Least Favorite Interstate Segment in Your State.

[Ned Weasel]

When trucks passing trucks drags on for miles as one micropasses like three or four of them at 62 mph in a 70 or 75 mph zone, and a high amount of truck traffic on a particular road results in this frequently, it's worthy to say it's a road is a least favorite due to trucks.

I don't mind a truck passing another truck then getting back over, but then you have some who ride the left lane at 62 or 65 mph for miles on end passing truck after truck slowly. I get the truck is passing, and he's not in the wrong, but it's still frustrating as a driver and one has every right to not like a road due to truck traffic.

Then go 62 and maintain a two-second following distance.  It's not hard to do.  Really.  You can do it.  I believe in you.

Sure, a driver has a right to an opinion.  I also have a right to think an opinion is stupid.

The focus here should be on a road's design and not who uses it.  We're all here because we're design enthusiasts with a transportation infrastructure focus.  Whining about a non-design feature, unless one can propose a design solution, is pointless and does nothing to advance the art of road design.

[sprjus4]

Then go 62 and maintain a two-second following distance.  It's not hard to do.  Really.  You can do it.  I believe in you.

Well, what else am I supposed to do?

Especially on a long trip, having to slog at 62 mph for miles on end can get frustrating, and trust me, I speak from experience. Not to mention, having to deal with other drivers behind who tailgate, begin driving erratically, etc. It's gotten to the point where if a truck maintains the left lane after passing a truck for more than 5 or 10 seconds, I will pass on the right. I try to give some time for them to get back over and not instantly cut them off, but I've gotten in situations where they'll just sit in the left lane in an effort to pass another truck 15 seconds ahead.

It's more frustrating when a truck tries to pull out in front of you into the left lane to perform a micropass and there's nobody behind for miles or you're coming close and it requires you to quickly slow down to accommodate them practically cutting in. Again, in those situations, I usually will speed up to close the gap so I can get by before the trucks block both lanes at 62 mph in the 75 mph zone for the next 5 or 10 minutes.

Really, slow drivers in the left lane, especially if they're well under the speed limit, present a hazard. Sure, one driver can act appropriately, but you can't control other drivers.

The focus here should be on a road's design and not who uses it.  We're all here because we're design enthusiasts with a transportation infrastructure focus.  Whining about a non-design feature, unless one can propose a design solution, is pointless and does nothing to advance the art of road design.

Major trucking corridors should be expanded to 6 lanes to better accommodate both car and truck traffic. Where 6 lane widenings have been done, there's a significant increase in performance with trucks being able to play in the right two lanes and a left lane for faster car traffic to be able to maintain the speed limit or greater. Of course, funding is non-existent in today's day and age, so it takes decades to get a 5 mile segment done.

[CapeCodder]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned 70 in Missouri. The entirety from Blue Springs to Wentzville is just horrible.

The Westside in CA is pretty awful as well.

Out of that stretch of 70, the Mineola section is nice. The road is...substandard to say the least. Only used 70 as a quick artery to get to areas where thunderstorms were developing.

[Elm]

I just drove 105 this past Saturday and I was very surprised how nice it was.  Idyllic and rural and the area around Palmer Lake was really nice.  If it had easier and quicker connections to the Denver metro from Sedalia, I'd take it every time I went south.  83 is also a nice drive, especially for those from the Midwest who like the rolling hills and farmland but also like the mountain views.  I take it probably every other time I come back from the Springs.  (I also live near 225 & Parker, so it's relatively convenient once in the metro area.)

Chris

105 is my go-to route to the Springs from Denver during Friday PM rush hour. I live in northwestern Westminster so it's easy to get there from C-470. It's a beautiful drive. I'll often take it both ways if it's daytime. Though I've been stopped a few times by the double train tracks at Sedalia.

I did 105 going south a while ago and thought it might be scenic during the day, and more recently I got to give that a try. I agree, that's a really nice drive. I'd definitely consider that again, especially daytime.

When the construction on C-470 was heavier, I did 470->85->[Castle Rock]->Lake Gulch Rd->83, which seemed mostly good, but not being very familiar with 83, I ended up stuck behind people a few times and unsure if it'd be safe to pass. Not as much of that on 105, but there were significantly fewer vehicles. Not sure if that's the case in general.

[fillup420]

its gotta be I-40 between Winston Salem and Statesville. Lots of perpetual construction zones, no good scenery, rough roadbed on the not-yet-worked-on parts.

[ChiMilNet]

For me, it's easily I-294.  There are lots of trucks and they completely ignore the truck lane restrictions, forcing all of the faster cars into the far left lane and causing it to jam up.  It's perpetually under construction and it has that stupid concurrency with I-80 on the south end that exists for no other reason than to collect tolls and bring it back to I-94.

If that is too much of a "traffic" reason, then I'll nominate I-80 in Joliet.  There aren't enough lanes in either direction.  It's got a bridge over the Des Plaines River that can't pass an inspection and could collapse at any time.  It's got a 55 speed limit.  Mile marks 130-137 can be pure pain.  For long distance drivers, going west of there leads to lots of really boring scenery.

I would say I-80 throughout the whole state is a nightmare with the trucks, but Joliet really does take the cake (and don't get me started on the joke of a plan they have to rebuild it through there)! I-294 is bad (though I'll wait and see what the construction on the central portion does when finished), but I'm going to nominate also The Eisenhower (I-290) between the Strangler and Cicero Ave in Chicago (left hand exits, narrow 3 lane section, and short merges, need I say more!), the Kennedy Expressway (I-90 on the North and NW Sides), and I-55 through Springfield (3 lanes each way N and S of Springfield, then narrows to 2 within Springfield, plus tight cloverleaf ramp designs).

[Ned Weasel]

I would say I-80 throughout the whole state is a nightmare with the trucks...

When I was privileged enough to drive one for a living, the stretch between I-55 and I-355 was my least favorite.

[ChiMilNet]

I would say I-80 throughout the whole state is a nightmare with the trucks...

When I was privileged enough to drive one for a living, the stretch between I-55 and I-355 was my least favorite.

Yep, that stretch through Joliet is nothing short of horrible!

[kphoger]

I would say I-80 throughout the whole state is a nightmare with the trucks...

When I was privileged enough to drive one for a living, the stretch between I-55 and I-355 was my least favorite.

Yep, that stretch through Joliet is nothing short of horrible!

I remember one Sunday morning in 2009, we were driving from Lakeside, MI, to Wichita, KS.  That's a long drive, so I didn't particularly feel like driving the speed limit.  For the entire length of I-80 in Illinois, my cruising speed never dropped below 75.  From Morris on west, the needle never dropped below 80.

[thspfc]

Wisconsin: 94 from the Marquette to the Illinois line. Boring flat exoburban hell trying to figure out where Milwaukee ends and Chicago begins.

Have you ever driven 39 from Portage to Stevens Point?

[ChiMilNet]

I would say I-80 throughout the whole state is a nightmare with the trucks...

When I was privileged enough to drive one for a living, the stretch between I-55 and I-355 was my least favorite.

Yep, that stretch through Joliet is nothing short of horrible!

I remember one Sunday morning in 2009, we were driving from Lakeside, MI, to Wichita, KS.  That's a long drive, so I didn't particularly feel like driving the speed limit.  For the entire length of I-80 in Illinois, my cruising speed never dropped below 75.  From Morris on west, the needle never dropped below 80.

I don't blame you there! West of Morris is a whole lot of nothing to Iowa! At least you hit it on a Sunday morning before there was a lot of trucks. It can get quite crazy during peak travel times, and really it probably should be considered for a 6 laning.

[kphoger]

I don't blame you there! West of Morris is a whole lot of nothing to Iowa! At least you hit it on a Sunday morning before there was a lot of trucks. It can get quite crazy during peak travel times, and really it probably should be considered for a 6 laning.

Two days earlier, we had driven eastbound during Friday afternoon rush hour.  15 mph was our average speed approaching the Indiana line in that direction.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Wisconsin: 94 from the Marquette to the Illinois line. Boring flat exoburban hell trying to figure out where Milwaukee ends and Chicago begins.

Have you ever driven 39 from Portage to Stevens Point?

I have (I've clinched Wisconsin's Interstates).

[US 89]

It's hard to pick one for Utah, but if I had to I'd probably go with I-70 between Green River and the Colorado line.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

It's hard to pick one for Utah, but if I had to I'd probably go with I-70 between Green River and the Colorado line.

Haven't been since 2004, but I don't recall I-15 from 70 to the AZ line being particularly enthralling.

[JayhawkCO]

It's hard to pick one for Utah, but if I had to I'd probably go with I-70 between Green River and the Colorado line.

Haven't been since 2004, but I don't recall I-15 from 70 to the AZ line being particularly enthralling.

Not my state, but personally I'd pick all of I-215.

Chris

[US 89]

Not my state, but personally I'd pick all of I-215.

Gotta disagree with that one. I-215 from the eastern I-80 interchange to exit 6 is probably my favorite urban interstate anywhere. It's right up at the base of the Wasatch, so it has great views of the valley (and if you're headed north, the downtown skyline). Eastbound from I-15 to exit 6 has great views of Mount Olympus and some other high Wasatch peaks. The rest of 215 is your average urban interstate but it gives you a nice cross-section of what the Salt Lake Valley has to offer.

Haven’t been since 2004, but I don’t recall I-15 from 70 to the AZ line being particularly enthralling.

I would actually say the part from Arizona to Cedar City is the best part of I-15 in Utah. You gain 3000 feet of elevation in that 50 miles, most of which is in a scenic canyon with red rocks and occasional views of the Pine Valley Mountains to the west. The Kolob Canyon portion of Zion National Park is directly off the interstate.

I'll give you that Cedar City to 70 on I-15 isn't too exciting, but there is at least the occasional small mountain pass and a few farm towns to liven things up. 70 from Green River to Colorado is miles and miles of flat desert with some distant cliffs to the north and almost no population. The only real competitor in my mind would be I-80 across the Salt Flats, which is cool the first time you see it but the novelty wears off after a few drives across it.

[Takumi]

Virginia's portion of I-85 is pretty boring. Sure, you get the occasional interesting water crossing, but for the most part it's just trees for an hour. US 1 is much more interesting (but also much bumpier!) At least 95 south of Petersburg has the US 301 glorified frontage road next to it so you can actually see things.

[sprjus4]

Virginia's portion of I-85 is pretty boring. Sure, you get the occasional interesting water crossing, but for the most part it's just trees for an hour. US 1 is much more interesting (but also much bumpier!) At least 95 south of Petersburg has the US 301 glorified frontage road next to it so you can actually see things.

I-64 is another candidate for "boring"  that I would add. With the exception of the Richmond area, the interstate from Williamsburg to Charlottesville is nothing but trees for hours.

[Flint1979]

Virginia's portion of I-85 is pretty boring. Sure, you get the occasional interesting water crossing, but for the most part it's just trees for an hour. US 1 is much more interesting (but also much bumpier!) At least 95 south of Petersburg has the US 301 glorified frontage road next to it so you can actually see things.

I-64 is another candidate for "boring"  that I would add. With the exception of the Richmond area, the interstate from Williamsburg to Charlottesville is nothing but trees for hours.

Back in 2003 I rode I-64 between Louisville and St. Louis. Going through the forests in southwest Indiana was pretty boring. I think to see things though you need to be off the interstate.

[NWI_Irish96]

Virginia's portion of I-85 is pretty boring. Sure, you get the occasional interesting water crossing, but for the most part it's just trees for an hour. US 1 is much more interesting (but also much bumpier!) At least 95 south of Petersburg has the US 301 glorified frontage road next to it so you can actually see things.

I-64 is another candidate for "boring"  that I would add. With the exception of the Richmond area, the interstate from Williamsburg to Charlottesville is nothing but trees for hours.

Back in 2003 I rode I-64 between Louisville and St. Louis. Going through the forests in southwest Indiana was pretty boring. I think to see things though you need to be off the interstate.

Yet still less boring than the other interstates in Indiana.

[Flint1979]

Virginia's portion of I-85 is pretty boring. Sure, you get the occasional interesting water crossing, but for the most part it's just trees for an hour. US 1 is much more interesting (but also much bumpier!) At least 95 south of Petersburg has the US 301 glorified frontage road next to it so you can actually see things.

I-64 is another candidate for "boring"  that I would add. With the exception of the Richmond area, the interstate from Williamsburg to Charlottesville is nothing but trees for hours.

Back in 2003 I rode I-64 between Louisville and St. Louis. Going through the forests in southwest Indiana was pretty boring. I think to see things though you need to be off the interstate.

Yet still less boring than the other interstates in Indiana.

I'd say I-74 is probably the most boring interstate in Indiana. I-65 the parts I've been on were around Gary and Merrillville and it just seems dirty around there dunno about boring but it's dirty.

[Takumi]

Virginia's portion of I-85 is pretty boring. Sure, you get the occasional interesting water crossing, but for the most part it's just trees for an hour. US 1 is much more interesting (but also much bumpier!) At least 95 south of Petersburg has the US 301 glorified frontage road next to it so you can actually see things.

I-64 is another candidate for "boring"  that I would add. With the exception of the Richmond area, the interstate from Williamsburg to Charlottesville is nothing but trees for hours.

That's true. When I go to Williamsburg I take VA 5, partially because it's easier for me to access from where I live, and partially because it's so scenic and wide open compared to 64 and 60. As far as Charlottesville, I can't bear to take 64 the whole way in either direction, so my "fun route"  is VA 288, VA 6, US 15, VA 53.

[JoePCool14]

Without a doubt, I-80 from I-294 to I-65 in Illinois/Indiana. There's been a whole thread on this stretch over on the Midwest board about how terrible it is, and for good reason. The shear amount of traffic - specifically truck traffic - is insane. You're lucky to drive through there and not come upon a crash or standstill traffic. The only time in recent memory I remember getting through there going full speed was back in March this year because of the virus.

If I had to pick a second in Illinois, probably I-39 from where US-20 goes off west to where it merges onto I-90 going up north in Rockford. It's only two lanes in each direction, pavement is in so-so shape, lots of truck traffic, and lots of lane-changing. This segment should absolutely be three lanes both ways.

[Gnutella]

Hey, everybody! Let's take a drive on I-16!