Non-freeways that feel like freeways

[roadfro]

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.

[doorknob60]

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).

[flowmotion]

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).

[1995hoo]

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.

[amroad17]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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, 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). Both  of those intersections cry out for grade separated interchanges.

[deathtopumpkins]

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

[roadman65]

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.

[1995hoo]

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, 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). 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.