Highways with bad reputations

[vtk]

US-23 between I-270 (north) in Columbus and Delaware, OH is is often known for being a pain to drive due to the amount of stop lights and traffic it gets, especially since it is the mainline from Columbus to Toledo and on up into Michigan.

I drive for a living. I and most of my coworkers avoid that section of US 23, either by US 33&42, or I-71 & US 36, to Delaware (depending on which side of Columbus we're coming from).  The road is also a pain on the north side of Delaware, about up to the test pavement, and there's no way to bypass that section.  Then the test pavement section is annoying because it's essentially an expressway, yet the speed limit is only 55...

Why not use Sawmill/Liberty or Flint/Old State Rd/US 36 instead?

Both of those still involve at least a few miles of non-freeway through developed suburbs. I imagine it would be hard to sell our drivers on either one.  I doubt I'll ever try them, unless maybe I'm coming from the Flint or Polaris areas, which doesn't happen often.

[SSOWorld]

Please cut the political bickering - This forum is not for political discussion. thank you. -- sso.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

The Central Interchange in Downtown Akron, OH.

That interchange is almost 60 years old and is still, for the most part, the same as it was in the 1950s.

-  There are two left exit ramps from  I-76 to I-77 South and SR-8 North that have shore deceleration lanes and what seems to be 89.999 degree turn-offs.  If it's not some overturned semi shutting down the ramps, its a car crash into the barrier walls.

-  On the north-south ramps to I-76, there is only one lane for each direction -- especially bad for the 2-3 lanes of I-77 north having to squeeze into the single transition lane to continue onto I-77 via the I-76 multiplex.

-  The interchange itself is crumbling and losing pieces on a regular basis, forcing ODOT to close ramps and lanes until the freshly-chewed bubble gum holding up the new loose concrete hardens.

Yeah, I remember the one time I was in Akron (July 2007) the ramp to stay on I-77 NB at the I-76/OH 8 interchange was closed due to an accident. The detour was to take 76 east and then reverse direction at the next interchange. Almost got hit by some asshole too who didn't check before trying to move over a couple minutes prior.

[hbelkins]

One that came to mind for me is the I-10/I-12 corridor in Louisiana. I remember seeing a news report many years ago identifying this as one of the busiest drug-running corridors in the country (Mexico to Florida).  I remember the discussion being about such a heavy police presence and a lot of traffic stops. I wasn't too concerned when I drove the length of I-12 a few years ago, because I was going west and I figured enforcement concentration would be on the other side of the road.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

One that came to mind for me is the I-10/I-12 corridor in Louisiana. I remember seeing a news report many years ago identifying this as one of the busiest drug-running corridors in the country (Mexico to Florida).  I remember the discussion being about such a heavy police presence and a lot of traffic stops. I wasn't too concerned when I drove the length of I-12 a few years ago, because I was going west and I figured enforcement concentration would be on the other side of the road.

Wasn't that visit of yours (for the Louisiana roadmeet) during the onset of Hurricane Gustav?

[hbelkins]

It was right before some hurricane, but I don't remember the name. IIRC that hurricane didn't amount to much.

[Darkchylde]

It was Gustav, I was there too.

Yeah, I-12 is known to be bad for drugs, but I've never gotten stopped once on that road even in suspect vehicles.

[agentsteel53]

It was Gustav, I was there too.

Yeah, I-12 is known to be bad for drugs, but I've never gotten stopped once on that road even in suspect vehicles.

"suspect vehicles"?  under what probable cause would you be stopped?  (or should I be wryly laughing at the entire concept?)

[Darkchylde]

"suspect vehicles"?  under what probable cause would you be stopped?  (or should I be wryly laughing at the entire concept?)

Busted tail light, missing headlight, half the windshield smashed in, expired plates, expired/no inspection stickers, parts falling off, etc. (The vehicle with half the windshield busted in and the expired plates wasn't mine)

[bugo]

I got pulled over on I-10 in Lafayette for going 10 under.  We explained to the cops that we were going to exit off at the next exit to get gas, and he let us go.

[Darkchylde]

I got pulled over on I-10 in Lafayette for going 10 under.  We explained to the cops that we were going to exit off at the next exit to get gas, and he let us go.

Heh, considering damn near everyone on the Interstates in Southern Louisiana does 10 over, of course you looked suspicious!

[realjd]

"suspect vehicles"?  under what probable cause would you be stopped?  (or should I be wryly laughing at the entire concept?)

Just laugh at the concept. If your car looks like a drug car, they'll find a reason to pull you over.

[hbelkins]

I got pulled over on I-10 in Lafayette for going 10 under.  We explained to the cops that we were going to exit off at the next exit to get gas, and he let us go.

As long as you were meeting a minimum, what was the justification for pulling you over. That sounds like a load of crap to me, for the cops to pull someone over for driving slower than the speed limit.

[bugo]

I got pulled over on I-10 in Lafayette for going 10 under.  We explained to the cops that we were going to exit off at the next exit to get gas, and he let us go.

As long as you were meeting a minimum, what was the justification for pulling you over. That sounds like a load of crap to me, for the cops to pull someone over for driving slower than the speed limit.

It was just an excuse.  We had out of state tags.  Once they stopped us they realized we weren't a "threat" and let us go.

[bugo]

Just laugh at the concept. If your car looks like a drug car, they'll find a reason to pull you over.

What is a "drug car?"  A rainbow colored VW Bus?

[agentsteel53]

Busted tail light, missing headlight, half the windshield smashed in, expired plates, expired/no inspection stickers, parts falling off, etc. (The vehicle with half the windshield busted in and the expired plates wasn't mine)

oh good.  it is important that our drug runners keep their vehicles maintained and in compliance with regulations.

[realjd]

What is a "drug car?"  A rainbow colored VW Bus?

From what I've heard, they often look for things like cars that are tilted or weighted oddly (for instance, loaded heavily toward the back-right wheel), marks/modifications in the area of the gas cap door, three men in the car (one asleep in the back, one up front driving, and one up front navigating - so they can rotate duties and drive 24/7).

I'm sure there is more to it than that, but my understanding is that those are some of the criteria they use around here. They're looking for cars that fit the profile of a drug runner. A rainbow VW Bus with pothead college kids isn't who they're primarily trying to catch.

[agentsteel53]

From what I've heard, they often look for things like cars that are tilted or weighted oddly (for instance, loaded heavily toward the back-right wheel),

why is back-right wheel area the best place to put a giant heap of drugs?

[realjd]

From what I've heard, they often look for things like cars that are tilted or weighted oddly (for instance, loaded heavily toward the back-right wheel),

why is back-right wheel area the best place to put a giant heap of drugs?

That was just an example. I think the idea is that they put their heap of drugs in the gas tank or something. Since I'm not a cop, I don't know specifics. All this is secondhand.

[Perfxion]

As for the main topic, I would say US290 Northwest freeway in Houston should be on this list. Nobody likes this parking lot from 4:00 to 7:00 during "rush hour".  I-95 in from the toll plaza to new bridge in Bridgeport is another headache. It could take someone 2 to 3 hours to go the 25 miles.

[roadman65]

Orange Blossom Trail from Taft-Vineland Road to Princeton Street in Orlando is dubbed "The Trail" cause of its roach motels, adult book stores, prostitutes walking down various areas, and the infamous Parliment House Resort that caters to the alternative life style.

Part of the reason why the traffic signals are so ugly between I-4 and the Florida Turnpike.  It was to improve the look, but since they added sidewalks to the whole thing, it gives the oldest proffesion a place to strut now.  It has not improved any since the project.  In fact this roadway will always be the same if not worse for time to come.

[realjd]

Orange Blossom Trail from Taft-Vineland Road to Princeton Street in Orlando is dubbed "The Trail" cause of its roach motels, adult book stores, prostitutes walking down various areas, and the infamous Parliment House Resort that caters to the alternative life style.

Part of the reason why the traffic signals are so ugly between I-4 and the Florida Turnpike.  It was to improve the look, but since they added sidewalks to the whole thing, it gives the oldest proffesion a place to strut now.  It has not improved any since the project.  In fact this roadway will always be the same if not worse for time to come.

There's one of the biggest malls in the state, a Chipotle, an Ikea, and a bunch of other high end chain stores and restaurants. OBT near the Turnpike is clearly a bad part of town. Now go a few blocks north of Sand Lake and there are some strip clubs and such, but it doesn't really get bad until you get north of I-4 IMO.

[roadman65]

No it has its degrees.  Around the Citrus Bowl (hey I think the explosive experts made a mistake, they were supposed to set charges here and not the Amway) its the worst.  Nonetheless, it has a bad rap and is known as "The Trail."  By the way Ikea is not located there. You are thinking of Millenia which is nearby, but in a bad part of town also.

[realjd]

No it has its degrees.  Around the Citrus Bowl (hey I think the explosive experts made a mistake, they were supposed to set charges here and not the Amway) its the worst.  Nonetheless, it has a bad rap and is known as "The Trail."  By the way Ikea is not located there. You are thinking of Millenia which is nearby, but in a bad part of town also.

Yeah, my bad on Ikea. I was confusing the two malls. And the Mall at Millenia is also in a completely not bad part of town BTW. It's also in an area full of high end chain stores, restaurants, and expensive apartments. If you think millenia is ghetto, I imagine much of Orlando frightens you. And for what it's worth, I've been to many soccer games (Orlando Ciry SC) at the Citrus Bowl at night and never had any issues, and that's actually in a bad part of town. Olando has some shady places, but millennia and around the Florida Mall ain't them.

[NE2]

Orange Blossom Trail from Taft-Vineland Road to Princeton Street in Orlando is dubbed "The Trail" cause of its roach motels, adult book stores, prostitutes walking down various areas, and the infamous Parliment House Resort that caters to the alternative life style.

I'm not seeing the causal relationship here. Is there a meaning of "trail" that I'm not familiar with?