One thing I've always wondered about The Big X in Illinois

[SEWIGuy]

Well this thread certainly went off the rails, lol. tan(this thread) = 75%

I would love to see some flyover ramps connecting NB74 to WB74 and SB80 to EB80, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I think that's the main conclusion to draw here.

When passing through the QC going westward, I may divert onto 80 or stay straight on 280. Coming east, I almost always use 280 to avoid the sudden cloverleaf. I think people know how to make these maneuvers with minimal slowdown if they're passing through, and this adaptation has lessened the need for flyover ramps to help people match route numbers.

I would suggest taking I-280 in either direction. In my experience, much less traffic and trucks. And you don't have to deal with the I-88 traffic merging in just before crossing those narrow bridges across the Mississippi.

[Mav94]

Well this thread certainly went off the rails, lol. tan(this thread) = 75%

I would love to see some flyover ramps connecting NB74 to WB74 and SB80 to EB80, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I think that's the main conclusion to draw here.

When passing through the QC going westward, I may divert onto 80 or stay straight on 280. Coming east, I almost always use 280 to avoid the sudden cloverleaf. I think people know how to make these maneuvers with minimal slowdown if they're passing through, and this adaptation has lessened the need for flyover ramps to help people match route numbers.

Yeah, I think we can call this situation another GPS de facto renumbering/rerouting. And honestly I think that's okay, it saves Illinois a lot of money.

[paulthemapguy]

Well this thread certainly went off the rails, lol. tan(this thread) = 75%

I would love to see some flyover ramps connecting NB74 to WB74 and SB80 to EB80, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I think that's the main conclusion to draw here.

When passing through the QC going westward, I may divert onto 80 or stay straight on 280. Coming east, I almost always use 280 to avoid the sudden cloverleaf. I think people know how to make these maneuvers with minimal slowdown if they're passing through, and this adaptation has lessened the need for flyover ramps to help people match route numbers.

I would suggest taking I-280 in either direction. In my experience, much less traffic and trucks. And you don't have to deal with the I-88 traffic merging in just before crossing those narrow bridges across the Mississippi.

That's basically what I do. Sometimes westbound I'll use 80 instead just to get to the Love's off Iowa 130. It's less of a hassle getting in and out, compared to the chaos at the Walcott exit.

[Molandfreak]

Anyone know how far the existing grade-separated bridges are into their lifespan at the Big X? It seems to me that if money is the issue, IDOT could simply wait until they reach the end of their lifespan to redesign the interchange. Rather than simply building flyovers to complete the high-speed thru movements, the existing thru movements could become flyovers while both roadways could be realigned to create high-speed curves for both I-74 and I-80.

I also don't like the interchange near the airport, but being a lay person who has not had extensive experience driving in the Quad Cities, I can't say for sure what would be a good redesign there. Are the properties along South Shore Drive expendable?

[Rick Powell]

Anyone know how far the existing grade-separated bridges are into their lifespan at the Big X? It seems to me that if money is the issue, IDOT could simply wait until they reach the end of their lifespan to redesign the interchange. Rather than simply building flyovers to complete the high-speed thru movements, the existing thru movements could become flyovers while both roadways could be realigned to create high-speed curves for both I-74 and I-80.

From IDOT bridge inventory- the southbound is in better shape than the northbound. Original construction 1961, reconstructed in 1988.

I-80 NB over I-74
Sufficiency Rating 59.8
Deck:5 FAIR CONDITION - MINOR SECTION LOSS, CRACKS
Superstructure:4 POOR CONDITION - ADVANCED DETERIORATION
Substructure:5 FAIR CONDITION - MINOR SECTION LOSS, CRACKS

I-80 SB over I-74
Sufficiency Rating 77.3
Deck:6 SATISFACTORY CONDITION - MINOR DETERIORATION
Superstructure:6 SATISFACTORY CONDITION - MINOR DETERIORATION
Substructure:5 FAIR CONDITION - MINOR SECTION LOSS, CRACKS

[kphoger]

Hey man, US-62 → KY-286 → KY-121 to Wickliffe and then the steel truss bridges across both the Ohio and Mississippi:  that's a really nice drive!

Except KY 286 is signed for local traffic only.

Is it enforced or enforceable?

It appears to be intended to prohibit through truck traffic. 

https://www.facebook.com/100077422195378/videos/397768123227771/

https://www.overdriveonline.com/regulations/article/15636089/ky-cracks-down-on-trucks-on-rural-roads-mexico-texas-spat-over-inspections-at-border

But what about a passenger vehicle that's not "local traffic"?  For example, last time I drove KY-286, I was headed home to Wichita in a car I'd just bought in Lebanon, TN.