That's just because I haven't been on that portion of US-29 since July 1998. The last time I used it I was coming back from Roanoke, where I had been taking the bar exam, and I just didn't want to take I-81, so I went over the mountains on US-460 and then took US-29 north. The fancy new bypass near Lynchburg didn't exist yet, either. Since it's been so many years since I used that road, I don't feel as though I can give a valid comment about it. I just haven't had much reason to go south in that direction in recent years, and on two football trips to Charlotte I opted for I-81 to I-77 going south and then I-85 to I-95 coming north.
FWIW, though, when I drove between Durham and Charlottesville during my law school years at Duke, I tended NOT to take US-29. Going south, I liked VA-20 to Dillwyn, US-15 past Farmville to Keysville, US-360 to South Boston, then US-501 south to Durham. Sometimes I took US-29 all the way to Lynchburg and then US-501 the rest of the way via Rustburg, Brookneal, and Halifax, but Lynchburg was a bit of a crapshoot on the traffic. I also recall seeing fewer cops on the Dillwyn to Farmville route.
Quote from: Laura Bianca on September 23, 2011, 12:24:29 AM
Some other candidates in my book:
US-211 from Luray to Warrenton
MD-10 (which I think was an early alignment for Something More)
MD-100 and MD-32 (which seem like outer beltways, really)
Heck, US-29 all the way to the NC border. But I think I'm just biased because I like 29 so much.
I'm pretty sure those aren't "Non-freeways that feel like freeways", but are in fact Freeways. They may have some features (I know MD-32 has a stretch that allows bikes on the shoulders...) which would not be up to interstate standards, but I don't think MD cares to sign them as such anyway.
* - Obviously, I'm only referring to the "freeway portion" of MD-32.
MD 32 is fully freeway east of MD 108. Yes, there's a stretch that allows bicycles on the shoulder. But when you figure there are states that allow that on their Interstate highways...
Quote from: ftballfan on September 17, 2011, 09:54:03 PM
Quote from: TheStranger on September 17, 2011, 07:30:05 PM
The six mile stretch of Route 35/Skyline Boulevard between Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco and Hickey Boulevard in Daly City/Pacifica has four lanes (mostly divided) with a 50-55 MPH speed limit, and very few intersections. There is one short freeway segment that consists of one interchange with the Route 1 freeway.
Major intersections are about a mile or more apart in that stretch: Route 1 interchange, Westmoor Avenue, Westridge Avenue, John Daly Boulevard (former Route 1), John Muir Drive, and Lake Merced Boulevard.
Is John Daly Blvd named for the famously obese drunk golfer?
We have a John Daly Street that starts in Taylor, MI and continues up to near Redford, MI.
Around here, the south end of M-85 (the final mile to be specific) feels like a freeway because it eventually merges with I-75.
A portion of Paradise Road and Swenson Street in Las Vegas feels like freeway, even though there is one or two traffic signals along the stretch. The two roads are a one-way couplet that lead to/from Tropicana Avenue (SR 593) to McCarran Airport. The roads start off wide, narrow down with numerous ramps and bridges providing airport access, then eventually connect to the freeway-grade Airport Tunnel and unsigned SR 171 to interchange with I-215 to the south. It's a popular shortcut from the UNLV/south-Strip area to Henderson.
The western end of Suffolk CR 99/Woodside Avenue in Holtsville/Holbrook, NY west of the intersection of Woodside and West Woodside.
Quote from: ftballfan on September 17, 2011, 09:54:03 PM
Quote from: TheStranger on September 17, 2011, 07:30:05 PM
The six mile stretch of Route 35/Skyline Boulevard between Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco and Hickey Boulevard in Daly City/Pacifica has four lanes (mostly divided) with a 50-55 MPH speed limit, and very few intersections. There is one short freeway segment that consists of one interchange with the Route 1 freeway.
Major intersections are about a mile or more apart in that stretch: Route 1 interchange, Westmoor Avenue, Westridge Avenue, John Daly Boulevard (former Route 1), John Muir Drive, and Lake Merced Boulevard.
Is John Daly Blvd named for the famously obese drunk golfer?
No, it is named for the early-1900s founder of Daly City (northernmost city in San Mateo County).
Quote from: nyratk1 on September 26, 2011, 05:46:22 AM
The western end of Suffolk CR 99/Woodside Avenue in Holtsville/Holbrook, NY west of the intersection of Woodside and West Woodside.
Which is partially why I've always believed that Suffolk CR 99 should be upgraded.
Quote from: DeaconG on September 18, 2011, 06:38:57 PM
US 1 between Titusville and Edgewater. North of there, it urbanizes quickly. Also, SR 50 from Titusville to Bithlo at the SR 50/528 split.
Wait, SR 50 and SR 528 never interchange. Do you mean SR 520?
That stretch of SR 50 does feel pretty freeway-grade ... until you use it to catch a few shuttle launches. Not so much freedom of movement then.
US 27 in Lake County also feels like a freeway. It starts a few miles north of US 192 and continues to SR 50. 65 mph speed limit, no traffic signals, and few side roads.
SR 607 in Mississippi is like this once out of Waveland. Also with a 65 mph speed limit and a few intersections to access SR 604 and I-10.
NY 304 in Pearl River-New City - Havestraw NY
NY 22 from North White Plains to Armonk/684
US 113 in Delaware
DE 1 through Delaware, incl non-freeway portions
SR 80 in Florida
a few off the top of my head i know many more.
US 19 & 98 between Crystal River and Chiefland. US 19, US 98, Alt. US 27 from Cross City to Perry. US 19 & 27 from Perry to Capps.
FL 60 for a short distance east of Lake Wales and probably also between the FL Turnpike and I-95 now it is four laned.
US 27 from Griffin Road to South Bay.
A few I've driven on this year:
VA 33 between West Point and Saluda
US 17 north of Saluda (ties into the VA 33 segment)
US 360 west of Skinquarter (particularly between Skinquarter and the Chesterfield-Amelia line, which has only one intersection and really not much of anything)
Quote from: Takumi on October 27, 2011, 08:10:40 PM
A few I've driven on this year:
VA 33 between West Point and Saluda
US 17 north of Saluda (ties into the VA 33 segment)
US 360 west of Skinquarter (particularly between Skinquarter and the Chesterfield-Amelia line, which has only one intersection and really not much of anything)
.
How about US 301 through Fort AP Hill?
Never driven it *hangs head in shame*
I have, and I'd definitely add that to the list. It's also one of the most boring drives in Virginia.
Well, considering what I-95 is like through the area (cue the fields with the billboards a mile away) I'm not surprised.
Quote from: newyorker478 on September 26, 2011, 08:34:33 PM
NY 304 in Pearl River-New City - Havestraw NY
Perhaps because it was planned to be upgraded into a freeway. So were parts of NY 59. In fact you could say that about some of the Suffolk County Roads built during the 1960's and 1970's.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2011, 07:58:42 PM
US 19 & 98 between Crystal River and Chiefland. US 19, US 98, Alt. US 27 from Cross City to Perry. US 19 & 27 from Perry to Capps.
US 19 & 98 between Lebanon Junction and Chiefland is a lot like William Floyd Parkway north of Whiskey Road, if William Floyd Parkway were a little more tropical.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on October 29, 2011, 11:01:05 PM
Quote from: newyorker478 on September 26, 2011, 08:34:33 PM
NY 304 in Pearl River-New City - Havestraw NY
Perhaps because it was planned to be upgraded into a freeway.
Or perhaps because... it is a freeway.
Quote from: NE2 on October 29, 2011, 11:59:08 PM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on October 29, 2011, 11:01:05 PM
Quote from: newyorker478 on September 26, 2011, 08:34:33 PM
NY 304 in Pearl River-New City - Havestraw NY
Perhaps because it was planned to be upgraded into a freeway.
Or perhaps because... it is a freeway.
Not really, there are only two partial interchanges, it is more of a bypass
I'd call it a freeway.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on October 29, 2011, 11:01:05 PM
Quote from: newyorker478 on September 26, 2011, 08:34:33 PM
NY 304 in Pearl River-New City - Havestraw NY
Perhaps because it was planned to be upgraded into a freeway. So were parts of NY 59. In fact you could say that about some of the Suffolk County Roads built during the 1960's and 1970's.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2011, 07:58:42 PM
US 19 & 98 between Crystal River and Chiefland. US 19, US 98, Alt. US 27 from Cross City to Perry. US 19 & 27 from Perry to Capps.
US 19 & 98 between Lebanon Junction and Chiefland is a lot like William Floyd Parkway north of Whiskey Road, if William Floyd Parkway were a little more tropical.
If I remember correctly, US 19 & 98 between those two points has a wide median with a lot of trees in it.
It's kind of dead out there at some points along US 19/98; they wanted to connect the original northern terminus of the Florida's Turnpike at Lebanon Station, but there still isn't much out there to this day. It doesn't need that much space, but it sure beats being stuck behind a dump truck for 30 miles on a two-laner.
Stoughton Road/ USH 51 in Madison is one that feels freeway'ish even in the parts with stop lights. The North Crossing/ WIS 312 in Eau Claire is another one that feels like it wants to be more then it is.
US2 between grand forks and devils lake ND, only one overpass, and a lot of enterances from dirt roads.
Also McGuire Access Highway between CR 545 and the McGuire AFB main gate has only one cross road to it. it is 50mph http://maps.google.com/maps?q=mcguire+afb&hl=en&ll=40.049497,-74.616544&spn=0.008837,0.013797&client=firefox-a&hnear=McGuire+AFB,+Burlington,+New+Jersey&gl=us&sqi=2&t=h&z=16&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=40.0496,-74.616736&panoid=TvqluVIXv3r6TAa52ugCBQ&cbp=12,149.91,,0,13.72
The bypass around Nuevo Laredo (Piedras Negras - Mier).
It's hydraulic concrete, with a speed limit of 100 km/h and traffic flow of 100 to 110 km/h. Even though it's only two lanes, the shoulders are intended to be used to facilitate passing, by which I mean the truck in front of you will ride the shoulder, the truck coming toward you will ride the shoulder, and you can pass right up the middle at 110 km/h.
Here's a shot from our windshield in March 2010:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1092.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi410%2Fkphoger%2FNvLdobypass.png&hash=b51172f0f32b1c15264015a4d279daa0fd4cc82f)
If you drive down La Cienega Blvd between Rodeo Rd and Centinela Ave in Los Angeles. It is like a highway because of the 55 mph speed limit.
Here in Houston we have a couple of limited access roads heading into downtown from west to east. Memorial Drive which runs north of the bayou and Allen Parkway to the south. The area of IH 45 that runs through the Allen area interchange features alot of left exits on both sides and some interesting turns/merges.
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2011, 10:11:17 AM
Quote from: froggie on September 18, 2011, 08:33:37 AM
QuoteUS-29 from Charlottesville to Gainesville is another; the speed limit is 60 for most of the portion between Ruckersville and Opal with one exception near Madison.
Except for the bypasses, I disagree with this one. The tendency for one direction to be hilly (i.e. the original 1930/40s-era grading) plus the large number of driveways, especially near Opal and north of Warrenton, decidedly make it NOT feel like a freeway to me. From the Culpeper bypass up to Remington is closer...no driveways here...but this segment still has 4 traffic signals.
I figured you'd disagree, but to me it feels no worse than many of Pennsylvania's freeways. For obvious reasons I've spent a lot of time on that part of 29 over the years, although these days we usually use the other route via Orange and Gordonsville.
I might have listed US-15 between Orange and Gordonsville except that it's just too short a segment (9 miles). In my younger and dumber days I once ran that segment in five minutes....
Any 4-lane highway that is non-limited access, which is obvious if there are any driveways and field entrances ... does not "feel like a freeway" to me.
Limited access bypasses do feel somewhat like a freeway ... such as Warrenton, Culpeper, Remington, etc.
Quote from: Beltway on January 13, 2012, 01:00:16 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 18, 2011, 10:11:17 AM
Quote from: froggie on September 18, 2011, 08:33:37 AM
QuoteUS-29 from Charlottesville to Gainesville is another; the speed limit is 60 for most of the portion between Ruckersville and Opal with one exception near Madison.
Except for the bypasses, I disagree with this one. The tendency for one direction to be hilly (i.e. the original 1930/40s-era grading) plus the large number of driveways, especially near Opal and north of Warrenton, decidedly make it NOT feel like a freeway to me. From the Culpeper bypass up to Remington is closer...no driveways here...but this segment still has 4 traffic signals.
I figured you'd disagree, but to me it feels no worse than many of Pennsylvania's freeways. For obvious reasons I've spent a lot of time on that part of 29 over the years, although these days we usually use the other route via Orange and Gordonsville.
I might have listed US-15 between Orange and Gordonsville except that it's just too short a segment (9 miles). In my younger and dumber days I once ran that segment in five minutes....
Any 4-lane highway that is non-limited access, which is obvious if there are any driveways and field entrances ... does not "feel like a freeway" to me.
Limited access bypasses do feel somewhat like a freeway ... such as Warrenton, Culpeper, Remington, etc.
I think part of my thinking on that one is simply because when I drove that road constantly (during my college years) there was a lot less traffic than there is now, not many people turning out onto the road, and I used to do 70 to 75 mph or more (very dumb in retrospect, but I knew where all the regular speedtraps were because I was on there so often). I seldom use that part of US-29 anymore because it's out of the way in relation to where I now live, unless I'm driving late at night in which case I use that route because of my concern about deer on VA-231 and VA-20.
Some of my examples are rather short compared to others in the thread:
PA 309: http://goo.gl/maps/Wgppn the 55mph speed limit, along with its 4 lane divided highway style really makes it feel like a freeway.
This 'minor' road near Center Valley, PA only has a 45 mph speed limit, but it's build as a 4 lane divided highway and it's hard to not push 60 with so much open road: http://goo.gl/maps/F65AQ
This segment of PA 145 feels much like a full freeway, with the 55 mph speed limit with 2 lanes in each direction and a grass median http://goo.gl/maps/eHl40 I believe PA 145 from US 22 to this segment would be considered an at grade expressway
FL 520 west of FL 524 is basically an at grade freeway for a good length, consisting of a 65mph speed limit with 2 lanes in each direction, and a grass median http://goo.gl/maps/5CB7L
The entire U.S. 41/Indiana 63 corridor from Newton County southward (not counting the vicinities of Terre Haute and Evansville) pretty much feels like one big freeway. There's hardly any traffic, a good number of non-interstate junctions are grade separated, and the speed limit is always 60 mph (standard for open, rural, 4-lane divided highways in Indiana). We used this stretch a lot during our travels to and from Tennessee when I-65 just wouldn't cut it. (This was before we discovered I-57.)
Late summer 2011, my wife and I returned from camping at Turkey Run State Park and decided to use U.S. 41 for most of the way home. I could count the number of cars I passed on the 40-mile divided highway stretch on one hand.
Quote from: Some_Person on January 28, 2013, 07:59:38 PM
FL 520 west of FL 524 is basically an at grade freeway for a good length, consisting of a 65mph speed limit with 2 lanes in each direction, and a grass median http://goo.gl/maps/5CB7L
It used to feel like a "Super 2" back in the the mid-1990s, because the was nothing to interrupt your journey southeast from FL 528 to I-95. Plenty of traffic, but always going a good bit more than posted without feeling the need to make a pass...
The Bend Parkway (US-97) through Bend. They call it a parkway, and technically, you'd call it either that or an expressway. However, the meain segment of it has plenty of grade separated interchanges, 4 lanes throughout, and overall a very freeway-like feel for a large portion of it. The speed limit is 45, but the average speed is about 55, and 60-65 isn't uncommon. It feels like they were trying to make a freeway, and then had to change it into something that's not a freeway, to please the anti-freeway people. Whatever.
Quote from: doorknob60 on January 29, 2013, 03:23:20 AM
The Bend Parkway (US-97) through Bend. ... It feels like they were trying to make a freeway, and then had to change it into something that's not a freeway, to please the anti-freeway people. Whatever.
Anti-freeway? Yeah, that sounds like Oregon. Also, several "parkways" have come to exist for exactly that reason.
Indiana State Route 63 north of Terre Haute fells like a freeway in some places. I often hit 70 mph on it even thought the speed limit is 60. Personally I think the speed limit should be 65.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 27, 2011, 08:14:00 PM
Quote from: Takumi on October 27, 2011, 08:10:40 PM
A few I've driven on this year:
VA 33 between West Point and Saluda
US 17 north of Saluda (ties into the VA 33 segment)
US 360 west of Skinquarter (particularly between Skinquarter and the Chesterfield-Amelia line, which has only one intersection and really not much of anything)
.
How about US 301 through Fort AP Hill?
No.
Even though it
is possible to go pretty fast on U.S. 301 between Bowling Green and Port Royal, the highway
does not have the "look and feel" of a Virginia freeway.
And I have frequently observed VSP and Caroline County deputies engaged in radar/laser speed limit enforcement on that segment.
Baltimore Washington Parkway between U.S. 50 at Tuxedo and Md. 175 in Odenton. National Park Service maintenance.
Functional classification expressway (and unlike some other expressways, this one has full access control), but many people make the mistake of driving it like a freeway, sometimes with fatal results.
Suitland Parkway between the D.C./Md. border and Md. 4, also NPS maintenance. Four lanes divided, some substandard interchanges, some signalized intersections at grade, a few non-signalized intersections. Also driven by people like a freeway, sometimes with fatal results.
Gets totally shut-down sometimes when the cloud ceilings are too low for helicopter operation and the President needs to get to Air Force One (based at Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland).
Indiana 49 between the Indiana Toll Road and U.S. 30 in Valparaiso definitely has that freeway feel.
Open roads, wide shoulders, multiple interchanges (including one that was converted from a lighted intersection last year), and stretches where you can easily coast to 70 mph (though the speed limit is only 55). There are only two at-grade intersections in that seven-mile stretch; of those two, only one is lighted.
In South Carolina:
US 17 from the Savannah River to Charleston. Speed Limit is 60 in all areas except for Hardeeville, Jacksonboro and Ridgeland.
US 21 from Yemassee to Beaufort. Speed Limit is 60.
US 301 from the Savannah River to Santee. Speed Limit is 60 mph outside of the Allendale, Bamberg and Orangeburg city limits.
US 321 between Swansea and its connectors with Interstates 26 & 77 just outside of Cayce. Speed Limit is 60, except in Gaston.
US 222 on the Trexlertown Bypass sure looks like and feels like a freeway, it even has a diamond interchange with PA 100, it's just too bad there are some intersections with traffic signals, and a speed limit that doesn't even go above 45 mph. http://goo.gl/maps/ZzkUJ
U.S. 82 across North Texas is mostly divided and has several interchanges along the way, but also has several at-grade crossings and driveways.
US 1 south of St. Augustine. I dozed off here and woke up thinking we were on I-95.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=29.56532,-81.271019&spn=0.034192,0.066047&gl=us&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=29.565518,-81.271109&panoid=Q4JBRUstAhkBt6VGxccVzQ&cbp=12,349.77,,0,4.5
US 71 in Missouri used to fit this category, but since it was converted to I-49 it is now a full freeway.
Quote from: Some_Person on January 29, 2013, 04:49:13 PM
US 222 on the Trexlertown Bypass sure looks like and feels like a freeway, it even has a diamond interchange with PA 100, it's just too bad there are some intersections with traffic signals, and a speed limit that doesn't even go above 45 mph. http://goo.gl/maps/ZzkUJ
That's actually a classic rest-of-the-US "expressway." It's almost a freeway, with an interchange or two, but it has intersections.
US 209 from PA 33 to I-80 is similar.
AZ87 Beeline-Martin Highway Between Mcdowell Road/Country Club Road and Rye
US 22 through Weequahic Park in Newark, NJ.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 29, 2013, 09:32:45 PM
US 22 through Weequahic Park in Newark, NJ.
That is a de facto freeway.
(As is, of course, CP's example of the Balt Wash Parkway.)
I'll throw in Shoreline Drive in Long Beach from I-710 into downtown. The section from Ocean Boulevard to Chestnut Place is often used for filming because of its resemblance to a freeway. It used to be even more freeway-like when there were flyover ramps to and from the Queensway Bridge. Shoreline Drive is also a major part of the Long Beach Grand Prix course.
Given the nicely subjective criterion, I'd nominate NYC's West Side Highway (NY 9A). Sure it has tons of lights and intersections, but when they're green it feels a lot like a freeway to me. It's certainly wider and in better physical shape than most of the actual freeways in the city.
(Remember that NYC uses signal timing, such that one can often travel the length of Manhattan Island without ever stopping for a red signal.)
Quote from: empirestate on January 30, 2013, 12:11:57 PM
Given the nicely subjective criterion, I'd nominate NYC's West Side Highway (NY 9A). Sure it has tons of lights and intersections, but when they're green it feels a lot like a freeway to me. It's certainly wider and in better physical shape than most of the actual freeways in the city.
(Remember that NYC uses signal timing, such that one can often travel the length of Manhattan Island without ever stopping for a red signal.)
Add US 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard) in North East Philadelphia, when the lights are green.
Then moving to the West (US region wise) in KS you have K 254 between Wichita and El Dorado that is not a freeway as it has multiple at grade intersections, but not much cross traffic to slow you down and a 70 mph speed limit (unless Kansas raised it to 75 like on the interstates) so it acts as one. Also, it is a perfect bypass (along with I-235) of Wichita if you are using US 54 straight through or even to go EB to NB KTA or SB to WB.
Quote from: ftballfan on September 15, 2011, 09:45:36 PM
I'm sure you have been on at least a few non-freeways that seem like freeways in spots.
US-31 between Holland and Grand Haven - even though it has a few stoplights
M-45 between Allendale and Walker - it's almost impossible to not go 70+ when crossing the Grand River or coming down the hills on either side to approach said bridge
US-127 between Ithaca and St. Johns - it even has a 65 mph speed limit and an interchange about halfway between the two towns mentioned
M-115 between Cadillac and Farwell - it doesn't help that a good portion of the road is four lanes undivided
These are some good examples. Another one that comes to mind is in southeast Michigan. There's a section of U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) in Oakland County that feels freeway-ish for about a mile or so because of the jersey barrier between the carriageways.
As others have alluded to on here, there is a difference between an expressway and a freeway. Expressways can have at-grade intersections while freeways cannot.
Quote from: Riverside Frwy on September 22, 2011, 02:48:00 AM
Quote from: OCGuy81 on September 20, 2011, 10:23:19 AM
I'd also throw in CA-133, Laguna Canyon Road. North of the 73 toll road, it's divided and feels like a full freeway, though there are some at-grade intersections. I don't think it's officialy a freeway until after the 405.
CA-133 between I-405 and CA-73 is a type of highway configuration used all through out California. CA 58, CA 152, and CA 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains just to name a few.(Even US 101) I haven't found an official name for this type configuration, but it's definitely a freeway-expressway hybrid. It's has at-grade intersections, no signals, and traffic is allowed to continue travel uninterrupted at 65 mph. Crossing traffic must yield, and there are usually acceleration lanes after the intersection for entering traffic.
CA-133 has two traffic signals. At Lake Forest Dr, and at Laguna Canyon Rd/Pavona. Both are just south of I-405 interchange. But for purposes of this discussion it definetly has a freeway feel. Traveling south just past Lake Forest, most traffic speeds along at 65+, and with no development and no turning traffic until the toll road (CA-73).
US 53 in northern Minnesota. I was looking for a picture of the signage but could only find this instead:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwXxbqJ9.jpg&hash=198eeecd705cac48b15393eab2a95823aa7c4791)
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 30, 2013, 05:18:01 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on September 15, 2011, 09:45:36 PM
I'm sure you have been on at least a few non-freeways that seem like freeways in spots.
US-31 between Holland and Grand Haven - even though it has a few stoplights
M-45 between Allendale and Walker - it's almost impossible to not go 70+ when crossing the Grand River or coming down the hills on either side to approach said bridge
US-127 between Ithaca and St. Johns - it even has a 65 mph speed limit and an interchange about halfway between the two towns mentioned
M-115 between Cadillac and Farwell - it doesn't help that a good portion of the road is four lanes undivided
These are some good examples. Another one that comes to mind is in southeast Michigan. There's a section of U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) in Oakland County that feels freeway-ish for about a mile or so because of the jersey barrier between the carriageways.
As others have alluded to on here, there is a difference between an expressway and a freeway. Expressways can have at-grade intersections while freeways cannot.
Except in NY and PA their definition is that freeways are expressways in the state vocabulary. The technical definition is as you explain it, but hence the NYC freeways being named "Expressways." Also PA has the same and at end of freeway segments you often see yellow diamond warning signs saying "EXPRESSWAY ENDS X FEET" approaching the end.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 31, 2013, 07:45:48 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 30, 2013, 05:18:01 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on September 15, 2011, 09:45:36 PM
I'm sure you have been on at least a few non-freeways that seem like freeways in spots.
US-31 between Holland and Grand Haven - even though it has a few stoplights
M-45 between Allendale and Walker - it's almost impossible to not go 70+ when crossing the Grand River or coming down the hills on either side to approach said bridge
US-127 between Ithaca and St. Johns - it even has a 65 mph speed limit and an interchange about halfway between the two towns mentioned
M-115 between Cadillac and Farwell - it doesn't help that a good portion of the road is four lanes undivided
These are some good examples. Another one that comes to mind is in southeast Michigan. There's a section of U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) in Oakland County that feels freeway-ish for about a mile or so because of the jersey barrier between the carriageways.
As others have alluded to on here, there is a difference between an expressway and a freeway. Expressways can have at-grade intersections while freeways cannot.
Except in NY and PA their definition is that freeways are expressways in the state vocabulary. The technical definition is as you explain it, but hence the NYC freeways being named "Expressways." Also PA has the same and at end of freeway segments you often see yellow diamond warning signs saying "EXPRESSWAY ENDS X FEET" approaching the end.
Ditto in Illinois. Illinois also uses the "Expressway Ends" signage for freeways.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 31, 2013, 07:45:48 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 30, 2013, 05:18:01 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on September 15, 2011, 09:45:36 PM
I'm sure you have been on at least a few non-freeways that seem like freeways in spots.
US-31 between Holland and Grand Haven - even though it has a few stoplights
M-45 between Allendale and Walker - it's almost impossible to not go 70+ when crossing the Grand River or coming down the hills on either side to approach said bridge
US-127 between Ithaca and St. Johns - it even has a 65 mph speed limit and an interchange about halfway between the two towns mentioned
M-115 between Cadillac and Farwell - it doesn't help that a good portion of the road is four lanes undivided
These are some good examples. Another one that comes to mind is in southeast Michigan. There's a section of U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) in Oakland County that feels freeway-ish for about a mile or so because of the jersey barrier between the carriageways.
As others have alluded to on here, there is a difference between an expressway and a freeway. Expressways can have at-grade intersections while freeways cannot.
Except in NY and PA their definition is that freeways are expressways in the state vocabulary. The technical definition is as you explain it, but hence the NYC freeways being named "Expressways." Also PA has the same and at end of freeway segments you often see yellow diamond warning signs saying "EXPRESSWAY ENDS X FEET" approaching the end.
The upstate regions are starting to switch to "freeway" on signage though. NY 590 and NY 690 both have "freeway ends" signage rather than the traditional "expressway ends".
Quote from: flowmotion on January 31, 2013, 02:23:50 AM
US 53 in northern Minnesota. I was looking for a picture of the signage but could only find this instead:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwXxbqJ9.jpg&hash=198eeecd705cac48b15393eab2a95823aa7c4791)
is that the only Clearview in Minnesota? or was I just oblivious to it on my last trip, because it isn't old? (I did a few freeways in the MSP area, but mostly rural two-laners)
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 31, 2013, 12:24:07 PM
is that the only Clearview in Minnesota? or was I just oblivious to it on my last trip, because it isn't old? (I did a few freeways in the MSP area, but mostly rural two-laners)
That looks more like a warning sign that should by black on yellow, thus disallowing the clearview.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 30, 2013, 02:04:26 PM
K 254 between Wichita and El Dorado ... (unless Kansas raised it to 75 like on the interstates)
It's still 70 mph, last I drove on it.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 31, 2013, 12:24:07 PM
Quote from: flowmotion on January 31, 2013, 02:23:50 AM
US 53 in northern Minnesota. I was looking for a picture of the signage but could only find this instead:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwXxbqJ9.jpg&hash=198eeecd705cac48b15393eab2a95823aa7c4791)
is that the only Clearview in Minnesota? or was I just oblivious to it on my last trip, because it isn't old? (I did a few freeways in the MSP area, but mostly rural two-laners)
I thought that sign was in Michigan.
US 1 & 23 between Homeland, GA and Waycross, GA.
US 82 in parts between Dawson, GA and Brunswick, GA. It is full freeway around Albany, but many rural parts are 65 mph with conditions to have steady or close to steady speeds.
Quote from: vtk on January 31, 2013, 03:41:29 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 31, 2013, 12:24:07 PM
Quote from: flowmotion on January 31, 2013, 02:23:50 AM
US 53 in northern Minnesota. I was looking for a picture of the signage but could only find this instead:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwXxbqJ9.jpg&hash=198eeecd705cac48b15393eab2a95823aa7c4791)
is that the only Clearview in Minnesota? or was I just oblivious to it on my last trip, because it isn't old? (I did a few freeways in the MSP area, but mostly rural two-laners)
I thought that sign was in Michigan.
That's what I thought as well, just west of St Ignance.
Parts of the northern segment of the CC-215/Las Vegas Beltway in the Vegas area. those last few miles near I-15 are very isolated with a 45 mph speed limit and traffic signals at future interchanges--freeway speeds are very common in this stretch.
I'll add another segment of US 97. It's between Cooley Rd. in Bend and Airport Way in Redmond, a little under 15 miles. It's four lanes the whole way, with 55 speed limit (the unfortunate maximum on non interstates). Everybody goes 65 (or more), and I've hit 80 without realizing it. There are two grade separated intersections, one at-grade intersection, and a bunch of random driveways, but other than that, and the fact that it's undivided, it still feels like a freeway (and people treat it as one).
Quote from: Brandon on January 31, 2013, 04:27:31 PM
Quote from: vtk on January 31, 2013, 03:41:29 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 31, 2013, 12:24:07 PM
is that the only Clearview in Minnesota? or was I just oblivious to it on my last trip, because it isn't old? (I did a few freeways in the MSP area, but mostly rural two-laners)
I thought that sign was in Michigan.
That's what I thought as well, just west of St Ignance.
Yep -- Apologies for the confusion - that's just a random photo off my HD. US 53 in Minnesota has similar signs (IIRC green with a shield).
Some large portions of the Fairfax County Parkway (VA-286) and Franconia—Springfield Parkway (VA-289) in Fairfax County, Virginia, have a freeway feel to them, especially the Franconia—Springfield Parkway because it's three lanes per side and feels even wider. Overall both roads have a mixture of grade-separated interchanges, at-grade intersections with traffic lights, and at-grade intersections with no lights. There are some sections where it's a fairly long way between traffic lights and traffic sometimes moves at 70 mph when it's not too congested (speed limit 50 mph, and the cops do periodic crackdowns).
I was on there yesterday en route to meeting a client and I had to set the cruise control at 55 to keep myself from going a lot faster.
US 30 through some parts of Ohio feels like a freeway (between Delphos and Upper Sandusky) as well as some parts of OH 32 through Adams and Pike County.
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 06, 2013, 09:53:09 AM
Some large portions of the Fairfax County Parkway (VA-286) and Franconia—Springfield Parkway (VA-289) in Fairfax County, Virginia, have a freeway feel to them, especially the Franconia—Springfield Parkway because it's three lanes per side and feels even wider. Overall both roads have a mixture of grade-separated interchanges, at-grade intersections with traffic lights, and at-grade intersections with no lights. There are some sections where it's a fairly long way between traffic lights and traffic sometimes moves at 70 mph when it's not too congested (speed limit 50 mph, and the cops do periodic crackdowns).
I was on there yesterday en route to meeting a client and I had to set the cruise control at 55 to keep myself from going a lot faster.
I don't drive Va. 286 (f/k/a 7100) as much as you do, but a few comments:
(1) This road (and Va. 289) are functionally classified as
Other Freeway/Expressways (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/publications/flexibility/ch03.cfm), which can have traffic signalized and other intersections at grade, but no driveways. Unfortunately, people see the grade-separated interchanges and think they are on a freeway.
(2) Many drive at speeds much higher than the posted 50 or 55 MPH, even though it is definitely not a freeway, and all too often I hear radio reports of personal injury or even fatal wrecks along 286.
(3) The diamond interchange at Va. 286 and Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road) is an abomination. There is no excuse for an interchange between a busy expressway and an even-busier freeway should be a simply diamond.
(4) The section of Va. 286 that seems to have the most recurring congestion (peak commute times and at other times) is on the northbound side approaching and passing Terminal Road (site of a huge petroleum pipeline terminal with petroleum tank trucks leaving and arriving at all hours) and Va. 789 (Loisdale Road) (Google Maps here (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fort+belvoir+north+area&hl=en&ll=38.736051,-77.189437&spn=0.004946,0.007113&safe=off&hnear=Fort+Belvoir,+9500+Pohick+Rd,+Fort+Belvoir,+Virginia+22060&gl=us&t=h&z=17)). Both of those intersections cry out for grade separated interchanges.
This may have already been mentioned, but it is impossible to drive 55 mph on the relocated US 17 in southern Chesapeake, VA. The road is an expressway that, apart from the intersections, appears to be interstate-standard. I've never understood why VDOT didn't up the speed limit to 60 when they did the same to rural arterials elsewhere around the state. Perhaps because it's still technically in a city even if the area is still completely rural, but it creates the odd situation of the speed limit being higher in North Carolina, despite the fact that the pavement on the NC side is of lower quality and there are no shoulders.
The border: http://goo.gl/maps/q1Vxz
A typical section: http://goo.gl/maps/iQlvn
You can say that FL 50 in Brevard County outside the Titusville City Limits, and all rural parts west of the St. John's River but east of the FL 520 Cuttoff feels like freeway. Even with the small amount of traffic entering and leaving FL 50 in Christmas, FL it, many times, feels like freeway.
Then all of FL 520 from I-95 to just east of FL 50 could be considered that. It has very few intersections and the ones it does have are spaced well apart.
US 192 from I-95 to CR 532 is now like freeway and of course the section through WDW is a defacto freeway.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on February 06, 2013, 06:04:17 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 06, 2013, 09:53:09 AM
Some large portions of the Fairfax County Parkway (VA-286) and Franconia—Springfield Parkway (VA-289) in Fairfax County, Virginia, have a freeway feel to them, especially the Franconia—Springfield Parkway because it's three lanes per side and feels even wider. Overall both roads have a mixture of grade-separated interchanges, at-grade intersections with traffic lights, and at-grade intersections with no lights. There are some sections where it's a fairly long way between traffic lights and traffic sometimes moves at 70 mph when it's not too congested (speed limit 50 mph, and the cops do periodic crackdowns).
I was on there yesterday en route to meeting a client and I had to set the cruise control at 55 to keep myself from going a lot faster.
I don't drive Va. 286 (f/k/a 7100) as much as you do, but a few comments:
(1) This road (and Va. 289) are functionally classified as Other Freeway/Expressways (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/publications/flexibility/ch03.cfm), which can have traffic signalized and other intersections at grade, but no driveways. Unfortunately, people see the grade-separated interchanges and think they are on a freeway.
(2) Many drive at speeds much higher than the posted 50 or 55 MPH, even though it is definitely not a freeway, and all too often I hear radio reports of personal injury or even fatal wrecks along 286.
(3) The diamond interchange at Va. 286 and Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road) is an abomination. There is no excuse for an interchange between a busy expressway and an even-busier freeway should be a simply diamond.
(4) The section of Va. 286 that seems to have the most recurring congestion (peak commute times and at other times) is on the northbound side approaching and passing Terminal Road (site of a huge petroleum pipeline terminal with petroleum tank trucks leaving and arriving at all hours) and Va. 789 (Loisdale Road) (Google Maps here (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fort+belvoir+north+area&hl=en&ll=38.736051,-77.189437&spn=0.004946,0.007113&safe=off&hnear=Fort+Belvoir,+9500+Pohick+Rd,+Fort+Belvoir,+Virginia+22060&gl=us&t=h&z=17)). Both of those intersections cry out for grade separated interchanges.
Yeah, I drive on the Franconia—Springfield Parkway (VA-289) most weekday mornings to access the Franconia—Springfield Metrorail stop. I generally keep it to 55 on there and I'm not passing too many people.
I remember when the portion of the Fairfax County Parkway from Route 50 to West Ox or Fox Mill Road opened back around 1990 or so. It had to be prior to mid-1991 because the first times I drove on there I was driving a 1977 Ford Granada, which means I was in high school (sold that car to my brother when I went off to college). There were no speed limit signs posted on the road back then. Of course under Virginia law that means it's deemed to be 55, but I'm not sure how fast I actually went on there because the Granada's speedometer topped out at 85. The things we do when we're young and invincible...... Anyway, I think the real problem today is not so much that people exceed the speed limit, but rather the aggressive manner in which they do so–you know, tailgating, abruptly weaving in and out with no turn indicators, etc., the usual stuff. The annoying traffic lights probably contribute to it because you see people who want to "make up the lost time." Until the 2012 repaving, the absolutely atrocious pavement conditions just made the problem all that much worse, although I guess you could argue that better pavement might make some people go faster. I thought the bad pavement made it worse because you had reckless drivers combined with people trying to avoid potholes and the like.
George Allen was governor when the National Speed Limit was repealed and he wanted to post a 65-mph speed limit on the Parkway. Obviously, that never happened.
You're absolutely right about the Dulles Toll Road interchange being an abomination, but the problem is they're constrained in what they can do because of (a) heavy development on three sides of the interchange (it's unclear they'd be willing to condemn commercial property to rebuild it) and (b) a stream on the northwest quadrant of the interchange that likely implicates environmental/wetlands regulations (because if no such regulations were in play, the land would likely have been developed by now).
Similarly, as far as your point #4 goes, I'm not sure they can do much. That's actually the segment of the Parkway I use the least (along with the portion between Reston and Route 7) simply because I seldom have any reason to drive there. When I go down to Newington I'm normally headed to a client's office off Fullerton Road (other side of I-95). I do know you're right about the lights being a hassle, but I think there part of the problem is that the Loisdale Road light is so close to–arguably within–the I-95 interchange. Note also that there are fuel storage tanks immediately adjacent as well. Trying to rebuild that spot would likely be too expensive. The problem, of course, is that development occurred right up to the right-of-way when it was Backlick Road and now that it's been expanded there's just no more room.