Awkward looking bypasses (adds additional mileage)

[tolbs17]

US-74 Shelby bypass in NC. - A southern bypass was considered before but those plans are dead.

US-64 Asheboro bypass. - I wonder if they can still build a northern bypass!

I-74 Rockingham bypass. (Not for I-73 though)

That's all I know.

[1995hoo]

Don't most bypasses add raw mileage as opposed to driving straight through a town or city? That's just simple geometry, although I-475 passing Macon is an odd exception to that principle. In theory it's often a longer distance but a reduced travel time due to fewer (if any) traffic lights and (often) a higher speed limit.

[SkyPesos]

Isn't that the point of bypasses, to add a bit extra mileage to bypass the city?

There are some exceptions though, like I-475 GA mentioned above.

[formulanone]

Georgia 1 Loop bypass of Rome is an example of this. It's great for those headed from US 27 north to GA 20 west — or from east to south — but the other three quadrants do not yet exist.

I can't imagine too many situations for a Roman to use it to get around town. (Not sure if that demonym is correct.)

[tolbs17]

Isn't that the point of bypasses, to add a bit extra mileage to bypass the city?

There are some exceptions though, like I-475 GA mentioned above.

Yes, but I mean add WAY more mileage. For example: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.7244775,-79.7466564/35.7065029,-79.8861722/@35.6876191,-79.8283749,13.21z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0

The Asheboro bypass is useless.

[1995hoo]

Isn't that the point of bypasses, to add a bit extra mileage to bypass the city?

There are some exceptions though, like I-475 GA mentioned above.

Another exception that comes to mind is the US-29 bypass around Warrenton, Virginia.

Edited to add: The Warrenton US-29 Bypass is 3.2 miles long. It's 4.9 miles via US-29 Business.

[Dirt Roads]

Isn't that the point of bypasses, to add a bit extra mileage to bypass the city?

There are some exceptions though, like I-475 GA mentioned above.

Yes, but I mean add WAY more mileage. For example: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.7244775,-79.7466564/35.7065029,-79.8861722/@35.6876191,-79.8283749,13.21z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0

The Asheboro bypass is useless.

I was under the impression that the Asheboro Bypass was not useful for any through US-64 traffic (if there is any).  But your link proves otherwise.  There are plenty of times during the Zoo rush when Business US-64 through Asheboro is very congested with the fast food traffic.  That might be lessened with the new Zoo access.  But the main traffic is from US-64 east of Asheboro to/from NC-49 west of Asheboro, so the new Bypass makes a lot of sense.  Also, most of the traditional eastbound US-64 traffic into Asheboro was headed down south on US-220 anyway, but now I-74 takes care of that.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

My thought was the new Waukesha, WI bypass, although driving through Waukesha itself is slow and plodding enough it probably still won't be that much of a time difference.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43.0214777,-88.2910148/43.0269164,-88.1913071/@43.0035126,-88.2456854,13z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-88.2417117!2d43.0191245!3s0x8805a8b3978dbe89:0x9aca0d7a1c397e63!1m0!3e0

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43.0207089,-88.2873991/43.0274259,-88.1913641/@43.0120486,-88.267658,13z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-88.2493048!2d42.9768766!3s0x8805a5d0ab1d772d:0xbc06d643033c0f10!1m0!3e0

[skluth]

The nearby Burlington WI bypass is the most awkward I can think of. It has periodic stop lights and the access ramps (where they exist) look like they were designed by North Koreans.

[Mapmikey]

I feel like TX 349's bypass of Midland should be the winner of this thread.

The Business route is about 9 miles and 14 min while the bypass is 29 miles and 32 min.

https://goo.gl/maps/fsw9n85AzHUbGs338

[1995hoo]

If Interstate "bypasses" count for this thread, the eastern side of I-485 around Charlotte represents an extreme example. Coming up I-77 from the south and continuing north on the same road, if you head straight through on I-77 it's 19.9 miles; if you head around on the west side of I-485, it's 24.4 miles (seems reasonable); but if you head around on the east side of I-485, it's 45.1 miles back to I-77. Every time I see I-485 on a map I think it looks "lopsided" in relation to where Charlotte and its 2di routes are located.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Among Interstates, I-275 around Cincinnati in OH/IN/KY would apply.

[thspfc]

I-11 around Boulder City looks oddly far out, but I guess that's part of the reality of building new Interstates in the 21st century.

[mgk920]

Since it opened a few years ago, I've thought that I-11 around Boulder City, NV is a bit of the 'awkward' side.

Mike

[SkyPesos]

If Interstate "bypasses" count for this thread, the eastern side of I-485 around Charlotte represents an extreme example. Coming up I-77 from the south and continuing north on the same road, if you head straight through on I-77 it's 19.9 miles; if you head around on the west side of I-485, it's 24.4 miles (seems reasonable); but if you head around on the east side of I-485, it's 45.1 miles back to I-77. Every time I see I-485 on a map I think it looks "lopsided" in relation to where Charlotte and its 2di routes are located.

The interstate bypasses part sort of overlaps with the "loops that are too big"  thread, and I'll nominate I-275 Cincinnati in both, for the same reasons.

[MATraveler128]

I-287 in New Jersey would be a good example. It appears to go almost 20 miles from the New Jersey Turnpike before turning northeast, then changing directions in New York. So as a long distance bypass, it isn't very direct. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

[Mapmikey]

I-287 in New Jersey would be a good example. It appears to go almost 20 miles from the New Jersey Turnpike before turning northeast, then changing directions in New York. So as a long distance bypass, it isn't very direct. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

This is a byproduct of the cancelled I-95 routing in New Jersey and the I-695 freeway that would've connected I-95 to I-287 such that the bypass made more sense...

http://www.nycroads.com/roads/I-695_NJ/

[Chris19001]

I-287 in New Jersey would be a good example. It appears to go almost 20 miles from the New Jersey Turnpike before turning northeast, then changing directions in New York. So as a long distance bypass, it isn't very direct. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

Yes, end to end its a weird one.  Using it to go from I95 to I95 would add mileage. But it is a godsend for travelers looking to avoid New York City and continue up to New England or upstate NY (or vice-versa).  I come from the Philly area and 287's connection to both US202 and I-78 help me avoid Manhattan and the Parkway madness.  It probably saves a half hour since the last link of 287 was finished connecting I80 to I87.  You really want to avoid the George Washington Bridge across the Hudson and the Cross Bronx unless you're doing it for the sightseeing.

[Rothman]

I-287 in New Jersey would be a good example. It appears to go almost 20 miles from the New Jersey Turnpike before turning northeast, then changing directions in New York. So as a long distance bypass, it isn't very direct. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

Yes, end to end its a weird one.  Using it to go from I95 to I95 would add mileage. But it is a godsend for travelers looking to avoid New York City and continue up to New England or upstate NY (or vice-versa).  I come from the Philly area and 287's connection to both US202 and I-78 help me avoid Manhattan and the Parkway madness.  It probably saves a half hour since the last link of 287 was finished connecting I80 to I87.  You really want to avoid the George Washington Bridge across the Hudson and the Cross Bronx unless you're doing it for the sightseeing.

Psst...NJ 17...

[HighwayStar]

I-287 in New Jersey would be a good example. It appears to go almost 20 miles from the New Jersey Turnpike before turning northeast, then changing directions in New York. So as a long distance bypass, it isn't very direct. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

This is a byproduct of the cancelled I-95 routing in New Jersey and the I-695 freeway that would've connected I-95 to I-287 such that the bypass made more sense...

http://www.nycroads.com/roads/I-695_NJ/

Numerous stupid routes exist for this reason, they built half the system and then tried to connect it into something coherent, of course it is not going to make any sense.

[Chris19001]

Psst...NJ 17...

Are you serious?  Why would anyone take that unless they wanted to white knuckle it and see strip malls to the infinite degree?  No thanks, I'll stick to the west out of that mess..

[Rothman]

Psst...NJ 17...

Are you serious?  Why would anyone take that unless they wanted to white knuckle it and see strip malls to the infinite degree?  No thanks, I'll stick to the west out of that mess..

Absolutely serious.  It's always been a nice shortcut for me.

[tolbs17]

I feel like I-840 around Nashville qualifies. Because look - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.1850394,-86.3305077/36.0245819,-87.3067799/@36.0100566,-87.0791101,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0

I-540 around Raleigh probably can qualify, since it's meant to be a bypass around the city, but it's not really tbh. It's a very busy highway especially near the airport area. It gets frequent backups and whatnot.

[1995hoo]

I assume you meant I-840 around Nashville, given that Tennessee's I-240 is near Memphis? When I clicked on the link just now, it showed the drive around that way taking six minutes longer than going through the city.

[tolbs17]

I assume you meant I-840 around Nashville, given that Tennessee's I-240 is near Memphis? When I clicked on the link just now, it showed the drive around that way taking six minutes longer than going through the city.

Yeah I meant to say I-840.. I just assume an even number is just a normal bypass 

Time isn't that much longer but if you take a look at the mileage, it's a big difference.