Unbuilt Evidence

[Bickendan]

Ramp Stub in Portland at I-5/I-84

This would have been a ramp from the Steel Bridge and earlier Harbor Drive. IIRC, this used to exist, but was removed.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.52684,-122.665207&spn=0.005359,0.009645&t=k&z=17
That has both the ghost ramps from US 30 (not I-84) to the Steel Bridge; there is no surface evidence from the bridge itself, as reconstruction for the original light rail line and for subsequent projects killed it.

I-5/405/US30:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.542401,-122.673485&spn=0.002679,0.004823&t=k&z=18
Would have connected to the Kerby St ramps (and those ramps were meant to be the Rose City Freeway -- thankfully never built).
More of the same interchange: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.545012,-122.675888&spn=0.002679,0.004823&t=k&z=18
Only the ghost ramp from I-5 south to Kerby ramps is obvious; from the ground, it's very obvious on the ramps where they would have connected, which would have been Oregon's only full stack interchange.

US30: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.535382,-122.691268&spn=0.002679,0.004823&t=k&z=18
I'm not sure where these would have gone, but given the safety issues that would be present had they been built...

I-5, Marquam Bridge: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.509095,-122.666744&spn=0.00134,0.002411&t=k&z=19
Hard to tell, as this might have been fully eliminated, but the remnants of the Mt Hood Freeway interchange from the top deck would have been there and might be visible.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.512617,-122.667176&spn=0.00268,0.004823&t=k&z=18
That one is the most blatantly obvious of the remains of I-80N. Also, an unbuilt onramp from the Eastside Industrial Area.

OR99E: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.507287,-122.66076&spn=0.002681,0.004823&t=k&z=18
Savor this one while you can; the viaducts are being rebuilt and the Grand Ave viaduct (with the ghost ramp) is now gone.

[Revive 755]

Stub on Stony Island Avenue in Chicago where I believe either the lakefront alignment of I-494 or I-694 was to continue north:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.717574,-87.585111&spn=0.00156,0.00515&t=k&z=19

[WNYroadgeek]

I-990 Stub End at NY 263: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.047248,-78.737152&spn=0.001929,0.003449&t=k&z=18

LOSP Stub Ends near NY 18: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.363932,-78.234984&spn=0.003838,0.006899&t=k&z=17

[wytout]

This beautiful 4-level stack has only ever been half used, in the New Britain/Farmington, CT area at the I-84/US 6 interchange with CT-9.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.726895,-72.772343&spn=0.003651,0.007617&t=h&z=17
Switching to map view from satellite will quicly illustrate what is being used there, and what is being left never-used to rot away into CT's highway history.

Here is a ground level photo approaching the mess from I-84
this picture is borrowed from Kurumi.com http://kurumi.com/roads/ct/pics/ph-i84wb-stack.jpg

Level 1, is E/W I-84/US 6 Multiplexed.

Where route 9 terminates at I-84 the road was actually supposed to continue north as part of the proposed Hartford Beltway system, and would likely have been signed as I-291, THIS IS THE SECOND LEVEL (a small portion of which was built from I-91 in windsor, east to I-84 in Manchester.  You'll notice that not only does this portion of roadway end in the middle of nowhere, it also starts in the middle of nowhere. It is unused roadway, that has never been used or connected to anything.

Levels 3 and 4 would have created a full interchange with I-84, and both north and south portions of the unbuilt beltway.

Half of Level three is used and half is unused.  It boasts one unused ramp, that both begins and ends at absolutely nothing, and one functioning ramp carrying WB I-84 traffic to CT-9 South.

Half of level 4 is used and half is unused.  It boasts one unused ramp, that both begins and ends at nothing, which is a common theme here, and there is one functioning ramp carrying NB Route 9 traffic to I-84 West.

For some great information about this unfinished interchange visit kurumi's sitehttp://kurumi.com/roads/ct/xc-stack.html

[Scott5114]

Wow, that's a neat interchange.

[Revive 755]

There are a bunch of stubs on IL 3 just north of the McKinley Bridge.  I know there was apparently once a plan for IL 3 to continue down to the PSB complex at least as an expressway along the riverfront, but I don't know whether these stubs were for that project or something else.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qfc83b7gjxg0&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=41920922&encType=1

[Revive 755]

Stubs where the Bella Vista bypass will branch off of US 71 in Missouri:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=36.567779,-94.382805&spn=0.005989,0.013733&t=k&z=17
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=36.567779,-94.382805&spn=0,359.986267&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=36.568591,-94.38573&panoid=Ge5_ctsUuCxoL7uTC5c7Qw&cbp=12,161.41,,0,7.53
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=36.568591,-94.38573&spn=0,359.986267&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=36.567907,-94.383413&panoid=ogL328M2iYZ1pbSUv-mzLA&cbp=12,163.03,,0,5

[jjakucyk]

The never-built Colerain Expressway is an infamous example here in Cincinnati.  It was blocked by neighborhood opposition since it was first proposed in the 1960's, and even scaled back plans have been derailed.  It's probably for the better, though even plans to fix the completely convoluted, partially completed intersections that remain are having a hard time getting passed.  Here's the interchange with I-74 with the unused mainline lanes at the top. 



http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&gl=us&om=0&ie=UTF8&ll=39.159416,-84.551135&spn=0.006073,0.009763&z=17

[nerdly_dood]

Roanoke, VA: I-581/Valley View Blvd.

Before you ask, the ramps are grassy, and this interchange has been like this for as long as I can remember. (which dates back to 2002 cause thats when I moved to Roanoke)

On Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=valley+view+blvd+best+buy&sll=37.296964,-79.95796&sspn=0.00425,0.006899&ie=UTF8&radius=0.19&filter=0&rq=1&ev=p&ll=37.296964,-79.95796&spn=0.00425,0.006899&t=k&z=17

The ramp from I-581SB (top left towards bottom right) to Valley View Blvd is partially graded, and the overpass is done, but it's got "RAMP CLOSED" gates where that ramp would merge with the 581NB offramp.

[froggie]

Are the ramps to/from the north actually graded?  Hard to tell from that sat shot, and it's been awhile since I was on 581...

[Revive 755]

Found a pair of unused ramps on a spur route from I-85 to the Atlanta airport:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=33.659523,-84.425887&spn=0.006206,0.013733&t=k&z=17

[jdb1234]

A ghost ramp exists on the Red Mountain Expressway in Birmingham, AL.  This loop ramp would have connected US 31/280 southbound to northbound US 11.  I cannot ever remember this ramp being used.  It is separated by a concrete divider on the expressway.

[froggie]

jdb:  that ramp was open when the highway was originally built.  It was closed, as I understand it, due to a combination of safety issues and also completion of the Red Mountain interchange with I-20/59.

[jdb1234]

jdb:  that ramp was open when the highway was originally built.  It was closed, as I understand it, due to a combination of safety issues and also completion of the Red Mountain interchange with I-20/59.

In other words the ramp was abandoned when the Red Mountain Expressway was finished in the mid 80s.

[froggie]

More or less...don't have the specific timeline the ramp was closed, but it was originally open.

[jdb1234]

On another note on I-20/59 southbound in Birmingham at about 26th Street, a ramp stub exists.  I seem to remember the stub planted with grass at one point.

[Alex]

On another note on I-20/59 southbound in Birmingham at about 26th Street, a ramp stub exists.  I seem to remember the stub planted with grass at one point.

There is also this stub at the I-20/59 interchange with US 31:

http://www.southeastroads.com/alabama999/carraway_blvd_i-020_059_viaduct_view_w.jpg

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=33.527569~-86.803772&style=h&lvl=17&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1



A pic I took of the aforementioned loop ramp from US 31:

http://www.southeastroads.com/alabama001/us-011_1st_av_n_abn_ramp_03.jpg

[jdb1234]

There is also this stub at the I-20/59 interchange with US 31:

http://www.southeastroads.com/alabama999/carraway_blvd_i-020_059_viaduct_view_w.jpg

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=33.527569~-86.803772&style=h&lvl=17&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

That is the stub at 26th Street that I was talking about.

[jdb1234]

Also on Vaughn Road east of Montgomery a graded parclo interchange exists.  I believe this is for the Montgomery beltway that is planned.

[froggie]

If you're referring to the grading just west of AL 293, that is correct.

[Revive 755]

Also on Vaughn Road east of Montgomery a graded parclo interchange exists.  I believe this is for the Montgomery beltway that is planned.

Looks like there has been a little more grading than just an interchange there:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=32.344292,-86.06432&spn=0.050397,0.109863&t=h&z=14

[DAL764]

Found a pair of unused ramps on a spur route from I-85 to the Atlanta airport:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=33.659523,-84.425887&spn=0.006206,0.013733&t=k&z=17

Those ramps used to see quite a bit of traffic, as it used to be the access road to the old Atlanta terminal that served the airport before the current Midfield Terminal was opened.

[nerdly_dood]

Are the ramps to/from the north actually graded?  Hard to tell from that sat shot, and it's been awhile since I was on 581...

Yes, partially. It can best be seen from the outer loop ramp, but it can also be seen from the main travel lanes on 581. The grading goes from the end of the overpass to about where the ramp would be leading away from the main lanes of 581 at a 90-degree angle, had it been built.

[WNYroadgeek]

Here's a ghost ramp that connected NY 96 and I-90 back when the Thruway was (believe it or not) free: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.012673,-77.445159&spn=0.00386,0.006899&t=k&z=17

[mightyace]

Here's a ghost ramp that connected NY 96 and I-90 back when the Thruway was (believe it or not) free: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.012673,-77.445159&spn=0.00386,0.006899&t=k&z=17

I don't think that the Thruway was ever free in that section.  I think that is the ghost ramp from the time before I-490 was built.  If you look closely you can see a line where the toll booth may have been.

In any case, good catch!