Worst Designed Expressways/Roads

[Revive 755]

I'll nominated I-70 in the St. Louis area since I've been beaten to the lousy PA section.  Starting at the I-170 interchange, which really needs a few diagrammatic signs indicating that half of the ramps are on the left side:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.729949,-90.329311&spn=0.011701,0.027466&t=k&z=16

Then there's the interchange with Lucas and Hunt, featuring two loops that resemble those recently removed from I-64.  Thing is MoDOT already redid this section of I-70, so why are these still here?
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Then at MO 367 there's no entrance for SB MO 367 traffic to EB I-70, yet for some reason there's a ramp to the outer road.  Before I-70 was mostly reconstructed there was an EB entrance here.

A short distance east the reversible express lanes start, with no exits until downtown, yet posted at 55, the same as the other lanes.  Commonly closed, the main reason MoDOT gave for not removing them was that I-70 would require five lanes each way.  Note that I-70 is mostly three lanes each way west of here.

Another pair of short ramps EB:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.682604,-90.235267&spn=0.002927,0.006866&t=k&z=18

Poorly designed, 20 mph WB exit to Broadway that would have been better if it had been shifted to the west to intersect the overpass:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.683694,-90.217474&spn=0.001464,0.003433&t=k&z=19

The Salisbury/McKinely Bridge interchange.  Supposedly because of this poorly designed, poor capacity interchange the McKinely bridge approaches were rebuilt only one lane each way.

The next three interchanges don't allow easy u-turns.  While moderately annoying now if the I-55 ramp to the PSB is backed up and Memorial Drive is closed, these will be more of an issue when the new river bridge for I-70 is built, as a proper half diamond would allow a simple u-turn to access the new bridge.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.654453,-90.193462&spn=0.002928,0.006866&t=k&z=18

[url]http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.644621,-90.188801&spn=0.002929,0.006866&t=k&z=18]http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.649774,-90.191064&spn=0.002928,0.006866&t=k&z=18/url]
[url]http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.644621,-90.188801&spn=0.002929,0.006866&t=k&z=18

Like I-55, I-70 has single lane ramps to/from the PSB.  Unlike I-55, I-70 has easy access to the MLK Bridge, which is a freeway grade alternative WB and has only one stoplight EB.  Note the lousy merge for mainline WB I-70, and the merge for Memorial Drive traffic entering the PSB:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.621881,-90.187983&spn=0.001465,0.003433&t=k&z=19

Then there's the PSB.  With no shoulders, there could have at least been an extra lane each way between the I-70 ramps and the IL 3 interchange.

One of many short merges inside the PSB complex.  This one was supposed to bring in traffic from the canceled US 460 freeway:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.616407,-90.170749&spn=0.001465,0.003433&t=k&z=19

A short, tight, left side merge from IL 3.  This is planned for removal when I-70 is relocated as part of the new river bridge project.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.632863,-90.146819&spn=0.002929,0.006866&t=k&z=18

Finally there's the poor EB design between I-255 and IL 157.  Either the third lane needs to continue a little ways beyond IL 157, giving I-255 traffic a better merge, or one lane should be dropped at I-255.

I'll also nominate PA 28 between I-279 and the Ripoff.  The access to the 31st Street island provides one extremely screwed up intersection that is controlled by a single stoplight setup IIRC:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=40.464609,-79.97968&spn=0.001426,0.003433&t=k&z=19

Then there's those annoying one lane mainline sections EB.

[SSOWorld]

Cloverleafs in the Twin cities - no deceleration/acceleration lanes whatsoever.

[froggie]

I wouldn't say there's none whatsoever.  But mainly for the deceleration, you're basically limited to the distance between loops.  Acceleration is a little better, as MnDOT has built "escape lanes" at most places, extending the acceleration lane out a hundred feet or so past the second loop.

[Mr_Northside]

Though I think there are worse, even here in Western PA, right now I'm gonna name the good ol' Penn-Lincoln Parkway...
I'm sure many/most here know of it's substandard design in general, and the traffic issues the tunnels cause, and some of it's crazier interchange setups....
But today, specifically, I'm gonna mention it because of the "bathtub" portion of I-376 Westbound that occasionally will flood....

LIKE TODAY.
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10026/1031161-147.stm

With the Mon not predicted to crest until later this afternoon, there's a good chance it will still be closed for the evening rush hour.  So due to the fact they designed a road that low next to a river, my commute home back into the city will, most likely, royally suck balls.

[UptownRoadGeek]

I-10 @ I-110, Baton Rouge, LA
^I-10 East (Which carries probably 85% of the traffic) narrows down to 1 lane while 2 lanes go north to I-110; I-10 West drops to 2 narrow lanes with a tight curve, while 3 lanes head north for I-110.

The entire Baton Rouge highway system is poorly designed IMO.  The main highway through the city is only 6-lanes, but it acts as a funnel for traffic from I-10/I-12 to the east and I-10/I-110 from the west.  The major interchange in the city has a major flaw ^.  I-10 through the areas seeing the most development (I believe) is only 4-lanes.  Add a LSU game and a mandatory evacuation for New Orleans on the same weekend and things get "fun".

[realjd]

I think that whole upper/lower I-35 mess in Austin, TX is pretty terrible.

[Revive 755]

IL 394 around the IL 1 intersection:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.391846,-87.626792&spn=0,359.986267&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.391932,-87.626785&panoid=Ft6ReWiIfKluOLCBesxT7Q&cbp=12,161.57,,0,-6.18

IL 394 should have been routed differently, or IL 1 should have been rerouted to a different intersection.

[TheStranger]

IL 394 around the IL 1 intersection:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.391846,-87.626792&spn=0,359.986267&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.391932,-87.626785&panoid=Ft6ReWiIfKluOLCBesxT7Q&cbp=12,161.57,,0,-6.18

IL 394 should have been routed differently, or IL 1 should have been rerouted to a different intersection.

IL 1 used to continue north up today's 394...though the intersection wasn't reconfigured when 1 was restored to Dixie Highway north of there.  I'm surprised it's not an interchange...

[dave19]

The I-70 - I-79 interchange east of Washington, PA.

Why? That's just a standard trumpet interchange. Pretty common in Kentucky.

I'm talking about approaching it as you are travelling north on 79 coming from WV. After a long downhill grade, all traffic heading north on 79 or west on 70 must narrow to one lane, go under the bridge, and loop to the right on a sharp curve. You should see the size of the Jersey barrier there.

[rickmastfan67]

The I-70 - I-79 interchange east of Washington, PA.

Why? That's just a standard trumpet interchange. Pretty common in Kentucky.

I'm talking about approaching it as you are travelling north on 79 coming from WV. After a long downhill grade, all traffic heading north on 79 or west on 70 must narrow to one lane, go under the bridge, and loop to the right on a sharp curve. You should see the size of the Jersey barrier there.

I'll second this one.

[allniter89]

The I-70 - I-79 interchange east of Washington, PA.

Yeah, and that Jersey Barrier is pretty scarred up from people that dont heed the warnings and find out how immoveable the jb is!
Agreed it is a very poorlly designed junction for 2 interstate hwys junctioning. How about that crappy one lane uphill exit from I 275 to I 74 west, northwest of Cinti O?
But it is a poor example
Why? That's just a standard trumpet interchange. Pretty common in Kentucky.

[rickmastfan67]

The I-70 - I-79 interchange east of Washington, PA.

Why? That's just a standard trumpet interchange. Pretty common in Kentucky.

I'm talking about approaching it as you are travelling north on 79 coming from WV. After a long downhill grade, all traffic heading north on 79 or west on 70 must narrow to one lane, go under the bridge, and loop to the right on a sharp curve. You should see the size of the Jersey barrier there.

I'll second this one.

Yeah, and that Jersey Barrier is pretty scarred up from people that dont heed the warnings and find out how immoveable the jb is!
Agreed it is a very poorlly designed junction for 2 interstate hwys junctioning. How about that crappy one lane uphill exit from I 275 to I 74 west, northwest of Cinti O?
But it is a poor example

Fixed your post here in my post.  Please next time make sure you find the last

Code Select Expand

[/quote] in the message area when quoting a message.  Because if you don't, it's hard to tell what you wrote in your post if there are several quotes already unless you compare it with a previous post.

Thanks.

[allniter89]

thanks

[The Premier]

I-71/75 between Kyles Lane (or Buttermilk Pike) and the Brent Spence Bridge, especially before they rebuilt that section.

[TXtoNJ]

Any of the Oklahoma City freeways. A tangled mess of insufficient capacity, left exits, one-lane TOTSOs, and more weaving than you could ever want.

[Scott5114]

Any of the Oklahoma City freeways. A tangled mess of insufficient capacity, left exits, one-lane TOTSOs, and more weaving than you could ever want.

Now that's not completely fair. Most of the freeways have sufficient capacity (traffic jams only occur because of crashes). One-lane TOTSOs are bad, sure, but in practice they don't seem to really affect the flow of traffic. There are a few left exits, but they're hardly as pervasive as they are in Tulsa. Weaving is a problem on I-240 but I can't really think of any other freeway that is serious plagued by it.

[roadfro]

...one-lane TOTSOs...

One-lane TOTSOs are bad, sure, but in practice they don't seem to really affect the flow of traffic.

What is a "TOTSO"   I'm not familiar with that acronym.

[Scott5114]

Turn off to stay on. When a highway "exits itself".

[akotchi]

U.S. 1 northbound in the Morrisville, PA, area.  Two lanes run northbound up to the U.S. 13 interchange, then both lanes exit left to Route 32 going into Morrisville, with the right lane also continuing on U.S. 1.  A second lane is picked up on the right as an added lane from U.S. 13 north.  A short three-lane right-to-left weave is created, but only one through lane passes through the interchange.  Now that the Trenton-Morrisville Bridge has been rebuilt, the rush hour congestion issues are clear here.

[roadfro]

Turn off to stay on. When a highway "exits itself".

Ah, I see. Familiar with that concept...just never seen it shortened before.  Yeah, these are bad situations.

[shoptb1]

Turn off to stay on. When a highway "exits itself".

The perfect example of this is when I-71N/I-70E exits to one lane while 2 lanes continue forward as OH-315 in Columbus.

[njroadhorse]

Turn off to stay on. When a highway "exits itself".

The perfect example of this is when I-71N/I-70E exits to one lane while 2 lanes continue forward as OH-315 in Columbus.

Or Interstate 78 in Summit at Exit 48, when it exits itself at NJ 24.

[xonhulu]

Turn off to stay on. When a highway "exits itself".

WB I-84 does this at I-205 in Portland, supposedly because ODOT planned to have (then) I-80N take I-205 south to the never-built Mt Hood Freeway.

[TheStranger]

Turn off to stay on. When a highway "exits itself".

The perfect example of this is when I-71N/I-70E exits to one lane while 2 lanes continue forward as OH-315 in Columbus.

Or Interstate 78 in Summit at Exit 48, when it exits itself at NJ 24.

Eastbound Interstate 80 in West Sacramento exits itself with two lanes (while 4 lanes continue east to Business 80/US 50), and Business 80 in Sacramento exits itself with two lanes IIRC at US 50 and Route 99.

One could also argue that Interstate 80 exits itself westbound at the MacArthur Maze (while the through lanes on the left continue to either I-880 or I-580).

[Stephane Dumas]

A-40/Metropolitan Blvd in Montreal from Decarie autoroute to Anjou interchange, the elevated section is poorly designed.