Notorious Interstate Gaps

[theroadwayone]

Once the I-95 gap in NJ closes, what do you think will become the most notorious gap in the interstate system?

[MNHighwayMan]

Inb4 this turns into another Breezewood discussion.

[hotdogPi]

I-69, with I-49 in second place.

[SSOWorld]

 

I-11 and I-41...

Oh wait

[paulthemapguy]

Inb4 this turns into another Breezewood discussion.

Definitely Breezewood, to me.  Also I-93 near Franconia Notch I regard as a gap, as it fails to meet the minimum standard of 4 lanes.

[theroadwayone]

With the exception of Breezewood, which interstate gap has the best chance of closing anytime in the near future?

[MNHighwayMan]

With the exception of Breezewood, which interstate gap has the best chance of closing anytime in the near future?

I-95

[theroadwayone]

With the exception of Breezewood, which interstate gap has the best chance of closing anytime in the near future?

I-95

Other than--and after--that, thank you very much?

[formulanone]

If Pasadena mysteriously gets included into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, then I-710 will be completed after the evacuation.

[adventurernumber1]

When new interstates are constructed, gaps are inevitable (at least usually), so I don't count those - unless I'm joking (then in that case, there really are a lot - I-49, I-69, I-74, etc.). 

So aside from that, the main two notorious gaps that come to mind are the I-95 gap in New Jersey, and Breezewood in Pennsyvania (I-70/I-76). There may be other gaps of this magnitude (or that of which is somewhat large) that I am forgetting.

Even though I-93 near Franconia Notch in New Hampshire doesn't technically meet interstate standards (with it not having the minimum amount of lanes necessary), I personally do not consider that to be a gap. I would say that section of interstate is simply substandard, and that's all. In the case of Breezewood, for example, there is literally a physical gap in the continuity of an interstate (I-70), that is only bridged by a surface street (US 30). Even with that section of I-93 in New Hampshire being substandard, I actually don't have a problem with it at all. There were definitely some decent reasons as to why it could not be built normally, and with that, I see that part of I-93 as a very unique and interesting part of the interstate system. The scenery sure is nice, too, that's for sure! 

[ilpt4u]

Isn't US 67 between Little Rock and Walnut Ridge now, legally, I-57? It isn't yet signed, but was it not Congressionally designated as such? If so, I think the segment from Walnut Ridge to Sikeston gets filled before too long

Whether that qualifies as a "Notorious"  Gap or not is clearly debatable

[Beltway]

So aside from that, the main two notorious gaps that come to mind are the I-95 gap in New Jersey, and Breezewood in Pennsyvania (I-70/I-76). There may be other gaps of this magnitude (or that of which is somewhat large) that I am forgetting.

I-76 and I-81 junction.  Surface roads are the only way to connect.

[freebrickproductions]

What about the part where I-78 runs on surface streets in a city in New Jersey?

[US 89]

What about the part where I-78 runs on surface streets in a city in New Jersey?

The Holland Tunnel isn’t really a freeway (and doesn’t continue as one on the NY side), so IMO that one isn’t as bad. If the Lower Manhattan Expressway had been built, it would be a different story.

OTOH, there’s I-676 in Philadelphia, which runs on surface streets to connect to the Ben Franklin Bridge. This is somewhat similar to 78, but 676 is a full freeway on both sides of its surface-street portion, which makes that gap far worse.

[adventurernumber1]

I just remembered something that I often forget about. Google Maps' "brilliant" new color scheme is making it very hard to visually remind myself of it, but I believe that on the northern end of the current (existing/original) I-99, there is a beyond substandard part of the highway. This very, very short portion of I-99 has actual intersections with a few surface streets (so it is not technically a freeway at all right here). This is beyond substandard (such as not having enough lanes (like that portion of I-93 in NH) or having inadequate shoulder lengths) - it is flattout violating one of the fundamentals of the Interstate Highway System - being able to travel without facing at-grade intersections - similar to "I-180" being designated over that surface street in Cheyenne, Wyoming - so I would consider this case a gap in the interstate system. Heck, even the I-99/I-80 interchange itself looks very, very substandard. This whole northern terminus of Interstate 99 is just pretty messed up all over the place.   

[theroadwayone]

If Pasadena mysteriously gets included into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, then I-710 will be completed after the evacuation.

One can only hope.

[Beltway]

I just remembered something that I often forget about. Google Maps' "brilliant" new color scheme is making it very hard to visually remind myself of it, but I believe that on the northern end of the current (existing/original) I-99, there is a beyond substandard part of the highway. This very, very short portion of I-99 has actual intersections with a few surface streets (so it is not technically a freeway at all right here). This is beyond substandard (such as not having enough lanes (like that portion of I-93 in NH) or having inadequate shoulder lengths) - it is flattout violating one of the fundamentals of the Interstate Highway System - being able to travel without facing at-grade intersections - similar to "I-180" being designated over that surface street in Cheyenne, Wyoming - so I would consider this case a gap in the interstate system. Heck, even the I-99/I-80 interchange itself looks very, very substandard. This whole northern terminus of Interstate 99 is just pretty messed up all over the place. 

The last 0.5 mile of the highway that connects to I-80 is actually PA-26, not I-99.

[froggie]

Inb4 this turns into another Breezewood discussion.

Definitely Breezewood, to me.  Also I-93 near Franconia Notch I regard as a gap, as it fails to meet the minimum standard of 4 lanes.

I-93 was granted an exemption to standards.  Wouldn't be the first exemption that was granted...

(and, for those of you who haven't driven it, it works just fine)

[Eth]

I just remembered something that I often forget about. Google Maps' "brilliant" new color scheme is making it very hard to visually remind myself of it, but I believe that on the northern end of the current (existing/original) I-99, there is a beyond substandard part of the highway. This very, very short portion of I-99 has actual intersections with a few surface streets (so it is not technically a freeway at all right here). This is beyond substandard (such as not having enough lanes (like that portion of I-93 in NH) or having inadequate shoulder lengths) - it is flattout violating one of the fundamentals of the Interstate Highway System - being able to travel without facing at-grade intersections - similar to "I-180" being designated over that surface street in Cheyenne, Wyoming - so I would consider this case a gap in the interstate system. Heck, even the I-99/I-80 interchange itself looks very, very substandard. This whole northern terminus of Interstate 99 is just pretty messed up all over the place. 

The last 0.5 mile of the highway that connects to I-80 is actually PA-26, not I-99.

Traveling northbound, there's an END I-99 assembly just before the first at-grade intersection. On this segment southbound, it's sometimes posted as TO I-99, but sometimes not.

[jp the roadgeek]

I-76, I-84, I-86, I-88. 

[Henry]

Also, I-90, since the Chicago Skyway isn't really part of it. While it may be the longest 2di in the nation, that quirk would make I-80 the longest uninterrupted route.

[PHLBOS]

I-76 and I-81 junction.  Surface roads are the only way to connect.

Yes, but the highways themselves are still continuous.

I-76, I-84, I-86, I-88.

You can add I-87 to that list. 

[adventurernumber1]

I just remembered something that I often forget about. Google Maps' "brilliant" new color scheme is making it very hard to visually remind myself of it, but I believe that on the northern end of the current (existing/original) I-99, there is a beyond substandard part of the highway. This very, very short portion of I-99 has actual intersections with a few surface streets (so it is not technically a freeway at all right here). This is beyond substandard (such as not having enough lanes (like that portion of I-93 in NH) or having inadequate shoulder lengths) - it is flattout violating one of the fundamentals of the Interstate Highway System - being able to travel without facing at-grade intersections - similar to "I-180" being designated over that surface street in Cheyenne, Wyoming - so I would consider this case a gap in the interstate system. Heck, even the I-99/I-80 interchange itself looks very, very substandard. This whole northern terminus of Interstate 99 is just pretty messed up all over the place. 

The last 0.5 mile of the highway that connects to I-80 is actually PA-26, not I-99.

Traveling northbound, there's an END I-99 assembly just before the first at-grade intersection. On this segment southbound, it's sometimes posted as TO I-99, but sometimes not.

Oh okay, I am an idiot then. I don't know how I didn't know that - especially since I had to look on GMSV and link to it to show that there were at-grade intersections. That is really strange. I wonder why I-99 wouldn't just continue that extra insignificant distance to reach Interstate 80 fully, and with a proper interchange. This probably makes this case a gap in the interstate system even more now that I know this very short section of road isn't even I-99 to begin with at all. To go from I-99 to I-80 or I-80 to I-99, you have to go on a surface street (PA 26). It is very weird indeed that they just stopped I-99 right there before it reaches I-80. Hopefully this will be fixed in the future. 

[hbelkins]

I just remembered something that I often forget about. Google Maps' "brilliant" new color scheme is making it very hard to visually remind myself of it, but I believe that on the northern end of the current (existing/original) I-99, there is a beyond substandard part of the highway. This very, very short portion of I-99 has actual intersections with a few surface streets (so it is not technically a freeway at all right here). This is beyond substandard (such as not having enough lanes (like that portion of I-93 in NH) or having inadequate shoulder lengths) - it is flattout violating one of the fundamentals of the Interstate Highway System - being able to travel without facing at-grade intersections - similar to "I-180" being designated over that surface street in Cheyenne, Wyoming - so I would consider this case a gap in the interstate system. Heck, even the I-99/I-80 interchange itself looks very, very substandard. This whole northern terminus of Interstate 99 is just pretty messed up all over the place. 

The last 0.5 mile of the highway that connects to I-80 is actually PA-26, not I-99.

Traveling northbound, there's an END I-99 assembly just before the first at-grade intersection. On this segment southbound, it's sometimes posted as TO I-99, but sometimes not.

Oh okay, I am an idiot then. I don't know how I didn't know that - especially since I had to look on GMSV and link to it to show that there were at-grade intersections. That is really strange. I wonder why I-99 wouldn't just continue that extra insignificant distance to reach Interstate 80 fully, and with a proper interchange. This probably makes this case a gap in the interstate system even more now that I know this very short section of road isn't even I-99 to begin with at all. To go from I-99 to I-80 or I-80 to I-99, you have to go on a surface street (PA 26). It is very weird indeed that they just stopped I-99 right there before it reaches I-80. Hopefully this will be fixed in the future. 

There are plans in the works to convert the existing I-80/I-99 interchange into a full freeway-type interchange.

[adventurernumber1]

I just remembered something that I often forget about. Google Maps' "brilliant" new color scheme is making it very hard to visually remind myself of it, but I believe that on the northern end of the current (existing/original) I-99, there is a beyond substandard part of the highway. This very, very short portion of I-99 has actual intersections with a few surface streets (so it is not technically a freeway at all right here). This is beyond substandard (such as not having enough lanes (like that portion of I-93 in NH) or having inadequate shoulder lengths) - it is flattout violating one of the fundamentals of the Interstate Highway System - being able to travel without facing at-grade intersections - similar to "I-180" being designated over that surface street in Cheyenne, Wyoming - so I would consider this case a gap in the interstate system. Heck, even the I-99/I-80 interchange itself looks very, very substandard. This whole northern terminus of Interstate 99 is just pretty messed up all over the place. 

The last 0.5 mile of the highway that connects to I-80 is actually PA-26, not I-99.

Traveling northbound, there's an END I-99 assembly just before the first at-grade intersection. On this segment southbound, it's sometimes posted as TO I-99, but sometimes not.

Oh okay, I am an idiot then. I don't know how I didn't know that - especially since I had to look on GMSV and link to it to show that there were at-grade intersections. That is really strange. I wonder why I-99 wouldn't just continue that extra insignificant distance to reach Interstate 80 fully, and with a proper interchange. This probably makes this case a gap in the interstate system even more now that I know this very short section of road isn't even I-99 to begin with at all. To go from I-99 to I-80 or I-80 to I-99, you have to go on a surface street (PA 26). It is very weird indeed that they just stopped I-99 right there before it reaches I-80. Hopefully this will be fixed in the future. 

There are plans in the works to convert the existing I-80/I-99 interchange into a full freeway-type interchange.

That is great news. Hopefully this will happen pretty soon. I don't think it would be that hard to remove the at-grade intersections and make an effective, full I-99/I-80 interchange. After all, it's only a few at-grade intersections (if it was 20 then this would be much more of a problem...). I just looked at this article on the issue, and the thumbnail of it shows what looks like some rather problematic traffic congestion as a result of the current substandard interchange. I will be keeping my eye out to see what PennDOT decides to do, but hopefully the ball will be rolling pretty soon.