Live off a small Interstate exit in Indiana. These goobers decided to 4 lane the local road north of I-64. Other than Cows there is nothing in that area. A gas station was once there but went out of business in the 90's. The local exits in Corydon, Georgetown and Floyd Knobs all have large commercial tracks so not many business's will want to go there. What a total waste of precious road funds. Would have spent that money on IN-135 thru Corydon which is the busiest road in the county and has many accidents.
I-69.
I-73/74.
All the seemingly random repaving I see on long stretches of 2x2 (2 lanes in each direction) Interstates in Michigan / Ohio / Indiana.
Just because I pay tolls for these roads, doesn't mean you should rip of road that look seemingly fine and repave it some more. Christ. Do something constructive with your DOT money.
I'm sure some parts are in need of re-work, but I think they can stretch it a little longer in other parts.
Chip sealing town and county roads.
I know, let's cover this perfectly smooth road with tons of little rocks that fly around every where and make the road slippery for sudden stops. Because we've got all this extra money laying around we need to get rid of and the local auto glass place would love to have some more business repairing stone chips.
US 425 widening between Bastrop and the Arkansas line. Also, US 167 between Dry Prong, LA and Winnfield, and again between Ruston and Arkansas.
Carbon copying of signs that are not at the end of their service life. Replacing of traffic lights before the end of their service life. For instance many guide signs installed in Delaware during the late 90s through 2005 were replaced since 2008 with Clearview needlessly.
The FDOT standard operating procedure that means if a road is four laned and considered an urban arterial, gutters and sidewalks are added regardless of their need.
Quote from: Alex on October 30, 2012, 04:55:14 PM
Carbon copying of signs that are not at the end of their service life. Replacing of traffic lights before the end of their service life. For instance many guide signs installed in Delaware during the late 90s through 2005 were replaced since 2008 with Clearview needlessly.
The FDOT standard operating procedure that means if a road is four laned and considered an urban arterial, gutters and sidewalks are added regardless of their need.
Here in Louisiana, Baton Rouge was recently resigned with Clearview, and signs were done in different years before. I'm guessing Delaware wants to resign the whole state at once, and do it all in one trip.
I would prefer bike lanes between the travel lanes and sidewalks, and I bet the cost is minimal for gutters instead of ditches.
The western end of MAIN ST, which is S-6-147 (and US 78 Business) in Blackville, S.C., since both roads are one-way near the town's former grocery store (unknown whether it is open now or not).
They either need to move 78 Business to run opposite of SC 304 and decommission the WALKER & MAIN ST parts of it or decommission the western end of S-6-147.
On that same token, the red-yellow-green in that same area - it is NO LONGER needed since you can't turn left at the intersection where it is installed. Replace the light with a stop sign at its eastbound intersection.
Replacing mixed-case Street Name signs with either larger signs or all uppercase signs. Aiken County did the former, and the result is a sign at the intersection of JEFFERSON DAVIS HY and LANGLEY DAM RD that will now need replacing due to strong (non-severe) thunderstorms that hit the area this past spring. Barnwell and Orangeburg counties did the latter, and they must now replace the replacement signs immediately because they fail minimum letter height requirements.
Quote from: ShawnP on October 30, 2012, 12:04:32 PM
Live off a small Interstate exit in Indiana. These goobers decided to 4 lane the local road north of I-64. Other than Cows there is nothing in that area.
Here in Maryland, we are finishing up the construction of the $2.5 billion Md. 200 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Route_200) (InterCounty Connector) toll road project in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.
In spite of this gorgeous new road, the state still has an active ongoing study to upgrade the west end of parallel Md. 198 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Route_198) the east end of parallel Md. 28 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD_28).
Quote from: colinstu on October 30, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
All the seemingly random repaving I see on long stretches of 2x2 (2 lanes in each direction) Interstates in Michigan / Ohio / Indiana.
Just because I pay tolls for these roads, doesn't mean you should rip of road that look seemingly fine and repave it some more. Christ. Do something constructive with your DOT money.
I'm sure some parts are in need of re-work, but I think they can stretch it a little longer in other parts.
Didn't know Michigan had toll roads that weren't bridges.
I'll also wager that the 4-lane mentioned by the OP was probably needed.
Quote from: InterstateNG on October 30, 2012, 10:16:36 PM
Quote from: colinstu on October 30, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
All the seemingly random repaving I see on long stretches of 2x2 (2 lanes in each direction) Interstates in Michigan / Ohio / Indiana.
Just because I pay tolls for these roads, doesn't mean you should rip of road that look seemingly fine and repave it some more. Christ. Do something constructive with your DOT money.
I'm sure some parts are in need of re-work, but I think they can stretch it a little longer in other parts.
Didn't know Michigan had toll roads that weren't bridges.
I'll also wager that the 4-lane mentioned by the OP was probably needed.
MI doesn't have toll roads, but it sure feels like one at times. xD
Two local roads near my house cross at a bit of an angle, making the quadrants about 68° and 112°. The intersection is two-way-stop-controlled, and had a history of accidents. The typical accident involved a car that stopped at the stop sign, didn't see any cross-traffic, entered the intersection, and was hit by a fast-moving vehicle. You see, the specific angles at the intersection meant cross-traffic was often hidden by the pillars between the vehicle windows. Some of the traffic that didn't have to stop was dump trucks full of rocks, by the way.
All they had to do was make it a 4-way stop. Instead, they added an S-curve to the "lesser" of the two roads, to make the intersection perpendicular. Effective, but more expensive than necessary, and arguably less safe when the roads are slick.
PS – The dump trucks are gone, because the quarry down the road is now part of a park.
The HOV lane on US 101 between La Conchita and the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line. Unless you're extending the third lane (and opening access to everyone) all the way to the Santa Barbara city limits, it's pointless.
Quote from: InterstateNG on October 30, 2012, 10:16:36 PM
I'll also wager that the 4-lane mentioned by the OP was probably needed.
If the OP is mentioning what I think he's mentioning, I'll bet there's some transportation official and/or state legislator who has a financial interest or a boat at Patoka Lake.
Either that, or its a route to the French Lick Casino.
Could Mr. Elkins explain why there is a four-lane highway in Spencer County, Kentucky that connects nowhere to nowhere. At one end of that highway is a winding not-quite-two lane road, and the other end is a parking lot at an intersection of a two-lane road where most of the traffic stays on.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 30, 2012, 04:05:02 PM
Chip sealing town and county roads.
Yes, yes, yes!
And, similar to what Alex said, replacing perfectly good signs with... Clearview. :ded:
Quote from: colinstu on October 30, 2012, 10:26:40 PM
Quote from: InterstateNG on October 30, 2012, 10:16:36 PM
Quote from: colinstu on October 30, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
All the seemingly random repaving I see on long stretches of 2x2 (2 lanes in each direction) Interstates in Michigan / Ohio / Indiana.
Just because I pay tolls for these roads, doesn't mean you should rip of road that look seemingly fine and repave it some more. Christ. Do something constructive with your DOT money.
I'm sure some parts are in need of re-work, but I think they can stretch it a little longer in other parts.
Didn't know Michigan had toll roads that weren't bridges.
I'll also wager that the 4-lane mentioned by the OP was probably needed.
MI doesn't have toll roads, but it sure feels like one at times. xD
I don't follow.
Missouri has been chip sealing Interstate shoulders.
It's my understanding that chip-sealing, when done at the appropriate time in the life cycle of a pavement, extends that life cycle several more years for little expense. The alternatives would be to mill and apply a full layer of asphalt, or just keep sealing cracks until the whole road surface is covered with squiggly tar stripes.
On the other hand, if the pavement isn't that bad in the first place, chip sealing is unnecessary. Maybe sometimes the county engineer determines the pavement condition is worse than it appears on the surface... but then wouldn't a complete reconstruction be in order anyway?
Quote from: mcdonaat on October 30, 2012, 05:22:56 PM
Here in Louisiana, Baton Rouge was recently resigned with Clearview, and signs were done in different years before.
And those pre-Uglyview signs were only four years old - perfectly serviceable. What a waste of money and an irritation to the eyes.
Quote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on October 31, 2012, 01:32:49 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on October 30, 2012, 05:22:56 PM
Here in Louisiana, Baton Rouge was recently resigned with Clearview, and signs were done in different years before.
And those pre-Uglyview signs were only four years old - perfectly serviceable. What a waste of money and an irritation to the eyes.
Clearview doesn't creep me out the way it does many of you, but the use of it in the route shields on those signs through Baton Rouge was over the top.
Quote from: ljwestmcsd on October 31, 2012, 08:37:02 AM
Could Mr. Elkins explain why there is a four-lane highway in Spencer County, Kentucky that connects nowhere to nowhere. At one end of that highway is a winding not-quite-two lane road, and the other end is a parking lot at an intersection of a two-lane road where most of the traffic stays on.
That road (KY 44 and KY 248) was relocated and rebuilt when Taylorsville Lake was impounded. Maybe the Corps of Engineers had extra money to spend at the time. At the eastern end of the four-lane route, a new route has been constructed for KY 248, a section of US 62, and an extension of KY 555 to link to the Bluegrass Parkway.
The second downtown bridge in Louisville.
Taking down perfectly good traffic signals and replacing them.
Michigan's habit of removing perfectly good road signs and replacing them.
Quote from: ljwestmcsd on October 31, 2012, 08:37:02 AM
Could Mr. Elkins explain why there is a four-lane highway in Spencer County, Kentucky that connects nowhere to nowhere. At one end of that highway is a winding not-quite-two lane road, and the other end is a parking lot at an intersection of a two-lane road where most of the traffic stays on.
Could I have a Bing link? I can't seem to find it, and Google's satellite view of there is horrible...
Quote from: Roadsguy on October 31, 2012, 03:06:25 PM
Quote from: ljwestmcsd on October 31, 2012, 08:37:02 AM
Could Mr. Elkins explain why there is a four-lane highway in Spencer County, Kentucky that connects nowhere to nowhere. At one end of that highway is a winding not-quite-two lane road, and the other end is a parking lot at an intersection of a two-lane road where most of the traffic stays on.
Could I have a Bing link? I can't seem to find it, and Google's satellite view of there is horrible...
Here's the google link:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=38.031631,-85.229005&spn=0.004589,0.009259&t=h&z=17
It's been a couple of years since I've taken that route. It seems they have improved the two-lane section, but I still think the four-lane section is not needed.
Quote from: ljwestmcsd on October 31, 2012, 08:37:02 AM
If the OP is mentioning what I think he's mentioning, I'll bet there's some transportation official and/or state legislator who has a financial interest or a boat at Patoka Lake.
Either that, or its a route to the French Lick Casino.
I'm curious of what road the OP is refering to too, but the road you mentioned here is only a two-lane highway throughout, no four lane sections that I know of. It was built primarly for the casino however.
All of the random work on perfectly good concrete annoys me. I swear, NYSDOT makes some roads WORSE by doing this!
Quote from: tdindy88 on October 31, 2012, 09:27:52 PM
Quote from: ljwestmcsd on October 31, 2012, 08:37:02 AM
If the OP is mentioning what I think he's mentioning, I'll bet there's some transportation official and/or state legislator who has a financial interest or a boat at Patoka Lake.
Either that, or its a route to the French Lick Casino.
I'm curious of what road the OP is refering to too, but the road you mentioned here is only a two-lane highway throughout, no four lane sections that I know of. It was built primarly for the casino however.
OP also mentioned its a local road, and the only local road that intersects I-64 is in Harrison County. Google imagery doesn't show any 4-lane sections there either.
Posting history leads me to bet the other way, regardless.
AZ 153 was absolutely pointless and a waste of money.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=S+44th+St+%26+Sky+Harbor+Blvd,+Phoenix,+AZ&hl=en&sll=33.433089,-111.984329&sspn=0.013842,0.01929&t=h&hnear=Sky+Harbor+Blvd+%26+S+44th+St,+Phoenix,+Maricopa,+Arizona+85034&z=17 (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=S+44th+St+%26+Sky+Harbor+Blvd,+Phoenix,+AZ&hl=en&sll=33.433089,-111.984329&sspn=0.013842,0.01929&t=h&hnear=Sky+Harbor+Blvd+%26+S+44th+St,+Phoenix,+Maricopa,+Arizona+85034&z=17)
Look at what is now 44th St. between Washington St. and University Dr. That was the entire state highway. A 6-lane bridge was built over the Salt River, and ramps connect it to Sky Harbor Blvd. Now look less than a quarter mile to the east. See that? That is SR 143, which has connections at both ends to major Phoenix highways (I-10 on the south, and Loop 202 on the north).
ADOT built that joke, and is JUST NOW turning the Loop 303 into an actual freeway.
Oregon's incessant need to fully replace a large sign, when a bolt-on section is all that is needed to correct or update an otherwise perfectly good, usable, functional sign.
Or, replacing signs for the heck of it.
Bolt-on? Yuck. Green-out looks better, at least when the color matches the shade of green on the sign.
Quote from: deanej on November 03, 2012, 12:16:16 PM
Bolt-on? Yuck. Green-out looks better, at least when the color matches the shade of green on the sign.
I prefer bolt-ons for one reason and ONE reason only: it prevents thefts and swaying in the wind.
Section 2a.21 has this standard statement:
QuoteSign posts, foundations, and mountings shall be so constructed as to hold signs in a proper and permanent position, and to resist swaying in the wind or displacement by vandalism.
P.S. I ALSO hate the fact that some perfectly good mixed case signs (Orangeburg County has some) will be a casualty on January 17, 2013 due to the crashworthy requirement - which I believe should have been given an extension until January 15, 2019.
Replacement of perfectly good distance and destination signs is another thing that drives me crazy. This has been happening in Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties.
A prime example of this unnecessary replacement of signs is in the Town of Denmark. Every destination sign in that town except for the one on US 78 in the eastern end of the town was replaced, including at least THREE of the signs that were FOUR YEARS OLD AND UNDER THAT! I estimate that the sign that was near the campus of Denmark Technical College was under three years old before SCDOT replaced it in 2011!
The Dallas Boulevard Toll Plaza on State Road 528 in Orlando.
Some traffic signals along John Young Parkway and elsewhere that should be RIRO.
The new I-4 WB flyover to John Young Parkway that replaced the original diamond ramp there. Sure it makes travel from I-4 to LB McLeod much easier (most exiting traffic goes there), but now a big weaving issue has been created between those exiting for JYP SB and from JYP SB to WB LBM.
Replacing good signs with newer ones. (Complimenting the existing posts)
Repaving John Young Parkway just weeks before another project took place that removed the new asphalt that was laid down. The intersection of SR 423 and US 441 is being reconfigured to allow the JYP Extension and was just resurfaced through there just before the project started.
The New Britain-Hartford busway in CT. 10 people will ride it.