Interstates that don't follow interstate standards

[froggie]

Since they were mentioned, it should be noted that some of I-376 in Pittsburg, as well as I-83 PA, the PA Turnpike, the "Sure-kill", and I-70 between Washington and New Stanton, all pre-date the Interstate system.

[dfwmapper]

Pretty much the entire Kansas Turnpike has a substandard center median, though that too predates the Interstate system.

Many of the recently reconstructed rural interstates in Texas have been done in an urban style with central constant-slope barriers and the travel lanes closer to the middle, rather than a wide depressed median. However, there's typically an 8-10' inner shoulder, so it feels a hell of a lot safer to drive on because there's no sensation of riding the wall like you get on the Kansas Turnpike or the abominations in Pennsylvania.

[Brian556]

I-24 eastbound going down Monteagle Mountain in TN was not up to Interstate standards until the mid 80's. This is because the original 3-lane US 41/64 was simply restriped in the early 70's to become I-24 Eastbound after the I-24 westbound lanes were constructed up the other side of the mountain.

https://maps.google.com/?ll=35.204953,-85.804939&spn=0.098325,0.198269&t=h&z=13

Video of the non-standard interstate in the 70's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ3RyvvP_wg

[rschen7754]

If memory serves me right, all drawbridges?

[Mr_Northside]

I think most of I-70/76 Penna Turnpike is substandard

I don't know that I'd say "most" anymore (assuming you are just referring to the stretch that has the 70/76 concurrency), as significant chunks have been reconstructed (with more scheduled)

[cl94]

I think most of I-70/76 Penna Turnpike is substandard

I don't know that I'd say "most" anymore (assuming you are just referring to the stretch that has the 70/76 concurrency), as significant chunks have been reconstructed (with more scheduled)

West of Breezewood is almost entirely unreconstructed. Unless I'm wrong, I'm pretty sure that much of the stretch between I-83 and King of Prussia is as well. That's enough to constitute "most", especially if you include the (unreconstructed) Northeast Extension.

[Arkansastravelguy]

I went from 99 to WV and almost is under standard. The only section I saw rebuilt was the westbound section right before the tunnel


iPhone

[Mr_Northside]

West of Breezewood is almost entirely unreconstructed. Unless I'm wrong, I'm pretty sure that much of the stretch between I-83 and King of Prussia is as well. That's enough to constitute "most", especially if you include the (unreconstructed) Northeast Extension.

Except that, excluding "West of Breezewood", none of those stretches carry I-70.  Per your prior post, I was limiting the PA Turnpike sample size to the 70/76 concurrency. 
The ~25 mile section from New Stanton to ~Somerset County line was done in the late 90's/early 2000's;  Around the Somerset interchange to the Allegheny Tunnels - ~13 miles, I wanna say early/mid 2000's, and part of the section on the mountain between the tunnels and ~Bedford County (~3 miles).  So the 41 or so miles is still less than half, but they're gonna be working on some Bedford County sections.

And once you drive I-70 between Washington & New Stanton, even the non-reconstructed sections of Turnpike aren't really that bad.

[andy3175]

Two that immediately come to mind are that portion of I-93 in NH that's one lane each way (though it looks like a beautiful, unique drive), and we all know that I-180 in Wyoming that calls itself an interstate.

Yes, I-180 in Wyoming was built using federal Interstate Highway Funds, yet it was built to a standard lower than a typical Interstate Highway.  See https://www.aaroads.com/west/i-180_wy.html for more info on this.

Did anyone mention I-676 yet?

[Billy F 1988]

Um, what? Huh? What about I-676?

[Zeffy]

Um, what? Huh? What about I-676?

There is a portion of the highway where travelers heading east towards Camden and the Ben Franklin Bridge must utilize a portion of 6th Street (with signalized intersections) to continue onto the bridge.

[machias]

For some reason I recall Interstate 280 north east of Toledo as having traffic lights in the early 1980s. I don't know if this is an accurate memory or not, but I'm pretty sure there was at least one set of traffic lights on that route maybe in 1982.

Also, Interstate 690 (aside from the traffic light during the NYS State Fair) used to have a set of traffic lights on it at its western end at the Interstate 90 junction.

[3467]

Yes 280 in Toledo did have traffic lights in that era . I was surprised it had an interstate designation I took the toll roads over 94 from Chicago to Ontario and can recall complaining it got the red white and blue sign instead of some sort of temp or business route sign

[ekt8750]

Um, what? Huh? What about I-676?

There is a portion of the highway where travelers heading east towards Camden and the Ben Franklin Bridge must utilize a portion of 6th Street (with signalized intersections) to continue onto the bridge.

Also 676's exits are unnumbered

[NE2]

Also 676's exits are unnumbered

So are I-865's.

[Zeffy]

Are exit numbers a required thing for Interstate highways? I mean, I can't remember when one didn't have exit numbers, but still, besides the example NE2 posted, I'm wondering if that's a requirement for Interstates, or just a thing that just so happens to be common?

[KG909]

I don't think exit numbers are required because California didn't use them until 2002.

[roadman65]

Is the Lauren, NC section of I-74 still allowed to be called that, as it is very substandard.  If they have not removed the signs and placed "FUTURE" interstate 74 on it, then it counts.

Also I-80 in Knowlton, NJ that was once part of US 611, is substandard as the Kittatinny Mountains prevent any widening to make it up to standards.   Then you have that at grade intersection with Hainesburg Road on the WB side and even poor signing for exit ramps.  The DRTJC even has advanced signs for the first PA exit before NJ's last exit for Millbrookville as NJDOT has that one little to no good signing.  In fact Exit 1 was only given to it within the past 20 years as the rest of I-80 was numbered for decades prior.

[NE2]

Are exit numbers a required thing for Interstate highways?

I think they're now required on all freeways, but that's a recent MUTCD addition.

Is the Lauren, NC section of I-74 still allowed to be called that, as it is very substandard.  If they have not removed the signs and placed "FUTURE" interstate 74 on it, then it counts.

http://www.gribblenation.net/i7374nc/i74seg15.html

[Pink Jazz]

I don't think exit numbers are required because California didn't use them until 2002.

Also, many really short freeways do not have exit numbers either.  Examples include I-195 in Richmond, VA and I-564 in Norfolk, VA.

[cl94]

Exit numbers aren't a requirement because exits aren't a requirement. See I-478, I-587, and I-865.

[Jardine]

I-680 eastbound span over the Missouri River is really narrow, the bridge was built many years before the interstate went in.  The west bound span was built later and has room to pull over.  Also, the east bound 30th street on ramp has a truncated merge area because the bridge is so close to the interchange.

It's probably a very standard full clover leaf, but the I-680/I-29 interchange 3 miles to the east is seeming very outdated to me as an interchange that combines/splits 2 interstates.  The I-29 northbound traffic headed west on I-680 has to do the Joey Chitwood with I-680 eastbound traffic that wants to go north on I-29/680.  I dislike going that way at night, it is not as safe as it could be, especially with several semis in the melee.

It would be pricey, but I've always though I-680 should head due east to Underwood and connect to I-80 there.  I'm not holding my breath, it would reduce the paltry number of folks driving on I-680 from Crescent east to I-80 even further.

I'm not sure what the traffic count can drop to before a road is un-Interstated, but that one has to be close as it is.

[on_wisconsin]

I-35E (MN) between I-94 and the Mississippi River was built below standards to placate the NIMBYs.

[GCrites]

I-75 southbound through the Lockland Split in Cincinnati. Head over to Mecklenborg's site for the deets:

http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/75-40.html

The substandard interchange never closed.

[froggie]

I-35E (MN) between I-94 and the Mississippi River was built below standards to placate the NIMBYs.

Not true.  It's built to the Interstate standards of the time (late 80s/early 90s).