The Most Important Road Project in Your State

[mvak36]

I tried to see if there was a similar thread but I couldn't find any.

What is the most important road project that needs to be done in your state? I know that there will be more than one in a lot of states, but we'll try to keep it at one. I'm looking for projects that are at least in the study phase or projects that are ready to go, but don't have funding.

I'll take an easy one: I-70 expansion in Missouri.

[Max Rockatansky]

Some on my short list would be the Westside Parkway/CA 58 which is in the works along with a huge WANT with Kramer Junction also getting bypassed....also CA 58.  Granted I know there is probably more more pressing concerns like fixing 99 or some urban wriggamoral.

[Rothman]

Tappan Zee Bridge

[coatimundi]

Yes, Missouri's I-70 is awful. That section through Columbia is such a mess. I didn't realize they were widening it for its entirety, so that's great.

Prior to very recently, I would have said the Bay Bridge improvements. But they're mostly done. The new ramps to Yerba Buena just opened a couple of weeks ago.

I would sort of agree with Max on 58, except that I don't think any bit of it is going to be worth it until there's a continuous freeway corridor all the way to I-5. Expediting the dumping of additional traffic onto the two-lane (with stop signs) Stockdale Highway isn't really necessary. But the entire 58 project, I think, is the most important, since it would provide an alternative to driving through LA for northbound traffic. However, there are no plans currently to bring it to I-5, so anything constructed is really going to be more Bakersfield-serving than anything.

Otherwise, I think it's the I-5 improvements in southern LA County. Orange County finishing their section has created a serious bottleneck that really needs to be removed soon.

[mvak36]

Yes, Missouri's I-70 is awful. That section through Columbia is such a mess. I didn't realize they were widening it for its entirety, so that's great.

Actually, they aren't widening it yet. They don't have any funding for it. But, I think if they get the funding, they might do the whole stretch at once instead of doing it piece by piece.

[wanderer2575]

My vote for Michigan is at least 6-laning all of I-94 between I-196 east of Benton Harbor and US-23 east of Ann Arbor.

[Max Rockatansky]

Some others that I'll note in places I lived, worked, or whatever in:

Nevada:

-  The Boulder City Bypass which would be a huge obstacle to get I-11 really going.

Arizona

-  Building a total four-lane expressway from Show Low to Payon on AZ 260.  This might not be the cliche pick but in my opinion is probably the most dangerous stretch of highway in the state with the largely two-lane configuration.  There is a lot of elk and a surprisingly high amount of traffic bogged down by 55 MPH speed limits.  I think most people would pick I-17 truck lanes if not I-11.

Florida

-  An outer beltway loop for the Tampa/St. Petersburg area from roughly US 19 from Dudedin east to at least I-275 if not I-75.  Traffic in that metro area is a complete disaster with everyone jumping on the same freeways/toll roads.

Michigan

-  I would put a vote in for six laning I-96 all the way from Detroit to Lansing.  That stretch of west of Howell to Lansing can be a complete pain in the ass.  US 23 from Ann Arbor to I-75 would be on my short list also for widening.

New Mexico

-  A freeway or expressway bypass of Las Cruces from I-10 to I-25 north...perhaps something other than a surface US 70 in down town?

Utah

-  A complete expressway at minimum if not a full freeway that cuts north of I-70 towards I-15 along the US 6 corridor.  Really it's kind of a minor travesty I-70 was built where it was when there was a much more of a need along US 6.

[ET21]

Illinois:
-Widening of I-55 from at least US-6 to US-41 Lake Shore Drive from 3 to 4 lanes.

-Widening of I-80: 4 lanes from I-294 to I-55, 3 lanes from I-55 to the Quad Cities.

I'm sure there's plenty more but those two seem like no brainers to me

[plain]

For Virginia since much of the big projects in the northern part of the state has been completed I would say widening I-64 between Richmond and Newport News is the most important right now, which is FINALLY (should've been done back in the early 90's at least) becoming a reality lately even though it's still going to be probably another 20 years before the entire stretch is 6 or more lanes.


Besides that I personally would like to see something done with the I-95/64 overlap in Richmond as that stretch is in dire need of a widening to 8 lanes as well as lighting.

The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel between Hampton and Norfolk is finally being discussed seriously by legislators so hopefully a solution to that will be in place within in the next decade.

At least some of the problems in Northern Virginia was finally eased with the opening of the HOT lanes and the reconstruction of the Springfield Interchange. While there are still plenty of problems there, it isn't as bad, at least at the moment, as it was on the affected expressways. VA's portion of the Beltway saw a huge improvement in particular; the congestion there is nowhere near as bad as it was before.

[MNHighwayMan]

Minnesota:
I think studies have been done about four-laning all of US-14 between Owatonna and Rochester, but I'm not sure there's any immediate plans/funding to actually do it.
There's also the Clear Lake - Clearwater connector between I-94 and US-10 that isn't close to being started.

As for things that I don't think have been researched but need to be, upgrading US-8. It's one of the most congested and dangerous roads in the state.

[froggie]

Minnesota:
I think studies have been done about four-laning all of US-14 between Owatonna and Rochester, but I'm not sure there's any immediate plans/funding to actually do it.
There's also the Clear Lake - Clearwater connector between I-94 and US-10 that isn't close to being started.

As for things that I don't think have been researched but need to be, upgrading US-8. It's one of the most congested and dangerous roads in the state.

Those are all important locally, but I'd argue that they aren't the most important in the state.  That, by far, would be the I-35W/I-494 interchange.

[mvak36]

Minnesota:
I think studies have been done about four-laning all of US-14 between Owatonna and Rochester, but I'm not sure there's any immediate plans/funding to actually do it.
There's also the Clear Lake - Clearwater connector between I-94 and US-10 that isn't close to being started.

As for things that I don't think have been researched but need to be, upgrading US-8. It's one of the most congested and dangerous roads in the state.

Those are all important locally, but I'd argue that they aren't the most important in the state.  That, by far, would be the I-35W/I-494 interchange.

How far along are they on this project? Last I could remember, they were still doing studies.

[epzik8]

Expanding I-270 from Frederick to Clarksburg, Maryland.

[74/171FAN]

For PA, I am going with the widening of I-80 in Stroudsburg as this project would probably have the most impact.

[RobbieL2415]

Present: The Pearl Harbor Memorial "Q" Bridge.  Soon to be completed, just a few more ramps need to be finished

Near future (next five years): I-84 Waterbury widening/realignment.  More info here: http://www.i-84waterbury.com

Distant future (beyond five years): I-84 Hartford realignment/demolition of the Viaduct.  More info here.  http://www.i84hartford.com/index.html

[MNHighwayMan]

Those are all important locally, but I'd argue that they aren't the most important in the state.  That, by far, would be the I-35W/I-494 interchange.

Oh yeah, I'd agree. I'd forgotten about that one.

[Jmiles32]

For Virginia since much of the big projects in the northern part of the state has been completed I would say widening I-64 between Richmond and Newport News is the most important right now, which is FINALLY (should've been done back in the early 90's at least) becoming a reality lately even though it's still going to be probably another 20 years before the entire stretch is 6 or more lanes

Everything except the Transform I-66 project which scored the highest out of all other road projects in the state's new smart scale system. I believe the I-64 Phase 3 Widening to Williamsburg got 2nd. Though I completely agree that widening the remaining part of I-64 between Williamsburg and Richmond is also very important will hopefully be under construction soon.

As for Maryland, God where to start

1. Rebuild American Legion Bridge
2. New Chesapeake Bay Bridge Span
3. I-495 something/anything
4. I-695 widening to 8 lanes entirely west of I-95
5. I-270 widening to 8 lanes(though it'll likely 6) between Clarskburg and Fredrick
6. I-81 widening to 6 lanes through the entire state

[jeffandnicole]

NJ would probably be the Pulaski Skyway.

[Rothman]

I'm also trying to think beyond the Tappan Zee Bridge.

I know people are going to point at the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse, too.  Maybe.

There are also a series of bridges on the Cross Bronx that need to be replaced.  NYSDOT Region 11 has been trying to at least put rehabs to tide them over on their program for a while, I believe. 

Or, boulevarding the Sheridan...(*ducks and runs*)

All of the big ones I can think of outside of I-81 are in The City.  Westchester Ave over Bronx River Parkway's another big one.

Anyway, in terms of importance, it's definitely not finishing I-86 or -- and I doubt we have any in here that are that stupid to even suggest it -- building the Rooftop.

[empirestate]

I'm also trying to think beyond the Tappan Zee Bridge.

I know people are going to point at the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse, too.  Maybe.

How about burying the Inner Loop? It's certainly not on a scale with the TZB, but it's impactful in its own sort of way.



iPhone

[hbelkins]

West Virginia:

1B -- Finishing Corridor H
2A -- Finishing US 35

Kentucky:

Finishing the London-to-Ashland corridor

[Tom958]

In Georgia, I suppose that the I-285- GA 400 interchange would be the obvious answer. That said, I think it'll be of limited impact until more capacity is added across top end 285, so... the 285 HOT lanes would be the most important project.

[Rothman]

I'm also trying to think beyond the Tappan Zee Bridge.

I know people are going to point at the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse, too.  Maybe.

How about burying the Inner Loop? It's certainly not on a scale with the TZB, but it's impactful in its own sort of way.



iPhone

Burying a freeway in an already empty city...where's the impact?

[kalvado]

I'm also trying to think beyond the Tappan Zee Bridge.

I know people are going to point at the I-81 viaduct in Syracuse, too.  Maybe.

How about burying the Inner Loop? It's certainly not on a scale with the TZB, but it's impactful in its own sort of way.



iPhone

Burying a freeway in an already empty city...where's the impact?

Some people apparently believe that backfilling the trench would also backfill the city...

[tdindy88]

Indiana's has to be the I-69 extension from Indianapolis to Evansville, which really has been hyped as THE project for the past few decades. At this point, finishing sections 5 and 6 and the bridge over the Ohio River are near the top of the list of most important by the state.

Widening I-65 and I-70 and finishing US 31 from Indy to South Bend are near the top as well. But most of this is still in the conceptional stage with only bits and pieces being worked on here and there.