Highways that USED to be divided

[1995hoo]

I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3

[bugo]

I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3

Why is that section 4 lanes?

[lepidopteran]

In Columbus, OH, I think US-33 was somewhat divided, perhaps with just a metal guardrail, in the area of the Spring-Sandusky Interchange (I-670 and OH-315).  ISTR there was at least one underpowered interchange serving it.  But when Spring-Sandusky was completely rebuilt in the late 1990s/early 2000s, US-33 was downgraded to a 4-lane arterial with traffic signals.

In Dayton, OH, DeWeese Parkway used to be two roads with a grass median.  Sometime in the early 1980s, the road closest to the river was blocked off as a hiker-biker trail, while the remaining road became two-way.  Note that this "parkway" is just that -- a road through a park, and never really had any importance as a commuter route or anything.

[Molandfreak]

ROW is still there if the traffic count ever justifies putting it back.

Which it will.

[1995hoo]

I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3

Why is that section 4 lanes?

I have no idea. I've always wondered that too.

When I was in high school, we used to drive way too fast on that segment trying to pass people. Stupid, especially going eastbound due to a couple of small hills as you approach the eastern end of that area. Amazing we never got a ticket or into a wreck, especially since the car I had then (a '77 Granada) was a bit of a boat.

[pianocello]

BUS US-127 (Old 27) in St. Johns, MI is similar to Brian556's Denton, TX example: http://goo.gl/maps/7hgqf

Apparently back in the 80s, this stretch between Sturgis and Townsend had a median with Michigan left turns, similar to what it is south of Townsend. I'm not sure when the transition was made. (Or why it was made, for that matter. This is a really odd setup, and there are driveways everywhere.)

[vtk]

In Columbus, OH, I think US-33 was somewhat divided, perhaps with just a metal guardrail, in the area of the Spring-Sandusky Interchange (I-670 and OH-315).  ISTR there was at least one underpowered interchange serving it. 

That underpowered interchange being the Spring-Sandusky.  Unless you count some connections to the west end of Twin Rivers Dr to have been a separate interchange.  Franklin County maps did indeed show a short bit of US 33 as a freeway through this area at the time.

[froggie]

I don't believe the work on this has started yet, but a short four-lane divided segment of US-50 just west of Middleburg, Virginia, is to be turned into a two-lane undivided segment. The current eastbound roadway is to be severed at either end, although according to the plans I saw, the pavement will remain in use to provide access for the residents whose driveways connect to that segment.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9684774,-77.7526765,1112m/data=!3m1!1e3

Why is that section 4 lanes?

Part of a long-ago plan for a 4-lane US 50 from Winchester to Northern Virginia.  That section west of Middleburg was built ca. 1960/61, but was never extended upon.  There is no further 4-laning planned between Paris (US 17 South) and Lenah (near SR 600, where the current 4-lane into Northern Virginia begins).  Keeping US 50 2 lanes, in conjunction with local town traffic calming projects and the 45 MPH, no-trucks-allowed segment of US 17 between US 50 and I-66, is part of a plan to encourage through traffic (especially trucks) to use I-66 instead of US 50.

[hbelkins]

no-trucks-allowed segment of US 17 between US 50 and I-66

I've often wondered about that. Is there a physical limitation on the roadway that would make truck traffic problematic, or is that just VDOT's preference not to have trucks on that route?

[PHLBOS]

Not 100% sure whether this would count due to such coming about due to a highway relocation/interchange construction project & the roadbed is no longer part of the highway corridor itself, but 2-lane undivided Jubilee Drive in Peabody, MA was originally part of MA 128/Yankee Division Highway (4-lane, divided) prior to 1988.