Interstate 15 north of Barstow to the State Line

[Scott5114]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that this stretch of I-15 has some of the most hideous Interstate reassurance shields I've ever seen. Some of them are bad enough I think even Oklahoma would have sent them back.

Also, going southbound, Yates Well Road seems to have grown at least one additional well, at the price of yates—it's signed for "Yate Wells Road".

[cl94]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

[Max Rockatansky]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

The irony is that I don't think that California will be able to stave off the potential bad will that making all of this a "safety thing" can create.  I'm honestly surprised that interests in Nevada haven't been pushing that narrative with more force. 

[Scott5114]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

I wonder where California thinks Las Vegans go on vacation.

[DenverBrian]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

I wonder where California thinks Las Vegans go on vacation.

It's a reverse commute in that situation, and traffic flow is usually just fine with two lanes. 

[cl94]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

The irony is that I don't think that California will be able to stave off the potential bad will that making all of this a "safety thing" can create.  I'm honestly surprised that interests in Nevada haven't been pushing that narrative with more force. 

And California would probably push right back with US 50 at Lake Tahoe in that case (deadlier than I-15), which those same interests have blocked safety improvements on.

(Personal opinion strongly emphasized)

[Max Rockatansky]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

The irony is that I don't think that California will be able to stave off the potential bad will that making all of this a "safety thing" can create.  I'm honestly surprised that interests in Nevada haven't been pushing that narrative with more force. 

And California would probably push right back with US 50 at Lake Tahoe in that case (deadlier than I-15), which those same interests have blocked safety improvements on.

(Personal opinion strongly emphasized)

Possibly, but one corridor has a way more visible profile (I-15) in the public consciousness versus the other. 

[ClassicHasClass]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

I wonder where California thinks Las Vegans go on vacation.

Henderson?

[Max Rockatansky]

The other thing here is that California isn't going to pay to widen a road whose volume is people going to spend money in Nevada. I-15 north of Barstow holds minimal importance to California and the state has much higher widening priorities (SR 99 in the Central Valley, the remaining 2-lane section of SR 14, etc.).

I wonder where California thinks Las Vegans go on vacation.

Henderson?

Where do they actually go?  Most tourists I encounter in northern Arizona and southern Utah seemingly come from California.

[Bobby5280]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that this stretch of I-15 has some of the most hideous Interstate reassurance shields I've ever seen. Some of them are bad enough I think even Oklahoma would have sent them back.

I have lots of complaints for design goof-ups ODOT and OTA do with their signs, but their Interstate reassurance signs haven't been too awful bad.

But, yeah, some of the I-15 route markers in places like Baker are just awful. They're copying the TX DOT habit of using a wider 3-digit Interstate shield for a 2-digit route. But then the "15" numerals are made so damned big they don't fit in the shield correctly -especially when they include "California" above the numerals. The "1" is damned near in the center of the shield and the "5" is too far to the right. Both numerals are kerned tight because there isn't enough room to loosen the spacing. The end result looks stupid as hell.

This is the kind of bullshit that happens when non-designer bean-counters are dictating design specs without any regard to geometric limits. If the "managers" think they're getting a more effective sign with this crap they're not. The sign would actually be more legible if the numerals were smaller and allowed to have more negative space surrounding them. Of course, they should be using a 2-digit shield for starters.

Some of those dopey I-15 markers (as seen in Google Street View) are in bad shape. There's one Northbound just past the on-ramp at Exit 246 where the "5" has partially peeled off the sign.

[Max Rockatansky]

I was headed to the El Dorado Mine at Nelson this past Sunday.  That being the case I finally found the motivation to give US 95, Old US 66 and I-40 a Sunday morning try versus the San Diego 300 on departing Las Vegas on I-15.  I gotta say, the breezy nature of the 90-something mile longer drive more than made up for the frustration I typically experience on I-15.  The only issue with the routing I took was that I did run into a longer train at the grade crossing at Goffs.

I might try some of the Mojave Preserve roads between Nipton Road and I-40 when the weather cools down.  I've driven all of them but never in the context of trying to do anything that wasn't recreationally related. 

[pderocco]

I was headed to the El Dorado Mine at Nelson this past Sunday.  That being the case I finally found the motivation to give US 95, Old US 66 and I-40 a Sunday morning try versus the San Diego 300 on departing Las Vegas on I-15.  I gotta say, the breezy nature of the 90-something mile longer drive more than made up for the frustration I typically experience on I-15.  The only issue with the routing I took was that I did run into a longer train at the grade crossing at Goffs.

I might try some of the Mojave Preserve roads between Nipton Road and I-40 when the weather cools down.  I've driven all of them but never in the context of trying to do anything that wasn't recreationally related. 

Going through Kelso works fine.

[Max Rockatansky]

I was headed to the El Dorado Mine at Nelson this past Sunday.  That being the case I finally found the motivation to give US 95, Old US 66 and I-40 a Sunday morning try versus the San Diego 300 on departing Las Vegas on I-15.  I gotta say, the breezy nature of the 90-something mile longer drive more than made up for the frustration I typically experience on I-15.  The only issue with the routing I took was that I did run into a longer train at the grade crossing at Goffs.

I might try some of the Mojave Preserve roads between Nipton Road and I-40 when the weather cools down.  I've driven all of them but never in the context of trying to do anything that wasn't recreationally related. 

Going through Kelso works fine.

That is the idea.  Kelso-Cima Road appears to be a far better state of repair now versus when I drove it last.  I could have gone that way on Sunday via Nipton Road but there was a monsoon brewing.  We got blasted by it between Goffs and Fenner.   The Mojave Preserve isn't where I want to be while potentially facing a flash flood.

[pderocco]

I was headed to the El Dorado Mine at Nelson this past Sunday.  That being the case I finally found the motivation to give US 95, Old US 66 and I-40 a Sunday morning try versus the San Diego 300 on departing Las Vegas on I-15.  I gotta say, the breezy nature of the 90-something mile longer drive more than made up for the frustration I typically experience on I-15.  The only issue with the routing I took was that I did run into a longer train at the grade crossing at Goffs.

I might try some of the Mojave Preserve roads between Nipton Road and I-40 when the weather cools down.  I've driven all of them but never in the context of trying to do anything that wasn't recreationally related. 

Going through Kelso works fine.

That is the idea.  Kelso-Cima Road appears to be a far better state of repair now versus when I drove it last.  I could have gone that way on Sunday via Nipton Road but there was a monsoon brewing.  We got blasted by it between Goffs and Fenner.   The Mojave Preserve isn't where I want to be while potentially facing a flash flood.

Yes, you might get stranded between two little bridges that get washed out, and not fixed for five years.

[andy3175]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that this stretch of I-15 has some of the most hideous Interstate reassurance shields I've ever seen. Some of them are bad enough I think even Oklahoma would have sent them back.

Yes, those are pretty bad. One of my favorite freeway entrance shields along that section of I-15 is actually a repurposed I-5 shield (at Halloran Springs Exit 259): https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSo5QMsNX93VWhmP9. This shield has since been replaced.

Speaking of I-5, in my opinion the reassurance shields in the Kern County/Caltrans District 6 must win some sort of award for worst ever, even worse than those on I-15 in San Bernardino County. This sign on the I-5 north ramp over SR 99 (see https://maps.app.goo.gl/17HKn559xHiRaRsc7) features an extra-wide shield shape, no state name, and white direction banner.

[andy3175]

Two lanes, slow semi-trucks in the right lane and a long line of passenger cars in the left lane. Every so often, an impatient person who thought that they were smarter than the rest of us would come flying up the right lane, only to find themselves behind a slow-moving semi-truck. Then they would have to turn on their left blinker and hope a nice person would let them cut back in the line. That then caused a chain reaction of braking in the left lane, causing traffic to go from 70-80 down to 50 in seconds. This could easily cause a rear-end collision if someone wasn't paying attention.

You just described the NYS Thruway any time traffic is even slightly elevated (summer weekends, holidays, Bills games, etc.)

In addition to I-15 in the Mojave Desert and New York Thruway, this also describes I-5 through the Central Valley. Getting in that right lane to jump ahead in the queue looks so good when you're far back from the next truck, but once you've right behind the truck, it is not always easy to find a forgiving driver willing to let you back into the left lane. I would think adding a third lane would fix this sort of problem, which is why I'm hopeful any study on I-15 would consider widening and adding lanes to improve the flow. I've been stuck in this situation many times driving between San Diego and Las Vegas.

[Scott5114]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that this stretch of I-15 has some of the most hideous Interstate reassurance shields I've ever seen. Some of them are bad enough I think even Oklahoma would have sent them back.

Yes, those are pretty bad. One of my favorite freeway entrance shields along that section of I-15 is actually a repurposed I-5 shield (at Halloran Springs Exit 259): https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSo5QMsNX93VWhmP9. This shield has since been replaced.

Oh, that is just painful. 

[Max Rockatansky]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that this stretch of I-15 has some of the most hideous Interstate reassurance shields I've ever seen. Some of them are bad enough I think even Oklahoma would have sent them back.

Yes, those are pretty bad. One of my favorite freeway entrance shields along that section of I-15 is actually a repurposed I-5 shield (at Halloran Springs Exit 259): https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSo5QMsNX93VWhmP9. This shield has since been replaced.

Oh, that is just painful. 

That might be San Bernardino County sourced.  The shields they supplied to Caltrans lack the "property of the state of California" tag on the bottom.  Those shields have chunky vinyl numbers which peel easily in the heat.  I have one of their I-215 shields in my garage:

https://flic.kr/p/2jsNX4Q

[LilianaUwU]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned on here is that this stretch of I-15 has some of the most hideous Interstate reassurance shields I've ever seen. Some of them are bad enough I think even Oklahoma would have sent them back.

Yes, those are pretty bad. One of my favorite freeway entrance shields along that section of I-15 is actually a repurposed I-5 shield (at Halloran Springs Exit 259): https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSo5QMsNX93VWhmP9. This shield has since been replaced.

Four of them were also at Zzyzx Road in 2021, but were also since replaced.

[ClassicHasClass]

The only issue with the routing I took was that I did run into a longer train at the grade crossing at Goffs.

That is definitely a pain point, but otherwise it's so much more relaxing than the I-15 grind, even though it's longer.

[Max Rockatansky]

The only issue with the routing I took was that I did run into a longer train at the grade crossing at Goffs.

That is definitely a pain point, but otherwise it's so much more relaxing than the I-15 grind, even though it's longer.

It worked out.  I was able to get a couple fresh photos of the abandoned buildings while I wanted.  I also told my wife the history of the town.

[jdbx]

Two lanes, slow semi-trucks in the right lane and a long line of passenger cars in the left lane. Every so often, an impatient person who thought that they were smarter than the rest of us would come flying up the right lane, only to find themselves behind a slow-moving semi-truck. Then they would have to turn on their left blinker and hope a nice person would let them cut back in the line. That then caused a chain reaction of braking in the left lane, causing traffic to go from 70-80 down to 50 in seconds. This could easily cause a rear-end collision if someone wasn't paying attention.

You just described the NYS Thruway any time traffic is even slightly elevated (summer weekends, holidays, Bills games, etc.)

In addition to I-15 in the Mojave Desert and New York Thruway, this also describes I-5 through the Central Valley. Getting in that right lane to jump ahead in the queue looks so good when you're far back from the next truck, but once you've right behind the truck, it is not always easy to find a forgiving driver willing to let you back into the left lane. I would think adding a third lane would fix this sort of problem, which is why I'm hopeful any study on I-15 would consider widening and adding lanes to improve the flow. I've been stuck in this situation many times driving between San Diego and Las Vegas.

This is my situation every single time I drive on I-5.  It is maddening. I have found that often times the jam of cars in the left lane is led by some bozo traveling at or below the limit, and nobody behind them making any effort to go around them, even when there is ample opportunity.  I sit a little higher up in my pickup, so I can see when there may be an opportunity to go around, so I will often take advantage of them as they come.  It's not ideal, I'm sure some folks think I am a jerk for it, but better than sitting doing 68 MPH behind 10 other cars while the right lane is wide open.

[cahwyguy]

Two lanes, slow semi-trucks in the right lane and a long line of passenger cars in the left lane. Every so often, an impatient person who thought that they were smarter than the rest of us would come flying up the right lane, only to find themselves behind a slow-moving semi-truck. Then they would have to turn on their left blinker and hope a nice person would let them cut back in the line. That then caused a chain reaction of braking in the left lane, causing traffic to go from 70-80 down to 50 in seconds. This could easily cause a rear-end collision if someone wasn't paying attention.

You just described the NYS Thruway any time traffic is even slightly elevated (summer weekends, holidays, Bills games, etc.)

In addition to I-15 in the Mojave Desert and New York Thruway, this also describes I-5 through the Central Valley. Getting in that right lane to jump ahead in the queue looks so good when you're far back from the next truck, but once you've right behind the truck, it is not always easy to find a forgiving driver willing to let you back into the left lane. I would think adding a third lane would fix this sort of problem, which is why I'm hopeful any study on I-15 would consider widening and adding lanes to improve the flow. I've been stuck in this situation many times driving between San Diego and Las Vegas.

This is my situation every single time I drive on I-5.  It is maddening. I have found that often times the jam of cars in the left lane is led by some bozo traveling at or below the limit, and nobody behind them making any effort to go around them, even when there is ample opportunity.  I sit a little higher up in my pickup, so I can see when there may be an opportunity to go around, so I will often take advantage of them as they come.  It's not ideal, I'm sure some folks think I am a jerk for it, but better than sitting doing 68 MPH behind 10 other cars while the right lane is wide open.

That's when you take a deep breath, turn on the adaptive cruise control, put on an interesting podcast, and relax. You really can't change the stupid drivers around you. If you can, you get off the road, find something interesting to munch, and let the other drivers deal with the road boulders.

Perhaps it is age, but I'm finding the 5 to 10 minutes you get there isn't that significant, unless you're running late for a show/meeting -- and in that case, (a) leave earlier (unless stymied by a slow moving spouse), and (b) you're probably not on one of these long-haul roads in the first place, you're on the 101 in Hollywood instead.

[Plutonic Panda]

Two lanes, slow semi-trucks in the right lane and a long line of passenger cars in the left lane. Every so often, an impatient person who thought that they were smarter than the rest of us would come flying up the right lane, only to find themselves behind a slow-moving semi-truck. Then they would have to turn on their left blinker and hope a nice person would let them cut back in the line. That then caused a chain reaction of braking in the left lane, causing traffic to go from 70-80 down to 50 in seconds. This could easily cause a rear-end collision if someone wasn't paying attention.

You just described the NYS Thruway any time traffic is even slightly elevated (summer weekends, holidays, Bills games, etc.)

In addition to I-15 in the Mojave Desert and New York Thruway, this also describes I-5 through the Central Valley. Getting in that right lane to jump ahead in the queue looks so good when you're far back from the next truck, but once you've right behind the truck, it is not always easy to find a forgiving driver willing to let you back into the left lane. I would think adding a third lane would fix this sort of problem, which is why I'm hopeful any study on I-15 would consider widening and adding lanes to improve the flow. I've been stuck in this situation many times driving between San Diego and Las Vegas.

This is my situation every single time I drive on I-5.  It is maddening. I have found that often times the jam of cars in the left lane is led by some bozo traveling at or below the limit, and nobody behind them making any effort to go around them, even when there is ample opportunity.  I sit a little higher up in my pickup, so I can see when there may be an opportunity to go around, so I will often take advantage of them as they come.  It's not ideal, I'm sure some folks think I am a jerk for it, but better than sitting doing 68 MPH behind 10 other cars while the right lane is wide open.

That's when you take a deep breath, turn on the adaptive cruise control, put on an interesting podcast, and relax. You really can't change the stupid drivers around you. If you can, you get off the road, find something interesting to munch, and let the other drivers deal with the road boulders.

Perhaps it is age, but I'm finding the 5 to 10 minutes you get there isn't that significant, unless you're running late for a show/meeting -- and in that case, (a) leave earlier (unless stymied by a slow moving spouse), and (b) you're probably not on one of these long-haul roads in the first place, you're on the 101 in Hollywood instead.

Or.... Or hear me out, out a helmet on and remember why you have insurance, turn said music of choice on, and join the carnage.

[Max Rockatansky]

That kind of driving is just plain exhausting.  There are dedicated OHV roads which wear me out less than some of the bumper to bumper 60 MPH stuff that happens I-15 and I-5.  My brain feels like it can't function afterwards and my shoulders tend to get super stiff from the constant battle.   

I'm a pretty fit guy, but I don't feel like I should be exhausted on a segment of highways between Las Vegas and Barstow.  If someone like me is ending up feeling super shitty then how are the other drivers doing while stuck in the same traffic?

My brain wasn't muddled and I didn't get stiff shoulders detouring from Las Vegas down to I-40.  I rather be fresh of mind and body for the rest of the drive home beyond Barstow.  I really think that I'll be taking similar detours on Sunday Las Vegas departures going forward.