Interstate Highway Loops with Sections That Resemble Rural Interstates

[ethanhopkin14]

I think of I-410 in San Antonio's southeast quadrant when I think of this subject (between the east intersection of I-10 going clockwise back to I-35).  The section is just a 4 lane freeway that resembles a desolate rural freeway, plus the surrounding vegetation doesn't help.  This is in stark contrast to the northern section which is highly congested and very urban. Also it is in very stark contrast compared to I-635, I-820 and I-610 in Texas which are extremely urbanized and some of the most congested highways in the country. 

Just asking for a list of rural stretches of Interstate loop freeway that others may think of.  Some are 100% rural and I don't really count those because I feel they are Interstate loops that were built in a city that didn't really deserve them (or in the case of Tennessee's I-840, so far away from the city's core, it basically is a rural Interstate).  I am thinking of more a loop Interstate that has very urbanized sections and then very rural sections. 

[CoreySamson]

I-440 and I-430 in Little Rock immediately came to mind for this, even though they are 6 lanes. The southern part of 430 and eastern part of 440 both feel out of place considering how close they are to Little Rock.

[CapeCodder]

Southern end of 495 in MA. The section through Wareham and Middleboro are desolate forests and cranberry bogs.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Northern sections of I-435 (particularly the NW section) in Kansas City

[TheHighwayMan3561]

NE section of I-694 between White Bear Ave and I-94.

[frankenroad]

Cincinnati's I-275 is a good example.  Between about mile marker 8 and 25, it's pretty rural  Between MM 65 and 74 looks rural, too.   Parts of both of those stretches are just 2 lanes in each direction.

Between mile markers 40 and 50, it's 3-5 lanes each way and fairly built up and urbanized.

Now, many would argue that the section between MM 8 and 25 shouldn't be where it is.  In my opinion, a more direct route between mile markers 6 and 27 would have made more sense, but there were political issues involved in the routing.   As the crow flies, mile markers 6 and 27 are only about 14 miles apart.

[JayhawkCO]

Northeastern portion of I-295 in Jacksonville is a contender.

Not full loops, but I could also include the southeastern portion of I-295 in Richmond and most of I-280 in the Quad Cities.

Chris

[oscar]

California's I-280 starts and ends in dense urban areas, but from the Stanford University campus to Pacifica the density falls off a cliff.

I-215 north of San Bernadino is a less scenic example.

[Ned Weasel]

The eastern end of I-270 in Illinois is perhaps a good example.  I-270 in Missouri is mostly surrounded by suburban development, part of it is eight through lanes wide, and it's prone to congestion, but once it crosses the Mississippi river, it almost looks like you've left the metropolitan area.  Judging from an aerial view, roughly half of the Illinois section appears to be surrounded by farmland, while the other half has low-density suburban development fairly close to it.

[TheStranger]

In California:

Interstate 505 north of Vacaville, though this was originally proposed as I-5W.

In that vein, I-580 southeast of Altamont towards I-5 (also originally proposed as I-5W).  I-205 used to be much more rural in vibe but development between Altamont and Tracy has made it more of a suburban route over time.

A little too full of traffic to fit "rural" but that short segment of I-680 around Route 84 in Sunol definitely has more of an out-in-the-country feel despite being very close to Fremont and Union City.

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In Nevada, I-580 south of Reno and north of Carson City.

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In Kentucky, I-265 from Bardstown Road (US 31E/US 150) west to I-65 gives off a surprisingly undeveloped vibe.

[GaryA]

In California:

A little too full of traffic to fit "rural" but that short segment of I-680 around Route 84 in Sunol definitely has more of an out-in-the-country feel despite being very close to Fremont and Union City.

Same for the segment of I-680 between I-780 and I-80 (once you get away from the immediate area of each junction).

[kphoger]

The eastern end of I-270 in Illinois is perhaps a good example.  I-270 in Missouri is mostly surrounded by suburban development, part of it is eight through lanes wide, and it's prone to congestion, but once it crosses the Mississippi river, it almost looks like you've left the metropolitan area.  Judging from an aerial view, roughly half of the Illinois section appears to be surrounded by farmland, while the other half has low-density suburban development fairly close to it.

And parts of I-255 look quite rural as well.

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[Konza]

I-469 around Fort Wayne, especially at the south end.

[SkyPesos]

For Cincinnati, I-275 is a 4 lane freeway in a rural setting between the airport and I-74. There's also a short 4 lane section between US 50 and 5 mile road in the eastern loop of the freeway, but I won't count it as rural because there's a good amount of suburban development in the area. Meanwhile, the section of I-275 between US 127 (exit 36) and OH 28 (exit 57) frequently gets backed up during rush hours. There's a SmartLane project in planning for that section.

For I-270 in Columbus, I don't think there's a rural segment at all. The southern loop is maybe the closest because of the lack of development in that area compared to the other parts around I-270, but even then, it's still a continuous 6-8 lanes.

For Cleveland, although both not beltways, I-480 is 4 lanes and has a rural feel east of I-271. I-271 is 4 lanes and has a rural feel south of OH 8.

Although not a full beltway, I-675 in Dayton has two 4 lane sections, one between I-75 and OH 725, and another betweeon OH 844 and I-70.

For St. Louis, even though I-255 is almost all 6-8 lanes, the area around it in some portions is not developed that it gives the rural feeling to the freeway. I-270 is pretty much almost all 4 lane in Illinois, except for a brief section near the I-255 interchange. I-270 in Missouri is a different story. Between the I-55 and I-70 interchange, it goes through St. Louis's South County and West County suburbs, and the freeway is 10 lanes the whole way through, and is still pretty busy.

[CapeCodder]

The eastern end of I-270 in Illinois is perhaps a good example.  I-270 in Missouri is mostly surrounded by suburban development, part of it is eight through lanes wide, and it's prone to congestion, but once it crosses the Mississippi river, it almost looks like you've left the metropolitan area.  Judging from an aerial view, roughly half of the Illinois section appears to be surrounded by farmland, while the other half has low-density suburban development fairly close to it.

Once the grassy median with the truck cables come out, it is pretty rural.

[cl94]

For I-270 in Columbus, I don't think there's a rural segment at all. The southern loop is maybe the closest because of the lack of development in that area compared to the other parts around I-270, but even then, it's still a continuous 6-8 lanes.

I-270 on the south side felt borderline rural as recently as 10-15 years ago. 4 lanes in at least one stretch, not a ton of development nearby.

[epzik8]

Baltimore's I-695 between MD 157 and MD 150 is like this.

[I-55]

I-469 around Fort Wayne, especially at the south end.

Basically everything south of Exit 25 is out in the fields, and north of there there's enough trees to minimize the appearance of development. It would feel more rural if there were a median instead of a jersey barrier. It is also the non-2di in Indiana with a 70 mph speed limit.

[WillWeaverRVA]

I-295 in Virginia south of I-64 probably counts, even in its multiple Hopewell segments.

[ilpt4u]

I feel like I-280 for the IA/IL Quad Cities area has some rural feel areas

I feel the same for I-474 around Peoria

Does I-376 in PA qualify as a Loop? It is an Odd that touches its Parent twice...Anyway parts of it are pretty rural

[jmacswimmer]

-Parts of I-287 between Boonton/Montville & Mahwah in NJ.

-I-664 South of the MMMBT in VA.

[SkyPesos]

Does I-376 in PA qualify as a Loop? It is an Odd that touches its Parent twice...Anyway parts of it are pretty rural

The physical roadway of I-376 got renumbered so many times that I lost count when the number I-376 became a thing. Between I-79 and the eastern I-76 interchange, it was I-70 first, then I-76. I-79 was also on the portion between the I-79 interchange and I-279 for a bit.
The section west of the US 22/30 interchange was PA 60 before I-376.

Pittsburgh in general has lots of 4 lane rural-looking freeways in its metro area. Not sure if it's because of its topography, or another reason. You probably can't tell that you're only 6 miles straight-line distance from Downtown Pittsburgh just from looking at this view without context

[thspfc]

I imagine I-275 in Kentucky and Indiana, and possibly Ohio, fits.

Also, the short stretch of I-494 through Ft. Snelling.

[kphoger]

Cincinnati's I-275 is a good example.

For Cincinnati, I-275 is a 4 lane freeway in a rural setting between the airport and I-74.

I imagine I-275 in Kentucky and Indiana, and possibly Ohio, fits.

I see a pattern developing.

[SkyPesos]

Cincinnati's I-275 is a good example.

For Cincinnati, I-275 is a 4 lane freeway in a rural setting between the airport and I-74.

I imagine I-275 in Kentucky and Indiana, and possibly Ohio, fits.

I see a pattern developing.

Reply 32 will be about I-275?