Having been across Missouri in almost every direction, the increase of expressways along major U.S. routes has caught my attention. US 36 across the north is almost completed. US61 (Avenue of the Saints) runs along the northeastern border. US 67 is being upgraded to remove traffic lights as well as widening to four lanes all the way from Arkansas (Arkansas is working on US 67 as well). US 71 and MO 13 both provide southern routes of of Kansas City.
And today I was driving on US 60 east of Springfield, which is also being upgraded to four lanes (including massive earthmoving endeavors along one stretch) to level it out a bit and remove some of the sharper turns. In addition to the US 54 and US 65 freeways/expressways, they will be reconstructing the US 60/US 65 interchange (I believe finally taking out the railroad tracks that cross US 60 and the adjacent US60 to US 65 southbound exit ramp).
Soon, US 60 will be an express or freeway from Springfield to I-55/I-57.
Sykotyk
Yeah, I've noticed that Missouri has upgraded many of its US Highways to freeways.
I also feel like a lot of Pennsylvania's US Highways are freeways or at least roads of pretty high quality.
Well, not exactly freeways, as they still have numerous at-grade intersections. Expressways (engineering definition) is the more appropriate term.
As for Pennsylvania, I'd say it's split. The main U.S. highways with appreciable freeway segments are US 15, US 22, US 30, US 219, US 220, and US 222. And even among those routes, there are noticable and sometimes significant gaps.
Quote from: froggieExpressways (engineering definition) is the more appropriate term.
Interestingly, the European definition of an expressway is usually also a freeway-grade road, but with somewhat less strict designs, such as tighter curves, steeper grades, less or no services, narrow or no shoulders etc.
I should add there aren't that much 4-lane divided highways that are not freeways in Europe, so that's why we probably do not really have a term for it. (the British dual carriageway might come closest)
Quote from: ChrisInterestingly, the European definition of an expressway is usually also a freeway-grade road, but with somewhat less strict designs, such as tighter curves, steeper grades, less or no services, narrow or no shoulders etc.
I don't like using the term
expressway in European contexts because it is essentially an American import used elastically to refer to several different kinds of high-type road other than motorways, which may be divided or not, and may or may not have full control of access:
* British "near-motorway-standard dual carriageways" (with occasional flat junctions)
* "Happy car roads" (after the entry sign used in many countries, including Switzerland)
* German "yellow
Autobahnen" (i.e., roads which are formally
Bundesstrassen and so have yellow-background direction signs but are built almost to
Autobahn standards with access only at interchanges)
In American usage, the engineering (or AASHTO) definition of
expressway is more precise: it means specifically a divided highway where access is not necessarily limited to interchanges only. It is typically clear from the context whether the engineering definition is being used.
Expressway can also be used to refer to urban freeways in places like New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, or undivided two-lane rural highways adapted for high speed, with generous geometry and some limitation of access (the typical section associated with this type of construction is called "wide single carriageway" in Britain).
A few years ago, the European Commission carried out a study of design standards for non-motorway express roads in Europe, and reached the following conclusions:
* There are no uniform standards for these roads.
* They appear to have different functions in different countries, though they serve certain common purposes in most countries (e.g. supplementing the motorway network, particularly in periurban areas).
* There is no common term for these roads which is conceptually the same from language to language. Some countries call them "semi-motorways"; in Spain
autovias ("car roads") and
vias rapidas ("fast roads") have some of the attributes of express roads, so that the category is essentially split in Spain; etc.
I forget the exact term used for these roads in the EU report, but it wasn't
expressway--I think it was
express auto road or some variant thereof.
QuoteI should add there aren't that much 4-lane divided highways that are not freeways in Europe, so that's why we probably do not really have a term for it. (The British dual carriageway might come closest.)
Dual carriageway by itself just means "divided highway." There is, in fact, a considerable mileage of dual carriageway (at least in Britain) which does not have full control of access. In road enthusiast circles
high-quality dual carriageway has become popular as a way to avoid saying
freeway (which is regarded as an Americanism and seems to be avoided for that reason alone), but I don't like it: "high quality" is not specific enough. If I want to talk about a road which is not a motorway but is a freeway, I generally reach for
comprehensively grade-separated dual carriageway or
dual carriageway with comprehensive grade separation--both expressions take more words but are precise.
At least the informal use of
expressway in Europe is better than
highway as used by many regulars on SkyscraperCity, who seem to be under the impression that the word means "freeway" or similar.
To return to the original topic of this thread, most new expressways in Kansas and Missouri are being built to facilitate future upgrades to full freeway standard. K-61 between Hutchinson and McPherson, US 50 west of Garden City, and US 169 on the east side of Coffeyville are being built with a mixture of interchanges and flat intersections and explicit provision (in the construction plans) for future interchanges at the flat intersections. In the cases of Coffeyville and Garden City, this means contractors are provided with the tentative plan and profile of the ultimate construction with interchanges at intersections. I believe, however, that US 59 between Ottawa and Lawrence will be a full freeway straight out of the box.
In the past couple of months, MoDOT has advertised a US 63 Kirksville bypass, which will have a mixture of interchanges and flat intersections, and a US 71 upgrade between Nevada and Lamar which closes up some existing flat intersections while converting others to interchanges. Unlike the case with the Kansas projects, the Kirksville bypass plans do not show the layout of future interchanges.
QuoteI forget the exact term used for these roads in the EU report, but it wasn't expressway--I think it was express auto road or some variant thereof.
Motorroad? I believe that's also used for the Dutch "Autoweg", a major road, build to somewhat better design types than the average rural road, but not a freeway (nor necessarily controlled access).
QuoteAt least the informal use of expressway in Europe is better than highway as used by many regulars on SkyscraperCity, who seem to be under the impression that the word means "freeway" or similar.
True, when you hear a European guy say "highway", he/she usually refers to a freeway-grade road.
To return to the original Missouri topic, are roads like US 60 Willow Springs - Poplar Bluff or US 36 Macon - Hannibal also planned as expressways? It seems to me that those are a gap in the high-standard road system, due to the lack of nearby freeways.
<sarcasm>How come Missouri has money to upgrade these US highways to expressway or freeway standards but needs tolls to fix/upgrade I-70?</sarcasm>
Chris, yes, the entire length of US 60 from Springfield to Popular Bluff is being upgraded to freeway and/or expressway standards. Some sections have already been completed. In fact, there's signage there indicated by Fall 2009 they should be finished. Although one section looks abysmally behind schedule.
And yes, mightyace, it makes no sense at all. I guess they're hoping nobody calls them out on it.
Sykotyk
I have construction plans for at least one project to upgrade US 36 to expressway in Shelby County. It has interchanges, but continuous control of access is not being maintained because one of the intersections is an odd design where one carriageway has a flat junction (a tee with a side road) while the other carriageway flies over the stem of the tee.
Re. the EC report, I haven't located it yet (I think it may have disappeared or not been archived, and I may need to look through my old downloads when I get my regular laptop back--it is away having the screen backlight replaced), but I am sure motorroad was not used. I am not sure that term is ever used outside of hobby contexts. It is easily confused with motor road, a British synonym for motorway which was popular until about 1950. I did find an English translation of the French instruction for design of rural motorways, which uses the term express roads.
http://www.setra.equipement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/US_ICTAAL_GB.pdf (http://www.setra.equipement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/US_ICTAAL_GB.pdf)
Quote from: mightyace<sarcasm>How come Missouri has money to upgrade these US highways to expressway or freeway standards but needs tolls to fix/upgrade I-70?</sarcasm>
The completion of the US 36 expressway between US 63 and the eastern US 24 junction and the US 67 expressway - originally planned as a full freeway - between Frederickton and Poplar Bluff are both receiving contributions from local sales taxes to help finance construction.
US 36 does provide a nice alternative to I-70 across the state. But otherwise my answers for now is that not all of Missouri is dependent upon I-70, and many of these plans were probably starting before any consideration of fixing I-70.
EDIT:Page 5 of the Missouri toll feasibility study provides a map of some of the planned expressway additions:
http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/documents/Legislative_Toll_Report_8-8-02.pdfOnes it doesn't show are the currently under study section of US 63 from I-44 to US 50, US 54 from Mexico to at least Bowling Green, and MO 19 from US 54 to US 61.
Quote from: Revive 755 on May 12, 2009, 08:55:15 PM
Ones it doesn't show are the currently under study section of US 63 from I-44 to US 50, US 54 from Mexico to at least Bowling Green, and MO 19 from US 54 to US 61.
Aren't those the corridors being studied for another Interstate?
Quote from: njroadhorseAren't those the corridors being studied for another Interstate?
Not that I'm aware of. Jefferson City would like to see US 54 south of I-70 upgraded to an interstate, but northeast of Mexico it is just planned to be a standard expressway. Same with MO 19 between US 54 and US 61.
The next interstates that will appear in Missouri will be, in my humble opinion and close to the order I think will happen:
1) I-49 - probably first between I-44 and I-435.
2) Something for the US 61 corridor between I-70 and Hannibal - the currently planned upgrade to freeway between Troy and I-70 seems to have been extended north to the Rte KK intersection in Lincoln County.
3) A spur off I-70 to Jefferson City, probably using US 54, although the US 63 corridor has a higher ADT, so so in 20 years I wouldn't be surprised to see a freeway upgrade for it depending upon funding.
4) I-66 between I-57 and the Kentucky border - I'm thinking a US 60 Mississippi River bridge replacement will help drive this one.
But in the next few years I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of funding diverted first to the I-70 corridor, and later to the I-44 corridor, putting many other projects on hold.
Article regarding MoDOT studying ways to reduce the cost of widening US 54 between Mexico and Louisiana (a town on the Mississippi River):
http://www.hannibal.net/news/x488809227/MoDOT-conducting-value-engineering-study-on-U-S-54-corridor (http://www.hannibal.net/news/x488809227/MoDOT-conducting-value-engineering-study-on-U-S-54-corridor)
MoDOT study website:
http://www.modot.org/northeast/major_projects/Route54Corridor.htm (http://www.modot.org/northeast/major_projects/Route54Corridor.htm)
Quote from: J N Winkler on May 12, 2009, 12:35:06 PM
To return to the original topic of this thread, most new expressways in Kansas and Missouri are being built to facilitate future upgrades to full freeway standard. K-61 between Hutchinson and McPherson, US 50 west of Garden City, and US 169 on the east side of Coffeyville are being built with a mixture of interchanges and flat intersections and explicit provision (in the construction plans) for future interchanges at the flat intersections. In the cases of Coffeyville and Garden City, this means contractors are provided with the tentative plan and profile of the ultimate construction with interchanges at intersections. I believe, however, that US 59 between Ottawa and Lawrence will be a full freeway straight out of the box.
That is correct... In fact, I remember Mr. E. Dean Carlson calling the media and governing officials to KDOT HQ to personally explain to them why KDOT was explicitly
not interested in having "flat" intersections on US 59. K-96 between Wichita and Hutchinson was used as his example of what was wrong with having "flat" intersections.
The relocated NB lanes for the MO 13 expressway north of Springfield have opened:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090701/NEWS01/907010448/1007/news01/New-lanes-aim-to-put-an-end-to--Bloody-13- (http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090701/NEWS01/907010448/1007/news01/New-lanes-aim-to-put-an-end-to--Bloody-13-)
How much traffic travels from I-70 via U.S. 54 West to Jefferson City, Missouri? My parents went to school at Lincoln University, and we haven't been back there in about twelve or thirteen years.
Be well,
Bryant
Those US highways being converted to freeways should be interstates. US 36 should be the I-72 extension (my I-66), US 67 in Missouri in a perfect world would be the I-30 extension. US 71 should be I-49 and perhaps will be. For my take on these Missouri highways, just go "If You Controlled Highway System" in Fictional Roads to see my interstate designations.
Missouri's expressways are pretty cool. Most of them morph from expressway seamlessly into a freeway bypass as you pass a town. Unlike in Oklahoma where most expressways drop down to arterial-grade and run straight through the city.
I need to take Missouri 13 again now that all of the improvements have been done. Last time I did it they were finishing up on the Collins/Humansville bypass. I have yet to travel the newly-realigned northbound lanes north of Springfield. The old northbound lanes were on an old alignment of 13 far enough away from the newer southbound lanes so as to not be visible from them. Needless to say this used to cause lots of wrong-way travel. Plus the old northbound lanes were much more curvy and passed through the town of Brighton to boot. The new lanes are much straighter and bypass Brighton.
Since the voters approved Amendment 3 in November 2004, the Missouri Department of Transportation has moved quickly to put the funding to work. A three-pronged plan, nicknamed "Smoother, Safer, Sooner," will be financed with $1.7 billion in bonds to be repaid with Amendment 3 revenue.
The plan's second element accelerates projects already planned in MoDOT's five-year construction program. Using bond financing to accelerate projects already in our regular budget, we'll be able to move these high-priority projects up several years in the program.
Accelerated Projects List (10 pages, 110 kbs)
this is why we are seeing these great new roads..this should get us out of the 49th ranking for roads in MO!!. US 36 is a great way to CHicago withought having to take I-70 across the state!
Missouri roads are ranked that low? Where did you get these ratings from? I'm curious to know where Michigan is rated.
Probably the Overdrive rankings, meaning it's based on surveys from truckers. They ranked Missouri as 2nd worst in 2005, but 5th best this year.
However, I'd take these rankings with a huge grain of salt, since the 2009 edition (http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=75585) ranks I-80 in Pennsylvania as both the 2nd best highway segment and the 4th worst highway segment.
Extension of the US 54 expressway from Mexico to Lousiana effectively delayed, as a shared four-lane facility will be sought:
http://www.modot.org/northeast/major_projects/Recommendationof54vestudy.htm (http://www.modot.org/northeast/major_projects/Recommendationof54vestudy.htm)
So there's going to be a long-term bottleneck at the east end of the Mexico bypass with the development along US 54?
Quote from: J N Winkler on May 12, 2009, 04:42:37 PM
I have construction plans for at least one project to upgrade US 36 to expressway in Shelby County. It has interchanges, but continuous control of access is not being maintained because one of the intersections is an odd design where one carriageway has a flat junction (a tee with a side road) while the other carriageway flies over the stem of the tee.
I believe its called the "Cardinal Connector" and its was an innovate and safe way to get traffic in and out of the Shelby High School on the north side of the expressway. There is a explantion and diagram at the MODOT site regarding the US 36 four laning project!
[Fixed quoting. -S.]
Quote from: Revive 755 on October 09, 2009, 12:51:55 AM
Extension of the US 54 expressway from Mexico to Lousiana effectively delayed...
People not familiar with Missouri geography might be thoroughly confused by that. :happy:
Info from a recent public meeting regarding extension of the expressway section of US 50 eastward from the eastern US 63 interchange to a bit west of Linn:
http://www.modot.org/central/major_projects/OsageRte50_PublicHearing.htm (http://www.modot.org/central/major_projects/OsageRte50_PublicHearing.htm)
IMHO, a bypass of Linn should be a higher priority than getting four lanes to Linn.
Meanwhile, US 67 has an expressway extension a few miles south of Poplar Bluff with an interchange at US 160 planned:
http://www.modot.org/southeast/projects/corridors/DesignandLocationSouthofPoplarBluff.htm (http://www.modot.org/southeast/projects/corridors/DesignandLocationSouthofPoplarBluff.htm)
Could be that they're doing the 4-lanes to Linn for consistency. Going from 4 to 2 to 4 (assuming the Linn bypass would be 4 lanes) is a safety issue.
But you can build a bypass with ROW for two carriageways with only one in use until such a need arose to actually pave the other side. I agree, going through a town is much more an impediment to free-flowing traffic than capacity.
Sykotyk
Found some evidence in a Missouri funding study that Missouri had its own version of a freeway/expressway plan, with 448 miles of rural freeways in addition to the interstates, and other mileages I can't remember.
Effort starting to get US 160 four laned north of Springfield between I-44 and Willard:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091102/NEWS01/911020364/1007/Students-seek-safer-U.S.-160 (http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091102/NEWS01/911020364/1007/Students-seek-safer-U.S.-160)
It appears most of this section of US 160 is already a MO super-2 with ROW for future WB/NB lanes.
Quote from: Revive 755 on November 02, 2009, 03:24:52 PM
Effort starting to get US 160 four laned north of Springfield between I-44 and Willard:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091102/NEWS01/911020364/1007/Students-seek-safer-U.S.-160 (http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091102/NEWS01/911020364/1007/Students-seek-safer-U.S.-160)
It appears most of this section of US 160 is already a MO super-2 with ROW for future WB/NB lanes.
The picture on the first page doesn't look like a Super-2. It just looks downright treacherous. :crazy:
God, 160 to Willard is a pain in the ass. No turn lanes at all, even at the stoplights, if I remember correctly. Hope they manage to get this done.
Quote from: njroadhorse on November 03, 2009, 03:21:32 PM
The picture on the first page doesn't look like a Super-2. It just looks downright treacherous. :crazy:
According to MoDOT standards, a Super-2 is a road that with decent shoulders. I think MoDOT has lowered their definition, as it seems MoDOT used to consider road a Super-2 if they had shoulders and a greatly improved alignment, usually with a speed limit of 60 or 65. Hence the "MO Super-2" label.
I turned up a map of Missouri's planned freeway and expressway system in an appendix of the 1975 Iowa Freeway and Expressway plan (which also had similar maps for every state bordering Iowa except South Dakota). Summarizing the corridors shown on the map:
Interstates & Other Freeways
* US 54, I-70 to Jefferson City
* US 40-61 corridor to somewhere around Troy
* US 63, Columbia to Jefferson City
* US 67, I-55 to Frederickton
* US 67 - MO 367 corridor, I-270 to the Illinois border
* US 71, KC downtown loop to I-44
Ultimate Freeway
* US 36 across the state
* US 54, I-70 to US 61
* US 54, Jefferson City to US 65
* US 60, US 65 to the eastern intersection with US 63
* US 60, I-55 to Poplar Bluff
* US 61, Troy area to somewhere around the Clark-Lewis County line
* US 63, Columbia to Kirksville
* US 63, eastern intersection with US 60 to West Plains
* US 65, Marshall area to Branson area
* US 67, Frederickton to Poplar Bluff
* US 71, I-44 to around Anderson
Expressways
* MO 7, US 71 to Warsaw
* US 60, MO 21 to Poplar Bluff
* US 63, Rolla to Jefferson City
* US 65, Marshall area to Chillicothe
* US 71, I-29 to Maryville
Ultimate 4 Lane
* MO 8, I-44 to Flat River (now Park Hills)
* MO 84 - MO 25 - MO 53 corridor, Poplar Bluff to the I-55/I-155 area
* MO 72 - MO 21 corridor, Rolla to US 60
* MO 72, US 67 to I-55
* US 54, US 65 to Kansas State Line
* US 60, eastern US 63 intersection to MO 21
* US 61, Clark-Lewis County Line to the Iowa border via what is now part of MO 27
* US 63, Kirksville to the Iowa border
* US 63, Rolla to the western intersection with US 60
* US 63, West Plains to the Arkansas border
* US 65, Branson area to the Arkansas border
* US 65, Chillicothe to the Iowa border
* US 71, Anderson area to the Arkansas border
* US 71, Maryville to the Iowa border
Two articles today regarding the planned expressway bypass of Hannibal on US 61:
http://www.hannibal.net/news/x2034411234/Expressway-update-meeting-leaves-some-in-limbo (http://www.hannibal.net/news/x2034411234/Expressway-update-meeting-leaves-some-in-limbo)
http://www.hannibal.net/features/x2096607154/Funding-shortfall-presents-roadblock-for-expressway-project (http://www.hannibal.net/features/x2096607154/Funding-shortfall-presents-roadblock-for-expressway-project)
The second article makes it sound like upgrading US 61 to interstate standards in Lincoln County might happen before constructing the bypass.
What were the routes for the other neigboring states?
Quote from: Chris on May 12, 2009, 11:33:36 AMInterestingly, the European definition of an expressway is usually also a freeway-grade road, but with somewhat less strict designs, such as tighter curves, steeper grades, less or no services, narrow or no shoulders etc.
I should add there aren't that much 4-lane divided highways that are not freeways in Europe, so that's why we probably do not really have a term for it. (the British dual carriageway might come closest)
The French have the Voie Express, which Michelin give the wordy, but correct, "Dual Carriageway with Motorway Characteristics". Most of the VE are short links, substandard freeways, though you have the 'Breton Autoroutes' - which because they are free, were built as N roads.
Britain has a lot of dual carriageways that aren't freeways. It does also have a lot of 4-lane non-motorway near-freeway standard road (A1 north of Peterborough, A34 between M40 and M3), but there are roads like the A580 'East Lancs Road' - a 1920s/1930s intercity road, with some roundabouts and traffic lights (and maybe 1 or 2 grade-separated junctions). Likewise the Birmingham-Wolverhampton New Road (A4127), which is now really an urban road, not interurban - ditto the A4 Great West Road (I don't think the latter opened as a divided highway - I know that the Watford and Barnet bypasses (now A41 and A1) didn't, but now mostly are). Where some of these roads haven't been bypassed by a motorway, or subsumed into 30s suburbia, they have been grade separated (eg A40 Western Avenue).
As of Saturday, US 60 only has a small gap from a few miles west of Van Buren to immediately west of the western junction with MO 19 that needs to be finished. Looked like the route could be complete by the end of May; several spots looked ready to receive pavement, while a few others appeared to be waiting for whatever MoDOT is going to do with the the old two lane route that will be the new westbound lanes. There are going to be a few scenic spots where the lanes separate, and it will be interesting to see how MoDOT handles some of the current climbing lanes on the existing road that will be converted to the new eastbound lanes.
I will say this route seems to show MoDOT's continued adoption of Nebraska expressway design. The speed limit unnecessarily drops to 55 for way too long around Van Buren, and again at the small burg of Ellsinore. MoDOT should have better managed access at these towns, and/or used better design features such as median u-turns if there are already enough safety concerns to being used as an excuse for the new speed traps.
The section of US 60 that multiplexes with US 67 also stinks. The interchange at the western junction with US 67 is a tad too tight, and given the development occurring along this section, traffic lights are likely to be needed any day now, possibly recreating the MO 367 disaster from the St. Louis area since outer roads are already present on at least half of this section . The US 60-67 multiplex really should be added to the list of expressway segments to be upgraded to full freeway standards in Missouri.
MODOT should realize it's cheaper to upgrade US-36 to Interstate 72 and only upgrade Interstate 70 to six lanes than do a 8-10 lane upgrade of 70 thru the whole state. A lot of truck traffic would take 72 and relieve alot of pressure on 70. I say you could upgrade 36 for 400-600 million plus 2 billion for 70. Doing only 70 for 8-10 lanes is 4-5 billion at the low end.
What is MoDOT's stance on signing US-36 as I-72 through to I-35?
I have seen some scoping projects to redo the Interstate 35 and US-36 Interchange which is would be complicated due to lots of commercial area's. Most of the other US-36 is no more complicated than US-71 which is being upgraded to I-49. It's all about the cash and I-72 upgrading would save money.
Personally, I think all the US 36 corridor really needs right now to be a more useful alternative to I-70 is construction of the southern half of the Hannibal Bypass for US 61 - there seems to be a decent amount of trucks using I-29 to change between I-70 and I-80, and US 61 isn't a friendly route through Hannibal. The stoplight at Cameron is not as annoying as some others (like the blasted thing on NE 2 in Nebraska City that seems to stay green longer for the side road than the expressway).
Some of the truck traffic projections show a lot of trucks using I-64 between St. Louis and I-57 (http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/nat_freight_stats/images/hi_res_jpg/nhslnghultrktraf2035.jpg (http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/nat_freight_stats/images/hi_res_jpg/nhslnghultrktraf2035.jpg)); if a decent number of those trucks are currently coming across I-70, US 36 would not make a good alternative for them. US 50 on the other hand . . .
Drove US-71/Future I-49 today. Five Interchanges are being erected at this time and two under major reconstruction.
From the north I will discuss. MODOT is completely redoing the MO-150 Interchange from the ground up. New Bridges/New Outer Roads/New Overpasses on Outer Roads. The south bound bridge is complete with all traffic shifted to that bridge while work is ongoing on the north bound bridge. Appears all Outer Roads and Overpasses are almost complete. MODOT has a nice webpage describing the rebuild.
http://www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity/major_projects/Route71interchangeatroute150.htm
Next Interchange under construction is the 163rd Street One. The Interchange itself is complete with just minor landscape work happening. However 163rd Street is being expanded to four lanes and is under construction from west of US-71 to east of highway.
http://www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity/major_projects/route71at163rdstreet.htm
Nothern Cass Parkway is next on the construction list a completely new road and Interchange. Appears to be on track for a fall opening and as base is being laid on the ramps and the bridge itself appears completely done. Either MODOT or the contractor has hit the speed Nazi button and lowered the speed limit here needlessly to 55mph as most major construction is done beside the road and it's safe to have a 70mph speed limit thru here.
http://www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity/major_projects/NorthCassParkway.htm
The slowest project and least along is the brand new Missouri 52 East bound interchange which started last summer. Appears the contractor ran into some problems and will definitely not be able to meet a fall of this year deadline for the project. No bridge abutements are even started on either side or in the middle. Ramps are somewhat along but still alot of work to be done.
http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/documents/BatesCountyRoute52Eastlargemap.pdf
The three further south interchanges at V/C, DD/EE and MO-126 are all coming along great with girders up and most ramp work done. All three will easily be done by fall. MODOT appears to be closing alot of side roads once these interchanges are done and the Interstate upgrade will complete almost all the way to Nevada.
Quote from: ShawnP on May 03, 2010, 08:30:44 PM
The slowest project and least along is the brand new Missouri 52 East bound interchange which started last summer. Appears the contractor ran into some problems and will definitely not be able to meet a fall of this year deadline for the project. No bridge abutements are even started on either side or in the middle. Ramps are somewhat along but still alot of work to be done.
http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/documents/BatesCountyRoute52Eastlargemap.pdf
The One Lane Bridge at Mound Branch on 52 just got taken out last month, so it will be a while for that section to get done.
What is the deal with the exit number (157) of Interstate 72 & U.S. 36's interchange with U.S. 36 Business and Missouri 79? What is the mileage based upon?
US 36 at I-35.
So by that, I guess we could assume that they do plan on signing I-72 all the way to I-35? If they are going to take it that far, why wouldn't they just stretch it to I-29, or actually maybe I-229 tying in with the existing US 36 freeway in St. Joseph? Or do they not plan on upgrading US 36 to interstate standards W. of I-35?
I don't understand why we can't have I-49 signage in Missouri or I-22 signage for the completed portions, yet I-69 can be signed for 30 miles in Mississippi (including the I-55 multiplex to the state line). Start promoting I-49 and I-22 now so that map companies can get on board since they are usually slow... create national awareness for truckers... etc.
What about rest areas? Why aren't these being built along desolate stretches anymore? I know about the closing of rest areas, but some areas that are very desolate need them. I hate to see vestiges of an interstate continue to not be included in the future. Still don't see a welcome center on US 71 around the state line...
Quote from: huskeroadgeek on May 18, 2010, 02:27:27 AMSo by that, I guess we could assume that they do plan on signing I-72 all the way to I-35?
No. I think the real motivation is to choose a zero point for mileage-based exit numbering which is sufficiently far west that I-72 will never be built west of it in Missouri, even under the most optimistic scenarios. The reason for this (according to Wikipedia) is that the concept for I-72 has traditionally been that of a Kansas City-to-Chicago express route, along an itinerary which includes I-35 between Kansas City and the projected I-72 turnoff at Cameron.
I have my doubts about I-72 being finished across Missouri in any near decade because the US 36 upgrade contracts I have seen from MoDOT lately haven't featured comprehensive grade separation. For instance, I remember an US 36 contract advertised in the last couple of years which had a grade separation in one direction and a flat intersection in the other.
The 800-pound gorilla nobody talks about is US 36 in Kansas. Much of it is a Kansas Super Two--i.e., two lanes with comprehensive grade separation. In principle it could be upgraded to a full four-lane freeway in much the same way US 69, US 169, and US 75 have also been upgraded, but I have never heard that Missouri has any interest in providing connectivity between Cameron and the start of the improved lengths of US 36 in Kansas. Anyway, there is a huge disparity in attitudes to highway improvement between the two states. Missouri is into "small gummint" (also understood in Kansas as "Missouri loves company"), while Kansas has just passed a $8.2 billion ten-year highway program.
QuoteSo by that, I guess we could assume that they do plan on signing I-72 all the way to I-35?
As Mr. Winkler notes, they'd have to upgrade US 36 first. The US 36 upgrades that have gone on thus far have for the most part not been to full freeway.
QuoteI don't understand why we can't have I-49 signage in Missouri or I-22 signage for the completed portions, yet I-69 can be signed for 30 miles in Mississippi (including the I-55 multiplex to the state line).
I-22 is easy...it doesn't connect to the Interstate system yet. Unless and until it does, it can only be signed Future I-22.
As for I-49, it could be that MoDOT wants more of the route completed first...a case could be made, given general policy and precedent elsewhere, to request permission from FHWA to sign I-49 between I-44 and MO 96/BUSINESS US 71 in Carthage (BUSINESS 71 is an NHS route), as well as between MO 7 South in Harrisonville (also an NHS route) and I-470. The rest would have to wait until it connects to each other or to US 54...the only other intersecting NHS route.
Quote from: froggie on May 18, 2010, 08:46:29 AM
As for I-49, it could be that MoDOT wants more of the route completed first...a case could be made, given general policy and precedent elsewhere, to request permission from FHWA to sign I-49 between I-44 and MO 96/BUSINESS US 71 in Carthage (BUSINESS 71 is an NHS route), as well as between MO 7 South in Harrisonville (also an NHS route) and I-470. The rest would have to wait until it connects to each other or to US 54...the only other intersecting NHS route.
I think it was 2007 when Arkansas and Missouri petitioned AASHTO to begin posting I-49 along completed sections of upgraded US 71 (including BL 49 at Joplin), but their application was rejected.
So how far W. do they plan on upgrading US 36 to interstate standards? I make occasional trips to Indianapolis to visit relatives, and while I currently use I-80 and I-74, I've always considered taking US 36 across Missouri to I-72 and then connecting up with I-74 at Champaign as an alternative which is actually a bit shorter in mileage. I've never done it before though primarily because of the 2-lane portion between Macon and W. of Hannibal, which having traveled on it before on a different trip I noticed really slows you down and at least at the time was heavily patrolled for speeders. A mostly interstate grade US 36 or even raising the current 2 lane portion to expressway status would make it a much more viable route for the connection I described.
QuoteA mostly interstate grade US 36 or even raising the current 2 lane portion to expressway status would make it a much more viable route for the connection I described.
The latter (a 4-lane expressway) is the plan that is currently being implemented. It should be close to done between Hannibal and Macon, if not done already.
I know this is a Missouri thread, but Kansas was mentioned here. Also, my question is ties into US 60 corridor in MO. But what is the viability of an interstate from Wichita to Springfield, MO? I know this was part of the I-66 corridor, but was the section EAST of Wichita cut because of funding or not much need?
Quote from: lamsalfl on May 18, 2010, 09:49:08 PM
I know this is a Missouri thread, but Kansas was mentioned here. Also, my question is ties into US 60 corridor in MO. But what is the viability of an interstate from Wichita to Springfield, MO? I know this was part of the I-66 corridor, but was the section EAST of Wichita cut because of funding or not much need?
IMHO, a Joplin-Wichita route would be much more likely, especially with MoDOT trying to focus on existing corridors and I-44 nearby. Though by the time such a route could be constructed, I-44 might be needing a relief route.
In regards to further upgrades for the US 36 corridor, the only ones I foresee somewhat soon (within 25 years) are a redesign around Cameron to eliminate the light there, upgrading the eastern US 24 interchange to a cloverleaf when the Hannibal Bypass is constructed, and maybe one or two interchanges for any intersection that becomes a high accident location.
Quote from: huskeroadgeek on May 18, 2010, 02:27:27 AM
So by that, I guess we could assume that they do plan on signing I-72 all the way to I-35? If they are going to take it that far, why wouldn't they just stretch it to I-29, or actually maybe I-229 tying in with the existing US 36 freeway in St. Joseph? Or do they not plan on upgrading US 36 to interstate standards W. of I-35?
There's traffic signals at the I-229 interchange on US-36. Plus, US36 is a very windy stretch of road through St. Joseph.
The issue, though, is that I-72/US36 is a great Indianapolis and points east to Omaha/Lincoln and points west shortcut route. It would make sense to at least complete it to the I-29 cloverleaf. The biggest issue is closing off grade seperation (there is no driveway access on any of the road now) to all the various small dirt and county roads. Also, the interchange at Cameron would have to be bypassed (a la US35 bypassing around the old I-71 interchange in Ohio).
Kansas has already built mostly a freeway from the MO state line until that first big town. Then there's the Super-2 with the second carriageway sitting idle until you reach the Wal-Mart.
As for US36, the two-lane stretch has got to be done. Last time I went through there, both carriageways were open, yet one-lane each way on each carriageway. Not sure the reason why (they hadn't repainted lines, so there was a double-yellow).
Sykotyk
QuoteKansas has already built mostly a freeway from the MO state line until that first big town. Then there's the Super-2 with the second carriageway sitting idle until you reach the Wal-Mart.
A bypass of Wathena (only 5 miles from the MO line) is needed...US 36 still goes through the middle of town. Beyond that, you don't get to a Super-2 section of US 36 until you hit the outskirts of Troy (8 miles beyond Wathena).
Traveled 36 last year and it would require some major work around St. Jo and yes Wathea to go up to Freeway standars. East of St. Jo it's easier to upgrade.
Quote from: lamsalfl on May 18, 2010, 03:37:39 AM
I don't understand why we can't have I-49 signage in Missouri or I-22 signage for the completed portions, yet I-69 can be signed for 30 miles in Mississippi (including the I-55 multiplex to the state line). Start promoting I-49 and I-22 now so that map companies can get on board since they are usually slow... create national awareness for truckers... etc.
What about rest areas? Why aren't these being built along desolate stretches anymore? I know about the closing of rest areas, but some areas that are very desolate need them. I hate to see vestiges of an interstate continue to not be included in the future. Still don't see a welcome center on US 71 around the state line...
Another benefit to going ahead and signing the completed portions as I-49 and the expressway portions as either TO I-49 or FUTURE I-49 is exit numbers. The exit numbers for I-540 will have to be changed when I-49 is signed. Why not go ahead and get the signing of the highway out of the way so everyone can get used to the new designation and the new exit numbers? I can't remember if Missouri even uses exit numbers on US 71. It seems like they don't.
Quote from: Sykotyk on May 19, 2010, 12:31:44 AM
There's traffic signals at the I-229 interchange on US-36. Plus, US36 is a very windy stretch of road through St. Joseph.
If US 36 through St Joseph were designated an interstate it would be a contender for worst stretch of Interstate in America. I think the speed limit is something like 40.
Quote from: bugo on May 20, 2010, 03:11:27 AM
I can't remember if Missouri even uses exit numbers on US 71. It seems like they don't.
They don't.
I know this may be a little off-topic, but why do Missouri use letters for highways? Also, are they state or county-maintained?
Quote from: golden eagle on May 23, 2010, 02:18:00 PM
I know this may be a little off-topic, but why do Missouri use letters for highways? Also, are they state or county-maintained?
They are state maintained. Missouri has one of the largest state highway systems in the country.
July 10th is the ribbon cutting and celebration of US 36 four-laning completion in N.E. MIssouri(due to heavy rains, about ten miles wont open until the end of the month)! the modot website has details!
A new part of the relocated northbound lanes for the MO 13 expressway will open in early July:
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/96873894.html (http://www.ky3.com/news/local/96873894.html)
I don't agree with MoDOT's position in the editor's note. MoDOT should reject 70 mph limits for expressway in the future based on study instead of applying a blanket 65 mph limit. There are definitely other expressway sections that warrant 70 over 65, such as a large part of US 61 north of US 24.
Quote from: golden eagle on May 23, 2010, 02:18:00 PM
I know this may be a little off-topic, but why do Missouri use letters for highways? Also, are they state or county-maintained?
They are a state maintained Secondary system, not unlike Texas Farm Roads.
Quote from: Revive 755 on June 22, 2010, 07:43:13 PM
A new part of the relocated northbound lanes for the MO 13 expressway will open in early July:
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/96873894.html (http://www.ky3.com/news/local/96873894.html)
I don't agree with MoDOT's position in the editor's note. MoDOT should reject 70 mph limits for expressway in the future based on study instead of applying a blanket 65 mph limit. There are definitely other expressway sections that warrant 70 over 65, such as a large part of US 61 north of US 24.
I agree with that, placing a blanket speed limit is never a good deal. Metro Atlanta's done the same: I-285 should be signed at 65, as well as the other Interstates inside of I-285. The Downtown Connector and GA-166/Langford Pkwy. should be signed at 60, though.
Be well,
Bryant
Quote from: Bryant5493 on July 06, 2010, 12:51:15 PM
I agree with that, placing a blanket speed limit is never a good deal. Metro Atlanta's done the same: I-285 should be signed at 65, as well as the other Interstates inside of I-285. The Downtown Connector and GA-166/Langford Pkwy. should be signed at 60, though.
I-540 around Fayetteville, AR is 65; Fayetteville to Alma is 70 mph. BUT there is a 2 mile stretch from near Exit 66 to just past Exit 67 that is 60 mph due to too many accidents in that section.
Quote from: US71 on July 06, 2010, 03:31:34 PM
I-540 around Fayetteville, AR is 65; Fayetteville to Alma is 70 mph. BUT there is a 2 mile stretch from near Exit 66 to just past Exit 67 that is 60 mph due to too many accidents in that section.
Is the area around the "US 71BS" interchange that connects the northern segment of I-540 to the old Fayetteville bypass? If so the big curves there are probably the reason for the lower speed limit. Another thing I don't like about that interchange is that the rightmost lane turns into an exit only lane for AR 112.
Of course, I think the entire stretch of 540 should be signed at 75 MPH. 80-85 wouldn't be dangerous on the section south of Fayetteville.
Quote from: Revive 755 on May 19, 2010, 12:23:05 AM
IMHO, a Joplin-Wichita route would be much more likely, especially with MoDOT trying to focus on existing corridors and I-44 nearby. Though by the time such a route could be constructed, I-44 might be needing a relief route.
There was talk about 10-15 years ago about a "diagonal" US 400 route across southeastern Kansas. The Baxter Springs bypass was going to be part of this route. What is the status on this proposed highway? Last I heard, it was in limbo and might not be built at all.
Quote from: bugo on July 06, 2010, 04:11:52 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 06, 2010, 03:31:34 PM
I-540 around Fayetteville, AR is 65; Fayetteville to Alma is 70 mph. BUT there is a 2 mile stretch from near Exit 66 to just past Exit 67 that is 60 mph due to too many accidents in that section.
Is the area around the "US 71BS" interchange that connects the northern segment of I-540 to the old Fayetteville bypass? If so the big curves there are probably the reason for the lower speed limit. Another thing I don't like about that interchange is that the rightmost lane turns into an exit only lane for AR 112.
Of course, I think the entire stretch of 540 should be signed at 75 MPH. 80-85 wouldn't be dangerous on the section south of Fayetteville.
Yes, near "71 BS"*. As far as SB 540 at 112, you'll note a couple years ago, AHTD finally put up a couple signs saying "Right Lane must Exit"... I think after someone complained to Gridlock Guru. It helped some, but there still needs to a sign where "71 BS" exits SB 540 indicating the lane ends.
I think the overall interchange was poorly designed. I could cite numerous examples, but I'd be here all day.
*71BS: a Spur of Business US 71 between I-540 and Business US 71/old US 71. Also used to indicate AHTD is full of BS when it comes to numbering or designing highways
Quote from: US71 on July 06, 2010, 06:49:10 PM
I think the overall interchange was poorly designed. I could cite numerous examples, but I'd be here all day.
Speaking of poorly designed interchanges...I was driving back from Youngstown yesterday, and going through the I-76/US-224 and I-71 interchange near Lodi...it's impossible not to think..."WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?" This interchange has finally been reconfigured (albeit in a quite complicated manner). Anybody know why this was done?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=medina,+oh&sll=39.611177,-80.940142&sspn=0.031739,0.077162&g=lodi&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Medina,+Ohio&ll=41.029287,-81.897283&spn=0.00777,0.01929&t=h&z=16
Ribbon cutting for US 50's California bypass and expressway section east of that town is scheduled for July 19; the road will open to all traffic on the 20th:
http://www.modot.gov/central/news_and_information/District5News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=56880 (http://www.modot.gov/central/news_and_information/District5News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=56880)
Turns out MoDOT has already done a Final Environmental impact statement for US 50 from the end of the freeway west of Jefferson City to just west of Sedalia - found both the DEIS and FEIS in the Northwestern Transporation Library. There were three alternatives for a Sedalia Bypass considered, and all of them involved mutliplexing the US 50 bypass with a US 65 bypass - all of them kind of resemble the I-70/I-470 loop around Topeka, Kansas, minus one quarter. The preferred alignment for the Sedalia bypasses appeared to be a western US 65 bypass combined with a northern US 50 bypass. From south to north on the US 65 bypass interchanges would be at (exact type is estimated since the maps I saw only showed general ROW needed):
* US 65 - Half semi direct T with the bypass exiting existing US 65.
* 3/4 diamond at Route B, with the NB exit missing.
* Half diamond at 32nd Street Road (only NB exit, SB entrance)
* Appears to be a 3/4 diamond at Route Y - this one looks kind off odd with the NW and NE quadrants being squared off.
* Some large interchange at US 50, SE and NE quadrants appear to be diamond type ramps.
* Full diamond at Cherry Tree Lane.
* Large interchange at US 65, appears to be a cloverleaf or similar interchange with the two main routes being the bypass and present US 65 (US 65 must exit the bypass). This interchange would also encompass the existing US 65 - MO 765 interchange - I'm guessing the latter would be converted to an at grade intersection, being just south of the bypass mainline.
Quote from: shoptb1 on July 06, 2010, 08:06:59 PM
Speaking of poorly designed interchanges...I was driving back from Youngstown yesterday, and going through the I-76/US-224 and I-71 interchange near Lodi...it's impossible not to think..."WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?" This interchange has finally been reconfigured (albeit in a quite complicated manner). Anybody know why this was done?
I've seen this develop over the last few years as well. It looks like they've left the original double trumpet in place and simply added ramps for the two most popular movements (from I-76/US 224 W to I-71S, and I-71N to I-76/US 224E) and the I-76/US 224 W to I-71N movement which is a pain in the butt otherwise so that the people from Wadsworth commute to Cleveland easier now.
Quote from: omenapt on June 21, 2010, 10:58:17 AM
July 10th is the ribbon cutting and celebration of US 36 four-laning completion in N.E. MIssouri(due to heavy rains, about ten miles wont open until the end of the month)! the modot website has details!
As of today, there are at least 15 miles still not open for four lane traffic - I think some of US 36 has actually reverted back to two lanes for repaving the old lanes - and the MoDOT website has a completion date of September. IMHO that ribbon cutting should have been delayed by two months.
Map for the Missouri expressway system as proposed in 1979:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G20fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WNUEAAAAIBAJ&dq=interstate-24%20illinois&pg=2449%2C1905516 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G20fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WNUEAAAAIBAJ&dq=interstate-24%20illinois&pg=2449%2C1905516)
MoDOT is looking at reducing the number of median crossings in Palmyra:
http://www.modot.gov/northeast/US61ImprovementsthruPallmyra.htm (http://www.modot.gov/northeast/US61ImprovementsthruPallmyra.htm)
I found the EIS's for the late 90's plans for the US 61 bypass of Hannibal in Northwestern's Transportation Library today; the EIS said that US 61 was to be upgraded to freeway south of Hannibal, and freeway upgrades were apparently being strongly considered for US 61 north of Hannibal. The westernmost alternative ended up being chosen. IIRC, the southern endpoints for all of the considered routes were near Route M or Trabue Lane; all of the northern endpoints were at the US 24 interchange or at US 61 east of US 24.
The library also had the 1990's EIS's for MO 141 between I-44 and Clayton Road. There were apparently two corridors from the 1970's that were no longer useful due to housing developments, with one being a western route near Sulphur Springs Road that intersected I-44 between current MO 141 and Williams Creek. The eastern alternative was near Weidman Road and intersected I-44 between current MO 141 and the Bowles Avenue interchange with a "Scissors interchange" that I believe was described as fully directional. Unfortunately, there weren't any maps for these corridors.
As for the more modern MO 141, pretty much the only alternative considered was around the Big Bend interchange, with the alternative staying closer to then-existing MO 141. The interchange with Big Bend would have a diamond ramp setup for northbound traffic and a folded diamond setup for SB MO 141.
MoDOT to lower the speed limit on the US 63 expressway from 70 to 65:
http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=613428 (http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=613428)
Speed limit consistency is a cheap load of bull; it's fairly obvious the conditions on SB US 63 change, and now people will just do 70 in a 65 instead of slowing down.
As for the crossover accidents, perhaps MoDOT should consider a few other improvements such as Michigan lefts instead of direct crossovers.
EDIT: Article from the Kirksville paper today lists the accident prone intersections:
http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/x1058168367/Slow-down-on-Highway-63 (http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/x1058168367/Slow-down-on-Highway-63)
Bickendan, they don't even have mile markers between I-29 and the Iowa State Line on US 71.
Article today regarding the termini interchanges for the new US 63 bypass of Kirksville:
http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/x1581989437/Only-way-was-up (http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/news/x1581989437/Only-way-was-up)
Quote from: rarnold on May 04, 2011, 07:59:37 PM
Bickendan, they don't even have mile markers between I-29 and the Iowa State Line on US 71.
Would have been helpful if you had quoted my post so I knew what the context of your comment was, as I hadn't checked this thread in over a year.
As far as the segment of US 71 north of KC, it's good to know it doesn't have milemarkers, but it's almost irrelevant as the only segment of US 71 I've been on north of KC was between Wadena and Bemidji -- in Minnesota -- so my comments pertained to the freeway segment south of I-435 to Arkansas.
Recent article regarding public displeasure with the new US 63 bypass of Kirksville:
http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/features/x1471939792/Public-accuses-MoDOT-of-lying-to-cheating-northeast-Missourians (http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/features/x1471939792/Public-accuses-MoDOT-of-lying-to-cheating-northeast-Missourians)
Quote from: Bickendan on October 25, 2011, 10:07:26 PM
As far as the segment of US 71 north of KC, it's good to know it doesn't have milemarkers, but it's almost irrelevant as the only segment of US 71 I've been on north of KC was between Wadena and Bemidji -- in Minnesota -- so my comments pertained to the freeway segment south of I-435 to Arkansas.
There are mile markers along US 71 in the KC area, but not along Bruce Watkins. Some of the markers are green, some are blue. I couldn't tell you where the markers begin on the south side of KC... I'll have to ask one of the KC "experts".
UPDATE: 155th Street to 75th Street
Any idea what the "unknown" proposed route north of Trenton is here? http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/missouri/mo_missouri.pdf
I would think it would simply be a relocation of MO 146.
Though I think it would have been better to have the NHS route continue up US 65 into Iowa either all the way to Des Moines or cut over to I-35 via IA 2 or US 34.