Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[kphoger]

No more than one conversation starter question per day.

Then we come up with the worst, least applicable, most inappropriate answer to the question.

If this were a music forum, then a conversation starter might be something like "Who in the 20th Century had the most beautiful voice?"  Replies might include Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, and Yoko Ono—but certainly not Andrea Bocelli.

But of course, this is a roads forum, so the conversation starter should be road-related.


I know it's not quite tomorrow yet, but I'll get July 18 started off early with the first question.  Remember, I'm only looking for bad answers!

Q:  What stretch of Interstate could be removed from the system, and hardly anyone would miss it?

[Max Rockatansky]

I-405 and the San Diego Freeway should converted to a surface boulevard with ample multi-use pedestrian features. 

[cockroachking]

The entirety of the Capital Beltway around DC. DC area traffic is bad enough with it. Pure hell without it. 

[Scott5114]

Interstate 95 was only finished a few years ago, so that means that clearly nobody would miss it if it were gone.

[formulanone]

Interstate 99, because then everything written into highway law becomes null-and-void and then we reach absolute legislative chaos and we descend into anarchy, the route logs are burned ritually as sacrifices to the horrors of state representation, and the nation suffers from a constitutional crisis and is then swiftly taken over by the Decepticons in their quest for more Energon cubes...uh...or, maybe just more pork-and-beans and the number accidently winds up in California.

[NE2]

The piece of I-70 between where it turns south to Hancock MD and the ramps to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

[bassoon1986]

The Mobile Tunnel and bay bridge on I-10 in Alabama are outdated and too unsafe. They have to go.

[kurumi]

here's my attempt at stirring things up:

My great-great-grandfather, a haberdasher in Hartford, would have answered: New England Interstate 2, one of the main roads through that fine city. He really hated NE2 and would talk at length about how unpleasant NE2 is -- how an encounter with NE2 would always be the worst part of one's day. He used quite profane language when speaking of NE2, sometimes of actions that were, anatomically speaking, quite infeasible.

His most fondly remembered day, even outshining his wedding day and the birth of his son (different days, to be clear), was that day in 1927 when the highway department started mounting US 5 markers along the route. Finally, humanity's long nightmare was coming to an end. Finally, NE2 was gone.

[pderocco]

My great-great-grandfather, a haberdasher in Hartford

Is that where hurricanes hardly ever happen?

[kphoger]

My great-great-grandfather ... really hated NE2 and would talk at length about how unpleasant NE2 is -- how an encounter with NE2 would always be the worst part of one's day. He used quite profane language when speaking of NE2 ...

I can only imagine what he might have to say about what we commonly refer to as a SPUI.

... actions that were, anatomically speaking, quite infeasible ... mounting US 5 markers ...

You're right, that is not anatomically feasible.

[kphoger]

My great-great-grandfather, a haberdasher in Hartford

Is that where hurricanes hardly ever happen?

And where's that soggy plain?

[kphoger]

July 18

Q:  What stretch of Interstate could be removed from the system, and hardly anyone would miss it?

My own suggestion:  I-90/94 in Chicago, between the Skyway and Mayfair, is basically duplicated by the L, so it can be removed.  Take the unused maintenance funds and funnel them into CTA instead.

[Mav94]

There is no need for Interstate 90 west of Chicago.

[kphoger]

There is no need for Interstate 90 west of Chicago.

US-20 will suffice to Rockford.  West of Tomah, meh.

[JayhawkCO]

I-80 should be removed in Pennsylvania because it doesn't have any large cities that it serves.

[Beltway]

I know it's not quite tomorrow yet, but I'll get July 18 started off early with the first question.  Remember, I'm only looking for bad answers!
Q:  What stretch of Interstate could be removed from the system, and hardly anyone would miss it?

The I-76 Surekill Expressway.

[vdeane]

The triple cantilever section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.  Everyone who lives in the area wants the expressway gone, and nobody in their right mind uses it.  There's too much traffic.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Decommissioning US routes is sensible and shows good DOT judgment.

[NE2]

The correct answer is any. Removing from the system doesn't mean anything except repairs don't get funded.

[kphoger]

The correct answer

That's great and all, but I'm looking for the worst possible answer.

[thspfc]

Q:  What stretch of Interstate could be removed from the system, and hardly anyone would miss it?

I-70 between Denver and Silverthorne. Loveland Pass and US-40 can suffice. Both are very easy to drive in bad weather, sometimes they even attempt to plow the snow!

[Revive 755]

My own suggestion:  I-90/94 in Chicago, between the Skyway and Mayfair, is basically duplicated by the L, so it can be removed.  Take the unused maintenance funds and funnel them into CTA instead.

It also has bypass options using I-80 and I-294 or I-355.
My answer:  I-80/I-94 between IL 394 and the interchange with the Toll Road.  Everyone can just use the Skyway and Toll Road, IN 912, and/or one of the paralleling US routes.  No one seems to have any trouble cutting over to I-65 from I-57 either.

[JayhawkCO]

The correct answer

That's great and all, but I'm looking for the worst possible answer.

I would argue the NE2 is accurate though, now that I think about it. There's a difference between removing something from the system and blowing up the road. I think basically everyone here is giving answers for the latter.

[Max Rockatansky]

Nuking a road from orbit probably would not be ideal for maintenance.

[Dirt Roads]

I've inadvertently gotten in trouble for this before (now I'm 100% at fault).  The worst possible answer is:

The portion of I-70 that goes to Baltimore.